Friends from Home

This week I was looking forward to visiting with two friends in Taos; one from NH (currently living in FlA) and the other from Omaha, Nebraska. The first didn't make it but the latter did. My friend, Annie's husband's prostate cancer has come back and the night of her planned trip to Albuquerque she got a call for an appt for him at the Dana Farber Cancer Ctr in Boston. He has to undergo 4-6 weeks of radiation (his prostate was removed 5 years ago). The blessing is that he has his four children living in NE area, one in Boston, and will have lots of support, care and transportation as he needs it. They were both planning on returning to NE for the summer but not this early. He had thought he was "past" the safe mark, having made it 5 years post his initial diagnosis. It makes me think about a second melanoma that I had; sixteen years after the first one - not related and in a totally different area. We never know what's up ahead for any of us. It's best to live as if you never know what day will be your last and enjoy it fully. Sort of like having dessert first.

I did meet up with Anda on Monday night and we went out for dessert! Graham's Grille on the Taos Plaza has the BEST key lime pie anywhere I've ever been... However, much to my surprise I ended up ordering the flourless chocolate cake with creme anglais and hazelnuts. It was divine. Anda ordered the cherry/cranberry cobbler which was tart and delicious. She and her friend/traveling companion, Jo, will be returning via Taos this coming weekend so who knows we might get together again. I visited Anda in her hometown of Omaha during last summer's cross country drive. It was wonderful to see a familiar face.

I am busy planning my trip to NE in June and looking for a new place to live. I've decided to stay in Taos another year to work on my writing and want to find a place that is less expensive and smaller. I find that I'm not home that much anyway, I prefer writing in cafes. The ambience is nicer and the prospect of an expresso as a companion is very attractive; I think the caffeine helps the writing process, or that's what I choose to believe.