Hey, Beth. What Happened to 2025?

February 17, 2025 visit with our son Glen, and Leia in San Francisco. Such a good connection.

Dear Friends and Family,

Perhaps you noticed in 2025, I didn’t send any newsletters. Or, if you saw a photo, you may have wondered if I was wearing a wig. Which I was most of the year—and sometimes it was crooked (as above).

2025 began with a bang—and not a good one. November 4, 2024, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of endometrial cancer. Chemo started on Dec 26, 2024. I’m not going to elaborate on that ordeal here. I’m now in monitoring mode. With a few side effects lingering, I’m super grateful to have the treatment in the rearview mirror.

Throughout the year, I posted stories of how we coped and updates with what I was learning medically on CaringBridge.org (Beth’s Caring Bridge), which you’re welcome to visit.

Thank you to all who shored us up through 2025.

6 photos: Beth with sister Nora; Beth getting a chemotherapy infusion, Jim and Beth outdoors at Fay bainbridge park smiling, Beth's first post-chemo Bike Ride, with Friends at a Writing retreat, Beth being introcuced by Jim Albert bookstore manage

Photo Overview of 2025

1) Feb 6: With my sister, Nora, at Virginia Mason’s Cancer Center in Seattle. When she learned how hard witnessing the first treatment had been on Jim, she volunteered to drive 6 hours over from Oregon for the next four infusions. A silver lining of this whole mess was spending time with my wonderful sister. I remember helping to feed her when she was the family baby before our two brothers were born. XOXO

2) Feb 6: Second of six, five-hour chemotherapy infusions, I tried using cold-caps to minimize hair loss from chemo, but it didn’t work.

3) June 8: Photo by Dianne Bigge at Faye Bainbridge Beach when she and Sudie visited from Alaska. I don’t know how I could have gotten through the year without Jim and Nora’s support.

4) June 29: First post-chemo, and post-radiation, bike ride with Jim as my coach.

5) July 19: Live Band Night at Anderson Island Writing Retreat with friends, Jenn, Gusty, and Gretchen. We learned (about each other and writing)—and laughed a lot.

6) Oct 3: Bainbridge downtown First Friday Art Walk book event at Sotheby’s/Realogics featuring artist Barbara Bowen’s stunning work and my book. Jim Albert (Eagle Harbor Bookstore events manager) shares a story from Deep Waters, while the wonderful band, Harmony Wombats, takes a break.