200 DAYS TILL 60

Time for a fresh start. 200 days until I turn 60. 200 days to refocus, refresh and begin again. I'll be taking a journey of creativity, which will I hope, put the pieces of my life back in order mentally, physically and artistically. 

We know that 2020 has been a disaster, oh yes, it has. My world was rocked by my mother's cancer journey, both of us getting COVID and her untimely death. Not a time for the faint hearted, but if 2020 has taught me anything, it's that you can turn a new page and start fresh. You can do it every day, every hour, every minute. All you need is to make that move, that decision, that first step. How lucky are we  to be able to do that. 

It's my time, my turn. Follow along if you like. 200 days of life, hope, sharing and art.

 Day 200...

What's up for today? Off to work to lead my team to be better every day. Some easy exercises to get back in the groove physically and some book time to get my mind focused and distracted from all the drama in the world. 

I want the joy of discovery that I had in this photo. Serendipity. Excitement. Discovery. I want it all.

Where did I go?

These past years are a blur. It's been 3 years since my last post here, what was I thinking? Well, for one, my life crashed and burned. Yes, it totally did. The recovery has been slow and painful, but finally I've come out the other side. I can deal with it.

In the Summer of 2014 I recreated my company, Waltrip-Gardella Designs and reinvented myself as Campiello V Jewelry by Kathleen Waltrip. Campiello V was inspired by the place I called home in Venice, Campiello Valmarana. A place where I was happier than I had ever been. Well, shit happens and it happened to me. So, here I was, on a creative roll, flying high and boom, the air was let out of my tires. Like I said, it happens.

Now fast forward to 2017, or the crazy end of it and I am here, alive and well. A bit bruised and battered, but ready to start fresh for 2018.

Right now I am ever so thankful for the firefighters for saving my family home here in Carpinteria, it was quite a firefight, but it stands. The Phoenix is the name of the Fenice, the theater in Venice that has risen from the ashes. Like the Phoenix, I'm ready to spread my wings, brush off the ashes and fly into the New Year!

So here's to getting ready for 2018 and  some amazing new adventures.

 

It's been almost a year since I posted last. In my head, there are thousands of posts ready to fly out, but life gets in the way and they stay put in their place. This will be the season where I really take back my life. No woe-is-me Cancer victim.

Now, going up against my 4 year Cancerversary I am reflecting on all the good that has been happening in the past year. There has been a lot. This has been a crazy year. Since my last post I have been back to Italy twice, Spain once, Boston once and spending countless hours in my garden. Roberto was here this Summer and I'll be there again very soon.

There has been the re-configuration of Waltrip-Gardella Designs into Campiello V. That has taken the most of my energy and concentration. There will be a more updates now with the launch around the corner. I'll be explaining all about the new focus, marketing and show schedules.

My resilient father wasn't well and that took a huge mental toll on me. Finally, we've rounded a curve and things seem better since we just celebrated his 95th birthday! Coumaden is the enemy. You just bump something and all hell breaks loose. A very scary thing. I truly believe that there are too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to medicine. You can't believe what they say and you must be your own advocate.

My health seems to finally be on track, thanks to Lee my trainer at Santa Barbara Athletic Club. He isn't pushing me where my body can't go. I appreciate that immensely. My starting weight was horrible and with all the changes the weight is finally melting away. I have a goal to be getting off the plane in Venice on Halloween looking fabulous and feeling that way too. Roberto has put up with too much of my post-cancer whining!
 

Willam E Waltrip USMC MSGT Ret recieving an honorary Firefighter award from the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire District

I need some tech lessons in how to get the photos uploaded. GRRR!

Right after Christmas I decided to jump on a plane and take off to Venezia for the New Year's holiday. It was a bit spontaneous and a bit crazy, but I had a test that didn't have results that I was happy with and it scared me into going. Christmas had the added stress hanging over my head that maybe my cancer was back. Thanks to Dr. Ray's patience with me we ran some tests on Christmas Eve morning and I worked the next day's like a dog. Worry isn't a good thing. It really ruined the holiday, but as I was sitting at LAX waiting for the flight I got the call that all was clear. After a teary moment celebration was in order and it was champagne all the way to Zurich!!!

During the trip we were able to get up to San Martino di Castrozza for a couple of days in the snowy Dolomites. It was snowing on the way up, but when we woke up the next morning it was crisp, sunny and beautiful!!!

The wine bar near the church where everyone gathers in the evening.

The view from our seats outside the bar!

2012 ARTWALK IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!!

It's that time again, Sat and Sun Sept 28-29 at the beautiful Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Here are a few items from last year's show. I hope that you all come by for a visit and to see what I've been up to this year.

 

How did it get to be September?

I'm really confused this year. Today I wrapped a Christmas present. It's 80 degrees outside and I'm planning on where to put the Christmas tree in my new place. Where has this year gone to? Back in April I was all ready to move to a new address and had to shift plans a little. Upon further study and inspection the moblie home I was buying had too much for me to take on in repairs. Decorating what I WANT to do, yes, bathrooms because they need to be re-done? No. So plan B went into action and I'm happy to say that after a little more searching, I've now joined the club of mobile home owners.

Never in a million years would I have pictured myself in a double-wide. Here I am, in 1500 sq. ft. of wood and aluminum. Horrible cellphone reception, but a wonderful sunny yard and all the space I could ever want. Upside, it's mine. Downside, NONE!

I haven't really gotten used to the kitchen and the grill still isn't gassed up. It will happen soon. What is amazing is that in the small front and side gardens there are 54 rose bushes. Most are beautiful and fragrant. The gardener starts tomorrow!

Best of all, Roberto likes it and it's just a few yards further from his trolley stop to take him into Carpinteria. It's still within walking range to downtown and all of that. Now, I'm getting organized and settled in. Roberto was here 2 weeks in August and Suzi was right behind him for 10 days. I wasn't up to entertaining yet, so there haven't been any Summer parties. It's a pitty since the weather has been incredible. That will happen soon too, I'm not planning on going anywhere!

Another milestone was reached on September 1st. It's now been two years since my cancerous cyst was removed and I started treatments for Ovarian Cancer. Truthfully, I didn't think I would be here today to share any of this with you, so it's a very good day. Photos to follow.