Mike Glassow Updates

  I wanted to provide some information on the procedure that Mike selected in his final days. It was a process, not simple, and had many suspenseful moments. While laws differ from state to state, patients must be adults, have a terminal prognosis, be mentally capable, and be able to self-administer the medication. The critical component  is to be able to understand and ingest the potion on one's own.  This means being conscious and being able to swallow.   I learned, as I proceeded to meet Mike's wishes, that this undertaking is ordinarily planned over weeks, if not months. We accomplished the operation in 10 days from the moment he expressed his wish on 7th December.  We were guided by the hospice team that took us through the steps.  We had to secure 2 doctors who would interview and confirm Mike's position and condition.  This was not easy.  After some challenges, Dr. Stoehr...

 We had a recent tradition to be in Wrightwood for my birthday on the 22nd.  We would go up on the 18th and stay until the 25th, when we would join our family in Glendale.   Over the past dozen years, we would invite our local friends, who would include the village, the near transition habitat of the upper Antalope Valley, and Dave Earl from the Palmdarte area.  We would have an open house and a festive, warm setting, often with snow! Here is a funny selfie (I'm never good at this) showing the snow on my birthday in 2023, the last time we were in WW for the occasion. Our main room in its welcome splendor  The first week of December, Mike said that he would not be able to be in Wrightwood for my birthday.  I could understand that the Thanksgiving living trip was not so easy, though enjoyable. He was more exhausted than he had been and was not walking much. Had we gone up to our cabin, it would have resulted in great difficulties.  The main Highway ...

 How many times have we sat across from each other, sharing the morning paper, discussing our day's plans.  Now it is empty yet my heart is full of our love.

 This day began with suspense.  We did not knwo when the potion would be ready, as it is a mixture with many strictly controlled components.  The Palliative Care nurse, Rebecca, of the cancer center said she would call to get a more precise time.  Mike and I were having our last breakfast when she called to say it would be ready before 2pm.   I worked hard not to whimper, sollozar in Spanish.  Mike sees me as strong and capable and I should not cry.  It is so hard.   Between Mike's rests and my reading, we talked about our travels and experiences together that Maria could gather in some of our adventures in SE Alaska, Mexico, Ireland, Lebanon, Rome, and at home and on the islands.  He finally asked for silence, the very poem of Pablo Neruda that I feel is part of our lives. At 1:30, I got the pharmacy call.  From that point, the tension rose.  I drove to get the potion and back after 2.  At 2:15 he took his first pills to ...

 Mike was up to have breakfast together.  We were able to share thoughts and discuss things before I went out to campus to take care of hte loose ends there. Maria, who arrived at 8AM, helped prepare breakfast.  He takes the minimum of his meds, and we made his favorite veggie sausage patty.   Mike was animated and attentive as we both see the close of our life together.  He has had his lifelong companion to the end of his life.  I will have to cherish the time we had together. When I got back from campus, Mike was very sleepy and took the afternoon quietly.  He requested that I find out what is happening at the pharmacy that will prepare the potion for him. He is concerned that they have not communicated with us.   The call turned out to be complicated; ultimately, they were able to say that by early afternoon, they will have the preparation ready and will call.  There is a procedure and I now have the plan that includes 2 pre...

Instructed to drink a lot to stay hydrated in these last days and to make an effort to eat something, he has been awake between his naps and rests.  He is remarkably present, and he says he does not suffer pain.  His main frustration is the weakness that leaves him slack and in bed.  He is gracious with visitors and truly happy to see friends and colleagues who cherish his kindness, his integrity,  and his tireless mentorship.   Steve Gliessman and Robbe Jaffe came by on their way back to their ranch, Condor's Hope , in the Cuyama Valley, where they grow organic grapes and olives, putting to practice their agroforestry knowledge.   We have been to the ranch to help in harvests and have enjoyed their dedication.  It was great that they could take time to stop in. Claudia Knudson was walking her dog and brought us some of her homemade rompope -- eggnog!  This is a tradition.   She took the time whilst here to visit Mike.  And as for a...

 John Johnson, come over to begin our work with the edits for Mike's book.  John and I went over some of the early parts, and it was clear that we would not be able to complete the work today. Joh inquired about the credits for the photos, and that was one thing I had worried about.  When I left for my appointment, John and Mike were hard at work looking at each figure and determining who to credit. From what I understand, they reviewed each and every one of hte nearly 100 figures, and John was able to determine the credits. Most of hte illustrations and photographs were Mike's, and he is an excellent photographer.   Yet there were historical photos and others that were important to credit. John used the book I had printed last week and showed Mike each in their turn.  It is wonderful to know that the printed copy would not only be something Mike could hold, that others could review, and would serve an important purpose. He is still thinking and contributin...

