Sunset at Crystal Cove

This is the view of last night's sunset from our tiny but cozy cottage studio right on the sand at Crystal Cove. It is only 15 minutes from our home, but it is a world apart.

No internet (without tethering), no chores, no room to do much other than read and walk and look and listen to the sea.

There is so much more to life than CLL. It is moments such as these that paradoxically make me forget all my struggles and also remind me of why I went through them.

More from ASH coming, but right now, I am loving hearing the waves.

Forget CLL at least for a few Golden Moments

The sunset view from our balcony at Crystal Cove.

It's only a 12 minute drive from our house, but it is a world apart, a step back in time to a simpler and more natural way of being.

Being here is so decompressing.

CLL? What CLL?

Perfect!

Another boring bone marrow biopsy and aspiration

When asked if I had had this procedure before, I just smiled my yes.

When asked how many times, I didn't know.

Becky, Dr. Kipps' NP was great, the pain was minimal during and after, though my blood pressure did shoot up a bit. I am convinced it more a matter of technique than strength, though I know this experienced oncology nurse worked hard to get the specimen. Thanks to G-d for lidocaine.

You want your bone marrow biopsy to be routine. Results in two weeks. That is the part that is hardest for me.

With no meds for pain, I was well enough to stop at my new favorite raw restaurant, Peace Pies in my old haunt, Leucadia. These guys are amazing and committed. Great introduction to raw food. And I love that old beachy still slightly hippy feeling of that stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.

Back home, after a desperately needed nap, I am back to the grind and cleaning up the house before my wife comes back tomorrow.

Making good progress on my to do list for the CLL but nothing is "completed" yet and life has a way of disrupting my plans. That's OK. It reflects an active engagement with the world.

Though the cat is fine company, I miss my wife who is out of town helping out with our 6 month old granddaughter. Amira's blog is much more more exciting and certainly more fun to look at than mine.

My most brilliant move today was to pick up "to go" a raw organic vegan "tuna sandwich" and a slice of "apple pie" for my dinner, so life is sweet.

A good day. Another ho-hum bone marrow biopsy and drive along the amazing California coast.

The Beach and Beyond

I took time out from idyllic camping at Doheny State Beach right on the sand to attend the CLL support group.

It was not easy to leave the no worries, life is simple, mindset of the beach to drive up Pacific Coast Highway to visit my friend Joe and the rest of the CLL gang.

I even brought Joe salt (Himalayan) and fresh bread (from my favorite organic vegan bakery, Avanti Cafe) to bless his new home: Bread... that this house may never know hunger. Salt... that life may always have flavor. You can add a broom to sweep the troubles away, but enough already.

The meeting was as always, solid and authentic, well worth the travel, but sadly only 3 of us were able to make it. Maybe it was because it was hard after the holiday weekend. I guess it is good that we are all so busy with more than our CLL, still I miss the rest of the gang. This is important stuff. The support group is crucial for my well being and for helping me to clarify to my decisions. It is also a chance for all of us to, (pardon my Californian 60's speak): Share

Meanwhile back at the campsite.

The beach was cooled by onshore breezes to a perfect toasty warm, but the waves were flat, so no Surfing USA, just swimming and bogie boarding in the shore break. And of course staring at the dancing flames in the campfire, and reading and vegging out. One advantage to being a raw foodie is no cooking pots to clean.

I remain confident that I have excellent options and no emergent dangers, and so look forward to many more chances to surf. No bucket list for me. Not for a long time.