Hello dollies! This month my “Tell Us About” co-hosts are getting together to write to Sue’s theme – travel. If you are new to this series it is a creative writing challenge that invites bloggers to respond to a different prompt on the third Thursday of the month. The gals are taking turns coming up with the prompts. It’s going to my turn early in the fall. The pressure is palatable to come up with an original, creative, thought-provoking prompt.
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Please find the places and posts where I link-up on this page.
Tell Us About 07.2023: Travel
Well, this was a toughie tough tough prompt for me. The only traveling I am going to be doing this summer is among the blogs of my Tell Us About buddies reading about the traveling they are enjoying. And traveling to houses for the drop-in visits for my Rover.com kitty clients – my latest side hustle. Traveling to Walmart. The doctors’ offices. Once to the dentist. And to church on the other side of the mountain. Haven’t even traveled across the mountain to see my babies much this summer as they have been traveling out of town and country themselves. And in between travels, the girls had Covid.
Posts from My Pals
Here are the links and summaries to the travel posts shared by my globe-trotting (and living) friends. Please use your time here for a power nap!!
- Marsha who blogs at Marsha in the Middle: Marsha and her husband, AKA Nigel, rode the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle and loved each and every minute! But, they didn’t stop there! Head over to the blog to read all aboard…ahem…all about it!
- Deb at Deb’s World: Debbie’s family motto is ‘To Travel is to Live’ and her blog is all about Midlife- travel, fun and adventure, and yet she had a lot of trouble with this prompt. Go back to the beginning to read how her family got the travel bug!
- Gail from Is This Mutton: In theory Gail is well travelled but she hasn’t seen very much. Find out why.
- Suzy at The Grey Brunette: Having moved from England to Portugal when she was a child, Suzy got the travel bug quite early on. Read about some of the wonderful places she’s visited.
- The Frugal Shopper, Penny: At first Penny thought she had nothing to write about as she felt her travelling days were over and then, on reflection, she’d had many adventures when traveling as a young woman. In fact, she had so much to say Travel has been split into two parts! The second part you’ll get shortly.
Time Travel
Back in the early spring we learned about PC’s cancer diagnosis. At that news, and the scheduling of his prostate surgery for originally 05.31, then moved to 06.07.2023, I wished there were some way to time travel. To speed up time so we could get to that date and then beyond. But my journal entry for 06.28, a Wednesday questions ‘where has this month gone?’ Almost as if we magically moved from spring to summer without my noticing. I wrote:
Where has this month gone? We waited and waited for the day to come for Paul’s prostatectomy (a word I still cannot pronounce) for what seemed like ages. And then the day came. June 7th. And the days have flown since. Flown in one sense – as we are already to the end of the first month of summer. Yet dragged by in another sense. Hours of sitting at the hospital worrying. Hours and days and now weeks of wondering if the cancer is really gone. Did the doctor get it all?
Summer 2024
The entry continued:
The other dad Lauren asked me about watching the girls next summer when they go to Scotland. My first but internal response was I WANT TO GO TO SCOTLAND. But I didn’t say that.
It is the trip they had book the summer of 2020 when we were knee deep in Covid protocols and hiding out in our houses. They were able to postpone the trip and went masked to Disneyland that summer instead. Alita, the other grandmother and I shared grandmothering duties.
The kids have to take the trip next summer or lose everything they have put into it so far. So,
Lauren asked me what we had planned for next summer and if we could watch the kids in May or June.
I had to laugh. I feel like we can’t plan tomorrow much less next week, next month or next year. If someone had told me last summer that we would be dealing with cancer this summer, I would have been flabbergasted.
Every Day is a Gift…
I know that every day is a gift, that’s why they call it the present. And we aren’t guaranteed a moment. But I sure never dreamed we would have a health crisis to surmount this summer. Oh, to be on the beach below.
I think about how we have tried for 6 years to get the pool fixed. Remember that fiasco? We finally did get it fixed (well, kinda…the plaster is cracking and the grout is falling out) this spring. It seemed that maybe things were finally falling into place. But now it is fixed and Paul can’t even get in it.
