Yesterday was the day that ended our most recent stretch of traveling and camping in our RV. After almost 12 years with our fifth wheel, it was all turned over - along with our truck - to the new owners from Arlington, TX - without a hitch so to speak. I didn't take any photos because it was not the kind of event that I want to cheer about. The new owners are great people that will take great care of the truck and RV. We spent about four hours completing the transaction and going over all the features and operation of both vehicles. They will stay for three days at the Paradise RV Resort in Sun City which is only a few blocks from us. They will do the shakedown, learn about the features, ask us any questions, stock the fifth wheel with all their needs and head out to southern AZ before going home to set up at the Escapee Park in Livingston, TX. We wish them all the luck with their "new" setup.
We now begin our time with only one vehicle - the Escape. The plan is to try to save some money and eventually get a larger vehicle that can possibly tow a smaller trailer for our "retirement" so we can still travel and keep our hands in the RV world...
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Saturday, February 1, 2020
SPECIAL ENTRY
This is a special entry to remind folks that that not all anniversaries are good ones and that some are life changers.
Today marks the 53rd year that I have been consumed, on this date, with memories of a life changing event. It was on February 1, 1967, that my life changed forever. It was the day that I received a phone call - at around 8:15 AM - that my wife (Patty Ann White Reed) of just over two years was involved in an auto accident and was returned in very serious condition to the hospital where she worked - Princeton Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey.
We were, at the time, on the threshold of building a wonderful life.
We were within two monthly payments of completing the purchase of a lot not far from Princeton to build our house. It was in a new neighborhood and we had a choice, corner lot with woods in the rear. Along with being pregnant with our first child, there was lots to look forward to. We both were making good money and had wonderful jobs.
We had only the one vehicle - the 1965 Ford Mustang convertible - that we shared for driving to and from work. She used it during the night while I slept and she worked, and I used it during the day while she slept and I worked at McGraw Hill in Hightstown. Essentially, we only had the time together (except for weekends) from around 5 PM in the evening until around 10 PM when she had to leave for work. Her position at the Princeton Hospital was as the Charge Nurse in the Intensive Care unit for the night shift. She was an excellent nurse that followed in her mother's footsteps and her grandmother's footsteps. I will always remember the conversations we had about one of her patients - Doug Bo, a Princeton University football player who was in a coma since his injury in a game the previous November. She used to remind me of the sorrow that surrounded visits from his parents and their prayers to have Doug get well. She always said that she would never want her family to go through that kind of sorrow. Little did we know. It turned out that Doug Bo never came out of his coma before passing away - not long after Pat was admitted in a coma.
The prognosis for Pat was not good from the very beginning. She had endured a fractured skull in the crash which resulted in a brain hemorrhage that allowed blood to enter her spinal fluid - a sign of permanent brain damage. I was told that there were two trucks that hit her as she skidded on the ice that was present that morning. She almost made it through the crash until the second truck struck the passenger door causing the force to hit her in the head. The seat belt she was wearing in the auto saved the life of our unborn child. The reports from the doctors indicated that she would never be normal again - even if she somehow, miraculously, recovered from the accident. The brain damage was so significant that she would have the mentality of an infant child.
It was Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967 when I walked into the intensive care waiting room to visit her and was greeted by doctors who informed me that Pat gave birth - naturally, to a 3 lb, 13 ounce baby girl who was placed in an incubator. A fear that I had all along to this point was that the child may not be normal as a result of all the medications given to her mother. We all know how those fears were unfounded as our daughter - Patty - is a beautiful, smart, and wonderful woman today. I love her to death. I thank God for that gift and her mother would be proud. I named the child after Pat as I knew that she would probably never have a say in what to name her. I can, along with everyone who ever knew Pat, see her mother in her. What would I do without her I my life?
After nearly one year of realizing that our prayers for a recovery for Pat would not be answered, I started thinking about creating a normal life for Patty. The job of caring for Patty rest totally on her grandmother - Clara White - to start, and then with her other grandmother (my mother) for the foreseeable future. I decided to change jobs and move to Pennsylvania to be closer and to help my mother as best I could. Prior to leaving New Jersey, I had spent some time trying to live a normal life. Then, I met Josie at McGraw Hill who immediately made an impression on me for her caring and honesty. We had a wonderful, growing relationship which I continued after leaving New Jersey. Josie never cared about the prospect of never marrying as long as Pat was alive and only cared about me and Patty.
