A Wake Up Call

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I return to San Diego once a year to visit friends and get all my medical and dental appointments for the year completed. I push everything into a two-month period so I can venture off to the desert or other warm places for the winter.

This year in early December I had my routine lab work completed. It was one of the last things I needed to finish, and I thought I was good to go. My A1C was high, diabetically high when the lab results were in. Oh no, that is not supposed to happen! After a moment of panic and thinking about dying (very normal for me), I took a deep breath and began to approach this news more gently.

My Internist wanted me to go on a low carbohydrate, no-sugar-added diet and then repeat my labs in three months. I took this on with a vengeance. I cut all refined sugar out of my life and immediately started on a low-carbohydrate diet. I was faithful to this plan. I followed it in Mexico, and I followed it upon my return.

My A1C at the end of February was in the normal range and the vision of having to give myself insulin injections is fading from the foreground of my mind. Whew.

When I discussed the results with the doctor he asked me what I had been doing differently between December 2021 and December of 2022. My reply was that I was eating a lot of refined sugar.

Sugar is a part of all our lives. It is in many foods we eat. It is addicting. I know all this but it tastes good and I ate it anyway. I love chocolate, donuts, cake, cookies, pies, etc. I believe in eating in moderation yet sugar is sugar and it was time to readdress its presence in my life.

Here is what I have experienced since I stopped being influenced by sugar and started on a low-carb lifestyle.

  • I am losing weight and I feel really good.
  • Vegetables taste different. They are sweeter and yummier. I have always been a big fan of veggies but I believe my tastebuds can taste more now.
  • It is fun to experiment with food, so my cooking habits have changed a little.
  • I now read labels.
  • The American Diabetes Association suggests that you take a nine-inch plate and divide it in half. Half of the plate is vegetables. The other half is divided again, half of which is carbs and the other half meat (if you are a meat eater). I like it when these organizations make my life easier. I don’t have to count carbs or calories.
  • Eating is a lifestyle choice not a diet.

Why was this a wake-up call? I turned seventy this past year. I ponder how I plan to live the rest of my life. I want to be one of those ninety-plus people who is still exercising and living life to its fullest. Part of being one of these people is taking care of my aging body. Eating correctly and exercising and challenging my mind is a part of the process of choosing to age in health. Eating sugar and gaining weight are not part of this challenge. That is why one test became a wake-up call.

Will I be faithful to this lifestyle change? I am going to give it my all. It doesn’t mean that I won’t have a sweet from time to time. I am human. I like how I feel and I am motivated so yes I believe I will continue to incorporate this lifestyle change into my daily routine.

Today I am thankful for an important wake-up call.

A Year of Travel & Attempting to Plan

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I don’t like to plan. I am a last-minute planner. I figure that everything will work itself out and no matter where I am or what I am doing, I will love it to the best of my ability. Vacations and life are an adventure, after all.

People ask me what is next and I often reply “I don’t know”. I think that response bothers others more than it does me, although, it makes me edgy and uncomfortable because I really don’t know what is next.

This year I am planning three trips. Whoa, what? Planning? Janet is planning? Yes, I am, to the best of my ability. Whew. Some require more planning than others.

Where am I going?

Trip One-Heading East

  • My rig and I are heading east. It has been almost four years since I have seen my family and east coast friends due to Covid. I decided it was time to go visit.
  • This feels like a similar trip to the first trip I made in my RV all those many years ago, in 2013. I expect this trip to be a bit different. That first trip was made out of grief and desperation and need. I needed love and support. After ten years the grief has settled and I have found my way toward acceptance. Ah. Not that I still don’t need love and support.
  • My first major stop will be in Englewood, Florida. I have very good and dear friends there and look forward to seeing them. How long will I stay there? I don’t know.
  • I will make my way up the east coast, visiting friends as I travel north to New Jersey.
  • New Jersey will be my first lengthy stop with family. My sister and her husband live on the lake where my sisters and I spent our summers growing up. As Ginny says, “the door is always open”.

Trip two-Brazil and the Amazon

  • Brazil and the Amazon River are calling. A small group of friends and soon-to-be friends are traveling the Rio Negro and Amazon Rivers. Birds, wildlife, music, and friendship. Who could ask for more?
  • This trip will be more concise. Some of the planning has already been completed. I had been procrastinating on making my flight reservations from New Jersey to Florida, where we meet up prior to flying to Brazil. With the encouragement of my friend Mary, I finally made the reservation while we were in Mexico in January.

