We continue to take each day as it comes. I spent 12/21 to 1/2 in Spokane making arrangements for a place for Pat. I encountered roadblocks at every turn, most notably the VA social workers, and called Ken on 12/28 and said I needed reinforcements. Our friends, the Schulers, arrived at SeaTac on Wednesday and the 3 of them drove directly to Spokane. We spent New Year's Eve in a hotel room.

Pat is now at the VA nursing home in Spokane. We continue to have ups and downs with doctors at the VA Hospital, but there is nothing positive to report with the prognosis.

I stayed at my brother Mike's over Christmas and he, his wife Mary, and son Joel went out of their way to include me in their holiday. Actually, it was not as difficult as it might seem since I was so preoccupied with getting Pat moved and settled that it didn't even seem like Christmas.

The weather has been very cold here in Steilacoom, and this being an old house only adds to the chill. It has been down in the 20's at night. The summit area at Snoqualmie was like a postcard when we returned to Steilacoom last Sunday. No huge buildup of snowbanks along the sides of the Interstate, but the trees all hung heavy with beautiful white fluffy snow.

May 2005 be good to you.

Ciao, Helen