Toward the end of 1967, the doctors suggested relocating Pat to a Convalescent Home as they had done all they could for her. During the entire stay, I was never charged one penny for Pat's care as she was treated as one of their own at the hospital. Pat would remain at the Convalescent Home until she passed away in June, 1971. Josie and I were married in October of that year after spending almost two years together. I will never forget the commitment that Josie made to mine and to Patty's happiness and well being without expecting anything in return. I even suggested that she sign on with Braniff Airlines as a stewardess and try to establish a life for herself since mine was on hold. The one year she worked for Braniff was almost like she never left me as she was always calling to get updates on Patty and our lives. She finally quit the airlines and moved in with me in 1970 without any expectations or without any concern about what the public may have thought. In those days, to live together without being married was not the norm. Now, I cannot imagine my life without Josie. I love her so much!
I often wonder how things would be different if my life had not taken that turn in 1967. There is no question that my life would have been more structured from the standpoint of staying in one place longer, and that I probably would have made a long career at McGraw Hill and Pat would have had a nice career at the Princeton Hospital. I will never know. I do know that our lives - mine and Josie's - has been wonderful and filled with exploration of places and experiences that we both never dreamed we would have.
I also have another anniversary to celebrate on February 1, 2020 - It has now been 21 years since I quit smoking. THAT is a good anniversary....
Today marks the 53rd year that I have been consumed, on this date, with memories of a life changing event. It was on February 1, 1967, that my life changed forever. It was the day that I received a phone call - at around 8:15 AM - that my wife (Patty Ann White Reed) of just over two years was involved in an auto accident and was returned in very serious condition to the hospital where she worked - Princeton Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey.
We were, at the time, on the threshold of building a wonderful life.
We were within two monthly payments of completing the purchase of a lot not far from Princeton to build our house. It was in a new neighborhood and we had a choice, corner lot with woods in the rear. Along with being pregnant with our first child, there was lots to look forward to. We both were making good money and had wonderful jobs.
We had only the one vehicle - the 1965 Ford Mustang convertible - that we shared for driving to and from work. She used it during the night while I slept and she worked, and I used it during the day while she slept and I worked at McGraw Hill in Hightstown. Essentially, we only had the time together (except for weekends) from around 5 PM in the evening until around 10 PM when she had to leave for work. Her position at the Princeton Hospital was as the Charge Nurse in the Intensive Care unit for the night shift. She was an excellent nurse that followed in her mother's footsteps and her grandmother's footsteps. I will always remember the conversations we had about one of her patients - Doug Bo, a Princeton University football player who was in a coma since his injury in a game the previous November. She used to remind me of the sorrow that surrounded visits from his parents and their prayers to have Doug get well. She always said that she would never want her family to go through that kind of sorrow. Little did we know. It turned out that Doug Bo never came out of his coma before passing away - not long after Pat was admitted in a coma.
The prognosis for Pat was not good from the very beginning. She had endured a fractured skull in the crash which resulted in a brain hemorrhage that allowed blood to enter her spinal fluid - a sign of permanent brain damage. I was told that there were two trucks that hit her as she skidded on the ice that was present that morning. She almost made it through the crash until the second truck struck the passenger door causing the force to hit her in the head. The seat belt she was wearing in the auto saved the life of our unborn child. The reports from the doctors indicated that she would never be normal again - even if she somehow, miraculously, recovered from the accident. The brain damage was so significant that she would have the mentality of an infant child.
It was Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967 when I walked into the intensive care waiting room to visit her and was greeted by doctors who informed me that Pat gave birth - naturally, to a 3 lb, 13 ounce baby girl who was placed in an incubator. A fear that I had all along to this point was that the child may not be normal as a result of all the medications given to her mother. We all know how those fears were unfounded as our daughter - Patty - is a beautiful, smart, and wonderful woman today. I love her to death. I thank God for that gift and her mother would be proud. I named the child after Pat as I knew that she would probably never have a say in what to name her. I can, along with everyone who ever knew Pat, see her mother in her. What would I do without her I my life?
