Freida's Journey continues on her blog at this link.
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Living once again back in Los Gatos is surreal. I can walk 3 blocks to my favorite Starbucks and run into a few of the Alta Vista moms. I can plan to meet any of them for lunch. After two years of yearning to be home- we're here! It's wonderful, but strange. Sandy Fitzsimmons came by last week and whisked me off to lunch in dt LG at one of my favorite places: Willow Street Pizza. We laughed and talked and had a yummy salad with grilled salmon. Afterwards we walked around and shopped a bit. Heaven to be walking past gorgeous shop windows new and familiar, filled with wondrous treasures - with one of my very best friends. Sandy is a sweetheart through and through and is one of the most positive people I know. She is one of those women who glow with goodness. (She just does- she glows!). Sandy and I laughed and talked until it was time to pick the kids up from school. What a wonderful day. When I come back to this big house I begin to lose the feeling we are home since this is a new place and my old Ivy Cottage on Loma Vista (where I lived for nearly 17 years) would fit neatly inside this house. I miss the Ivy Cottage's front porch most of all. For years I had my porch swing and my mother's old rocking chair out there. It was not that busy of a street but folks walked by every day- some with strollers and front packs filled with babies and toddlers, some walking their dogs. (Dawn S.!) Life happened there every day and I watched it all from my cheerful porch while rocking babies to sleep. I guess I could sit outside in the front of this porch-less house- but since we are directly across the street from a middle school I am sure I would be the object of derision from all-knowing, judgmental pre-teens). So, my swing is in the backyard on the patio. My daily companions are our girls- Abby and Koko, the cats. And Connor, of course, whenever he wakes up. Back in Oak Park he was going to an amazing alternative school where he excelled and made many friends. His best friend, Austin, was the son of a well known stuntman. Connor spent every Friday night there learning how to fall the right way while attached to harnesses; spinning down a hill in a giant 'hamster' ball, learning the right way to 'Tokyo drift' in a Viper, and rocking out in their soundproof music room- complete with full drum kit, guitars, amps and mics. Connor's friends threw him a huge Going Away party and bought him a 'totally sick' skateboard at IG Board Shop that all his friends signed. They also presented him with a photo album that chronicled some of their shenanigans. His nickname there was "J"-(reminiscent of Men in Black??) Connor was honored at his school with the "Sweetest" title in the yearbook. He also worked at a local market and made a tidy sum that will go toward his first car. (Sorry Connor, it won't be a Viper!) Connor is finishing his sophomore year by mail. He begins 11th grade at a private alternative school next fall. He was bummed to leave his friends behind~ and the lovely girl that melted his heart and kept coming by the house for just one more goodbye....the infamous, "M".
If I say anymore, I'll be in trouble!
Cade is glad to be home and is finishing his elementary school career at the school that started it all, Alta Vista. How happy is he?? He walked onto the playground the first day of school and got a rock star's welcome. He already has girls texting him. (Sheesh, the kid is 11! It's the blue eyes. Those Paul-Newman-Blue eyes. Gets the girls every time!) The amazing Nancy Grochowski (Director of AV's performing arts club; my partner in Theatre in the Park) gave him an announcer's spot in this year's Variety Show. How wonderful to walk in and see so many familiar faces and get so many warm hugs! Now THAT felt like home. Cade did great and had a ball. We're so happy Cade will have that amazing memory of his 5th grade 'homecoming.' He also had wonderful experiences at his school in Oak Park. His teacher from last year, the wonderful Jamie Brown (and her handsome fiance) stopped by our house on Mother's Day just before we moved to bring me flowers and give Cade a hug goodbye. She told Cade how fortunate she felt for having had him in her class last year. We all adored her and her fantastic teaching methods. She was the best teacher there! Cade likes his teacher here: Ms. Standridge. It probably helps that she's lovely, bright & cheery! He has acclimated well to the change. It's wonderful to know my kids are healthy, happy and doing well. That knowledge does my healing a world of good. And getting to see my YaYas does, too! Sandy and I met Elise Wallworth at her new office in Campbell a few days ago and lunched at Sonoma Chicken Coop . Elise looks great and is beginning the plans for her nuptials slated for next year. I'm so honored that she and Roger want me to be their wedding officiant. Very exciting! I love Elise's entire family: her sister Claire is a total crackup and her delightful mother, Joan, should have her