Oh Great Spirit, teach me to
think quietly, to speak gently and
to hear thy voice in the whispering breeze,
the song of birds, and in the murmuring brook
Cherokee Indian Prayer

This began The Year in which I was most happily feeling In The Spirit. Bob was doing great in his business; and I felt I was necessary in my job at Medical Service.

I was moving unbeknownsed towards a situation similar to our "perfect" Christmas in 1950 when next day came the letter "GREETINGS"!

In retrospect, I am also reminded of the way I prepared for my survival at the time Bob was confined to the Veterans' Hospital in Tacoma, and I went on faith that I wouldn't need medical coverage with two companies; so I dropped MSC, and later was hired by that Company and my past-due premiums were forgiven!

January I passed the test for a Ham Operator's License and joined the ranks of the communications elite, having been helped immensely by Bob. The code I learned okay, but the technical end of it was not so easy. My call, which I never used and never earned, was WB7WRN. Bob, having always loved radio communication, could not understand why not one of his three children had cared to learn it. They had had access to all his wonderful equipment, but. . .then, Gary got interested and got licensed. His call was WB7SIO (Satellite In Orbit).

I was excited with running. I thought I could even enter Bloomsday when it had its second annual run this year. I had planned on getting some expensive running shoes, and paying dues to the YMCA to begin my training. Really getting serious, I attended a lecture and run given February 18 at the Holy Family Hospital. Don Kardong was one of the speakers and he remembered me! This two-mile run was on a cold, frosty day. After I finished, I had quite a spell of coughing. Not ideal weather for running.

On Saturday, I ran 3 miles at Manitou Park, and was not feeling any adverse effects from it. Of course, I could do Bloomsday -- a little more practice and I would be ready!

On February 19, we were given a holiday off from work which was Presidents' Day. I decided to make good use of it and started deciding what I could do for this unexpected "free" day off.

The walls in our bedroom looked sad, so I began painting ceiling and walls. Before I finished, Bob came to my aid and helped. Was God having me prepare a nice, clean room in which I would spend some time convalescing? My annual physical checkup was scheduled February 27. Dr. Eastwood was taking Dr. Saxon's patients as Dr. Saxon had retired from his practice in Millwood.

Dr . Eastwood did indeed discover a polyp when he did a rectal examination, and set me up for an appointment at the Valley General Hospital for the next day for a sigmoidoscopy -- at which time, Dr. Eastwood removed and showed me two growths he called "pedestal-type." He was sending them to the lab for analysis and I should have the results with an appointment March 1.

At this time in my life I was feeling great--nothing could be seriously wrong with me! So on March 1, as I sat placidly by his desk, Dr. Eastwood spoke to someone at the hospital on his phone, and I heard him say, "I see. Okay. Very good." VERY GOOD?. He turned to me and calmly said, "They found a few cancer cells." I was in shock -- could this be true? He wanted me to consult a surgeon.

When I got home and told Bob, he grabbed me in a close embrace. He didn't say anything and didn't need to; his support and love were very palpable. We both cried a little.

March 6 together we went to see the surgeon, Dr. Wesche, to find what he recommended. He explained that if I were his wife, he would certainly want her to have colostomy surgery, but the decision was up to us. With little hesitation and little information as to what the surgery would entail, we decided to go ahead with it. And I would live the rest of my life with a "colostomy." Would this make me handicapped? . . . would I be able to continue to work? . . . An invalid?

On March 8, Wednesday, I checked in at the hospital at 4:30. The next day I had a scan and tests. That night, I realized I was terrified! I had an awful case of nausea because of not knowing whether I would make it through this strange type of surgery, and I wasn't sure I could handle my life afterwards.

In the morning, the surgery was performed. Next day, it was Intensive Care, and I heard nurses discussing me: how healthy I was; how young I looked at 53-years-old; my legs were strong and that I was "a runner." Running was just beginning to be the "in" thing.

Next day I was put in Progressive Care. Barry came to Spokane from Missoula and I was very happy to see him.

