Heatwave

It's like 90 degrees in SF today. And yesterday. And the day before. It's HOT. I can tell by the flags that the wind's blowing straight offshore. You surfers out there know what I mean. Epic!!!

Tomorrow I'm going up north to visit my folks and take their brand-new kayaks out for a spin on the Russian River. Can't wait, except for the fact that if it's 90 degrees here, it's probably 100 degrees there. Let the sunblock commence! And where's my damn hat?

A year ago, the mere thought of my parents owning kayaks would have me choking on my Heritage oats. Why? Dunno, we've just never been one of those "boat" families. Who has the time and money for silly water toys?

Well, a lot can change in a year. My dad's been battling stage 4 cancer since last December when doctors told him he was pretty much doomed. I won't go into the grim details of chemotherapy and sickness. Just don't believe everything the experts say, because miracles do happen. After many grueling months of pain and patience, my dad was recently awarded the presitigous title of REMISSION!!!! Holla!

There's something about looking death in the face that makes you view your own fragility in ways you never could before. Even I still don't truly understand that kind of power. But for my family, time has proven itself life's most precious commodity. Why wait? There are trips to take! Oceans to gaze upon! Food to savor! Hugs to give! Love to share! Kayaks to plunk down in the river for a lovely aquatic picnic smack dab in the middle of nature's finest!

And so tomorrow, we'll go and have a ball and be glad that we're lucky enough to look up at the sky and blow a kiss to whoever is responsible for another fabulous day in the fabulous world. We are SO a boat family.

It's HOT outside. And it feels great! Enjoy today, wherever you are.

Comments

[Thomas]

Hey Sarah, just curious, how far up north? I am in Ukiah, and I sometimes go to the russian river for pictures, sometimes to fish with my family, and though I haven't yet, some friends of mine want to take a few tubes and just float down it. Good way to work on the tan. My sister had cancer, sadly she passed away, but it does give you a better view on life, it makes you appreciate things more. Chemo and radiation are both horrible things to endure, arguably worse than the disease itself, but the few more years it gave her, those were/are priceless. But miracles DO happen, people DO survive, and I am so happy that your dad is in remission. Enjoy your day tomorrow, and blow those kisses to God, without him none of the things around us, or even ourselves, would have ever existed.

Thomas

[B]

Nice post Sarah. Enjoy your weekend.

[Chrys Cruz]

Yeah, life is funny. You spend most of your childhood taking your parents for granted, then you're mad at yourself when you're older for not having spent enough time with them. When my dad passed on in '98, it made me realize that I hadn't known him as well as I wanted to. Now I spend lots of time with mom watching old movies and musicals. She loves the Epson Powerlite S1 projector that TechTV coerced me to purchase via their review ;-)

__C

[HIGHWAY]

Sarah:

I'm glad to hear that your dad's cancer had gone to remission. My own dad died of liver cancer a few years ago and looking back, I wished I spent more time with him and my family.

Take this time to enjoy every minute you are given. Life should never be taken too serious that you can't enjoy the time you're given.

Have a great weekend.

Highway

[Bulldog]

Enjoy your family while you can....we lose people all too fast, even without things like cancer. And I am sad for those who don't even speak to their mom, dad, etc. I feel blessed to have a great relationship with my family, and cherish it.Even at 39 yrs of age. So, to you and yours, have a great day on the river and wear your flotation devices...lifejackets. Caio!

[David]

Sarah, Congrats to your dad for fighting and not giving in! Keep him living life... floating rivers, climbing mountains, whatever it takes to keep those dreams alive inside!

David

[Matt H]

Very true - time is the most precious thing there is. My own Dad has been in remission from grade 4 brain cancer for over a year now, and the one thing he keeps saying is how every new day is an absolute blessing (which my family and I definitely agree with). It's very important to make the most of the time you have with the ones you love, because you never really know how much time you have left with them, regardless of whether they have a serious illness or not. Glad to hear that you and yours are making the most of your Dad's second lease on life.

[Tony]

Great news about your dad. A positive attitude helps, never give up!

[Leon]

Yo Ms. Lane, Just wanted to give a shout out to your dad and wish your family continued support. Cancer sux and it feels like everyone has it or is gonna get it (dear god, I hope not!). So anyway, congrats on your dad's recovery!