own show! Later that day, two of my little charges from years passed just happened to be going to a dance recital across the street from our new house at Fisher school. Hailey and Stella, (with parents Jess & Derek) were as surprised as we were to run into each other. Stella was the ballet star that day. Afterward the eight of us all went out to dinner to celebrate the happy coincidence. The girls have grown so tall and are just lovely. It felt so wonderful for all of us to be together. Speaking of performing: Nancy and I are prepping for this summer's Theatre in the Park camps. I am so excited that I get to work with kids again and watch that spark for performing turn into a flame! As always we will have talented middle & high schoolers interning for us. They bring their own spark and are fantastic with the kids. Friday night I was fairly exhausted since I am not long out of the hospital, and could not make the gig of my band, the Blind Pilots, at one of our favorite haunts- Number One Broadway. I love performing and look forward to the day that my strength is back full force and I can take the stage again. Today, (June 3) was Olympic Day at Cade's school. Tr aditionally Olympic Day happens the last week of school when the weather is warm so the activities are vigorous games of tug o' war, duck duck goose , etc.- but involving lots of water. I chaired it for a couple of years and always laughed my head off. It is a kick for kids, staff and parents alike. Wonderful memories the kids will take with them. As only an observer this year, I had a ball! And apparently so did my son. So grateful he is happy here! He seamlessly has stepped into his old friendships and one would hardly know that two years away went by. As for my health: radiation begins soon for six weeks- in the same building as my oncologist, the dashing James Cohen. After that reconstruction begins and may go for some time. I will be flying down to LA for those surgeries by Dr. Kouros Azar. I still have quite a journey to endure before I get completely well, but I am thankful that God has seen fit to bless me with a loving family, wonderful friends and being able to be HOME! My wish for you is a safe and stress-free month filled with laughter and love. Happy May Birthday to my gorgeous niece, Bronwyn! Happy June birthdays to my other half: Keith, and my wonderful son Connor!
God Bless All!!
(A sad note: one of music's all time greats passed away today: Koko Taylor, the legendary Queen of the Blues, died at the age of 80. She was a pioneer in music and one of my personal heroes. RIP Queen Bee).
7:30 AM, Friday morning.
It isn't exactly raining here but as I pulled open the shades this morning on my hospital room window and saw the light refract off the heavy morning dew that saturated the conifer trees below, I heard Carole King's lyrics in my head. I woke up to my second day in the oncology floor at Los Robles Hospital. The previous six days had been spent in the ICU post surgery. I was kept in the same room the entire time but was on so much medication that whenever I woke up I always thought I'd been moved. The majority of nurses looking after me were wonderful and friendly girls, and I found myself having a Dorothy-in-Oz experience by seeing in each of them qualities of certain of my Yaya's at home. The day after I went into the hospital, Keith left town for his new job. Our dear friend Lotte Woodbury left her job and family to come stay with the boys. Although coming down here was a bit of a hardship, she did it cheerfully and with a heart full of love. The next week proved difficult with baseball schedules, errands, hospital visits etc. Lotte was one of the first people Cade adored as an infant and he still loves his Lala~ but with all the challenges he's had this year, having Mom in the hospital and Dad out of town simultaneously was very difficult for him. Lotte cleaned, chauffeured the boys to various sports and activities and dashed away as quickly as possible to get them to Mom for visiting hours. For me it was wonderful knowing the boys were being cared for by such a sweet and selfless friend. I am hoping it wasn't quite the nightmare for Lotte I am beginning to expect it was! Last night Lotte brought Cade to see me after his baseball game. As Cade chattered on about the game, Lotte washed my hair-a luxury I had been dreaming of for a week! In ICU they give you a 'shampoo in a bag'. The bag is warmed in a microwave and you put the bag on the head of the patient ( no fooling, this is really what you do) and vigorously rub it around. The "shampoo" (which I am beginning to think came from NASA) absorbs into itself and leaves the hair smelling much better but still looking and feeling 'not-quite-clean'. So when Lotte walked in the room with contraband towels from home and real shampoo I could have danced a jig. I couldn't stop thanking her during the washing process-giddy as a freshman with a new lip gloss. There are so many things we take for granted, clean hair being one of them. Dear, caring friends being others. Thank you Lotte!!!
