February 15, 2018
Return to Cuba: Havana Bound
The winds and wild snow of an hour ago have calmed now. All is quiet (at last). My two huge duffles are packed, ready to roll. My team leader gear is organized, with team arrival information on hand. I look forward to returning to Cuba, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Havana will be a different but exciting challenge. I expect it to be more "urban", with lots of culture and music. I might miss the horse drawn carriages, and motorbikes of Ciego. Might there be Tai Chi in the park? Friendly faces and welcoming new hosts? Wonderful food and eager students? A welcoming sewing circle of wonderful women?
The last 6 weeks at home have brought challenges of their own. Mom's rapid decline and diagnosis of lymphoma stretched the limits of the daughter/doctor relationship and my reserves of time and emotion. Luckily, due to rapid diagnosis and intervention and with the help of a village of family, friends, caregivers and doctors, she is doing well for now. Today she said: "What pain?" Compared to several weeks ago, that is, indeed, a miracle. I am blessed to be able to leave town knowing that all is organized and she will be well taken care of while I am gone. When the palliative care nurse practitioner asked her what her goals are, she replied "continue to have good times". Thanks to all of you at home for helping her do that.
More from Miami tomorrow evening, and then on to meet the team in Havana on Saturday,
With love from Denver,
Barbara
Return to Cuba: Havana Bound
The winds and wild snow of an hour ago have calmed now. All is quiet (at last). My two huge duffles are packed, ready to roll. My team leader gear is organized, with team arrival information on hand. I look forward to returning to Cuba, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Havana will be a different but exciting challenge. I expect it to be more "urban", with lots of culture and music. I might miss the horse drawn carriages, and motorbikes of Ciego. Might there be Tai Chi in the park? Friendly faces and welcoming new hosts? Wonderful food and eager students? A welcoming sewing circle of wonderful women?
The last 6 weeks at home have brought challenges of their own. Mom's rapid decline and diagnosis of lymphoma stretched the limits of the daughter/doctor relationship and my reserves of time and emotion. Luckily, due to rapid diagnosis and intervention and with the help of a village of family, friends, caregivers and doctors, she is doing well for now. Today she said: "What pain?" Compared to several weeks ago, that is, indeed, a miracle. I am blessed to be able to leave town knowing that all is organized and she will be well taken care of while I am gone. When the palliative care nurse practitioner asked her what her goals are, she replied "continue to have good times". Thanks to all of you at home for helping her do that.
More from Miami tomorrow evening, and then on to meet the team in Havana on Saturday,
With love from Denver,
Barbara
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