After nearly one year of realizing that our prayers for a recovery for Pat would not be answered, I started thinking about creating a normal life for Patty. The job of caring for Patty rest totally on her grandmother - Clara White - to start, and then with her other grandmother (my mother) for the foreseeable future. I decided to change jobs and move to Pennsylvania to be closer and to help my mother as best I could. Prior to leaving New Jersey, I had spent some time trying to live a normal life. Then, I met Josie at McGraw Hill who immediately made an impression on me for her caring and honesty. We had a wonderful, growing relationship which I continued after leaving New Jersey. Josie never cared about the prospect of never marrying as long as Pat was alive and only cared about me and Patty.
Toward the end of 1967, the doctors suggested relocating Pat to a Convalescent Home as they had done all they could for her. During the entire stay, I was never charged one penny for Pat's care as she was treated as one of their own at the hospital. Pat would remain at the Convalescent Home until she passed away in June, 1971. Josie and I were married in October of that year after spending almost two years together. I will never forget the commitment that Josie made to mine and to Patty's happiness and well being without expecting anything in return. I even suggested that she sign on with Braniff Airlines as a stewardess and try to establish a life for herself since mine was on hold. The one year she worked for Braniff was almost like she never left me as she was always calling to get updates on Patty and our lives. She finally quit the airlines and moved in with me in 1970 without any expectations or without any concern about what the public may have thought. In those days, to live together without being married was not the norm. Now, I cannot imagine my life without Josie. I love her so much!
I often wonder how things would be different if my life had not taken that turn in 1967. There is no question that my life would have been more structured from the standpoint of staying in one place longer, and that I probably would have made a long career at McGraw Hill and Pat would have had a nice career at the Princeton Hospital. I will never know. I do know that our lives - mine and Josie's - has been wonderful and filled with exploration of places and experiences that we both never dreamed we would have.
I also have another anniversary to celebrate on February 1, 2020 - It has now been 21 years since I quit smoking. THAT is a good anniversary....
Thursday, January 30, 2020
More Updates and Events
Yes, this will take the count for blog entries over 3800. It is amazing how they accumulate and how much they have meant to us. In over 10 years of traveling and experiencing jobs, places, people and events - we still have the desire to be traveling somewhere.
It will be awhile before that happens again as we have sold our RV and the truck we use to tow the RV. The buyer is from Arlington, TX and he will pick up the "package" after he closes on the sale of his home in Arlington next week. We have the deposit and all questions have been answered. All that remains is the possession which I expect to go smoothly. The price was not even negotiated as he was thrilled to find the combination he did with our rig. We will get out of the deal with no cash, but we will have the expense of the two vehicles disappear. That takes away some of the pressure to work for extra money - at least for the short term. We will always want to have some freedom to go away somewhere, so another RV - smaller - is most likely in our future. We'll see.
Tomorrow ends the first month in 2020 and I will have a special entry for the first day of February which will be on Saturday.
Stay tuned...
It will be awhile before that happens again as we have sold our RV and the truck we use to tow the RV. The buyer is from Arlington, TX and he will pick up the "package" after he closes on the sale of his home in Arlington next week. We have the deposit and all questions have been answered. All that remains is the possession which I expect to go smoothly. The price was not even negotiated as he was thrilled to find the combination he did with our rig. We will get out of the deal with no cash, but we will have the expense of the two vehicles disappear. That takes away some of the pressure to work for extra money - at least for the short term. We will always want to have some freedom to go away somewhere, so another RV - smaller - is most likely in our future. We'll see.
Tomorrow ends the first month in 2020 and I will have a special entry for the first day of February which will be on Saturday.
Stay tuned...
Friday, January 17, 2020
Birthday and Business as Usual
Birthdays have a way of getting more calm and quiet as the years go by. I'm thankful for the years going by and still celebrating them. The decision was made to wait until Patty arrives for a visit later this month to celebrate with a dinner at a nice restaurant. This year, number 77, I watched TV and did some stitching. I enjoy doing both.