Surprisingly, Friday afternoon after many attempts at talking them into letting me go home~ they did just that! Within 45 minutes I was home. It was surreal to walk into my house. It had been nine long days and nights.
The drs. told me that they were very confident they got every last bit of cancer. They had to remove three ribs and a portion of my sternum. The cancer had completly eaten one bone. It was a very good thing I listened to that early nagging pain on my chest. To stabilize my lungs and prevent pneumonia I do exercises ten times a day with a breathing apparatus. This really helps with me gaining my breath back. I still have drains for the surgeries and will be having more surgeries over the next few weeks for reconstruction~ but nothing as major as this. Everything is good and will continue to get better. The rash I got from the first round of antibiotics is fading- not nearly as itchy.
Keith and Cade are moving back to Los Gatos the first week of May and Cade will finish 5th grade at Alta Vista with all his old friends. Connor will finish his school year here while he and I rent a room somewhere and I continue treatment. The entire family should be in LG by the end of June at the latest. We're coming home!!
March 2009
October 2008 one of Freida's best friends and YaYas, Elise Legasa Wallworth, did the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in San Francisco in Freida's honor. Freida was determined that she would walk in the 3 Day with Elise in October 2009. So, beginning in January 09 Freida began walking. Since it was the rainy season she worked out on a treadmill. Whenever it would be a nice day she would walk outside. She got up to 2.5 miles a day and was feeling great. She began to add small hand weights in her workout. In March she noticed she was very sore in her upper chest. She quit using the weights but the pain persisted. The spot just below her collar bone was swollen and pain radiated down. She could see a bump under the skin the size of a bottle cap. She thought it could be because of the workouts but decided to play it safe and get it checked out. After reading the first CT scan, the doctor said there was a mass attached to the outer part of her lung, just under the muscle. The early prognosis was that it could be a benign lipoma (best=2 0case scenario), recurring breast cancer or a tumor unrelated to breast cancer. The mass was almost directly underneath Freida's radiation tattoo- (the actual site of radiation). (Freida had noticed she coughed a lot more after radiation and she could feel that it was coming from that same spot. She had expressed concern to her radiology oncologist and he responded that the lung tissue was most likely damaged from the radiation and should eventually heal.) When Freida brought this up to her new surgical oncologist, she was told that since the mass is located on the outside of the lung, it shouldn't have anything to do with the coughing.
Next up for Freida is a PT scan (full body), a CT scan of her abdomen and pelvic areas, blood work up and a mammogram. We will keep you posted on anything new.
Freida is determined to keep walking so she will be ready for the 3 Day in October. Prayers, hugs, and happy thoughts are requested and always welcome.
