Today is my 73rd birthday, the start of 74 years on planet earth. I am so thankful to God, all my family and friends, and my medical teams for the opportunity to begin another year. In this selfie, I own and praise God for all the wrinkles.
Vince says I look better in hair. The wig is partially compliments of the Check For a Lump, a local Phoenix cancer resource organization. A friend at church said I look sophisticated. I have wanted to be sophisticated since I was seven, and I got a new pair of red tights for my birthday, which I thought did the trick! Now I know it’s hair that makes the difference.
Today’s post inspired by
- Tanka Tuesday
- Cell Pic Sunday
- Thursday Doors
- Weekend Coffee Share/Photographing Public Art
- Sunday Stills
- Weekly Smile
snug-fitting plush wig
youthful sophistication
tops invisible
wishful thinking hair stubbles
indication of new days.
Tanka 5/7/5/7/7
©Marsha Ingrao
Thank you to Lisa the host of this week's Tanka Tuesday with Synonyms only promise and comfort. My synonyms came from the Oxford Languages Synonym pages.
Today, I will celebrate with blogging friends in Scottsdale, and I’ll share pictures later. Tomorrow, I finish the last day of radiation treatment. In a week, Vince, Goldie, Moji, and I will head to California for an extended stay to visit family and friends. By that time, the itch of bedbug bites will fade into the past, along with all the struggles with the reappearance of cancer.
This week, I’ve stayed in my hotel room most of the time, getting business done with Story Chat, my brother’s bills, catching up on phone calls, and even blogging a bit. I also praise God for the lovely people here at La Quinta who work all day to clean the rooms. I never saw a housekeeper working while I stayed at Extended Stay America in Scottsdale.
Fun Murals
These pictures are from two weeks ago when Vince stayed with me. We ate dinner at this cute restaurant, Handlebar J, where we had almost front-row seats for the in-house music. So fun.
The side wall was a painted mural. Combined with the simple landscaping, it looked like a Western movie set.
You can see that there is a fancy door for Thursday Doors.
Watch out for the wily woman in the upstairs window. She might lure you in through the saloon doors, which is the wrong entrance. To get inside, you have to pass the skeleton in front of the building.
Once you go inside, I think there is live music every night. Can you tell if the landscape cactus is real or fake?
The artist bids you a pleasant evening of line dancing in your fancy cowboy boots. He hopes you will have a quail of a good time. 🙂 xxx
What are you anticipating this week?
Marsha Ingrao Always Write 
117 responses to “Anticipating New Adventures Over a Cuppa”
Catching up now we’re home again. I know you had a lovely birthday and so did your little birthday twin in Australia.
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Awww, my little twin is getting so grown up now that he has a baby sister in the family.
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Lol, his “sister” is actually a baby brother and he is delighted, although he did tell his mum that babies aren’t very much fun.
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How am I so lame? Babies are a lot of work and too darn cute! Even kittens. Thinking back to all the kittens we bottle fed to keep them alive. Whew! At least we didn’t have to change their diapers or bottle feed them for months and months!
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Marsha, happy birthday! Congratulations on reaching this big milestone. I can relate to reaching 73 – I celebrated that milestone in June. Hope everything goes well with your treatments. I am also a cancer survivor. Never Give Up!
Wishing you many happy adventures! Every day is a gift.!
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Every day is a gift. Congratulations, my almost twin. I’m glad we both survived! Yay! I am blessed to be all done with treatment. Now I just have follow-up appointments. Easy! 🙂 xxxxxxxx
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Oh my Marsha, I am so in awe of your attitude and grateful heart sharing your update. I absolutely love your selfie and new dew. Maybe you let it grow into that. Your poem says it all.. sophisticated for sure. It will be so great to get home. Thanks for this lovely post and update along with your amazing murals. You are resilient, healing and on the road to recovery and I’m sooooo happy to hear this wonderful news💗🙏🏼💗
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Thank you, Cindy. I am blessed indeed. I met many who had a much harder road.
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You’re so welcome and I’m certain you did. It’s not a camp you would sign up for and do meet much heartache and blessings for sure🌹🌹🌹
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True, but it was more encouraging than heartache. Everyone had such a positive story.
