Trip to France, July 2023

Trip to France, July 2023

Our vacation in France may not have happened at an ideal time—my dad was declining rapidly and passed away near the end of our trip—but in terms of my health, it turned out to be a good thing. For those two weeks, Mark and I took in the colorful beauty of Provence (and Roman ruins), the rich history and culture of Lyon (and from there, a day in Paris) and then the majesty of Chamonix/Mont Blanc. I was thinking of my dad’s French heritage, and how he never lost his sense of awe at being so small in the vastness of history and nature. Our last couple of days we spent in Annecy, a sort of cool-down after our busier schedule. Once we returned to Austin, I went in immediately for my diagnostic mammogram, after postponing it until after our trip. With my diagnosis came the sequence of doctor visits and procedures, then scheduling of my mastectomies and diep flap reconstruction. Thankfully, while we were away on our trip, Bonnie and Amy had been with Dad at the end, giving him the peace and comfort that he needed, and had handled the immediate arrangements. I will be forever grateful for that. I stepped in for planning the memorial mass. It meant so much to me that Elizabeth and Matthew were at my side with Mark.

France continued: Lyon and Paris

France continued: Lyon and Paris

Jack's Jawsome 4th, and Dog Days of Summer

Jack's Jawsome 4th, and Dog Days of Summer