Hello from Florida! (Although the picture was taken in Emerald Isle, NC…) Since leaving Minnesota at the end of October, we have visited family and friends in Iowa, Kentucky, and North Carolina, completed our Christmas shopping and wrapping (a first – I’ve never been finished before Thanksgiving!), had medical appointments, then traveled south for the winter!
First, a medical update. Both Carl and I are healthy. My follow-up appointment went well, although my doctor ordered a PET scan and my insurance promptly denied it. My next follow-up is in February, and, at that time, I will have a CT scan and a bone scan. I will fly up from Orlando for just a couple of days to take care of these appointments. As you can see in the photo, my hair is starting to grow back … just VERY SLOWLY. It has been 5 months since my last chemo treatment. I thought it would be longer by now. I miss having my shoulder-length hair, so I hope the pace picks up soon!
Second, the weather in Florida is perfect. Sunny. Mostly 70s. I need to get some sun on my legs, though! And I’m on the hunt for a new bathing suit. Carl has a round of golf already on his schedule this week.
Third, perfect weather = perfect time to work on a few projects. I plan to do some “spring” cleaning. Carl has installed a new stove exhaust vent cover on the outside of the Airstream, and he will be replacing one of our rooftop solar panels within the next couple of weeks. We have also decided to switch out our anti-sway hitch from a ProPride to an Equalizer. We were able to purchase one from someone who only used his once, and saved a few hundred dollars. In the coming weeks, we will post a blog about our reasons for the switch.
Fourth, check out our upcoming stops (in the right column of this website). We plan to cross the border into Canada from Montana around May 24 and will travel to Alaska for the summer. We will be back in Minnesota next September so Carl can work the corn silage and sugar beet harvests again. And we are toying with the idea of spending next winter in the southwest. There is still so much to see and do!
Lastly, in the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it is important to take a moment (or two… or three…) and check in with yourself. Take a deep breath. Know the busyness will subside soon. Know you are loved. If there is someone you wish to hear from, contact them – text, email, write, or call. Treat yourself to something soothing. Wish the grumpy check-out person a good day. Wave to the UPS/Fedex driver. Turn off the noise. Close your eyes for a minute. Tune into you. All is good. And if it isn’t, hug yourself. Love yourself. These moments are for you and you alone.
Light and love to you from us.
Your travel plans all sound great, and advice for living fully hits the mark. May all your travels prove to be as adventurous as they sound.
Linda V
Thank you, Linda. We are excited about Alaska and hope it is the trip of a lifetime. Merry Christmas to you!
Hi Guys, it’s always a treat to read about you and your journey. We too ( or should it be two) are in FL. Venice . It looks like you’ll be closest in Bradenton. If you’ve got some time reach out and maybe we can meet. Yes it’s important to take time to relax and get centered. I just don’t like having to buy presents to get my family to acknowledge me. Best of health and Merry Christmas to you two.
Thanks, Mike. And YES! We would love to see you. We will be in the Bradenton area at the beginning of January for a couple of weeks. We will reach out and hope to meet up with you and Gaile! Merry Christmas!
Hey Karen and Carl. Thanks for the update. Always nice to hear from you. Glad to hear you are well. We’re doing great just waiting for the next opportunity to travel. The southwest is our favorite. If you’re ever coming to Washington, let us know. We’d love to see you.
Great to hear from you! We love the southwest as well and miss it! We will be coming through Washington at the end of next August as we make our way east to Minnesota for the corn silage harvest. Hopefully, we will see you!