About Freida Story
Freida Story was an active single mother of two boys living
in Los Gatos California, a small town in the foothills of the Santa Cruz
Mountains. Like most moms she was very busy. In addition to
attending all her children's extracurricular activities, she ran a daycare in
her home, directed children's theatre, sang in a local rock band, and on her
vacation time led folks on tours all over the world with Queenslander
Tours. One February evening in 2007 her right breast began aching
terribly. She realized she hadn't had her regular mammogram for over
a year and was due. But after a day or so the pain went away
and she got busy and forgot to make the call. March came and with it
another bout of pain. She called and made the appointment,
but she couldn't get in right away. When she finally got in for
her mammo, it was the middle of April. Her
breast ached all the time now and she found a hard marble-shaped lump with her
self exam. The nurse said cancer was usually not hard or round and
usually didn't hurt, and she was right. After a surgical
biopsy in the beginning of May, the surgeon found that
the pain was caused by a hard cyst that was benign. But along with
the cyst there were three separate masses. The largest
spot was 2.5 centimeters. A partial mastectomy and lymphectomy in
June showed that her Sentinel lymph nodes were affected as
well. Shortly thereafter Freida was diagnosed with Stage
2, Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma: in other words,
aggressive breast cancer. Although the news was devastating, Freida sent
this email out to her many friends:
But until that happy day, I intend to fight with every ounce of 'piss and vinegar' I can muster. I grew up a hillbilly, and the redneck in me is just aching to get out! So, hug my neck, kiss my cheek and smile. I love you all and need all your smiles and laughter. Don't freak my boys out, but give them some smiles and cheeriness, too. Everything will turn out the way it's supposed to. In the meantime: Enjoy a nice glass of wine, or just jump straight to the Patron- and toast to the incredible group that we all are...
to the YaYas!!! Kisses, Freida JULY
In July Freida began chemotherapy with Dr. James Cohen of Los Gatos. Dr. Cohen came highly recommended by Maureen Killoran and Rose Sayre, Yayas who had already gone through breast cancer. Freida asked Maureen and good family friend, Jen Norcia ( a registered nurse) and Freida's brother Mark to join her at her first meeting with Dr. Cohen. The first thing Freida noticed about him was his shock of white hair, intelligent eyes and no-nonsense approach. Dr. Cohen pulled no punches and told Freida and her group exactly what she could expect in the next several months. The first round of chemo would be Adriamycin. (Adriamycin is a vesicant, a chemical that causes extensive tissue damage and blistering if it escapes from the vein.) She would have Adriamycin for 12 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of Taxol.
Both were known to be very effective chemo drugs, and very hard on the body. Besides losing her hair, there would/could be 'pain along the site where the medication was given, nausea or vomiting, low blood counts: (white and red blood cells and platelets may temporarily decrease. This can put the patient at increased risk for infection, anemia and/or bleeding), mouth sores, hair loss on the scalp or elsewhere on the body (called alopecia). Eyes watering, darkening of the nail beds, thinning/losing nails. With Taxol there would also be: Anthralgias and myalgias (pain in the joints and muscles); peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling of the hands and feet), nausea and vomiting, diarreah, mouth sores, hypersensitivity reaction, fever, facial flushing, chills, shortness of breath, or hives after Taxol is given. Oh, yeah and swelling of the feet or ankles (edema)'. Great fun!!!
The wonderful Yayas rallied around Freida and her boys and took turns shopping, cooking, visiting and cleaning for them. Andrea Terrazas, Andrea Alley and Sandy Fitzsimmons told Freida that they had hired a house cleaning company when, in fact, the second Freida left the house the crew turned out to be the Yayas themselves. Dawn Millet joined in the fun later. The Yayas scrubbed floors, the kitchen, bathrooms, walls, dusted, scrubbed, vacuumed, cleaned out closets, changed sheets, and even did some packing. They left the little cottage sparkling clean with fresh flowers in vases. The Yayas organized dinners to be delivered every night. They chaufferred her children and even took them on trips to Tahoe. (Thank you Elena & Scott Mosko!) The Yayas rallied around Freida and the boys and filled their lives with caring, humor, hope and love. Freida 'God blesses' them every day.