Mike and I had breakfast together at 8:30 so that he would be alert when the hospice doctor came.  This would be the second interview and would serve as part of the compliance with  the  California End of Life Option Act ( EOLOA ).    The first meeting of the process was with a doctor of hte cancer center.  They, of course, know well of Mike's case and were the first step in the protocol. That went as Mike would want, and this next interview would be the final decision. At 9AM, the doctor of the hospice team came to conduct the final interview and to review his request to hasten his inevitable death. Weak and confined to a hospital bed, for Mike, this interview was a relief.   Dr. Marston outlined the plan and the expectations.  She asked him what he saw as his time horizon; he said as soon as possible.  The potion is a complex mixture of various components and must be prepared under specific conditions. Only one pharmacy is authorized ...

This morning, Mike wanted to rest.  We did not have many plans for visits, and that was good. I have a yearly celebration of December birthdays with Barbara Harthorn ; we used to include Francesca Bray until she moved to Edinburgh.  Last year, we all met in NYC for a short week to remember such events.  This morning, Barbara and I had breakfast at El Encanto .  We have not spent much time together due to our mutual home obligations, and so it was our chance to catch up. It was a touching and peaceful time. Back home, Mike had his small breakfast, and I told him of my visit with Barbara. She and Roy would come to visit later -- and they did! Everyone who visits is excited about Mike's book draft, and we all know it will be published next year.  I went to Condor's Hope reception to fetch my box of their wonderful wines with Roozbeh, Sara, and their daughter Roshan.  It was great to see Steve and Robbie. Roozbeh and Sara are visiting scholars and are working...

 Back in the afternoon, I had lunch with Mike and let him rest a bit.  John Johnson arrived around 3, and we got more of the Mike origin stories.  John joined Mike at Philmont project as a camper and then an assistant.  Enrapt in archaeology, Mike gave him readings and met with him on them.  This started in high school and continued when he went to Occidental.  He took a college shuttle to UCLA weekly and met with Mike for discussions!  The reading list was amazing, and Mike invited him to lectures by Binfors, to meet visiting professors, and to visit the home of Jim Hill.  He was on hte inside track! We also talked about hte book, John and I will be meeting on Monday to go over some of the issues for finalizing hte draft for publications.  There are a number of hurdles, typos, and details, as well as the index, not off to be done. THat said we are getting close and it will have a 2026 -- likley a posthumous date.   Mike got another litt...

 In the morning, I drove to the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum , meeting a group of the Santa Barbara Archaeological Society.   I had wished to be with Mike as this would be a cap on his career, but this was not to be.  I went to report to Mike...   And there was much to tell...   It was quite a presentation with the origins, feature village life, missions, and today.   There is a lot to take in and I was anxious to return home -- yet it was a great place, I joined and anticipate another visit soon. We enter in a beautiful hallway that is decorated with Chumash symbols from rock art.  The view for the windows oposit the wall focuses onteh out doors native garden. Chumash leaders of the museum were there to answer questions and to discuss the exhibition choices. John Johnson told us that the five villages featured Vista in the museum all were connected to individuals of the Santa Ynez Rez. They were touched by the news of Mike and encouraged me to retu...

 Every day is different --  and we try to bring some normalcy to our lives.  So we try dinner!   Here we are sharing the tray and having soup made by Cathy Glassow as a support when they were up for a visit last Saturday.  She is a marvelous cook, and her offerings are fully appreciated. For dessert, we had Fuyu persimmons that were a bountiful gift of Terry Josolin's ranch, and we had divine Chocolate Maya brought by Mark Capelli!  We are so grateful for such generosity and support. 

  Mary Heebner and Macduff Everton show Mike his Pix on Santa Cruz Island In the afternoon, Macduff and Mary came to visit Mike and share the news of their new book: Book of Santa Barbara, Second Edition , which features at least 3 photos of Mike out standing in his field! For the first edition, Macduff asked Mike how he could get out on the Island for photographs, and when Mike arranged it, they required Mike to be in every photo that would be published!  So Mike is cameo! Mary and Macduff spend time talking of our collective memories that intertwine over the decades.   Mary has been involved with the Chumash and is excited that Mike's book will be published to highlight the importance of Santa Barbara's past.   Macduff has worked with many academics but has a strong commitment to the Maya and has collaborated with me over the years.  His book on the Maya is a testament to his wide-ranging talents in photography and in writing, showing the deep value...

  Natalia Solis gave us this lovely table cover from Guatemala! Mike awakens in our bright bedroom and is slow in the mornings.  He gains energy as we interact, and he gets to have some breakfast. He is always interested and thinking.   He has worried about hte compost getting full and what I need to do to process it, he has told me how to review and find things in his shop, and he was able to sand my wooden chicozapote kitchen spoons from Tikal, and he gave me some hints on how to find tools. We have worked in our domains, and I find it is a challenge to figure out what I must learn.  I was in the shop some time ago and discovered that the minerals for the water softener had not been checked for many months.  What other things do I need to find out?

