Phannie

Phannie
Photo taken near Monument Valley, Utah

Friday, December 25, 2020

2020: When It's Mentioned in the Future, We'll Just Smile Nervously and Change the Subject

 At Thousand Trails, Willis, Texas...


This year just keeps on giving, doesn't it?  I mentioned Sandy's foot surgery in the last post but, since then, things haven't gone so well. Five weeks after the initial surgery, it had to be redone because a screw came loose from the straightened array of bones, and one of the bones broke. The surgeon replaced the screws with metal rods to hold the bones in place. He said this was the old, tried and true method, although it is more painful, obviously. The ends of the metal rods are exposed outside the foot, so they can be removed when the bones have fully fused.  This means, of course, that five weeks of recovery have been lost, not to mention the added pain of metal rods inserted into her foot. Sandy calls them "swords," which probably gives you an idea of her discomfort. Yes, she has painkillers to help, but she refuses to take opioids. I never cease to be amazed at her lack of complaining. I can guarantee you that I wouldn't have handled it as well.  But then, I think God gave pain tolerance to women for a reason:  They are the ones who have babies; if it were left up to men to have them, the population would eventually fall to zero.  I admit to being a resentful whiner when I'm sick or in pain; when I get a cold, I think Sandy considers hospice care for me. When I have my upcoming knee surgery (I'm putting that off for a while), she'll probably trade me in for a new model.

If that weren't enough, Sandy has also been having worsening shoulder pain and immobility, and a recent MRI showed that she is going to need shoulder joint replacement surgery. That will happen after her foot heals sufficiently. Yet she takes it in stride, merely eager to get it all behind her. I simply can't match that; I think I would be looking for a cliff. Well, not really. All we need to remember is that these things are all fixable. When we think not of ourselves, but of so many others whose medical conditions are much worse or hopeless, our problems become small by comparison. But how fitting that all this would happen in 2020.

Well, I have strayed a good bit from the subject of RVs, but I want these thoughts recorded in this blog for that time when the memory isn't as sharp. The year of the plague and the masks will not soon be forgotten.

Getting back to RV life, we think it was perhaps Providential that we happened to be in this fulltiming lifestyle at this time. As it happens, we can easily be isolated and move from places where virus hotspots develop, and that's what we have done, mostly. We were able to stay in lowly impacted areas for months and, after we left, many of them turned into hot spots. Look at California now, for example. When we were there, the virus was almost unknown. We spent the winter, spring and summer in areas of very low population, and we felt quite safe. We wouldn't be here now near Houston if it weren't for the chance of finally seeing the kids if we can get vaccinated and, oh yes, Sandy's surgery.  Thank goodness there's now a vaccine and life, hopefully will get back to normal one of these days.

We are beginning to notice that a surprising number of new RV parks are being built in this area of Texas. I think the park builders are finally beginning to catch on to the great proliferation of RVs in the past few years--especially during the pandemic. It is really hard for me to keep up with the good ones that would be worthy of listing on my 'Best of the Best' page.

Obviously, we're not going to be mobile enough for a while to do much reconnoitering of the 'part time' digs we have in mind. We are looking for a 55+ community of small houses--larger than park models--that are located in inland Texas, not too far from the kids, but not near the coast with its humidity, hurricanes and mosquitoes. There are hundreds of these communities in Arizona and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas that are beautiful and well-landscaped, but they are too far away from where we want to be. We've looked at Del Webb, Robson Ranch and such developments that are within our budget, but their houses are too large. If we wanted that, we would have kept the house we had. We're accustomed now to minimalism, and we like the simplicity of a small space; however, we're nearly convinced that what we're looking for in a 55+ housing community doesn't exist outside the hellish heat areas like those we've seen in far-away Arizona and in south Texas. 

It was nice to see old friends when we returned here at TT Lake Conroe. We even met some new ones--new to us, not our other friends--and we have been in (safe) contact, as in this outdoor lunch at P. F. Chang's the other day in The Woodlands:


Clockwise around the table, starting with Sandy-- Janice (new friend), Ed, Rick (new friend) Dave, Janice and Debi. Sandy was in a good deal of pain during this lunch, but it wasn't going to prevent her from having such a good time among dear friends.

