Dinner and Reminiscing with Our Generation!!

Sunday afternoon I was invited to dinner at the home of Yaya's very good friends, John and Barbara. Their house is in the far northwest valley. Cecilia and Jay and Pat and Phil were all invited. We were hoping that Phil would be feeling good enough for us to get together and compare stories and talk. I mentioned in a previous post how we try to do this every now and then without the kids and grandkids--just our generation. Pat and Phil came and Phil looks great. It is hard to imagine that he is as sick as he is.

We sat in the backyard and visited and laughed about many things. Dinner was delicious and we sat around the table and talked. I told stories of some of the funny thing that have happened at school. Of course, we talked about Yaya's experience at the airport when we went to Sacramento.

After dinner, we all sat around the table and continued to talk. Phil was in incredible spirits and talked a lot about so many things. Much of what he talked about where memories of his and Pat's courtship, marriage, and our family. It was so great to hear some of the things that he had to say. Through the laughter that we shared, it was so incredible to hear his insights into so many things.

I think the one thing that struck me is how amazing my cousin Pat is. I have always known this, but seeing her courage in this very difficult time is unbelievable. She is truly a remarkable, strong woman!!!

Of course, Phil had some very funny stories to share. He told us about the hospice nurse asking him if he needed any medication. Once a person goes on hospice, all of the medication is taken care of by hospice. Well, Phil told her that he did need some new medication. He asked her to please have some Viagra brought to him. I am sure that his nurse was definitely not expecting this response!!

Cecilia told about the hospice nurse asking him what he had for breakfast and he responded with spaghetti . She then what he had for lunch and he said that had cheese and ketchup. The nurse said she was amazed that his stomach could tolerate any of this. We also talked about how Pat had asked the hospice nurse when he first went on hospice about morphine and wasn't it "addictive?"

I have always felt that humor is much needed in the hard times of life. Bill Cosby says, "Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

To say that my cousins are like my sisters is an understatement. You don't chose the family that you are born into, but you can chose who you want to be around and have as friends. I am so thankful that I have all of my "Phoenix Cousins" in my life. I truly feel that I am so fortunate!!

As for Pat and Phil, I don't even know how to begin to express my feelings here. I was so touched by this day all the way on my drive back to Gilbert. This post doesn't even begin to say how much I love and admire both of them.

Thank you, Barbara, John, and Yaya, for this get together. It truly means the world to me!!