 After Sachiko and Mark left for their distinct destinations, we got new visitors. Andrew Kinkella   and  Marcia Burtt  arrive around the same time, and Mike had had a rest since his first round in the early afternoon, and this was the next set!   The room seems to accommodate the  visitors and everyone who comes is so pleased to see Mike so attentive and involved.   The big event is the book; all who enter are excited to see Mike's preprint we made of his book,  Santa Barbara's Ancient Past.  Marcia is the one who said, after her last visit, that this is what I should do, and it has been important -- Mike can see the layout, read the pages, and is now getting feedback. Andrew says he just finished his Chumash class, and this book will be incorporated when he next teaches it!  We know it will be a major addition to the literature and represents Mike's great experience. 

 Today, the morning began slowly. We expected afternoon visitors... Sachiko Sakai drove from Long Beach through the heavy Los Angeles traffic to arrive around noon to visit Mike. Another wonderful former student, now a professor at Cal State Long Beach; her fieldwork is in a remote section of the Grand Canyon of Arizona, accessible from St George in Utah.  Mike has visited her project several times; it is quite the trek, yet he was very interested in her work. She had time with Mike before I got home. That was when Mark Capelli arrived to visit as well. Mike was feeling ok.  He was up to another visit...  so Mark and I joined Sachiko. Mark specializes in the endangered fishery of steelhead trout. He has been in communication withMike for years and only recently has an admirable friendship developed -- in part around his pomagranites! It was a lovely afternoon!

 Mike is so dearly loved by so many people.  His students who are colleagues now, look to him as such a mentor, so inclusive and sharing.   Jennifer Perry, Terry Josilin , Kristin Hoppa , Amy Gussick , and so many of his professional colleagues and friends, many of whom were his students, have been visiting.  Their heartfelt admiration for Mike, their appreciation for his contributions to their careers, and his warmth and confidence in their abilities they assure him have propelled them in their careers.   He has told each how important they were in his development and how he is satisfied with his life and his our career.  He is so positive ...  content.  I wish I could withhold my sorrow. We all want to show our joy at his calm acceptance of what we all must anticipate ourselves.  He is a model we need to consider as we approach our mortality

 On Tuesday, Hospice determined that Mike needed a hospital bed, as that was essentially where he was staying.  His strength had waned since Sunday. He could not walk any distance.  The bed was delivered on Wednesday. We set the bed up in our bedroom, it is a twin bed and takes 36 by 80 inches.  Miraculously, we can fit the bed in and have access and walking space around it.  We have a workable setting.  Mike faces a wall with our Santa Cruz Island paintings and also a big mirror that reflects the paintings on teh other wall.  Very Nice. Hospice has also taken over all the medications; these are now ordered and delivered by them as needed. This is really such a help.  We now have support around the clock.  Maria, the main support over the past months, is here 5 days a week.  Connie comes at 5pm, and Betty, who has been with us on weekends, is taking the nighttime.  We have developed a good tempo. We have worked out the meals and mad...

Mike has been calm and valiant over the past year and a half. He has followed the protocols, yet his cancer escaped its bounds. As we transitioned to Hospice, he was able to appreciate each day. He read the morning comics, took walks, collected the mail, read the Irish Times, and responded to email. He was also working on profiles for El Pilar, a great help. Mike and Anabel are Checking out Details This past week, he found it very difficult to get up; he was weak, his walking was unsteady, and his ability on the computer faltered. He could not walk down our long driveway to get the mail, and he found he could not work on my profiles.   I had imagined that we would go on in a simple mode, and his health would slowly change.  This past week showed that it was not in the cards. Even so, he was involved in the lovely dinner, wishing Ceci and Donna a fine return. Jonathan, his brother and Cathy his wife and son JD came up for the Saturday lunch, and he was outside on the pat...

  Mike and his brother Jonathan Saturday was a sunny day in Santa Barbara-remarkable warm for December.  Jonathon, Cathy, his wife, and son JD were able to come up.  It is a tradition that Cathy brings lunch and leaves wonderful concoctions that are always delicious. It was a relaxing day, and Mike enjoyed the time with family.  Not a big eater, he took in the chowder and a sandwich. We all enjoyed an exceptional taro dessert. 

  Ceci and Donna were on a California trip for several weeks, starting in LA, visiting us at the cabin in Wrightwood, and finishing their stay in Santa Barbara.  The despedida dinner at our home included Sandy and Mac as well as Maria, who is our stalwart support for Mike. Maria and Sandy We have our communal time of boquitas and wine.  Mike had the non alcohol beer introduced to him by Mac! In fact, this has been a great addition for Mike's dinner, and he has enjoyed them and they  are available at Trader Joe's!   This is the brand! Ceci had asked Mike what he would like for dinner and he selected Pizza.  Sandy and Mac brought the pizza from Olio Pzzaria , it was very good!  Sandy also brought salad and we had apple pie and ice cream for dessert.  Mike prefers only ice cream. It was a very lovely evening.