[Tim]

Hey Sarah! That's absolutely awesome that your dad is in Remission!! I've only been kayaking twice before in my life and loved it immensely - my girlfriend in high school's family were 'boat people'...it's a very cool activity!

[michael]

Sara, life does throw you curves, sometimes, u hit them and others you let them pass by. It will be 2 years this october since i lost my father to cancer. So i also understand what your going through. My father never had the chance for remission, so i say God Bless your father for looking death in the eye, and saying No!! I was 30 when he passed, glad he got to see me turn alil older:-) The one thing, i thought i would never believe is the afterlife. I had the most wonderful experience not long after his passing that he visited me and yes i knew everything going on, i was awake at the time(sorry that was meant for the na sayers). It was an eye opener like most say, that you look at life in a different way, trying to change things about yourself. Give your dad a BIG HUG and always tell him I LOVE YOU DAD, those are words that helped me through dad's sickness. Writing you this is bringing tears to my eyes, sorry.. Just be true to yourself Sara and all will be ok! Thank-you..

[CoolB]

Glad to hear your dad is doing better Sarah :) You and your family have fun kayaking.

[Corey]

Well im glad to hear that your dad has gotten through cancer something that very few people do. I guess it just show ya that life can be taken away like that.

[Mac]

Health and best wishes to your dad and whole family. I have been there to.

Mac

[Matt C]

Best wishes and continued blessings for you and your family, Sarah, that is such good news. To echo the statements of previous posters, never take anything or anyone for granted - I lost my father to brain cancer 12 years ago. The worst part and the best part is that it happened so quick, he passed away exactly six weeks after diagnosis. I also lost a good friend last week who had been fighting it for a year and a half. It's really enough to make a person totally cynical, but great stories like this brighten my outlook and are truly a cause for celebration for the whole Lane family and friends. Thanks for having the courage to share something so personal with people so anonymous. You have a strong heart, Miss Lane.

[ben]

haha! you americans and your imperial measurement system =D

[Edward W]

Sarah,

Glad to hear your father is in remission. We lost my father this year to cancer, I guess the only good thing is he did not suffer long and is no longer in pain. Wish you and yours all the best. By the way passed my first MCSE test a couple weeks ago, thanks for the encouragement. Good Luck with all, Ed.

[David Birney]

Hi Sarah,

It's great to hear that your Dad is in remission. My father has just been diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunatly it seems to have spread, and they have no idea where it started. Therefore no idea exactly how serious it is. So I'm certainly starting to know how horrible it is to have a loved one with cancer. We can hope for the best in both of our cases.

[JJ]

It's Jesus Christ who is the one to thank Sarah!

John 3:16

[Chris Inman]

You're definitely not alone Sarah. My dad passed from cancer in 91' when I was 18. And now my mom has congestive heart failure. Probably caused from chemo when she had cancer. There's nothing like enjoying the present and spending quality time. Life goes on and our loved ones are immortalized in ourselves. I have a strong belief in a higher plane and the afterlife. The show crossing over just confirms it. It's a beautiful time of year everybody. Enjoy it!!!

Take care everyone,Hyper Smiley :)

[Ashley]

Yah its been hot here lately and its kinda strange around here its usually very cold well its going on and off with hot and cold weather lol people are gonna start getting sick the way its going on..

[Tom]

It's a wise person that understands that somethings are important and that others are not. I believe that it was Robert Traver that said something to the effect (an I no doubt misquote here) "I fish, not because it is important, but because so much else of life is equally unimportant."

[a more different Thomas]

words i try to live by:

Live Until You Die.

[Ted]

I'll say one thing for you, You certainly do share. of course there's always been something about you slightly different from the rest of the girls at the station. Not that they're dishonest, I guess you're just more open. I wish your dad all of the luck in the world. I know of one other success story with lymphoma. He survived when they said he had only months and it's been twenty years of remission. may you be as lucky. My dad had level four throat cancer so I know it's the worst. He wasn't as lucky. the operation only incapacitated him and I wish he'd just lived out his remaining time as whole as he was.

good luck!

[superdude]

if u think 90 degrees is hot come to dallas, heatwaves here are around 105

[Reverse cell phone lookup]

Great news about your father. Cancer is such an ugly word; unfortunately it runs in my family, too.