Yes, this is true.  Although I like to keep this blog light in tone, I don’t want to be disingenuous and say that everything is wonderful all of the time.  When you are out travelling for a good length of time, things happen and you don’t always have control over when these things occur.  

Shortly after our arrival here in La Paz we found out that Jim’s sister-in-law, Sherril, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  We were so sad to hear this news and wondered if we should just cancel and come home.  Jim’s brother, Don, insisted that we stay.  There was nothing we could do at home and there was no indication of timing.  So, we made the decision to stay and Jim kept in touch with his brother.  Over the course of the weeks, it seemed as if her doctors had things in hand and we thought that perhaps this would be a slow moving illness.  A few weeks back, we were feeling confident enough to extend our visit here until the end of March.  Just after that decision had been made, things went horribly wrong and in the space of just two weeks, Sherril was gone.  To say we are devasted is a total understatement.  We are so sad for Sherril’s shortened life, for her family’s loss and for the loss in our own lives.  

We have spent this past week wandering around, feeling a bit lost – sleeping a lot and talking about how we feel.  As there will be no celebration of life until the summer, we have made the decision to stay until our return date, but our hearts are with our family up in Canada right now.  I will get back to posting interesting tidbits of our travels here, but didn’t feel I could move forward without acknowledging this huge loss in our lives.  

Life is a gift.  As our friend, Louis, who we met at the beginning of this journey said “your job now is to live”.  We intend to do that, squeezing every bit of life out of this gift we have been given.  I am reminded of a quote from one of my son’s favourite authors, Hunter S. Thompson:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

 Sherril, I’m pretty sure that is just what you said.  Rest well my dear.

Edit:  Rather than creating another post, I will add to this one with yet more unfortunate news.  Two weeks after Sherril’s passing, Jim’s brother-in-law, Elwood passed away after a lengthy illness with both diabetes and Parkinson’s.  Elwood had been very ill and so his passing was a release for the whole family, but sad nonetheless.  And coming so quickly after Sherill’s has been yet another shock to the system of the Price family.  We are thinking of our loved ones both in Ontario and BC and sending them our love.  Please remember, hug your loved ones and tell them how much you love them.  Thank you.