November 26, 2019 - An Ode to My Grumpy Bear

Some of you may know that a long time ago, Jamie and I owned a cabin in Blue Ridge, GA. It was a second home only 1 1/2 hours north of Atlanta. We had that cabin for almost 7 years and used it often. It was an easy getaway from Atlanta and perfect for all seasons. That cabin had a carved Black Bear appliqued on the front door. For many reasons, we named the cabin The Grumpy Bear. The name suits Jamie.

In 2013, we made the thoughtful decision to leave Atlanta. Mason was 3 years-old and we knew we wanted to live in an area that would be a great home for him to grow up. For us, it was not Atlanta. We were yearning for a simpler life where the commute home from the office was not a 2 hour event (each way). We wanted that time in the car to be invested in time with the family. So, we decided to move to Florida. It was the best decision that we made.

But before we could make that move, we made the hard decision to sell the Grumpy Bear. We knew that having a second home 7-8 hours away was not for us. Once we sold the Grumpy Bear, we headed South.

Why am I telling you about the Grumpy Bear? Well, that cabin was Jamie's happy place. He loved the change of seasons, the cold weather, sitting by the outdoor fireplace during winter. He loved fishing on the lake, fly fishing in the streams, and the overall rustic feel of being there. (Before anyone says, "awe, that is so sad. Why did you sell?). We knew the cabin was not a forever home, and it certainly wasn't our retirement plan.

I promised Jamie that we could rent a cabin anywhere, anytime so that he could get his "fix". Admittedly , as Mason grew older, trips to the mountains were more like trips to Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, or even Hogsmeade. But that is what you have to do when you have a little boy, right!

So this brings me to Cohutta Sunset. This is a cabin that we rented for the week of Thanksgiving. It is located in Blueridge and has stunning views. It also is a perfect "gift" to my husband, partner, best friend, and #1 caregiver to me during this cancer fight.

In the years past, you may find us at Disney or Universal the days leading up to Thanksgiving, but we always managed to make it home for Turkey day. Not this year. We are here until Sunday. Rick and Jackie drove up to spend the week with us, which is awesome on many levels. On Sunday, Jamie and I have to return to Atlanta for my 7th chemo infusion treatment. We are blessed that Rick and Jackie will drive Mason home to Florida for school next week. This year also brings a little sadness, as it will be our first family Thanksgiving without my mother, Miss Margaret.

We are looking forward to week of fun, fellowship, and relaxation. It also gives Jamie a break. He needed a change of scenery, a change of perspective. He needed something that would put a pep back into his step. I am confident that this week will give him both. He is very happy. Of course, for all of you that know him, he can't help himself - he has critiqued this cabin at every turn. It kills him, because he knows he could and would build it better. Our only risk is if the fire in his belly begins to burn to "own" a cabin again.

To make the week perfect, my sweet husband brought from home a small Christmas tree to put up and decorate, as this was our Thanksgiving tradition at the Grumpy Bear. We also hope to see close friends that live in the area while we are here. Jackie's brother and wife are also traveling in the area and will join us for our feast on Thursday.

As good luck would have it, my chemo schedule and the calendar have been kissed with kismet. Every holiday - all holidays, fall on my good week, my off week from chemo. So, as I sit here writing this with a beautiful backdrop of a view, I am feeling pretty good. The bone pain is almost gone. I haven't had to take hard drugs (Oxy, Percocet) since Sunday. I am still fatigued, but have been able to manage the pain with Ibuprophen and Ativan at night. With God's grace, I will be in the kitchen cooking like years passed. Of course, I do have the perfect chefs with Rick and Jackie to make this a family affair. We will eat well!

So, as all of you are gathering with your families for Turkey Day, I hope you all have a wonderful day. Hug and kiss your families! They are the most important part of the day. I truly love mine!

Love to all!

Renee