March 14 I was still in Progressive, but I knew I was getting better. I knew, because there was Bob looking at me and his face was glowing with love, relief and happiness.

Gary came to visit. He asked what I was lying there smiling about. I said, "Gee, I was just wondering what my new grandchild would look like." He and Gerri were expecting their first child in June.

Bob ran into Howard Cappel in the hospital corridor. Howard told Bob that Donna (Hudlow) Mahan had undergone the same surgery as I, and she visited with new patients to educate them about it. She and Howard both went to West Valley High School when we did. She was my biggest help in learning how to cope. And she was a dedicated member of the Spokane Ostomy group which had meeting once a month..

When I was released to go home, I was grateful for the newly-painted bedroom and the fact that I didn't have useless running shoes, or a YMCA membership. The surgery put an end to my running. I could not stand the constant jarring.

Friends and relatives came to the house to visit and were encouraging. Bob's brother John and wife, Virginia, were here from Portland. And on April 2, I had a total of 12 visitors at the same time! After they cleared out, Joann Valasek, my friend from work, came, making a total of 13 well-wishers for that day.

My first days at home were distressing both physically and mentally. A procedure was necessary that should have required special nursing care, but since Bob was home every day, he became my special nurse. In essence, in order to heal the rectum from the inside first, the passage way had to be kept open and sterile. Bob had to irrigate it with an iodine solution. With my bottom elevated on a pillow, Bob performed the irrigation when necessary. Approaching this with his usual levity and musical repertoire which he was always able to "fit the music to the occasion" he sang to me, Bottoms Up, Let's Have a Ball . . . and another song that went, I Get Ideas, I Get Ideas.

Pat Hall called with news that the plans I had submitted for remodeling the lunchroom at MSC were being acted upon. Also, the company was incorporating a separate lunchroom for smokers. I was excited to get a look at the project.

Donna told me about "irrigation" which would allow me to keep my condition under reasonable control. I wouldn't have to wear "the bag." The first time I tried irrigation -- I was very apprehensive -- even scared -- but surprisingly, it turned out to be quite a success.

Medical Service sent me a box of candy and an Easter Lily, and Leo and Phyl gave me some lovely flowers.

By April 23, I was feeling well enough to attend my first Ostomy meeting. Bob went with me, and we saw a fellow who used to work with Bob at the cement plant. Charlie Fredericks said, "Hey, Bob! I didn't know you had this type of surgery!" Not Bob -- me!

Long afterwards, Charlie was sent by a fence company to make an estimate of a fence for our backyard, and while talking to him, he casually mentioned that he "had had his plumbing rearranged." Then, my memory kicked in, and I remembered him as being the friend of Bob's whom we had seen at that meeting.

May 2 Dr. Eastwood released me to return to the living, and I went back to work for half days on May 8. But before returning to work, I determinedly trekked down to Riverfront Park on May 5 to see President Carter. "He drew a crowd," according to the paper, "as he dedicated a revamped Riverfront Park, and later in the day held a town meeting in the Convention Center."

The Carousel

One of the key attractions at Riverfront Park is the Looff carousel which was originally featured at Natatorium Park. My mother had her picture taken on this carousel with her double-cousin Ethyl. The horse in this picture is still in service in Riverfront Park. Over the years, a few more generations have had their pictures taken on this carousel.

May 7 -- this second Annual Bloomsday. The glitz and show I had expected for myself was gone -- I went as a spectator with a friend, Nancy Walker. Nancy's daughter Linda was entered in the race.

Nancy and I spread a blanket on the lawn and watched the finishers coming in.

Although I wasn't able to do volunteer work at the race, I was given a yellow and green T-shirt. It was the same shirt awarded the finishers, except as for MSC workers, it had OFFICIAL imprinted on the back.

So, while we were not attending to our belongings on the blanket, someone thought to gain a T-shirt without having run in the race. Anyway, it was stolen. To compensate, Jim Lynch gave me an honest-to-goodness T-shirt -- the "real thing."