I think I'm going to toss into these posts a favorite photo from our travels while we're grounded. Maybe that'll make it a little more interesting for newcomers. I know we'll enjoy seeing them again. By the way, if you're new to fulltime RVing, I urge you to keep a journal of some kind. Our blog helps us remember so many things we've forgotten. When you get older, you'll understand. 

Here's a nice view of the Grand Canyon at sunset:


We'll keep you posted on Sandy's progress. In the meantime, please include her in your prayer list.


Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; 
please forgive me if I fail to appreciate it each day as I should.

We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. 
 ---George Bernard Shaw

"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood



 



 




13 comments:

  1. Praying Sandy heals fast, and with little to no pain. Perhaps, getting her a little service bell would be a nice gesture. It will help her rest her vocals, which she could use better with the doctor to whom you'll all be paying to cause any pain she endures. So, a service bell for the home would be the best option. I wonder, if they have shopping bells, hummm... (I'll see myself out). God Bless you both, stay safe, secure and an Covid free and hurry back out on the road. A SHOPPING BELL...

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    1. As much as I appreciate your comment, it is a good bit funnier than would be endurable if I followed it. Thanks for the nice sentiment, my friend.

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  2. awww. . .I just hate all this for my friend. Loved seeing you guys for lunch. Hopefully, after Dave's surgery, we can get together at your place for 42. It's been ages.

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    1. We would love that; we'll be keeping track of and praying for Dave, too.

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  3. Mike, tell Sandy that I am thinking of her and wishing her a speedier recovery the second time. When I had my 2 foot surgeries in late 2009, the podiatrist put a pin in the top of each foot, but the pins are not exposed and rarely bother me, but I was told they could be removed if too painful. I cannot imagine what Sandy is experiencing! Love the photo of our RV friends, and miss our get-togethers with y'all. Happy New Year and wishing all of us a better 2021!

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    1. Oh, we miss you guys, too. When things settle down we will get together, for sure! Happy new year!

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  4. Looking ahead to medical procedures is not something anyone in our Age Lifestyle likes to think about but sometimes necessary.
    Hope you were able to celebrate a Safe and Merry Christmas but wishing you a Healthy, Happy New Year.

    I's about time.

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    1. Thank you very much. And many blessings for you guys as well.

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  5. Sorry to hear of Sandy's on going medical issues, but pray that she will have relieve and you two can carry on living life to the fullest. It is great to be able to celebrate with friends during this pandemic. Merry Christmas, all the best in the new year, stay safe and healthy.

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    1. Thank you, Bill. We hope this will be the last of our medical difficulties. Your good wishes are very much appreciated. All our best in the new year.

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  6. When faced with any of life's many challenges our attitude can have a major impact - positive or negative - on our situation. Your noting that the two of you are dealing with "fixable" ailments and there are others suffering with worse conditions tells me that the Mills' positive, can-do attitudes are alive and well despite all of the difficulties of the past year. I am not at all surprised. I trust that you both enjoyed Christmas with "the kids" immensely, and I have no doubt that Sandy was in her grandmotherly glory when she saw those boys again. Prayers for Sandy and warm wishes to both of you for smoother sailing in 2021!

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  7. Intuitive, heartfelt, much appreciated (and perfectly written). Thank you, Mary!

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  8. We bought a "winter" house April 2018. Then we up and sold the RV in October 2019. The house is 1500 square feet which sounds like a lot until you're in it full time, especially during a pandemic. We seriously regret not holding out for a third bedroom for the weights and hobby stuff. After 11 years of full timing we were used to minimalism but it seems to be different in a house. Stuff comes in while you're not looking, I think. Anyway, my unsolicited advice when house hunting is to plan for spending more time inside than you'd expect.
    I've had three foot surgeries, but none were as bad as Sandy's. I truly wish her a speedy recovery.

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