Suzy Says

Ready to break out of the Big House!

So among the many disastrous events of the Annus Horribilis of 2024 was my beloved brother-in-law Rob being diagnosed with bladder cancer the day before Thanksgiving. This did not improve my gratitude quotient. He had the tumor removed in December (merry Christmas!) and subsequently learned that the cancer had made itself at home in his bladder walls, so the bladder had to come out (happy new year!). If it didn’t, Rob would have the shelf life of a dairy product.

So he and Megan headed off to hot as hell Sacramento, or, as Megan unaffectionately called it, Sacoshit. Rob was in really good medical hands, and he faced the surgery and its aftermath with his usual stoic cheerfulness and quirky humor, a key part of his Robosity.

They were gone for 10 days, which is approximately a century. Hospital days are about 10 years per day. While they were gone, some friends and I took turns looking after the dogs, who clearly missed their regular routine and actual owners. Here you see them hanging out while their babysitter sits in the garden, sipping a cocktail and leafing through fashion magazines.

I noticed pretty quickly that dogs are not cats. When dogs walk all over you, bruises result, and Stella’s snoring vanquished earplugs with a pillow over my head with no contest at all. On the plus side, though: no litterbox.

Megan and Rob were glad to finally get home and back to what is the new normal. New normals are never as good as old normals. But I’m just thankful we still have Rob.

A YEAR AGO: Celebrating Megan’s birthday. We had no idea what lay ahead.

FIVE YEARS AGO: We lost the Beautiful Harriet at the ancient age of 19. We still miss her.

TEN YEARS AGO: Megan’s birthday BBQ.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: Some quality Girl Time.

TWENTY YEARS AGO: My inner warrior.

Sometimes, you don’t have to go far to have an other worldly experience. Megan and I took a brief 50 mile road trip together recently. Sisters only!

We stayed in our county, but the terrain and the temperatures could not have been more different. We started at the foggy coast, made our way through the ancient redwood trees and giant ferns and emerged into the beautiful Valley, where the grapes are spreading their leaves in the spring sunshine and the rolling hills are making their annual transition from green to gold.

We took the switchback road to the county seat, checked into our very nice and modern hotel (the same one I stayed at for the wedding a couple of years ago), and then headed out again. Our chariot awaited! Yes, we got to take an actual taxi! Our destination was the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy.

We were greeted with this lovely foyer:

and found our seats. The room was decorated beautifully and eerily:

and many of the audience were dressed up as well. I had my work clothes on, which is about as good as I get these days.

We were supplied with a cocktail upon arrival, and settled back for a wonderful evening.

The actors told us a little about Poe’s life before giving dramatic recitations of his work:

and each story or poem was matched to his stage of (brief) life and a cocktail inspired by the work. How fun is that?

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. After the performance, we strolled to a nearby restaurant. It was one of those lovely, balmy evenings you don’t get on the coast, and it was so nice to walk past the old houses on the tree-lined streets with no coat on.

Of course, we sat on the patio at the restaurant, where still more cocktails were required as we perused the menu.

We had a delightful dinner and then our friend the cabdriver took us back to our hotel. It was a perfect evening.

A YEAR AGO: Mother’s Day is never easy for me.

FIVE YEARS AGO: The mixed emotions of Mother’s Day.

TEN YEARS AGO: Megan and Rob officially adopted Stella.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: A roundup of pet news.

TWENTY YEARS AGO: What to do with too many tomatoes.