But then again, in a few weeks I hope he will be cleared to swim then our pool time can become our summer vacation for this year.
A Week Later
On July 6th, a week later, I added to the journal entry above.
Brennyn always laughs at me because I am forever saying, “if we can get just through the holiday…or birthdays…or the anniversary of mom’s death…or PC’s surgery…or Matt’s court date…then maybe life will return to normal.” If we can just get through ‘next Thursday,’ maybe life will slow down. But next Thursday never comes.
No Rest for the Weary
My mother used to say ‘no rest for the weary.’ And ‘it’s a great life if you don’t weaken.’ Often she would follow that with ‘but I’m beginning to weaken.’ Me, too, Mom. Me, too.
Last summer at this time, I was about to leave for Ft. Worth to celebrate Brennyn and Cady’s birthdays with them. I wound up leaving earlier than expected from their house to travel to Lexington, Kentucky after my mom took a terrible fall. Within a week my mom was gone. This 08.02.2023, Brennyn and family will be in El Paso with me, with us. So glad that we will all be together on that difficult day.
Your Turn
What does the rest of your season look like? Any travel plans on the horizon? I haven’t even made my summer bucket list yet or put together my summer goals. Most days I am just trying to get by and that is my only goal.
On Monday, a kitty I am doing drop-in visits for attacked me. His family has been gone since 06.19 and he is very lonely but also very anxious. Hey, I can relate on that one. When I arrive for one of my twice weekly visits, Koshka always greets me at the door, weaving his little body around my feet and legs. Then I pet him hello. We visit a minute before I check the litter box, food and water bowls. On Monday, however, I think Koshka decided he’s had enough of me. After our brief salutations, he climbed up on the coffee table and when I reached out to pet him, Koshka bit and scratched me. I have 8 puncture wounds. And now a 10-day course of antibiotics.
The doctor knows me fairly well and she could tell something else was wrong when I was there yesterday. We talked about all the crazy in my life right now and she gave me 3 surveys to complete to identify if I was experiencing depression (yes), anxiety (yes) or perhaps a mental health issue like bipolar (my mom had that but apparently, I do not). I will be starting a low dose of Lexapro tonight at bedtime. I have taken it before but can’t remember why I discontinued it. Maybe I got over the anxiety!!?? Fingers crossed that this makes me a nicer, more patient, less emotional person…especially for PC’s sake.
Join Us
Have a travel post to share? You know what to do!! Click below and link it up with us. As I am living vicariously through the travels of others this summer, the more the merrier!!
Off to iron. Going to be 110*F/44*C this afternoon. Sure won’t want to be ironing then. And need to get pork chops in the oven now while the house is still relatively cool.
Thank you for sharing a bit of your day with me. I do want to go on the record as saying I have had a number of wonderful travel experiences and am in no way deprived. Just wishing I could escape on one this summer.
Hugs and kisses,
Oh, Leslie, I am with you on the time travel only I would travel back in time and change some of the decisions I’ve made. But, would that mean I would drastically change the future which is now the present?
My daughter and her family are going to Greece this fall. They had invited us to go along a couple of years ago, but I guess we got disinvited this year. I’m a bit disappointed and sad that she didn’t remember. Oh, well.
We don’t have any travel plans, either. I have always wanted an inground pool, but that’s not going to happen now. I hope PC is soon able to join you in your backyard paradise!
Have a wonderful weekend!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I hope and pray you get to start planning a trip soon! I know what it’s like to have some travel lust!
I hope the medication helps Leslie. It’s awful not to feel yourself.
As for the pool being your summer vacation, I am hoping it starts soon. You deserve a great summer.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I’m sorry to read that you are not mentally in a good place right now. I hope the medicine will help. We are not traveling that much either. Although we went a few days to the UK last week. Just enjoying the summer! Hope you do too.
