Farewell 2024

2024 has been more than eventful… and then at times it felt normal again. Let’s begin with the present.

Now

We are heading into the home stretch of treatments. Six more rounds and we will complete the treatment plan. The heaviest of medications is behind us and we are on a fairly steady pace with treatment, steroids, the trough, the neuropathy, and then the rise into the next treatment.

At times we are able to forget that we have been in “Sick mode” all these years now. Just this past weekend we snuck in a last minute long-weekend into the highland lakes area of Texas. We hiked along a rocky lake and spent 90 minutes in the Texas Longhorn Caverns. Our travel partners, Kevin and Phyllis Domingue, just roll with us through the ups and downs of the days. We all enjoy the activity as well as a night of binging through the final episodes of Yellowstone. Our kids in the Austin area drove up for a dinner overlooking the water and sunset followed by an evening of Quiplash on the TV.

December was quiet following Thanksgiving at our house. We resisted putting up Christmas decorations for a couple of weeks until we both felt a little of the spirit. With October and November as a whirlwind with Megan having issues with her Galbladder and Graham spending over a week in the NICU with RSV, it seemed like December was set for a pause. So we have taken it.

Blogs

I have struggled to write the blogs these last few months. My mind and body have been exhausted since we made a push from our Cruise disaster in Alaska to the summer big chemo round. It has been overwhelming to absorb this and make attempts to keep normal life moving forward. As we are starting to come out of the treatment plan, I am also starting to worry about what moving forward looks like for us.

I will look to do more as we head into the summer and as we cross the age line of 59 in 2025.

Grandkids

Bella and Graham Yeakey in the very beginning of their time on this earth reminds me that life is to be enjoyed. The excitement in their eyes and now words from Bella paint a picture of joy. Nothing makes me happier than hearing them giggle back and forth with each other.

Andrew and Andrea are expecting now and it will be fun to see another Louisiana branch of the family tree grow and expand.

Another wedding

You hope as parents is that you set the course well and be there for them in the good and bad times. Chris and Lexi will be married this April and it will bring up the rear on all our kids having navigated the school years, dating, working, and marriage. As we spend more time with them, we can see the dynamics of them becoming a couple and their excitement for the future together.

Work and resetting life

At the beginning of 2024 we had set out with energy to drive our business and work lives. A distraction from the trials we faced daily. As we hit mid year, we realized we needed to shift some gears and and refocus on what we could do over working to inspire others at the same time. Inspiring others required the right mind and energy to do so. It took some time to shift to protecting our own hearts to re-energize for future runs of inspiration.

What we have discovered is that we can continue to inspire by being better ourselves. I see that as we head in to 2025 and completing our treatment that more space will open up. Lord knows that we are too active to just slow down and stay there. No. We still live by sometimes you have to slow down to speed up. So let’s see what the blog brings in 2025.

Friends and Family

In the last couple of weeks, the world lost a beacon of light, Irene Fields. She was my mother’s sister-in-law. Aunt Irene. It was one of the homes that was implanted in my youthful years. I always felt they were the connection to the small town, the country town. It always seemed a slower pace with large yards and not so cramped neighborhoods.

In the last year, I was able to connect a few times with Jeff, their son. When I got the text that she had passed, It made me sad and happy that another Angel was watching down. Their home was always known for laughter, food, and smiles. I know Uncle Larry was at her side through the very end. We love you and the family very much.

Other family and friends continue with their own health struggles. Too many to mention here, but I want each of you to know that not a day goes by that I don’t think about how your day is going and what you are going through.

2025 outlook

I feel real good about 2025. I see us finishing with our spirits, health, and finances. I believe through the last few years we have gained in each of those areas. There are many people that have been our “spirit” guides in each of these areas. I hope as each of you reflect on the last year and look forward to the next that you each find the good to latch onto and release the bad. The days are ahead will be good as we choose to see them that way.

Picture dump

I am going to add a bunch of random photos below from the last few months. Sometimes, when I sit down to write these, I don’t have the time to attach the pictures I wanted. So enjoy a window into the life of the Allemans.