Thanksgiving Day … “In everything give thanks”.

November 28, 2013: Thanksgiving Day … “In everything give thanks”.

I wake this morning before the sun rises, pull back the curtain at the windshield, and see the sun just getting ready to peak over the Plomosa Mountains.

Thankful for #1: The sun is rising again today.  Hallelujah to that!

It’s chilly inside so I start the generator and then put the coffee on to brew.  As I’m straightening up the table, I hear Jack stirring in the bedroom.  He may need my help getting out of bed.  When I step into the bedroom Jack is up and selecting he his “daytime pajamas” to put on (due to his tender belly).

Thankful for #2: Jack needs no help getting out of bed.  Today is already a better day than yesterday.

After a breakfast of eggs and sausage I set up the lounge chairs outside and prepare for a quiet day in the sun.  Phone calls start coming in from family and friends.  First, “How’s Jack doing?”  Then, “Happy Thanksgiving” follows.

Thankful for #3: Our wonderful families and friends.

Although none live in the immediate vicinity they have stayed in close touch and offered any assistance we need … even coming here from Colorado to help.

Jack’s relaxing in the lounge chair with a new book.  I just finished my current book and get up to take a short walk in the area around the motor home.

Having spent 35 of the last 40 years in Colorado with glorious mountains, rushing streams, and soaring pine trees, I must admit I have been having a little trouble finding the beauty in the desert.  I have tried to open my mind to a new landscape and experience it – literally prepare myself before taking a walk to “see” the beauty that I am certain has got to be there.  There is beauty in everything, right?  Okay, so here are some photos of my short hike around our campsite.

Previous campers to this nearby site placed rocks around all the trees and shrubs.  Maybe to protect the vegetation … maybe to make it look more like their backyard at home.  I wonder?  Now, that’s kind of a pretty touch.

This picture was taken of the tire tracks of a man that camped near us a few days back.  I took it to show that there are no designated sites – just camp where you wish.  But, look in the background beyond the Moose and Caboose – the Plomosa Mountains.  Now that’s beautiful.  A flashback to Colorado mountains?  Probably.  But … we are in the desert.  And … I did find something really beautiful.  It’s a start and I'm working on it.  

Thankful for #4: Mountains … even desert mountains.

I return to the Moose and find Jack right where I left him.

 

Blessings abound in my life and I am thankful for each and every one. 

I can't begin to express even a fraction of them, so here’s just a few:

~ Jack lounging in his chair instead of lying in a hospital bed.

~ A skilled surgeon at little Palo Verde Hospital.

~ The ability to travel as we wish around this wonderful country we live in.

~ Family and friends that are there to help at a moment’s notice.

~ The interesting and fun people along our journey that have enriched our travel experience.

Happy Thanksgiving … and Happy Hanukkah.  Count your blessings.

Oh, the sweet sound of those three little words, “Honey, I farted.”

November 25, 2013: Monday night – Those three little words.

Monday I left the hospital at 4pm.  Back home near Quartzsite my phone rings – it’s Jack.  He whispers the three little words I needed to hear before going to sleep tonight, “Honey, I farted.”  Yup, those three little words mean his discharge is close at hand.

If you or anyone you know has ever had surgery, you know the milestone that must be reached before discharge is granted.  Passing gas is the first step followed by the “real deal”.  That’s what we’ve been waiting for.  I’m going to sleep better tonight.

November 26, 2013: Tuesday morning – Breakfast is served, finally.

Arriving at the hospital at 7am, Jack is snoozing away.  Within half-an-hour breakfast is served.  Granted, it’s a tray of only clear liquids, but it’s only tray to enter his room since we arrived last Friday morning.  He’s happy to take it.

Dr. S. makes his rounds and we get the good news that Jack will be discharged today.

A fun afternoon of looking through archived photos.

Lolling around all day watching Jack sleep I decided to review some archived pictures.  Since I haven’t been out taking new photos to show I thought I’d select just a few of my favorites from past posts and a few you haven’t seen. 

The price of freedom is written on the wall.

This is a recent photo but deserves another view.  The Vietnam War Memorial was set up at Laughlin, Nevada over Veterans Day weekend.  I'm glad I had the opportunity it see it.

    

RV'ing Styles.

I met this lovely lady Gladys and her daughter, Karla, in Cherry Creek State Park near Denver Colorado.  They are members of the all-ladies travel trailer group, Sisters on the Fly.  Everyone glams-up their little trailers to the hilt.  This one is just darling.  It’s so girlie – I absolutely love it.

We met these Aussies while at Whistlewind BLM Campground south of Moab, Utah.  They shipped their rig from Australia and travel fulltime. 

This family showed up on the shore of Lake Powell back in October.  The young couple from France and their two youngsters are traveling from the tip of Argentina to Halifax over the course of a year.  Her mother has joined them for a couple of months.  Small quarters for a family with a mother-in-law in tow.

