2020 - Life, Covid, Lake Powell premonition
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At first it appeared a blessing to Linda, staying home with her “Mr. Man” Jared, together all day, her diving deep into her CBD academic program. Through no fault of her own or any lack of effort, also like many peoples, this was not good for Jared, and he had major setbacks in his capabilities.
Despite the dire circumstances, her heart and spirit longed for the wilderness. Chaffing at the confinement, they discussed getting the hell out to anywhere. But any significant gadabouting appeared foolhardy. So, they settled on a houseboat on their ambivalent hate-acceptance destination of Lake Powell, deeming that would provide them the surroundings and solitude they craved, have them be together, yet minimize exposure risks.
Most everyone reading this memorial website already knows that in 2021 Linda got cancer. Unbeknownst to anyone but Linda, in 2020 she began choking on her food. Always intent to lose weight, trying like many most real and fad diets, she had modest success, by that meaning she never became obese. But her diet efforts this time around seemed to be working way better, and she lost weight and kept it off. Fatigue began to become prominent, too, what she chalked up to as age and inactivity. A friend told Paul later how Linda complained, too, of chronic and worsening nausea.
She told no one else.
In turned out that with all of Linda’s incredible positivity and spiritual consciousness that these symptoms were the early symptoms of her cancer diagnosed the next year. Like too many, she simply could not believe that with the life she led and the elevated optimism she radiated that she could have a serious underlying medical problem. But she did.
As the year went on, she less and less took Jared out and around, and his functionality regressed, especially walking independently. His sleep became erratic, and he ate only in fits and starts, no regularity. It took until early in 2021 for things to gel and make sense – her diagnosis, his reaction. Later they wondered if it was Jared registering psychic distress at what undoubtedly was occurring within Linda’s body, or just general stress.
But it got their attention, eventually.
Linda would make this plea.
If you have symptoms, ANY OF YOU, do not let your beliefs keep you in denial – seek medical help, however skeptical you may be of the medical system, no matter how much faith you may have in your inherent healing capability.
Linda had Stage 4 metastatic cancer by the time it was discovered, and it was discovered only incidentally by Paul pushing back and chasing down what she thought were “minor symptoms”.
Would it have made a difference?
Given that Linda lived with halfway decent quality of life another 14 months, even had the tumors shrink for the first 6 months of her treatment, given that 90% of those with her diagnosis and stage make it only a few months, who knows?
But probably…
Her cancer journey and tale are detailed in a separate part of this, her website.
That shared, the time she had with the family was precious, and all will remain forever grateful of what she endeavored and did to give them that extra time together.