We moved most of the boxes and other "stuff" in the garage away from the walls so that the termite people could get access to the base of the walls for their treatment. Also, we moved some things around outside for the same reason. The treatment occurred as scheduled yesterday and all went well. We can hardly tell where the holes were made to inject the chemical inside the house. It was a great job done by two nice gentleman who knew their termites. We also rewarded them with a couple bags of oranges and lemons from our trees.
Josie is a photographer at heart. She is always running outside to get pictures of something that is happening in our yard. This week, she snapped these shots The first one is of a praying mantis that has been hanging around our back patio:
and this one of one of the many beautiful sunsets we get in Arizona:
Our task now is to put the garage back together again after our termite treatment. We are going to get a dumpster from Parks and Sons (our trash collectors) to dispose of lots of our garbage that we have in the garage. We already made one trip to St Vincent DePaul to donate some stuff. That's another story as they are getting very picky about what they accept these days.
That's about it for now...
We moved most of the boxes and other "stuff" in the garage away from the walls so that the termite people could get access to the base of the walls for their treatment. Also, we moved some things around outside for the same reason. The treatment occurred as scheduled yesterday and all went well. We can hardly tell where the holes were made to inject the chemical inside the house. It was a great job done by two nice gentleman who knew their termites. We also rewarded them with a couple bags of oranges and lemons from our trees.
Josie is a photographer at heart. She is always running outside to get pictures of something that is happening in our yard. This week, she snapped these shots The first one is of a praying mantis that has been hanging around our back patio:
and this one of one of the many beautiful sunsets we get in Arizona:
Our task now is to put the garage back together again after our termite treatment. We are going to get a dumpster from Parks and Sons (our trash collectors) to dispose of lots of our garbage that we have in the garage. We already made one trip to St Vincent DePaul to donate some stuff. That's another story as they are getting very picky about what they accept these days.
That's about it for now...
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Keeping Busy
Our time over the last week has been occupied with efforts to start new (planned) projects and to prepare for scheduled activities.
The main projects are: dealing with our overload of fruit from our trees, preparing the house for the scheduled termite treatment, pursuing the sale of our RV and truck, dealing with the many rabbits that are making our patio their private toilet and just trying to figure out where we will put all the "stuff" that needs to be sorted, boxed and put away.
Our landscaper is scheduled to prune our trees at the end of the month. Before that happens, we need to rid the trees of all the fruit that is present. There are oranges and lemons that are available to anybody that would like some. Josie will take some to the shop and we will also take some to the rec center for anybody to take. There are always some available to family if they would like to stock up.
Our scheduled termite treatment will be on Thursday between 7-8 AM. We need to organize the garage so that they can do the treatment around the edges. That involves moving all the boxes and other items into the center of the garage to free up the wall areas. It also means our car will be outside for a few days but that is no problem with the weather we have been having.
The truck and RV sale is progressing. The individual from Texas is reviewing the material I sent along with checking on financing sources. He plans to finance a small portion of the package and is trying to figure out his best options. It seems to be moving forward although at a slow pace. He is convinced that he has found the right package for his needs and is going to send a deposit this week to secure the deal when he is assured of his financing. I have sent him tons of photos and he is confident that the package is a good one.
We purchased a spray product - Rabbit and Deer Fence - at Home Depot and it works really well. The problem is that it only is effective for about a week or two (depending on rain) and then we need to blow off the patio and re-apply it around the edges of the patio. We picked up a larger container of the product yesterday and have enough to last for quite awhile. The rabbits are fun to watch but they are a nuisance.
We still have the project of organizing the garage staring us in the face. That is, and will be, the major task for us over the next several months....
The main projects are: dealing with our overload of fruit from our trees, preparing the house for the scheduled termite treatment, pursuing the sale of our RV and truck, dealing with the many rabbits that are making our patio their private toilet and just trying to figure out where we will put all the "stuff" that needs to be sorted, boxed and put away.
Our landscaper is scheduled to prune our trees at the end of the month. Before that happens, we need to rid the trees of all the fruit that is present. There are oranges and lemons that are available to anybody that would like some. Josie will take some to the shop and we will also take some to the rec center for anybody to take. There are always some available to family if they would like to stock up.