The Toad Trailer from British Columbia.  I love this!  It’s not much bigger than a king size bed, but oh so cute.  These folks were camping in Zion National Park.

A couple of nice sunsets.  You’ve probably figured out I love sunsets.

The sky turns blood red as the sun sets west of Lake Powell.

Zion National Park – The sun setting over The Watchman on our first night at this magnificent park.  It was the beginning of a fun-filled 8 day stay.

Lovely ladies.

Savannah and the hummers.

Little Savannah was camping with her family at Dutch George NFS Campground along the Cache la Poudre River in Colorado.  Spying a neighboring camper who had her hummingbird feeders set up, she asked if she could come closer.  Before long she is interacting with the hummers and they’re landing on her fingers.  What fun! 

Nancy Remington’s Crazy Quilt.

Attending a fund raiser for the Upper Poudre Canyon Firehouse, a quilt show was on display at the community church next door to the firehouse.

This is where I met Nancy Remington and heard her story of the quilt that was made especially for her.  

I’ve copied the note attached to the quilt as it tells the story so much better than I can.  Here it is for your enjoyment.

Ray and Kay Demel made this quilt for their only granddaughter, Nancy Kay.  Nancy was given the quilt when she set up housekeeping and used it for EVERYTHING!  Nancy’s mother was visiting her many years later and they decided to have a picnic.  Nancy’s mom was silently fuming when her daughter spread the well-worn quilt out on the grass.  After lunch Nancy started talking about the different materials, remembering sundresses and outfits, shorts and curtains.  Her mother then realized this quilt could not be enjoyed safely stored away in a hope chest and that the tattered quilt was being loved on a daily basis, not put away and forgotten. 

Nancy is a Larimer deputy sheriff who patrols our area and campgrounds in the summer.  In winter, her job takes her to our county’s schools.    

Nancy and I talked for 20 minutes or more.  She pointed out each fabric and described the original use for each.  Her pajamas, her sundress, curtains from the kitchen windows, a dress her mother wore, and on and on.  What an enjoyable time with her.  And what a treasure she possesses from her wonderful grandparents. 

November 27, 2013: Wednesday – Home on the range.

Jack was discharged early in the evening yesterday.  After a stop at Rite Aid for his prescription we headed back across the state line into Arizona.

So here we are “home on the range” in the desert outside Quartzsite, Arizona.  We’ll stay put for a couple of weeks until we return to Blythe for Jack’s follow up visit with his surgeon. 

I hope to come up with some photos during our extended stay that will be interesting enough to post.   

Have a Happy Thanksgiving – enjoy family and friends, and give thanks for your good health.  Blessings to all.

Houston - we've got a problem.

November 21, 2013: Before we get to the problem, let’s start off on a happy note.

This is how we are greeted by the sun this morning.  Can you even believe it?  We must be doing something right is all I can say.

The Moose and Caboose in the morning light.  The chairs are still facing west from watching the sun go down last night.

November 25, 2013: Now, down to the nuts and bolts of the matter.

Jack went to bed early on Monday night because he wasn’t feeling well.  Unable to keep anything in his stomach on Tuesday and Wednesday, we figured he had picked up bug when we were wondering around the casino in Laughlin a couple of days earlier.  Thursday he seemed to be feeling a little better.  But, by 12:30 am on Friday morning I knew we had a serious problem.

Before the crack of dawn on Friday, we literally raced west on I-10 heading to the closest hospital – Palo Verde in Blythe, California.  Arriving at the tiny hospital we weren’t sure if we made the right decision to get to the closest hospital, or if we should have driven farther to Yuma and a larger city hospital.  It’s too late to second guess so we entered the ER.

Houston – we have a problem.

Exam and standard tests complete and no idea what was wrong, the ER physician ordered a CT scan.  The scan confirmed a ruptured appendix.  Jack was scheduled for emergency surgery.  Any concerns either of us had regarding the surgeon who would do the procedure were dispelled after a short consultation with Dr. S.  We were duly impressed with his qualifications and experience.  Surgery went well, and Dr. S.’s follow up has been outstanding.  The added bonus has been a physician with a great sense of humor – which you don’t find every day in his line of work.

Now, four days later Jack is still in the hospital with an undetermined release date.  We're hoping to have him back home within another few days.         

A couple final pictures.  It’s a nice little hospital with very competent and friendly staff.

I'm apologize that I don't have any really interesting pictures to share, but I've only seen sunrises and sunsets in my rear view mirror the last few days.  We hope to be back on track shortly, perhaps taking an extra couple of weeks here in Quartzsite for Jack to recoup before we move on to our next destination.  Until next time – be safe and take good care of your loved ones.