On the Road

We’re on the road. We’ve been on the road for a while now, almost five weeks. It’s turning out to be more of a demanding journey than originally expected. You know what I mean; it’s a case of looking at a Google map of the route you need to take, only to find the map made the trip look deceivingly short and simple. So is the case of this road trip.

The road we are on is the road to recovery. Back on October 12, we posted an entry about the journey yet to come. Since, we have gone through the preparations and the event and now are on the road back to our previous normalcy. During the preparations I did many things I otherwise would have procrastinated into the New Year, or further. Completing a number of home repair and winterization chores so The Lovely Gail would be set for the next few months, at least from a home maintenance perspective.

The big event was somewhat of a non-event, at least for me. I drove myself and The Lovely One to the hospital and went through all the pre-surgery procedures that anyone familiar with such an activity can well imagine, and then I woke up several hours later. It was much more of a trial for The Lovely Gail. She was supported, however, by two dear friends the entire time. Afterward, in post-op, was when we set out on the road. And, we’ve been traveling ever since.

Along the way we’ve encountered some truly wonderful people. These are people, most of whom we’ve known for some time, who have shown us tremendous kindness and generosity. We have been fortunate to encounter many new faces as well, whether providing us services or just hearing of our difficulty and wanting to help, generous people all. This has been an enlightening trip, individuals of exemplary character have come forth to ease our passage as we move through this time and for that we will be ever grateful. Lucky we are to be surrounded by such compassion and humanity.

I knew the trip would be long. In advance of the trip I somehow minimize it by measuring its length, the time it would consume, against my remaining years, a perspective that overly simplified the course ahead. Once you’re on the road, though, the time seems to drag. This trip can’t be rushed either, as I am finding. I am at that stage, that milepost if you will, where I feel like I am nearly 100 percent, only to have that twinge of muscular pain that clearly states, “Not so fast there, buddy”. I find I must limit my gesticulations, and this in turn affects my ability to communicate. The Lovely One seems to be OK with this, however.

So, as we pull back out onto el camino a salud and resume the journey, and while not all that has come to pass has been expected or desired, we’re nevertheless grateful for friends and family, as well as health and happiness. Nothing ahead is insurmountable; it’s just a matter of time.

.