Bruce Ruede, my bow-legged bowling friend…

Yesterday we lost a dear friend. Bruce Ruede has been fighting cancer since early this year and it was very difficult to say goodbye. Bill, myself, Nicole, Danielle, Michelle and Pete were able to see him in his final moments….we are very fortunate that we were given the opportunity to tell him we love him and that he will be missed. Bruce was a delightful, funny, caring, kind and generous man. Bruce, you will always live in our hearts.

Please pray for his wife Nikki and their family.

“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill” – Muhammad Ali

My son-in-law, Billy, gave me this quote after my 2nd round of chemo-therapy and this quote says it all! Thank you, Billy for the quotes you give me, I love them. My will is strong even though at times my body isn’t.

2nd round of chemo went a lot better than the first. I had chemo “Days 1-3” Monday-Wednesday just before Thanksgiving, so on Thursday and Friday I pretty much just stayed in bed. However, I was able to get up on Friday afternoon for a belated Thanksgiving dinner, which the girls prepared.

Dinner was fairly low-key this year except for the “Snoopy effect.” Snoopy is a minature beagle who is only motivated by food and a leash (she loves to go on walks – but probably because she anticipates a treat at the end). Well, Snoopy got a hold of some turkey bones, so Billy and Pete tried to coax them away from her with a treat, but this beagle does not give up her food for anything. She got very angry and tried to bite Pete but instead she bit onto the table cloth and pulled it down with glasses of wine and plates of food flying everywhere!! Dinner over!! Dog Out!!

I was able to get up and around on Sunday and ran a few errands with Bill and then Monday, Danielle and I headed back down to Tucson for day “8” of chemo. I am slowly gaining more energy and feel better by the day.

OK, well it’s that time of year again. ASU vs UofA game. Manny and I are now even on our bet going into the game. I got a call from him yesterday wanting to up the ante. I will not be deterred and will take him up on this. Go Devils!! As Manny should know, Devils can survive in ominous places!! Keep looking…a scum devil lurks among you mildcats!

Love to all,
Colleen