When I returned to work, I had a lot of catching up to do, and was helping Pat Hall with publishing "The People Page." She originated the in-house paper, and was the editor-photographer. I picked out the name, did the layout, the typing, and worked with the printer.

Then, along came John Sandberg, the new Marketing Manager. He was replacing my friend, Jim Torney, who had resigned.

Mark Nance

A noteworthy year -- on June 2 Mark Russell was born. Bob and I went to visit at the hospital after I got off work. Gary and Gerri were very private about the approaching prospect of becoming first-time parents. They didn't tell either set of grandparents when the time came. They wanted to experience this together. Their second baby was a different story, lucky for me! I was invited to be there and "help."

In June Bob got a Caveman Camper to go on his red Datsun pickup.

Susan was coming to Spokane from Missoula although Barry was still committed to finishing out his obligation there to Barnard & Holloway. Bob and I went to the airport to meet Susan. As she had broken her leg a few days prior to leaving, she was given "special attention" on the plane.

Bob and I waited until everybody was off, and, not seeing Susan, we thought we would go home and wait for a call to see what had gone wrong. A call informed us that, "Yes, Susan was on that flight, but was in strict attendance by our flight personnel and so was held on the plane until she could be properly removed." She did love "special attention!"

On June 11 Bob helped with moving Susan and Barry to a lovely home they had purchased on East Nixon in the Valley. As Susan could not do any of the work, she was assisted in getting settled in by many people from their church.

John and Virginia were having their 50th wedding anniversary in Portland. The party was July 16 at the home of Jack and his wife, Joyce. John and Virginia had the same anniversary date as Bob and I -- July 17. Ours was our 35th; theirs the 50th. It was a gala get-together. At this celebration, Jack said, "Leta, you were the first girl I every wanted to kiss!" He was referring to when he was eight and I was 18!

We decided that one of our small bedrooms should be made into a second bathroom for my convenience. It was just off the master bedroom. Gary made the modifications in carpentry; also laid the carpeting, built vanities and the cupboards. Bob did the electrical wiring and plumbing and I painted and wallpapered. I much appreciated this large bathroom! Bob said, "I have never begrudged you this space, Lee."

August was my 35th class reunion, the West Valley Class of 1943. I had never cared to go to a reunion previously, but getting older . . . thought it ought to be fun. I bought a formal, an off-the-shoulder gown which I could also wear to Bob's 37th reunion which was coming up later in August. Working hard, I got my weight down to 123#. At the reunion, one of my former classmates' husband said I was the only one who didn't seem to belong to that age group! I loved it!

Also in August was Bob's reunion. It was at the Holiday Inn West. Roy Betlach, a former Washington State Patrol Chief, was the MC, and such a memory! He had comments about just about everybody there. Said I was "the youngest-looking Sophomore." That is the school year where I was when these people graduated.

September we went to Seattle to catch an exhibit of the King Tut treasures. I felt privileged to see this glorious presentation -- the oldest artifacts to be seen at this time. For years I had enjoyed a book describing the contents of the tomb, and I was so delighted to see them first hand. I especially was awed by the King Tut mask. So brilliant with gold!

October I took a leaded glass class at the Spokane Art School. My objective was to make a stained glass window for my new bathroom. The window faced the street. My teacher was Brian Henderson. He was a designer of the Bloomsday T-shirt for 1979. It was maroon and featured graphic runners. It was just about the best shirt design to ever be incorporated. Brian also was my instructor when I took a class in resin casting sculpture.

The Regional Ostomy Meeting was held at the Red Lion Motel. Donna Mahan was in charge of the whole two days of the convention. She modeled a bikini swim suit with just a small bandaid covering her stoma! Quite Sexy! What an inspiration! What a gal! I modled four outfits in the style show.

Donna was moderator for the style show. She presented clothes for the ostomate. At the end of the show she announced, "Do you see any difference between clothes-for-the-ostomate and other styles? . . . Well, I don't either."

In October Bob and I drove to Usk, Washington, to check out the Manressa Grotto and to see the autumn colors of the trees along the way. We decided we should make this excursion each fall.

I was back in aerobics at the YMCA.