Our scheduled termite treatment will be on Thursday between 7-8 AM. We need to organize the garage so that they can do the treatment around the edges. That involves moving all the boxes and other items into the center of the garage to free up the wall areas. It also means our car will be outside for a few days but that is no problem with the weather we have been having.
The truck and RV sale is progressing. The individual from Texas is reviewing the material I sent along with checking on financing sources. He plans to finance a small portion of the package and is trying to figure out his best options. It seems to be moving forward although at a slow pace. He is convinced that he has found the right package for his needs and is going to send a deposit this week to secure the deal when he is assured of his financing. I have sent him tons of photos and he is confident that the package is a good one.
We purchased a spray product - Rabbit and Deer Fence - at Home Depot and it works really well. The problem is that it only is effective for about a week or two (depending on rain) and then we need to blow off the patio and re-apply it around the edges of the patio. We picked up a larger container of the product yesterday and have enough to last for quite awhile. The rabbits are fun to watch but they are a nuisance.
We still have the project of organizing the garage staring us in the face. That is, and will be, the major task for us over the next several months....
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Christmas Packed Away
Yesterday was spent packing away the balance of Christmas decorations that were around the house. We took down the tree and packed it in its box again for another year. It is always sad to take down the decorations but it is a relief when it is all done.
We are getting some interest in the sale of our RV package - the truck and 5th wheel. I have advertised it in several 5th wheel forums (free) and have received one call from an individual in Arlington, TX who is a new RV-er and wants to buy a quality package of vehicle and trailer without breaking the bank. I'm their man! He is knowledgeable enough to know that the Mobile Suites is a quality unit and so is the Ford F350 diesel truck. With low mileage on the truck, he is very interested. We'll see how that progresses as we are communicating back and forth and he is asking "buying" questions.
Our next big project is to move all he boxes and other stuff away from the edges of the garage so that the termite people can have access to the interior walls of the garage. That is no small task and we wish we could do it with some sense of finality but know there is just too much sorting and repacking involved to make that happen.
Now, if we can just get some nice, warm weather to be able to sit outside again...
We are getting some interest in the sale of our RV package - the truck and 5th wheel. I have advertised it in several 5th wheel forums (free) and have received one call from an individual in Arlington, TX who is a new RV-er and wants to buy a quality package of vehicle and trailer without breaking the bank. I'm their man! He is knowledgeable enough to know that the Mobile Suites is a quality unit and so is the Ford F350 diesel truck. With low mileage on the truck, he is very interested. We'll see how that progresses as we are communicating back and forth and he is asking "buying" questions.
Our next big project is to move all he boxes and other stuff away from the edges of the garage so that the termite people can have access to the interior walls of the garage. That is no small task and we wish we could do it with some sense of finality but know there is just too much sorting and repacking involved to make that happen.
Now, if we can just get some nice, warm weather to be able to sit outside again...
Thursday, January 2, 2020
End of Holidays
We had a very nice holiday season as we hope everybody else did. It goes so fast each year we wonder where the time goes. The only leftover from the year end is the national championship football game between LSU and Clemson which takes place in another week. Of course, we have the pro football playoffs starting this weekend so the new year will be full of good games to kick off the new decade.
The takedown begins today as Josie will remove the ornaments from the tree and begin packing everything away for another year. The tree will be packed away by tomorrow and all evidence of Christmas will be gone. Then, it's business as usual.
There are lots of things that will change for us this year, beginning with the plan to remain in town and not travel for any kind of employment. Josie will work out some plan for the flower shop, whether or not it is the one in Sun City or somewhere else. She only wants to work part time and we will try to make that work.
We hope that whatever changes you all plan to make, if any, will work out for you and we wish everybody a healthy safe and prosperous new year...
The takedown begins today as Josie will remove the ornaments from the tree and begin packing everything away for another year. The tree will be packed away by tomorrow and all evidence of Christmas will be gone. Then, it's business as usual.
There are lots of things that will change for us this year, beginning with the plan to remain in town and not travel for any kind of employment. Josie will work out some plan for the flower shop, whether or not it is the one in Sun City or somewhere else. She only wants to work part time and we will try to make that work.
We hope that whatever changes you all plan to make, if any, will work out for you and we wish everybody a healthy safe and prosperous new year...
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