Halloween and Good Times

This week Julie and I went to see Ashley and Dan for one night at their new home in Sterling, VA., then spent Halloween night in Warrenton with our good friends, Jan and Mike Kessler. We had lots of fun in both places, and Julie was able to spend some extra time with Ashley and Jan while I saw clients both days.

With Ashley and Dan we carved pumpkins. They have these new-fangled pumpkin carving kits with all sorts of intricate designs and special tools that make carving a pumpkin into an art form. There were spiders, ghosts, witches with brooms, black cats in windows and all sorts of special designs. My best efforts previously were two triangles for eyes, one for the nose, and if I really got clever, a mouth with a few jagged teeth.

On Halloween we sat outside with Jan and Mike and some other friends and greeted the hundreds of trick or treaters who marauded through their neighborhood. To give you some idea of the scene, Jan bought $100 worth of candy and still didn't have enough. Parents bus their kids into the neighborhood because they know they can get the most good candy for the least effort there. Hey, I guess it's the American Way. The kids came in all sizes, shapes and costumes and were really cute, and we enjoyed harassing them, and they enjoyed petting our dog, Kiki. We always have a wonderful time with the Kesslers.

I enjoyed getting back into the saddle a bit with clients. It was May when I last did a full day of appointments, and my energy was good. I feel fine and am getting stronger the further I get past chemotherapy.