After that trip, it is back to New Jersey and family and friends and summer on the lake. But wait, there is more.

Trip Three-Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and beyond.

  • As I make my way north through New England I will visit friends in Vermont and Maine.
  • I will be joining my friend Cori and we are off to explore the Maritime Provinces. Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Foundland. This is an interesting dilemma. Cori and I don’t like to plan. Shoot there is no one to take the lead. I am sure we will work it out. And as Cori says, since she has never been there before she will like whatever she sees. Definitely a beginner-mind attitude.

After trip three, I give up. No more planning for me. I will wander my way west to visit friends as I move. When will I return west? Before the snow flies. I just don’t like crossing mountain passes in the winter. As you know, I really don’t like to winterize my rig.

What happens between all these waypoints is totally up to me. I hope to find new places to explore and be amazed at. Maybe I will visit other friends I have not mentioned here. Maybe I will make new friends as I move east. Maybe, Maybe, Maybe-it is totally up to me.

March twenty-first is my departure date. I have one more trip to Santa Barbara. My rig needs a once over and Dan, all things Roadtrek, is in Santa Barbara. I will start my east coast adventure from one of the furthest land points in the lower forty-eight. It will be a true west-to-east adventure.

Currently, I am finishing things up in San Diego. Repeat labs were normal and that is good. A dental cleaning is done and the report was mostly good. Whew. I am visiting with friends and spending time cleaning out my storage unit. It is work. It is time I need to prepare.

The first two months of the New Year has brought me amazement and adventure. I hope to continue the adventure for the rest of the year and you can come along for the ride. You are always welcome.

A Cowboy in My Life

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The Land

In the late 1990’s Jim, my husband, and I bought a piece of property in southwest Colorado. Our plan was to design and build a straw bale home and live off the grid. We found the perfect property, forty-five acres of ranchland.

We were still working when we bought this land and had a lot to learn about maintaining a large property. New words entered our vocabulary: Ditches (running irrigation water onto the property), Fence-lines, Irrigation, The Federal Farm Bureau and more. Since we lived in California we needed someone local to help us.

The former owner told us he leased his property to an Outfitter and Rancher. He ran his mules and horses on several local properties including the one we had bought. We called him and he said that he would meet us on the property.

On a sunny afternoon, Jim and I and our realtor arrived first on the property. As we were standing there talking I turned to see this cowboy riding down the hill on a beautiful mule. He was dressed in full western gear. I smiled and I could tell Jim was experiencing the west for the first time.

So began our relationship and friendship with Ron of Ron’d View Outfitters. He became our mentor and teacher and friend. I always felt that he had our backs. He guided us gently and kindly in the right direction for everything we needed to know to manage our forty-five acres. He was a good resource. He knew many people. When we needed to replace our fence line he referred us to the perfect fencer. We learned about the Federal Farm Bureau after Ron suggested we apply to obtain irrigation pipes, and the government was offering a good deal. And when we put up a gate at the entrance it was Ron, his brother, and Wendall who raised it topping it with a horseshoe heart.

Like almost all outfitters his big season was in the fall when hunters would arrive to hunt elk and deer. He was also known for breeding and selling the finest mules. In the off-season, he took chuck wagon tours into the mountains of southern Colorado, and onto the Navajo reservation to camp and explore at the end of Canyon del Muerto, part of the Canyon de Chelly complex.

Jim and I knew we had to prove our mettle with this outfitter. We were from California and the small towns of Colorado did not always have the best impression of Californians. Jim and I decided that the best way to get to know him, his partner, Miss Carrie, and others that worked with him was to go on some of Ron’s tours.

We rode by horseback to fish and camp in the Weminuche Wilderness. This was our first horseback riding adventure with Ron and his friends. It was the first time Jim had ever been on a horse. It was a great way to spend four days in some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. At the end of the long weekend, Ron invited us to come and see his ranch. I knew we were making positive strides in establishing a relationship with this gregarious and kind man.

Our next chuck wagon tour was to the end of Canon del Muerto, part of the Canyon de Chelly National Monument complex, on the Navajo Reservation. The six-hour ride into the canyon was amazing. The cliff-dwelling ruins clung to the sides of sheer walls. For three days we explored on horseback with Navajo guides and Ron, Miss Carrie, and Wendall among others. The ride out was another adventure and can be told at another time.

