Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2011 Comes to An End; 2012 In The Starting Blocks


Another year comes to an end.....as Duchess & I head toward six years retired. This year has been for us a wake-up call. It is the first year when we came face-to-face with our own mortality. As those who know us are already aware, following a November 1st back surgery my Duchess came close to death's door. A massive infection and septic shock nearly claimed her.

Thank God for the folks at Tampa General Hospital! Both our former employer, and our choice for the very best in care in any critical situation, TGH is the only Level One Trauma Center on all of Florida's West Coast. It lives up to its name.

Now we have passed that terrible time, and as Duchess receives physical therapy and home health care we are marching, albeit with a walker for a few more weeks, toward recovery. The end of January will mark removal of the walker and her rigid back brace.

It will see, also, a diminishing of the BLT rules.....no, not a sandwich, but the rules following back surgery....NO Bending, Lifting or Twisting.

Ahead for 2012.....well, 1st a look at the balance sheet regarding a possible upgrade to "Roadhouse", our beloved Damon Challenger motor home. It has seen us through more than 50,000 miles since retirement. Now we are considering a possible upgrade to a longer, diesel-powered coach with a few additions......walk-in-shower, washer-dryer, 2nd and/or 3rd power slide.

Our coach consideration is tied rather closely to an apparent window for the long-anticipated Alaska trip....driving across Canada to our northern-most frontier. Good friends, and parents of our son-in-law Lance, are planning to make the trip and having a 2nd RV with us would help offset the jitters about a 10,000 plus mile trip across some rough, remote country.

Well, good bye 2011.....Hello 2012.....We're here awaiting all you have to offer.....

Duke

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas...here and gone!

The actual holiday is gone.....we enjoyed as much as was permitted by Duchess' health condition. We attended the DeLand family outing at Pete DeLand's house in Lakeland....he is the son of my Brother Mark. It was marvelous. Duchess survived, but tired quickly, and we had to leave early. Such is our current life.

Duke

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Holidays....Christmas Eve 2011

Last evening Duchess and I managed a short trip out. We joined several Elk friends to help one of our group celebrate her holiday birthday. It was the 1st trip out to see friends since the hospital stay. She gave out rather quickly, as anticipated, but we enjoyed our time any way.

Today we join my family for our annual Christmas Eve celebration. As we age these become much more important to us.

Duke

Monday, December 12, 2011

The Truth About An Absent Mate!

When you are in a relationship where you are capable of being together 24/7/365.... Duchess and I are sometimes amazed we travel for months on end in our motor home, and never tire nor get bored with being together....you sometimes forget it is a partnership.....well, OK, sometimes I forget it is.

The current (about to end tomorrow after 43 days) time apart during her surgery/rehab/critical illness/recovery/rehab......has shown me some new things.

Just finishing a tour of the refrigerator where I discovered that the thing is not self-policing! Who knew? The open package of cheese which predated Duchess' surgery was growing a nice coating of green.

Just returned from the grocery store and am exhausted. Shopped from a list (PRIDE SHOWING!) and got all but the "fruit" which listing somehow escaped my view. I also refrained from double-buying the items I had listed twice.....coffee, milk, 1/2 & 1/2. Discovered that when you unload the bags and place them on the kitchen counter, as I usually do, that when Duchess is not here the groceries do not put themselves away. There is also the problem of where does everything go? Currently we are a one-refrigerator family having had no time to find a replacement for the old one in the den which is our wine/beer/soda/extras refrig. It died just before Duchess went off to the hospital for surgery.

Anyway, the job was much bigger when had to do it all.

While Duchess will not be back to full speed for months, I will welcome her home. She can at least help me remember what to do, and also I will not be spending 1-2 tanks of gas weekly driving to and from the hospital/rehab.

Welcome home my love....you have truly been missed!

Duke