Two weeks to the day of her first chemo, Freida began losing her hair in handfuls. By the time evening rolled around, she had a few bald patches. She called Elise Wallworth, Lotte Woodbury and Sandy Fitzsimmons to come and help 'shear' her. With the help of Freida's boys, Connor and Cade, they first all took a ceremonius clip and saved the locks for good luck. Then they took it from a bob to a surfer cut; then to 80s New Wave to a Mohawk,- taking photos along the way. Finally the clippers were brought in and the buzz began. Soon Freida resembled GI Jane. A rollicking good time was had by all. Where are those photos, Elise???
Freida's ex-husband, father of her boys and great friend, Keith Yetto, had been transferred to Los Angeles several months before and had been commuting back and forth every week. To keep the family together and her boys happy, Freida had agreed to move to Los Angeles prior to being diagnosed.
The second week in July found the Yayas throwing a huge Bon Voyage party for Freida and family at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos. Friends came from all over to celebrate the Yayas unique bond of friendship, and to give wishes for a safe and happy journey. Freida said that compared to leaving her friends and Yaya sisters in Los Gatos, dealing with cancer was easy!
On the 15th of July, just after a chemo appointment, Freida and Keith loaded the boys and the cats in the car and said goodbye to the Little Ivy Cottage. A new chapter had begun.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Their new home was in southern California, in a quiet bedroom community called Oak Park. The town sits between Agoura and Westlake Village, just fifteen miles from Malibu. The new house dwarfed the little cottage the family had lived in for the last 17 years. Two stories, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, all stainless kitchen, laundry room, A/C, pool and Jacuzzi...on a well-groomed cul-de-sac with a basketball goal at the end of the street and four other boys to shoot hoops with. Her sons were happy! The house nestled against the green belt and above that was open space. A family of raccoons visited occasionally. When it was quiet at night they could hear coyotes yipping . Sadly, Freida lost her beloved cat, Norah Jones, a month after the move. For weeks the family searched for her, but neighbors told them it was likely she had been taken by coyotes. Every two weeks Freida would fly to San Jose for chemo. Several times Yayas were her transportation to and from the airport. In the beginning she stayed at Rose's cottage, which was right down the street from her old house and just behind Rose's house. Rose often lent her car to Freida so she could run errands. Other Yayas that gave Freida places to stay were Elise Wallworth and Mary Ann Elliott. The Elliotts backyard cottage was designed by MaryAnn and was like a page out of Metropolitan Home. (Freida felt like she was at a resort!) By the time Freida got to Los Gatos, she would have recovered from the previous chemo and had just gotten some energy back. If her band (The Blind Pilots, www.blindpilots.com) was playing that weekend, Freida would fly in on a Friday and sit in with the band Friday or Saturday night. Sunday she would get to go to her old church and see dear friends like Doug Nunez, (also a cancer survivor) and Kyle and Jenny Self. Monday morning the Yayas would meet her for breakfast at Los Gatos Cafe (previously know as Iron Skillet). Their favorite waitress, Shannon, would have a table ready for 10-20 in no time. (Shannon left the cafe in Los Gatos and started her own restaurant in Campbell, called The Skillet. Excellent Food- Fabulous service!) One such morning Brad Crook walked in the door-which in itself was a miracle. That summer Brad had been in a hit and run accident on his motorcycle and left for dead. He had been in a coma for three weeks and the doctors weren't sure he was going to make it. All hearts and prayers went out to him and his wonderful wife Liz; both of whom had been in several musical productions with Freida and whom she considered close friends. When Brad and Liz walked through the door, all conversation stopped. Until Freida let out a whoop of joy and ran to hug his neck! Miracles abound!!! God be praised! These breakfasts became known as the Yaya Breakfasts and continued for many