Tacos and Poker

Jim's been craving 'homemade' tacos for weeks now and finally his taste buds were satisfied Saturday night along with his love of poker and love of his grand children.  He's always loved the game of poker, often fondly reminiscing about playing poker with the guys on his assigned ship when he was in the Navy.  He tells the story of holding A's and 8's (just like "Wild Bill" Hickok, an American Old West folk hero) when his ship was fired upon sitting off shore in Vietnam and the crew was called to battle stations having to leave their cards and bets on the table.  Few know that Hickok's true name is "James" Butler Hickok.  Few know that Jim's true name is "James" Edward Hess.  

James is one of the most common male names in the English-speaking world. In the United States James was one of the five most common names for male babies for most of the Twentieth Century. Its popularity peaked during the Baby Boom (Census records 1940-1960), when it was the most popular name. Mentioned in the Bible is another James (known as 'James the Just') the brother of Jesus.  Jim (James) was born in the month of October, sign of the scales - Libra. He's always been 'just' and 'fair' and this quality is most likely one of the reasons his Facebook group 'Fair Play for JFK' is so well respected and so popular.  

When our own kids were little, we often had Family night where we spent hours playing board games or card games. Poker was always our most favorite.  We sat at the kitchen table and used whatever we could find to use as poker chips such as pennies, dry beans, or toothpicks.  We stuffed our bellies with snacks and candy as laughter and love covered our family like a warm blanket.  It was a night to stay up late, a night to bond and a night to make memories that we all shall cherish for a lifetime.  

Good food, games and children, what more fun can one have?  We had a wonderful time reliving 'Poker Night' with the Bellahs (our daughter Tiffany, her husband Shawn and their four precious children - Grace 16, Joy 10, Chance 8 and May 6).  Joy won the big hand of the night with a game of No Peekie and Tiffany was the overall winner with the most chips at the end of our evening.  Oh, btw, we now have real chips, although I do miss substituting our play chips with odd items one might find hanging around the home.  One can always find happiness though just hanging around the family! Family means LOVE!!!  Family matters! 

In the beginning...

The first time I saw the Dude, I was still in my teens, awed by life and feeling invincible.  I stood in the doorway of the downtown San Diego neighborhood beer bar called Broadway's Beer Bar, that my friend Glenn owned, scanning the occupants looking for someone when my eyes suddenly locked onto the gorgeous blond hunk leaning over the pool table.  He was playing alone. My heart skipped a beat then resumed beating at a faster pace picking up speed as I slowly walked inside.

I was glad I was wearing sunglasses and my favorite dress, a forest green scooped neck mini with delicate silver chains looped from side to side down the front bodice.  My long blonde hair, which hung straight, as was the style in the sixties, tickling the small of my back, was parted in the middle .  The blond 'greek God' looked up, his eyes never left mine as he successfully completed his break shot, then he winked at me and smiled.  I smiled back. The rest as they "is history".

Our history, our love, our lives together over the last 49 years have had their ups and downs like all couples have filled with challenges and choices.   We did not choose Cancer, it seems it chose us.  For the last four months we have lived in Emergency Rooms, Doctors' offices and various Laboratories where Dude has undergone a series of tests and procedures pinpointing his diagnosis.  Incurable Cancer.  After getting over the initial shock we have accepted our destiny.  We pray for peace, search for hope and vow to keep 'our love' healthy.

I first started this blog, encouraged by my daugther, back in 2011 when we were nooby retirees .  After only one post I then got busy with life, virtual worlds and internet games and began blogging about my fantasy avatar, Sunbeam Magic, instead.                               

I had completely forgotten I had even started this eBlog.  It was originally called "Magical Mystical Moments".  Cancer is not magical nor mystical so I changed the name of this blog and decided to journal this trip, record some of our history, as we navigate through the deep emotions and strong tides pulling us out of our comfort zone into this riptide called Cancer.