Ten

Date: January 14, 2023 at 10:25:35 AM PST

Dear friends, The view from Betsy’s hospital room window offered little inspiration, becoming a frame for her yearning to be near the ocean. The ocean, being a source of peace, acceptance, and joy for her, is where she finds an understanding that speaks the language of her heart more than explains things her mind can understand. She was discharged from the hospital on January 2nd and we moved into an AirBnB that same day in La Jolla, in a place that so satisfyingly fits Betsy’s wishes. We’re in a single story California craftsman bungalow, just 1500 feet from a beach voted one of the best beaches in the United States. It’s a 3-bedroom house, with Betsy and me in one room, Cassidy in another, and Jessica, Phil, Story and Sookie in the third. This is a special - albeit somber, self-reflective, interactive, and even festive - time for the family and we’re making the most of the days we have. Almost daily, we wheel Betsy down to the beach, or rather to the walk along the cliffs overlooking the beach. We’ve spent much time in past years walking among the monstrous black outcroppings of basalt on this expansive sandy beach and, on these days of severe weather to the north, we now watch the waves crashing against the rocks below us, welcoming the spray that rains down on us like wet fairy dust. So, rather than spending these precious days recovering from surgery, making trips to the hospital for radiation treatment, and negotiating the effects of chemotherapy, Betsy is thriving on this special time of engaging with the family. She’s talking but not walking and her right side is paralyzed. She’s eating well, her granddaughter is growing right in front of her, and in the evenings we’re watching videos of the intimate, unusual, and loving life of our family and friends that I recorded from the time the kids were born. There is time for talk, exchanging of gratitude, sharing of laughter and tears, and deepening of connections for all of us. And sweet sweet visits, as well, from brothers and sisters, both blood-related and beyond. We’re appreciating the support we’re getting - from each other in shopping, cooking, having gotten the place, maintaining it, and the moment to moment care that comes from and goes to each of us as we go about living together here; from the dear angels of Hospice, providing so much tangible and intangible support, each caregiver being a seva yogi of sorts; and from you all, our community that is blessing us with love, prayers, food, communication, and gifts of care. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love, Jimmy and family Here are a few pictures taken in recent days… Betsy and Cassidy collaborating on design and construction, just before Christmas at the hospital.

Betsy was discharged late in the day on the 2nd. Here we are arriving at the AirBnB that we’ve rented for the month of January.

That previous picture shows the house across the street. This is what the place we’re in looks like in the daytime.

Phil and Story, likewise feeling right at home here.

Betsy’s favorite wall in the house. It looks like it would have been right at home in our house in Paonia.

A sunbow (a rainbow around the sun) beaming down on us at the beach.

Betsy, in a place where she feels most at home.

And making our way back home.