After Jim’s death, Ron and Miss Carrie continued to be my local eyes and ears. I appreciated their support and caring during a rough time in my life. When I returned to the property, Ron would arrive first on his tractor to mow a swath of the grass, so I had a nice spot for my RV. Even across the miles, we continued to share our lives.

Ron & Deana 2 of my Favorite People near Durango, CO

At the end of December 2022, Ron passed away at eighty-two. I recently learned of his death and have sat with the knowledge of his loss for a few days. I needed time to absorb the loss of a larger than life character, a man I respected and admired and considered a friend. He was a guide and a teacher to Jim and myself. He will be missed by so many. He will missed by me.

I am honored to have known him, learned from him and laughed with him.

Today I am thankful for having a True Cowboy and Legend in my life. Ride well Ron.

Woody the Cat is Checking In

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She is here!! She is here! Janet is here and is going to stay with me for the month of February. No kitty carrier! No chasing me around! No stressing out! I get to stay home!

Hi, everyone, Woody the cat here. Janet is back to take care of me while my companion and owner, Mandy and Rocky the dog go on holiday. This is the third time that Janet has been here to stay with me so I can continue with the routine of sleeping, eating, snuggling, suckling and loving. Not bad.

For those of you who don’t know, I am Woody the cat with a striking tail. It is my best feature and I like to show it off every chance I can get. Take a look at the picture and you can see my best feature.

My Tail

I live with Mandy and Rocky the dog. I love Mandy all the time, except when she tries to catch me and put me in the evil kitty carrier. When she finally gets me in there, I stay with Scott and Megan while Mandy travels. I like it at their house but I don’t like the process of getting there. Last year Janet showed up and while Mandy traveled I got to stay home. What a relief. And oooh, Janet likes cats.

Mandy & Rocky

She came a few days early to visit with us before Mandy and Rocky get on the road. I now have two humans to pet me and hold me and carry me around. I like that and I deserve no less. After all, I’m the cat.

So stay tuned I know I will be posting again. I sneak into Janet’s computer when she is out kayaking or biking or just out and about.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

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I crossed the Mexico-United States border on Monday, January twenty-third, heading north back to America. I crossed the Nogales, Arizona border and it instantly was cold. What the heck? How did this happen?

Tucson, Arizona was experiencing nighttime temperatures in the high twenties. Its daytime temperatures were in the high forties. Wait a minute, don’t people come south in the winter to get away from the cold? Something is wrong with this scenario.

I immediately knew I could not stay in Tucson. I also knew that the Whitewater Draw (temps down to nineteen degrees F at night) was out of the picture. I did not want to winterize my vehicle.

Winterizing is when you remove all the water from the fresh water tank, the pipes, and the hot water heater. After bypassing the hot water heater the infamous Pink Juice (antifreeze) is added and run through all the pipes in the RV. The hot water heater is closed off. Pink juice is added to the gray and black water tanks. This also means that any water used in the rig, once winterized, has to be carried onboard. If you use the toilet you flush it with pink juice.

To de-winterize, the whole process is reversed. None of this is hard to do. It is time-consuming and I find it to be a small hassle. I, therefore, try my best to not winterize my rig. I am a fair weather RVer.

Yvonne a Social Butterfly

What was I to do? It was late in the afternoon and decisions had to be made. When my friend, Yvonne sent me a message and said I was welcome in Goodyear (the west side of Phoenix) I thought, what a great idea. Temperatures at night were above freezing by a few degrees. Oooh, I get an unexpected moment to visit friends in the Phoenix area, and….Yvonne has a jacuzzi (mmm…..), a shower, a washing machine, and a bed. And so, I was off to Phoenix. Although it added two more hours of driving time it was worth it. I have been enjoying catching up with Yvonne. We are exploring the Phoenix area, and talking, just a wee bit.

On Saturday I move over to the other side of Phoenix (east) to Apache Junction and spend a few days visiting my friend Mary and her animal menagerie. I will be back living in my rig, when I arrive there. I always love returning to my home. I get to nest again and again.

I have the best friends. Every single one is unique and special. They are also kind and compassionate and just good. My friends are always there for me. Since Jim’s death, I have developed the most unique group of friends. Some I have known for years, some since I was a child, and some are new and growing. I have developed true friendships through owning my Roadtrek (tiny home on wheels), hiking and cycling, dancing, photography and more. Most of my long time friends are still with me and we continue to grow and our friendships evolve. I treasure each person I know. I am grateful for each invitation I receive.