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A lovely post about Thankfulness, Marsha. And you do look sophisticated, though red tights would add a bit of flair indeed. 🙂 (Love that little anecdote). And thanks for sharing the murals. I love street art. Glad you’re on the mend, my friend. Enjoy your returning strength, and hair. ❤ ❤
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Thanks, Diana! I’m excited about all of those things. However, I didn’t get any red tights for this birthday, sadly! 🙂 xxx
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Lol. Darn.
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I wished you happy birthday over the phone! Who did you meet up with? I hope to see Ingrid, Nancy and Jodie while we’re there. It won’t be the same without you, though. You’re inches from your road trip. I hope you can snap a few pics of the California rental. I love the wig or should I say, your new ‘do! And the cute poem to go along with. Hugs and traveling mercies this week! 🙏🤎
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Thank you my dear friend! We are both excited. All that’s left to do here is get Moji to the groomer and clean house. Everything is packed into the cars except clothes and food.
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Belated birthday greetings, Marsha. You’ve been in my thoughts and prayers. Love this picture of you and of course your attitude, as always! May you enjoy many blessings in the year ahead, especially good health.
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Thank you Corinne. I am ready to enjoy good health. LOL!
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Happy birthday, Marsha! You are looking lovely!
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Thank you Julie. You are super kind! 🙂 xxxx
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Happy belated Birthday! Praying for much strength on your cancer journey. One thing we’ve learned with my dear hubs is that each type of cancer brings its own set of challenges. Take Care!
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Happy birthday Marsha:)
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Thanks, Bruce! 🙂
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Happy belated birthday, Marsha! I’m glad your radiation treatments are done. I hope you have a wonderful celebration with friends in Scottsdale and more wonderful time in California. The mural looks beautiful. I love your two photos with the cacti. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Thanks, Natalie. If it weren’t for the fact we age quickly enough anyway, it’s too bad we can’t have birthdays more often. It’s a great excuse to get together. 🙂 xxx
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I agree, your hair looks sophisticated. I love the murals. Happy birthday, by the way!
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Thanks, for the kind words, Pamela!
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Happy Birthday Marsha you look amazing? I love that hair it really suits you.
I am so grateful to have read this lovely post, so full of joy and optimism , wonderful words and photos .
I am so glad to hear your radiation treatment is almost over . Stay well and stay beautiful 💜💜💜
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Thanks, Willow. I have lots of help and support staying well. Beautiful is in the eyes of the beholder! Thanks for the compliment! 🙂 xxxxx
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Well I have a good eye and I meant what I said 💜
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xxxxxx and you are kind and love me, as I do you! 🙂
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Thank you and yes I do 💜
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A late Happy Birthday! Glad that the radiation is now over. I am sure that will make your get-away that much better. Enjoy the weekend!
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Indeed. Did you give anyone a scare in your Halloween costume?
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On Halloween there was one 6 year old Harry Potter that seemed to be running around the line for the candy then stopped dead when he saw me. He stared for a second then ran back to the end of the line. Besides that, nobody else was scared, except me 😉
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hahaha Sounds like Janis’ story for Halloween last year on Story Chat. Our book will be coming out soon. I sent the proof back to Colleen this morning. Wahoo! 🙂 xxx
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Sounds good. Sorry I haven’t been to responsive about the book – it has been a very odd year and every time I sat down to look at the copy something came up, so… The last I looked I think it was fine – the formatting issue of the very first draft was fixed (I think) and everything else from the first draft was fine.
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I think we fixed a few double spaces after periods, which is super minor! You did a great job of editing it yourself, and I love the story! I hope you will have one for Story Chat next year. 🙂 xxx
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I have been super remiss in writing this year, but perhaps doing a Story Chat would help me get back into it 🙂
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That works! You have so many diverse talents, it would be hard to focus!
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sometimes…
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Happy birthday, Marsha! Congratulations on completing your treatments! I enjoyed your poem and the pictures you shared with us. Enjoy your vacation with family.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Thanks, Yvette! 🙂
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Happy Birthday Marsha! I hope you celebrated in a big way!! I’m glad to hear your done with treatments and praying all goes well from here on out!
