Southbound

We stayed in Jackson, TN last night and are on the road again this morning - me with my first cup of Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season - life is good!

Samantha story: Heather picked Samantha up from school the other day and she said there was a new boy in her class - she didn't know his name or anything about him but she told Heather he was "handsome" - Heather is now anxious to see him!

Indian Summer

We left Michigan yesterday and are now in Hanover, Indiana. Today was a glorious Indian Summer day - 62 degrees, sunny and windy with the leaves falling like snow. We need to get south before the real white stuff arrives!
I am travelling well. I can't get up while Roger is driving so he is missing his flight attendant but it isn't painful to sit and ride. I slept on my left side last night - Roger did such a great "pillow pack" that I slept in cushy comfort! - and I got in the shower all by myself this morning. Oh, how I enjoy life's simple pleasures now!
We stopped here to check out "Lee Bottom Flying Field" - a small, privately owned, grass runway airport along the Ohio River. Rich & Ginger, the owners, have "work campers" stay on their property during the summer months to help them mow and maintain the property and host events - Rich still works full time. They have "fly ins" for ice cream and breakfast throughout the summer and their big annual event is in September. Unfortunately, it got rained out this year! Roger sent them his resume - thinking it would be fun to have the motorhome and Cub in the same spot all summer. The location is about 5 hours from our family in Michigan and just upriver from Louisville, Kentucky. It is definitely "rural" but close enough to towns that I won't go too crazy. Plus our phones and Internet work here. So, if they decide we are a good "fit" we will probably do it. Glad we had a chance to "eyeball" the area! Heading south in the morning.

Nurse Reunion

W.A. Foote School of Nursing celebrated a 50 year anniversary yesterday. It was the 40th anniversary for 12 of us in the class of 1969. We enjoyed a nice luncheon at Cascades Manor House and then went to Carolyn's house to look at old pictures and for a good "gabfest." We sat in a big circle and went around the room with everyone telling their life stories since we graduated - the happy and sad times, the successes and disappointments. We laughed and cried together just like we did for 3 grueling years - it was so nice to reconnect. I hadn't seen my room-mate Joanne since our 25th reunion. Patty Larson, our "best" instructor even joined us - it was fun to interact with her on an entirely different basis than when we were in school. We all had a chance to thank her for the influence she had on our careers. Two members of our class have passed away and they were sorely missed but we decided the rest of us have aged well. Linda brought her old uniform and Pat was the only one that could still fit into it! What a trip down memory lane!

Doctor's Visit

I had a follow up visit with an orthopedic doctor and another x-ray today and am healing well. He estimates another 4 weeks with the walker and then maybe a cane and back to "normal" within 10-12 weeks. Roger says that assumes that I was "normal" to begin with! Every day is truly a better day and the pain is noticeably less in the past 3 days. I'm able to put more weight on my right leg - which is good because my arms, shoulders and palms are sore from bearing my weight with the walker. I'm suffering from "cabin fever." We went to Meijer's (similar to HEB Plus) the other day for groceries - I rode on one of their scooters - the problem is they don't go fast enough for me to ditch Roger and browse & shop at things other than what was on our list!
We are enjoying a beautiful "Indian Summer" here in Michigan. Hope this nice weather will follow us to Texas!

One Week Later

It's been a week since the "big fall" and I'm doing better every day. Hobbling around with my walker and even getting in and out of the motorhome fairly well. Roger and our families have been an immeasurable help - cooking, cleaning and lifting! I have learned so much through this struggle - #1 - I'd rather be the nurse! #2 - The power of positive thinking! #3 - I am so blessed, every time I start to feel the least bit sorry for myself I think of all the good things in my life and I perk up immediately. Example: I could have done this at the beginning of the summer and ruined our trip in the northeast. Samantha & Emily call frequently and they are the best medicine. Samantha is so curious about it all. She wanted to know what I was looking at when I fell - she thought it was probably butterflies or sea gulls - and what color was the ambulance? Roger is taking me in to see Mom this afternoon - one of the good things about her illness is that she isn't worrying about me. My new goal is to be able to walk to Judy's raft and go for a ride around the lake -the weather is so gorgeous and being on the water is so relaxing. Have to do it one more time before we leave for Texas.

Mackinaw Island

For you non-Michiganders, Mackinaw Island is in the Straits of Mackinaw, between the upper peninsula of Michigan and the lower portion of the state, right near the big Mackinaw Bridge. It is a gorgeous place to visit - blue sky, blue water, sunshine, sailboats/yachts and flowers all add up to one of the most picturesque places in the U.S. No cars are allowed on the island - bikes and horses add to its charm. Unfortunately, I will now always remember it as the location of the "big bike wipe out!"
Roger & I, along with Mel, Judy and Marilou had barely started our ride around the island when I forgot one of the most important bicycling rules and was gazing at the scenery instead of where I was going! It all happened so fast I can't tell you why or how but I fell over and landed on my right hip and fractured my pelvis in two places! Thank goodness I had my helmet on because a large rock was right near my landing zone. Thought I was OK until Roger helped pull me up and I put weight on my right leg! Found out they actually do have motorized vehicles on the island - an ambulance! The clinic's x-ray machine was broken so they "ferried" me to St. Ignace, in the upper peninsula, and then transferred me down to Petosky to the regional hospital for an orthopedic consult and an overnight stay for "observation." I was determined to come "home" as soon as possible so I managed to "walk" 80 feet with my walker yesterday afternoon and they let me leave. It was a challenge getting into the motor home - going backwards up the steps on my "hiney" (as Samantha would say) -but worth it to sleep in my own bed! It will be awhile before I ride my bike again but right now I am concentrating on the positives. No sense in going back to Jackson until Friday as originally planned - I can take my pain meds and struggle with my walker here as well as there. Figured sitting here enjoying the beautiful view has to have some healing powers!
It is a joke in my family that no embarrassing moment is ever forgotten. While I was in the ER, I told Roger to tell my sisters to stay on the island and continue their plans for the day - the doctor walked in and said "I don't think so, they are planning to meet your ambulance at the ferry - something about pictures for the blog!" In case you can't read my new sweatshirt it says "I Do All My Own Stunts." Blessed are they who care for their old, crippled sisters!

PS - As if a broken pelvis isn't enough bad news for the week - I lost the emerarld out of my ring too!

Things We Miss

The view from our deck - correction "their" deck!
My jacuzzi bathtub
"Real" toilet paper
The workshop in the barn
The traffic back & forth to work - NOT!
HEB
Friends in San Antonio
Girlfriend time
The kids & grandkids
Mexican food
The "Cub"

Weather

It is 39 degrees here this morning! I told Judy I'm coming back in the summer next time! Trouble is, they haven't had much summer weather - it has been cool and rainy for the past 3 months. We went to a farmer's market yesterday - the sweet corn is delicious! - and saw several trees that are starting to turn color. Even the trees think it is fall! We need to get out of here before the white stuff starts falling - at this rate it will be soon! San Antonio would appreciate some of this cool, humid climate.