months. Dear friends having not been seen for months would pop in to see Freida and it would be a wonderful and raucous visit! After leaving the breakfast, Freida would get to shop a bit around town or go to her favorite Target. Her chemo appointment would usually be in the late afternoon and was three blocks from her old street. From Rose's cottage, she could walk to and from the doctor's office. Dr. Cohen had a reputation for being stern, but every time he saw Freida he broke into a huge grin and readily gave her a hug. His team was incredible at making their patients feel at ease. Roxy and the other nurses would help patients get comfy in the recliners, hook them up to their IVs and then tuck them in with warm blankets. Many of the chemo 'cocktails' would put patients to sleep. There was always an abundance of sweets and baked goods on hand for patients to bring up their blood sugar. And if one was awake and interested, there were patients of every nationality ready to chat. The chemo room was always chilly so besides tucking everyone in with blankets, the nurses handed out knitted hats that friends of patients had made by hand and donated. The staff tried their best to make sure everyone was as comfortable as possible. The result was an atmosphere of warmth and caring. Freida made friends with the nurses and always brought them goodies of one kind or another. After chemo she would walk back to Rose's and get ready for the trip home. Usually Monday night she would go to the movies with friends. Tuesday morning, on the way to the airport, she would stop by Dr. Cohen's office for her Neulasta shot. Neulasta is a white blood cell booster that helps your body make more to protect against chemo-related infection. (The shot is administered 24 hours after chemo). So Freida would get her shot, bid adieu to the staff and get a ride to the airport where she would board a plane for home. This happened every two weeks. Freida wouldn't feel the effects of chemo for a day or so, and when it hit she would be ill for eight days. The side effects of chemo and Neulasta feel like the flu. Achiness in muscles, joint pain, headache. She didn't suffer from nausea due to an incredible medication that was also incredibly expensive. Her co-pay on 3 pills of Emend was $300! Every two weeks. But it really worked. The exhaustion would usually hit her the day after she flew home. During this time she would get up in the mornings and take her two sons to school, then come home and go back to bed. Then she'd get up to pick them up from school and while they ate their snacks and did homework, she'd go back to bed. This routine repeated itself every two weeks until November when she finished chemo.
CHRISTMAS
By the time Christmas rolled around her hair had sprouted to soft velvet 1/8th inch long! That Christmas both of her brothers and families flew to California to spend the holiday with her. Upon arrival, all three families convened on Gladstone's Restaurant, a famous seafood place located on Pacific Coast Highway, between Santa Monica and Malibu. Many bottles of pinot noir (and platters of lobster, oysters, and crab legs) later, the family posed for a photo in front of the giant Christmas tree. To be there in that welcoming and happy place, watching the waves crashing against the shore and singing carols with her family all around her, was a wish come true for Freida. The following evening the clan drove en masse down to Anaheim. After spending the night in a hotel, the family descended upon Disneyland first thing the following morning. Freida rented a scooter since she still tired easily and it was no time before the scooter was loaded down with jackets, coats, and bags of all kinds. The good news was that when one visits the park with a scooter or wheelchair, one gets to jump to the front of the line for most rides. Freida's favorite rides were Indiana Jones for the fun and Haunted Mansion's Nightmare Before Christmas, for the colors and lighting. She also loves the Christmas Parade. When the group finally made it back to Oak Park they enjoyed meals made together, singing carols, last minute shopping and all the holiday shows. On Christmas afternoon, the family all drove down to Zuma Beach in Malibu and took family photos. With the waves crashing, the sun setting and everyone laughing, it was a lovely way to end the holiday.
