well it’s been a minute, decided that maybe I can start doing this again, try to keep in contact better. Our lives have certainly evolved since last journal here. June 2020 heart transplant and ordeal especially. We are back to traveling and spending summers, mostly, with our grandchildren. That happens in MI currently, but will be subject to change in a few years. Jen seems to move around almost as much as us. Ingrid is 6, 1st grade, as tall as Sue’s shoulder! Lachlan is 4, not far behind.
This past June, Rob was missing hospitals, NOT, and got a bad fever of unknown origin. He ended up with a lovely stay at U of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor, being tested for any possible virus and tic illness since we travel. Seems he inhaled some fungus and has histoplasmosis! For those that travel to AZ, it’s the similar to Valley Fever. He gets to take a lovely medicine for that for a year, normal people just 6 months but we all know how special he is. Because of all this, he missed doing his annual heart check up at Duke in June, so we had to do a personal visit instead in Dec. All’s still going great there.
Between the campground closing in Oct and Dec we visited a few places.
1st stop was OH to see the shoulder dr and get his right shoulder replacement done. His left one went so well last April, he was looking forward to getting rid of the pain in his right. Alas, there were some issues and it didn’t happen at t his time. He will do it, March 21st. I hope he can start recouping with enough PT before we head back to the campground in April.
So we moved on to NJ. Sue’s mom Rose had an 80th birthday mid November to celebrate, so we figured Thanksgiving would work too. Shortly after getting to NJ, we had a side trip planned. We flew to Puerto Rico to attend a celebration for organ donors & recipients that usually happens yearly, has been on hold since 2020. While we were there we visited with the donor family who was very very happy to meet us face to face. We did a video meeting last fall as they were anxious to meet us. Back in NJ, we took the time to go down to Philadelphia and visit Rob’s old heart in the Mütter Museum where it proudly sits on display. All said and done and saw, NJ was a great visit.
While the next hard stop was Duke, we had to go via Norfolk VA. Rob had bought a Crown Royal collection someone had to sell last May. We had our friends we met in ME in 19, who is in the coast guard pick it up, store it, until we could get there. That was suppose to be in June, but that didn’t happen! We were a little concerned about our timing á they are due with their 2nd baby Dec 4th. We got there on Dec 2nd, she was a little tired but doing well. We gave them a few bottle for a little appreciation. I got a text the next morning that she had the baby at 545am! Wow on timing. Over the years, we have had that effect that caused some babies to be born.
Unfortunately, on Dec 2nd Rob’s mom Kay passed away. This made us need to hasten a little to go to AZ. We did have some appointments set up in Red Bay for our home, but had to postpone them. We did get 2 calls that we could get 2 things knocked off the list earlier than planned. So we continued our path of direction on went on down to Red Bay. Got there late afternoon, had 1 item done. In the am, had the 2nd checked and were back on the road before noon!
The rest of our trip to AZ had some visits that coincided with our stops. Had dinner with friends outside of Little Rock, stayed the night at a Walmart, woo hoo. The next night we driveway surfed with great friends in OK. At the same time we were driving, Rob’s older brother, wife & dog were in their car driving to AZ from IN as well. We all got there within 30 minutes of each other. The younger brother was already in AZ, came right after mom passed to be with dad. So he was great about helping unload the RV into the house since we live in it for the months we are here.
We had Kay’s graveside service on the 15th.
Then a fairly low key Christmas. For us, it was going to be a little fun since Jen had planned to fly to AZ and spend the holidays with Steven’s family. She figured fly into Vegas, drive here, stay a day, then drive to Phoenix and fly home from there. Well she never mentioned to the grandkids that we were at this house also. It was wonderful to see the surprises on their faces. We took them to where the RV was parked so they could visualize it for the next few months. Whenever we get to do a video chat with them, they ask where we are and where the RV is. Also our son drove out from NE, got here late late on the night Jen was here so they all got to meet and visit in the morning before the gang left for Phoenix.
While in AZ, the 4 of us took a drive down to Lake Havasu. We wandered the London Bridge and then visited Uncle Curtis, Bud’s brother. He looks the same, good to touch base with him.
Moving day is getting near. Doug, Leann, and Dexter have made their journey back to IN. Dexter will probably have the biggest adjustment of not having 5 people to pet him all the time! We will be headed back to MI to work at a campground that is near our grandkids. Sue is going to do a 40 hour a week job (which she hasn’t done in forever – if ever since military) being the campground manager. Rob will be a supporting role overseeing the grounds & maintenance. This will be the 3rd season for this owner of this campground. Each year he has made upgrades, not all that are needed yet, bringing some things current as the previous owner hadn’t done any updates or changes in many years from what we were told. This includes increases in costs to campers. All this has caused some grumblings on long time seasonals causing them to leave, but has added new seasonals as well. Lots of ideas out there. We hope Sue isn’t overwhelmed, is able to address things for campers and follow the owners visions at the same time. Any leadership pointers are welcome!