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Thanks, Kirstin! It was a great day all in all! 🙂 xxxx
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Hi Marsha, thank you for this lovely post. You are looking wonderful. I read your beautiful submissions for Sunflower Journal this morning and was very moved. Huge hugs
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Thank you, Robbie. I wanted to dig deeper than normal. I love the way you write, Cindy, and Sadje. All of you seem to touch cords deep inside. I don’t know if I succeeded, but I tried. 🙂 xxxx
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Hi Marsha, you did succeed. Your poems are wonderful.
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Thank you, your compliment means a lot. Colleen has to have a lot of patience with me. For a teacher, I follow instructions very poorly! LOL 🙂
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Happy belated birthday, Marsha! 🥳🥳🥳
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Thank you my forgiving friend! Lots of love xxxx
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Wishing you well Marsha and my respect on the way you are handling your situation. A positive approach can really overcome so many hurdles!
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Thank you, Paul. I have a lot of help, first from God, of course, but my husband, friends, and medical team have been fabulous. 🙂 xxx
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Happy birthday, Marsha! Your hair looks great. I thought you’d just gotten a new haircut. I was considering copying your new style! You look wonderful. Thanks to God that you finished your treatments and you can get out to do things. I was thinking about you. Have fun on your trip to CA. My husband has a brother and two sisters there plus nieces and nephews. They live in San Jose, Fresno and Sanger. I know you’ll be happy to visit your son. Take care. Prayers for you. 🙏
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We are going very close to there. We rented a mobile home in a park in Visalia. Our son is in Sacramento. 🙂 xxx You can still copy the style, if you want. It’s easier to put on a wig! LOL I don’t know if my stubbles will ever be thick enough to stand on their own again, but I’m getting used to this. 🙂
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🎶 Happy birthday to you, Marsha 🎶! 🎂🎈 You look good with your selfies. Congratulations on your successful treatments. I celebrate with you for your new day and new year. Wishing you many more wonderful years! 🌹 💞
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Thank you, Miriam! I look forward to seeing you one of these days soon. 😘🥰❤️
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That’s a good plan, Marsha. ☺️
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A very happy birthday 🎂 to you Marsha, to many more 🥂.
Enjoy your day. You look great in your selfie. 😘 Birthday hugs 🤗
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Thank you, Ute. Hope you are well. Xxxx
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Happy Birthday, Marsha! You look beautiful! I love your hair. It suits you just right. What great photos, too. I’m adding you to my prayer list. Will be lifting you up daily until you are cancer free. ❤️
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Thank you, my friend. You should only have one day to pray. My treatments are done tomorrow. Of course, no one is ever cancer free, but it is not acting up. I’ve been very blessed that it was another stage one lump that did not affect any lymph nodes or metastasize. Yay!
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I’m so happy to hear this!! Thank you for letting me know.
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Thanks for all the prayers. You don’t have to stop, but there are many in the breast cancer community that need our prayers.
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Happy Birthday, Marsha – Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!
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Thank you so much, Donna. I was thinking about you today. Did your ears burn? I wasn’t gossiping, just missing you since I’ve been on my blogging break. 🙂 xxxxxxxxx
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It’s great to be thought of. Hopefully it was all good! 😀
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Always, Donna. You are always an inspiration. I see your smiling face all over the blogging community. 🙂 xxx
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Happy birthday and keep having fun Marsha ❤️
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Thank you, my friend. I can’t stop doing that!
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Happy Birthday, Marsha! You look fabulous in your wig, and you are right about the wrinkles we’ve earned over the years. Enjoy your blogging friends and your time in California (nowhere near San Diego, I guess?).
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We are going about 6 driving hours north of SD. We lived in the Central Valley for many years, so that’s where we will be staying, with trips to Sac to see our son, and trips to the coast to see friends. 🙂 Can’t wait!