I wrote a post on this blog a year ago last July titled “Open Arms“. I think about that post from time to time. Just as my friends open their arms to me, my arms are also wide open to welcome and receive and support my friends. Tiime with friends can be joyous and fun as well as hard and difficult.

Today I am thankful for my friends, acquaintances and even those I don’t know yet. I am grateful how others allow me to learn and grow and experience community. I am thankfull for my family of friends. Even when it is cold outside, they make me feel warm, loved and welcomed.

Farewell Mexico-Hello United States

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Ah, my adventure into a small section of Mexico is coming to a close. Tomorrow a small group of us will caravan to the United States Border and just like that this trip to Mexico will come to a close and become a memory.

It has been a fine two and a half weeks. I have seen a lot and relaxed even more. I visited two areas of Mexico, San Carlos Guyamas and Alamos.

One, San Carlos, is on the beach and the other is in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The beach was a place to have fun, kayaking, walking, and biking, birding, and more importantly, visiting with the people I traveled with.

The other town, Alamos took me more into the interior and I got a taste of life in traditional Mexico. The town is old and what I would expect to see in Mexico. There is a lot of art and culture in this place. One night we went to the former actor, Rip Torn’s home for a benefit dinner. The house was fascinating and the food, all vegetarian, was amazing. It was an eight-course meal.

The restaurants in Alamos were delicious and enticing. I was able to experience a more classic Mexican cuisine. In ways, it was similar to what I have tasted in the United States yet there were dishes that I experienced here that I have not experienced in my country.

The eight others I traveled with were a delightful mix of couples and solo travelers. We meshed well. Bobbi was our leader in the arts. We painted rocks, shells, and seed pods. Many became great works of art. There was singing, yoga, and more. As a group, we meshed well. I am leaving richer for meeting and knowing these people.

I have learned that when I need time alone, I take it. Having traveled solo for most of the past ten years, there were moments when I was done being social. My rig and my bike gave me a way to leave for a while so I could return and be social again. This group supported all the members of its community. I like a loosely formed group. I like that others can support each of our independence.

What is next? I am not sure. It is a bit chilly north of the border currently. I am going to try to find a place where I don’t have to winterize my vehicle. Winterizing has to be done when it gets below Thirty degrees Fahrenheit. It is not hard to do but it is time-consuming and I guess I am inherently lazy.

Until tomorrow, I am planning to enjoy my last day “south of the border”. I have already been kayaking-I got up early so I could take advantage of the tide and the wind or the lack thereof. I have been birding. Now it is time to get myself ready to cross the border.

Until I return to Mexico again, Via con Dios.

A Healing Time

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On a warm winter morning in Alamos, Mexico I was practicing yoga with a friend. We were talking occasionally as we stretched and meditated and woke our bodies up. I told her that everything that I do helps me heal.

Since Jim, my husband and friend died, on October 17, 2012, I have experienced so many emotions and states of being. It wasn’t until this morning that I put my life, since his death, into words. I am healing. When I feel joy, I am healing. When I feel grief, I am healing. When I experience anger I am healing. Laughing-healing, Crying-healing, Sharing a comfortable time with friends or strangers-healing. This is my life. Healing means growth. I am growing with each moment that passes. I am working my way towards a wholeness that I lost with loss and grief. Little moments in time guide me toward this state of being.

This also is a physical state. I treat my body well-healing, I don’t treat my body well-I am healing, Dancing-healing, Walking-healing, Cycling-healing, and Spending a day resting-healing. Physically, Mentally, Spiritually, and Emotionally I am always healing. Even when I don’t know it I am healing toward wholeness and becoming more.

Healing is a lifelong project. Not only am I healing from grief. I am healing from all those other wounds that I have experienced as a part of growing in years and knowledge. Healing is my responsibility and I can’t expect to heal unless I try to unravel the wounds both consciously and subconsciously.

With this knowledge today I have felt vulnerable, and strong, and…everything. Today I have been resting or taking a Siesta. As this knowledge is being absorbed I needed time to rest so I can absorb it in every aspect.

I will continue to walk with strength, stumble, and pick myself up to continue to move toward a wholeness I have not experienced before. Healing, like grief, is ongoing. As I acknowledge this it frees me up to be more of everything.

Today I am thankful for this moment of awareness. Today I am thankful for healing, myself, others and the world. Today I am thankful.

A Week in Mexico

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San Carlos, Mexico

Thursday I will have been in Mexico for a week. Yes, I finally took a deep breath and crossed the southern border of the United States.

