Mom has cancer

Mom has been losing some weight (though otherwise feeling normal), and she's been concerned about it.  We all tended to worry less about this - after all, she had modified her diet quite a bit after being diagnosed with diabetes last year.  But it seemed worthwhile to pursue a checkup, if only for her peace of mind.

Her instincts were correct.  Widespread cancer; pancreatic, liver; probably not much to do in terms of treatment.

There is a lot for all of us to absorb.

Especially her.

She (and we) received the news on the day prior to her 87th birthday.

Tucson trip

Many years since PJ and I have been Tucson tourists (last overnight discussed here).  We keep hearing that development efforts in the past few years (subsequent to EPG's fine graduation ceremony) have resulted in a very nice downtown.  So we gave it a try - the idea being that we could do our usual park-the-car-and-walk (more attractive to us than just hanging out at the big resorts up in the hills, such as this).

Tumacacori

And it turned out great.  Another first for us:  downtown development activities not having included much in the way of hotel-building, we stayed at a bed-and-breakfast (for three nights).  Very fine, old-school building; within walking distance of everything downtown.  I wouldn't normally expect to feel like chatting with strangers at breakfast time, but even that aspect was enjoyable.

My fine traveling companion, alongside what remains of the church at Tumacacori.

We made the rounds:

• Drove down to Tubac as our first stop - enjoyed wandering the town; really enjoyed our lunch at Elvira's.  Highly recommended.  One of the first times I wasn't disappointed in a mole'.
• A couple dinners at Janos Wilder's downtown kitchen.  A couple lunches at Proper (affiliated with the Flagstaff restaurants we like so well).  Delightful. (Somewhat less happy with a dinner we were really anticipating - Cafe Poca Cosa).
• Visited one of my favorite places:  San Xavier del Bac.
• Visited one of my even-more-favorite places:  Tumacacori.  Even took the walking path down to the San Pedro River.
• Did plenty of wandering around downtown Tucson.
• Did a return visit to Tubac on a glorious Sunday morning.

We shall happily go back, sooner than later.

Wandered down to the San Pedro River . . . 

Bell tower on the church just looks great.

 

At Downtown Kitchen.

Ornate breakfast set-up.

It's fun to wander around Tubac.

Inside San Xavier del Bac.