Back in Portland

Max's celebration (as we called it) was a great success. He wouldn't have liked all of the fuss about him, but otherwise I think he would have had a great time.

All of Max's kids worked very hard on this. It helped to keep busy, if only to keep our minds off of the loss that we all feel.

The ceremony itself was very cool. It was in the church that Max and Norma met at in Woodbury, and the man who introduced them conducted the ceremony. He did a very nice job, overall. We had some very nice music for the ceremony, thanks to norma's friends. Aubrey (norma's son), Diane(Max's older sister) and DeAnne (a long-time friend of Norma and Max's) all read scriptures that were very appropriate. The pastor (Dwight Haberman) did a good job preaching. There was a part of the ceremony where friends and family were given an opportunity to speak about Max. Molly and I told a story together about a time a couple of years ago in Orlando that had the audience laughing. Several other speakers did an absolutely amazing job, and I learned a lot about Max that I hadn't known previously.

At the end of the ceremony we played "Spirit in the Sky" and "Turn, Turn, Turn" a couple of songs that Max liked and are kind of spirtual, and Asked the congregation to sing along. As soon as we started singing the sun broke through the clouds into the church and was very special.

After the ceremony we had a light dinner in the church with coldcuts, cake and pie.

All-in-all it was a very nice ceremony.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Josh Y. and Lindsey, over and over and over and over again for taking care of the cats and the house while we were away. They mowed the lawn, fed the cats (and bought cat food), cleaned the house (and our fridge) and turned on our heat the day we came back.. and probably much much more. We called on the way to the airport the day we flew out and begged them to take care of the cats, because we just didn't have time to do anything between the time we got the call that Max was dying and the time we caught our flight. They also, graciously, scanned a picture of Max on top of a mountain that we had here at the house which we blew up and turned into a 3x3 foot poster for the ceremony. It really set the tone for the whole ceremony and wouldn't have been the same without it. They are great friends and we will always feel in their debt for the rest of our lives for their help.

We're back in Portland now and are back to business as usual (well, not as usual, we don't have somebody to call up and brag to when we're doing very cool stuff)

This weekend is memorial day and so all of the local wineries are open for business. Linze's parents are in town (and have been for a week now), so they get to experience this too! We've alreay mapped out many of the wineries that we are planning on going to this weekend.. and all-in-all it should prove to be one hell of a drunk fest. I just know that it is going to be tough for Molly, since she has been hoping to get her Dad up to portland for this event, ever since last Thanksgiving, so this weekend will be a little bittersweet.

I promise to get caught back up with the rest of our friends very soon! Thank you to everyone who sent emails offering kind words these last few days... I haven't been neglecting you on purpose...

Max May

Max may passed away at 11:30 pm on Thursday, May 15th 2008. He will be greatly missed by everyone that ever met him. The cancer was very aggressive, and we are thankful for the time that we had with him, and greatful that his pain was not dragged out any longer than the four months that we knew of the cancer.

Thank you, Max. I miss you.

Everybody think good thoughts

We just found out on Friday that Max has a tumor on his spine. It explains many of the problems that he has been having these last few weeks (confusion, pain, etc). His back has been hurting for quite some time now, and the powerful pain medicine that he has been on wasn't enough to stop it... which is nearly impossible, we've been told. The tumor on his spinal column would explain that.

They've begun treatment, of course. First radiation, and today they'll do a spinal tap and replace the fluid around the tumor with chemo.

We've been told that this is a very serious procedure, and has the potential to stop his heart. Anybody reading this who feels even slightly religious, please give a prayer to him that he is going to be ok. It's serious enough that Aubry (molly's step brother) and Brian (her brother) have come in just in case it takes a turn for the worst. Katie and Norma are there, too. Max's sister is driving Max's parents in from Michigan to see him on Tuesday. The doctor said that this treatment has the potential to permanently alter his brain (and personality), so he may not be the same Max that we've all come to know and love after this. There are still a lot of unknowns, but those are the worst case scenario. In the best case scenario they'll get this tumor knocked out, and max will not be in as much pain, and therefore will be able to continue the normal Chemotherapy.. and scheduled to be done sometime in Mid-July... then we assume at least 6-7 months of good life, perhaps more.

Molly's is hanging in there, but is very, very down right now. I'm doing what I can to keep her thinking positively, but it is tough sometimes.

Yesterday we went skiing. It was the last weekend that Mt. Hood Skibowl was open, and therefore was free. It was not crowded at all, and we got 3-4 hours of good skiing in. The snow was pretty much slush, so it wasn't the best conditions possible.

Lastly, I want to apologize to those that have been neglected lately because of all that has been going on. It's not that we've forgotten about you, we just have a lot going on right now.

Thank you all for being such great friends and family.

Katie's Graduation!

Today was a very tough day, all-in-all. The important thing is that Max is very proud of himself that he was able to make it to see Kate graduate. It was a very hard trip for him, each way. I'll preface this next statement with: Max is fine. Once we got back home, he tripped on his way into the house and fell backwards, smacking his head very sharply on the pavement. He got a silver-dollar sized bump on the back of his head that bled very profusely for about 15 minutes. He never passed out, and was very clear-headed through the whole thing. We quickly got him to the emergency room where they did a CT scan that was fine, and they cleaned him up and sent him home. Again: Max is fine... just this bump on the back of his head. I'm sure it hurt like

The graduation itself was fine. Molly and Max walked around during the speaches and stuff, and we went and got them a little before they started announcing the "M"s. He was able to see Katie get her diploma, and we took some pictures afterward.

Enjoy the pictures!

Katie's graduation

Beacon Rock!

Last Sunday we decided to go into the Gorge for our hike to a beautiful little spot called "Beacon Rock State Park" on the Washington side of the Columbia River, about 45 miles east of Portland. Of course we had to stop by and see Herman the Sturgeon. He is the largest sturgeon in the world... something like 14ft long.

The hike was awesome! The climb was short but steep. The view was not wonderful but nice. Afterward we went to a second hike in the same park and saw some amazing waterfalls. We got very close to one called the "pool of the winds" where if you put your head near it, you get the sensation not unlike very wet air conditioning. It felt amazing after the mildly warm hike.

Of course, after a hard-day's hiking, we have to hit the wineries. We found some really terrible ones, and some really amazing ones, too. We joined our third wine club, based on the taste (and price) of one very, very good Pinot Noir.

Lastly we ate dinner at the Full Sail Brewery in Hood River. What a day!

Enjoy the pictures.

Beacon Rock