The hardest part was crossing the border. I have been across the border before but I have EmmyLou with me this time. I have my home with me. I have to make sure I can take care of her.

It was good to be with others who have done this before. Out of the nine of us, four have been doing this for years. I am thankful for Mary, Mike, Sky, and Bobbi. With their guidance, we made it through the process of entering a different country. I don’t mind a little hand-holding and guidance. First, we crossed over. About twenty-one miles south of the border we stopped to get our Visitor’s Visa and Temporary Import Permit for EmmyLou. It was a process, not quick. Once again I remembered to breathe and be patient. And when it was done I was in Mexico.

We have been staying on the beach along a bay near San Carlos on the Sea of Cortez. This is mainland Mexico. It has been a week of relaxation and fun and community. There is a lagoon nearby so I have had some great kayaking and birding adventures. I am very thankful for my kayaking experience. I was able to go off alone and feel comfortable on the water. Yes, I did have all my safety gear with me. When one travels alone one needs to be prepared.

In the afternoons we have been having fun with art. I have been painting rocks and shells. It is fun to allow my artistic side to come forward. It has been many years since this side of me has come out to play. It is fun to paint with little expectation of the outcome. This is called folk art.

Brown Footed Boobie

The sunrises have been amazing and the sunsets breathtaking. It is not unusual to see pods of dolphins swim by, close to shore. The birding has been good. There is this island approximately two miles off the shoreline, Isla de Pastel (Cake Island). On a glassy, quiet day on the water, I kayaked to the island to see the birds. It was not disappointing. There were cormorants, pelicans, all types of gulls, and the Brown-Footed Boobie.

The island was interesting as well. There was one cave I could kayak into. The water was spectacularly clear. It was quiet in the cave as sunlight dappled the walls. There were smaller rock outcroppings to explore. I ended up circling the island twice. There was so much to see.

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Isla de Pastel
Caves on the West Side
Kayaking into a Cave

The people I am traveling with are delightful. Currently, there are nine of us. There are three couples and three are solo. We get along well. This is a very fluid group. People come together to visit and talk. Then some will go off to do something they are interested in. There is little pressure to join in if solo time is what one needs, yet the door remains open if one wants to join in on an adventure or sit on the beach and chat.

Slowing down and relaxing have been good for me. I needed this quiet and peaceful time in my life. I have not been to town. The wilderness and sea have called to me more than exploring town. Tomorrow that will change. Saying farewell to the coast is hard. We are heading to Alamos. I have read about Alamos and have heard much about it from Mary Z. It will be another type of experience. For a while, I will need to say goodbye to the Pacific and the coastline and head inland to experience another side of Mexico.

You are most welcome to come along on this journey with me as I delve deeper into Mexico.

Today I am thankful for a relaxing and peaceful time in my life. Today I am thankful for this beautiful Mexican land and sea. Today I am thankful for those who surround me now. I am thankful for new experiences that open me up and give me the opportunity to continue to grow and explore.

Curious Minds Want to Know

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After closing out a quiet Christmas and New Year with my friends Cynthia and Ward, I am on the road.

Through the end of December, I worked on my rig. I made lists, and I completed tasks. Some were easy and some were a bit harder than I first imagined they would be. Come January first, we were ready to go. With a fond farewell to my San Diego friends, I headed east into the desert. I took my time driving east. The desert greeted me with a beautiful rainbow.

After spending time with the Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese at the Sony Bono Wildlife Refuge, I ended my first day camping next to Squaw Lake on the California/Arizona border. This is quickly becoming a favorite stopover or destination. It is remote yet close enough to larger towns to make it an excellent winter home base. This time I stayed for a night.

Squaw Lake

You just might wonder where I am heading. I am on my way to Mexico. I have good friends who travel there every winter with the exception of the Pandemic Years. This year Mary invited other mutual friends from Michigan and me to join them. We meet up south of Tucson tomorrow and on January fifth we cross over into Mexico via Nogales.

What does one do to prepare to go “south of the border”?

  • Make sure that my Passport is up to date. It was not so I hurriedly filled out the appropriate paperwork and sent it off to the Federal Government.
  • Make duplicate copies of everything. (driver’s license, vehicle registration, passport)
  • Buy auto insurance for Mexico. Have a paper copy in hand.
  • EmmyLou my rig went off to Mercedes for a check-up.
  • Exchange money, Mexican Pesos are a must.
  • Check my credit cards to make sure there are no foreign taxes to use in other countries.
  • What about my phone plan? Verizon has me covered.
  • Learn a little Spanish.
  • What does my bathing suit look like? Ach, time for a new one.