TWO THOUSAND EIGHT
With the new year came new strength. Freida had been off chemo for 6 weeks and every day found her with new energy and new hair! She began radiation in March and went every day. Her rads team at North Oaks Radiation were: Shideh, Burke and Steve, with Dr. Ahn in charge. Freida would drop off the boys at school every morning and head over for radiation. The process was painless, although her skin began to redden and tiny skintag/moles popped up on her back where the radiation went through. Her breast became very brown, as though she had a Malibu Barbie tan. The best thing was that the radiation softened the scars that were under her breast and armpit. Instead of bunching up, they flattened out. Freida didn't mind radiation, although it made her tired. Seeing Shideh's smiling face and laughing with Burke and Steve made each visit fun. A bond was formed and the group met occasionally for lunch. After radiation was over, Freida continued her friendship with the remarkable team. In April, her 'baby' turned ten. Cade had a huge laser tag party that took over the entire cul-de-sac. Cade's best friend Justin got to come down with his brothers and mother, Jen Norcia. The Norcias were one of the nicest families they had met, and Freida and gang considered them family. Before the Norcias had to leave, Freida and Jen took the boys to Malibu and spent the day at the beach. Freida had more energy as the months passed, and helped out at Cade's school by assisting with the end-of-year Carnival. Freida helped get donations, organize, decorate and work the Silent Auction. That felt good! She made friends and began to feel more connected to the school community. Summer came and with it, her sister-in-law (and BFF from high school), Brittany Story, (nee Simmons), flew in with daughter Bronwyn so she could attend Fitness by the Sea daycamp with Cade. The two ten year olds had a great time sampling all the activities offered: boogie boarding, learning to surf, volleyball, face painting, karaoke, crafts, dancing and assorted sports and games. Freida and Brittany got to hang out and catch up. The two best friends have known each other since high school and were roommates together in the late 80s in West Hollywood. Lunching, laughing and shopping were the only items on the agenda. After their California visit, the entire group flew back to Arkansas and Freida and the boys spent July on Greers Ferry Lake with her brother's family. Jimmy and Britt have a huge house overlooking the lake. Daytime was spent in the huge pool and evenings in the boat, on the lake. Both boys worked on their wakeboarding and boat driving skills. Jimmy bought some huge ski toys so the boys could try to annihilate each other while riding behind the boat.
FAMILY
July 4th Jimmy and Brittany hosted a Story Family Reunion. Relatives from Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia and even Alaska made the trek and got to visit for the first time in years. Freida got to introduce her sons to her dad's brothers and a sister- all in their 80s. The boys also got to hang out with their Uncle Mark and Aunt Courtney, who are expecting their first son in December! A grand time was had by all!
AUGUST
August began preparation for school. Connor had turned 16 in June and was learning to drive. Cade began football practice with his Bantam team. Heat waves rolled across southern California with record temperatures. A small but scary earthquake rattled the area, but no great damage was done. School started and Freida met with the music teacher at Cade's school to get a musical production going. In September Connor got a job at a local supermarket as a courtesy clerk/bagger. Every time Freida went shopping at the store the checkers all bragged about how well Connor was working and how nice he was- and how everyone who came to the store knew him! Imagine...a child of Freida's being so social!! =^P In the third week of football practice Freida's youngest son, Cade got hurt. After Xrays, ultrasounds, catscans, blood tests and numerous ER visits it was determined that Cade had bruised ribs and his stomach muscles had suffered trauma. Cade missed several days of school trying to recover, and couldn't do PE or run for 4-6 weeks. Freida was unhappy with football! She's not sure Cade should go back to playing and is encouraging him to take up golf! At least then he wouldn't require shoulder pads!
QUEEN
Freida became a Red Hat Queen at the 2006 Red Hat Society National Convention in Nashville. Her title is Queen Yaya of the Scarlet Queens of Queenslander. She invites all Yayas regardless of age (gotta be 50 to wear the Red hat- but younger ones can wear the Pink hat) to join her group. Eventually she wants to be able to travel and see the world with her Red Hat sisters. In October she is leading a group on the 2nd Annual Cruise for the Cure, sponsored by Queenslander Tours. This unique cruise brings Red and Pink Hatters, Zumba enthusiasts and breast cancer survivors and families all together for a fun-filled trip to Mexico and another Cruise for the Cure: All Feet on Deck on March 9th to Turks & Caicos and in May she is traveling to Italy for Queenslander's Italy's Great Cities Tour. Stay tuned!
Scarlet Queens of Queenslander
www.queenslandertours.com
Save Your Tatas!!! Go Get a Mammogram!
LIVE. LOVE. LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT. UNWRAP IT!