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Happy Birthday, good to see you, and I loved the art you share… Sending love and healing thoughts your way xx 💖
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Thank you so much, Sue. I’ve been feeling all the prayers and well wishes everyone has been sending me. I feel almost like me again. We are excited about going back to CA for a few months and seeing friends and family. It’s good to leave behind the cancer and move forward! 🙂
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It is… And I am sure when you reunite with those family and friends, NEW energy will invigorate you even more.. ❤ 🙏💖
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I agree, my friend! I can’t wait!
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EnJOY xx
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You look fabulous, young lady! And you’re a fine role model. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead. You deserve it!
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Thank you sweet Jo. Wish we could celebrate together! Oh the fun we could have!!! 🙂 xxxxx
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Wishing you a Happy Birthday and many healthy years to come. The hair looks great! Very sophisticated.
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hahaha, thanks so much, Suzanne. I definitely look better with hair than without. 🙂 xxx
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Happy Birthday! I think I’ve been to the Handlebar – back when my sister lived in Scottsdale.
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It’s a small world. We enjoyed it. Both the music and food were good. 🙂 xxxx
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Happy Birthday Marsha. I’m right there with you (turning 70 today). The best day to be born! I love the photos, and I wish you all safe travels and a wonderful time with your family.
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Thank you, my friend. Happy 70th. My brother turned 71 two weeks ago today. We are fortunate to have lived in such an amazing period of time where there have been so many changes, and we are still young enough to do so much. I look at all your writing, photography, woodworking and so much more. Life is still full. 🙂 xxx
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We are fortunate. Marsha.
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Indeed. 🙂 xxx
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Happy birthday, Dan!
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Thanks Miriam!
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best wishes on your birthday, Marsha 🙂
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Hi Lady Lee. Thanks so much! I’ve missed reading your posts every week. I’m just about ready to come off my blogging break, so I look forward to reading more lovely poems and seeing your pictures. 🙂 xxxx
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Happy birthday, Marsha.
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Thank you so much, Phil. 🙂 xxx
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Love the art you found and happy birthday! Looking forward to celebrating it with you later and thankful that you’re doing so well healthwise. ❤
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Thanks, Janet. The lunch today made my day! Vince was jealous to have missed it. 🙂 xxxxx
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I was sorry he couldn’t make it.
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He was too. He had a miserable time without me to herd the animals. He would have much preferred to be with us.
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☹️
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Doggie and kitty accidents in the house.
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😖
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Happy Birthday!
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Thank you special mom! 🙂
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Happy Birthday! and MANY more!!
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Thank you dear Annette! 🙂 xxx
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Many many returns of the day. “Happy Birthday, Marsha! Beautiful looking your selfie. Very nice Today finished radiation treatment.. God bless you, Tack Care!
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Thank you dear Raj. It’s been an easy three weeks, but I’m glad to be finished. 🙂
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Welcome my dear, Marsha! That’s good it finished without problem! God bless you, Tack Care!🤗
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You too, Raj!
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Best to you on this special day, Marsha! May you enjoy many more.
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Thanks so much, Grant! No one knows how many days we get, but this one was lovely, and I enjoy each one as it comes – except during chemo. I’m afraid I did a bit of complaining.
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What a wonderful mural. I shall have to look that place up this winter.
Happy Birthday, Martha! Safe travels to California, and wishing you the best of results with your treatments.
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Thanks so much, John. We may miss you and Lynn this year since we are going to spend a good part of the cold in CA. If you feel like driving west, come see up. We will have a place to stay. 🙂 Give Lynn lots of hugs from us. xxx
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A very happy birthday dear Marsha. You’re looking just amazing dear friend. Hope you have a marvelous day. Lots of hugs and love
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Thank you, dear Sadje. I feel like myself again. I had a wonderful day with blogging friends here in Scottsdale, and only one more radiation treatment tomorrow. Yay! Hope you are well. See you soon. 🙂
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You’re most welcome. I’m glad that the treatment is going well. Lots of hugs and love ❤️
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Happy birthday Marsha, may your day be filled with love, fun and laughter, glad you’ll spend it with blogging friends, and enjoy the vacation next week! Xx
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Thank you dear Carol Anne.
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