And the list goes on. I am a bit nervous about this trip. I have a tendency to worry since Jim, my husband died. I have fussed about this adventure quite a bit. I am never clear as to why I worry but worry I do. I have found, like fear, if I make worrying my ally it can help me. Then I can develop a clearer picture of why I am worrying, or not and move on. I remind myself that thousands of people do this every year. I am not the first to venture into Mexico.

With the support of friends on Thursday I cross the border into Mexico. It is good to have friends that are willing to push me a little so I can find a new edge to my comfort zone.

Stay tuned, as I share my adventure south of the border with you.

Oh No, She’s Down…but not out.

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There are moments in my life when I wish I had a “do-over”. Yesterday was one of those days.

I have a 150 cc Kymco Scooter. Jim and I have owned this scooter since 2006. Both of us were always cautious when riding it. Jim, of course, was always a little more cautious than me. When I am in San Diego I pull the scooter out of storage and enjoy a quick and easy way to get around town. Parking is a breeze. It gets 80 mpg. Most of the year it stays in storage.

Yesterday I had an appointment at one of the Kaiser facilities to have routine lab work drawn. I had this bright idea to ride the scooter. The roads were damp and drying. It had rained during the night. For just a moment I considered not taking it because of the roads but decided that I would be cautious and take it. The weather forecast was good.

I made it twelve miles to the parking structure for the medical offices without incident. As I turned into the structure I hit a wet patch of road and went down. The scooter slid and landed on top of my right leg. If one is going to have an accident having it in the driveway of a medical facility is a good choice. Within seconds two very kind men lifted the scooter off me and stood it out of harm’s way. After a few more seconds there were at least a dozen medical personnel surrounding me. I am sitting on the curb trying to control the need to throw up. When I looked up and saw the staff I asked Susan the nurse representative to get rid of all of them and she did. Within a short time, I had seen a Doctor, not in my plans for the day, and was whisked off for x-rays to make sure I had not broken anything (I did not).

When one lives alone logistics seem harder. I have to figure out many steps that would be so much easier if someone else is around.

I had my labs done, picked up a pain prescription at the pharmacy, and met up with my friend, Phyllis who helped commandeer my day. First stop was the Orthopedic clinic to be out fitted with a knee brace and crutches.

Obviously, I could not drive my scooter. What was I going to do to make sure she was safe and out of harm’s way? I did not feel comfortable leaving her in the parking structure. With the help of the Vespa Scooter Store, I was able to find someone to tow it safely to my storage unit. I felt accomplished when I had found a solution that did not cost me too much money and now I know it is safely tucked away until I can get to her.

My Scooter Getting a Lift

And then there are friends. I value all my friends. My friends have come to my rescue more than once. And then there is Phyllis. Phyllis and I met as nurses at San Diego Children’s Hospital (now known as Rady Children’s Hospital). Over the many years, we have remained strong and true friends. She and I have traveled to Africa and parts of the United States together. If I need someone to help me, Phyllis is my first call. When Jim was receiving chemo and ended up in the ER in the middle of the night due to a temp spike, Phyllis dressed and came to the hospital to support me. She has been in and out of the ER with me numerous times over the years. All I have to do is call and she puts herself into action. She is an amazing person and a tried and true friend. I consider myself extremely fortunate to call her my friend.

The medical staff, all of them at the Vandever clinic were top-notch. I was so impressed with their compassion and kindness and concern. From the moment I hit the ground, literally, professionals were there to help and assist with kindness and compassion, and concern. It reminds me of why I chose to be a registered nurse for twenty-five years.

I am safely tucked into my small rig with a lovely view of Mission Bay. I am doing what I have been told and resting. Leg up, ice packs every hour, and resting. I am thankful for this tiny rig where everything is within reaching distance. I don’t have to go far to cook, get a drink or use the bathroom. And now I wait, giving my leg and knee time to heal. Sigh.

Today I am thankful for not having a fracture. Today I am thankful for Phyllis a good friend. Today I am thankful for Kaiser, the medical staff, and all the loving concern I received. Today I am thankful for the opportunity to have future adventures. Today I am thankful for my little home on wheels that is giving me a safe and comfortable place to heal.

Today I am Thankful. Yes I would still love a do-over.