I’m not surprised you feel anxious Leslie, you’re going through some awful times with uncertainty, and getting through each day must be an effort. Big hugs to you and PC. When things improve maybe you can plan a visit to Scotland with your granddaughter.
Hi Leslie, I’m sorry to read of your anxiety and do hope you feel more like yourself soon. You’ve had a lot going on and with your mum’s anniversary looming it must be hard. Your travel dreams are still possible. Take care of yourself and I’m so glad you’ve joined us for this challenge and I look forward to your posts.
Oh Leslie, I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through lately, and are going through right now. I hope the medication helps. Isn’t it weird that the poor kitty was obviously picking up on something not being quite right? They are amazing animals, aren’t they? It’s such a shame that he attacked rather than cuddled you though!
As for dealing with cancer, I can relate a little bit as my best friend is going through it right now. She was diagnosed just a couple of months ago, if that. She’s already had the lump removed from her breast but it was a very fast growing cancer so she starts 6 months of chemo soon, and then radio therapy after that (next year). I’ve been with her every step of the way, driving her to the hospital and so on. It’s really tough…and I cannot even imagine what it must be like when it’s your life partner though. I’m so sorry. My best friend’s father had PC and has come through it, the same with my step-father-in-law. Sending you and your hubby lots of healing hugs right now xxx
P.S I wish you could go to Scotland too…it’s one of my favourite places!
Hugs
Suzy xxx
That is a lot happening and not easy things either. We do plan vacations ahead of time but you definitely don’t know what will happen especially with older parents. I am very grateful for all of the travel we have done as a family.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Hi Leslie, it seems like you have a lot on your plate right now. Hopefully, the meds will help you to relax a bit. You seem like a strong and determined lady from the posts I have read and I’m sure you will get through it all. This post is timely for me as we have just returned from vacationing in Europe with my daughter and SIL I hope Scotland will be on the horizon for you next year. It is a beautiful place. Thanks for the invite to link up. I will check out the other posts. Travel, even vicariously is always enlightening.
You are going through a lot! I must have missed hearing about the cancer diagnosis. My dad also had prostate cancer and it seems it is quite common, sadly. Hopefully things are going ok now, and I hope the medicine helps you too.
So sorry you were kitty-attacked and that you are having some other health issues. Hope those medications will help you lots. I’ll be traveling next week (actually one week from today) to Texas for my daughter’s wedding. I’m looking forward to it, but also a little anxious about it. I wish hubby could be there, but he is unable. So, I’m trying to just relax and I’ve decided I’m just going to go have fun land leave the worries behind. After all, Joy is a choice. I definitely plan to wear my joy bracelet to remind me of this. Hope you and hubby will be feeling better very soon.
So sorry you were kitty-attacked and that you are having some other health issues. Hope those medications will help you lots. I’ll be traveling next week (actually one week from today) to Texas for my daughter’s wedding. I’m looking forward to it, but also a little anxious about it. I wish hubby could be there, but he is unable. So, I’m trying to just relax and I’ve decided I’m just going to go have fun and leave the worries behind. After all, Joy is a choice. I definitely plan to wear my joy bracelet to remind me of this. Hope you and hubby will be feeling better very soon.
Oh Leslie I am so sorry you are feeling this way and I do hope that the medication helps – it should do. You mustn’t be so hard on yourself, as anxiety is part and parcel of what you’ve been through recently. I can’t even imagine how must be to have your life-partner getting cancer. In fact I do hope you can get some me-time. While you are doing all the caring at the same time you need to care for yourself and cosset and pamper yourself. Anyway, us bloggers, we all love you and wish you both health and peace. Big hugs xxx
I can see how time travel would be something you’d be wanting at the moment. Sometimes, as my mother says, it never rains but it pours. My heart is with you guys as you wait. Uncertainty is the worst. Take care x
Hi Friend,
As my little family is coming out of our post-cancer treatment survival phase I hear you and I can relate to the longing of wanting to travel. I am hopeful that your pool can become your Awasis to beat the crazy heat and that maybe later this year or next year you can resume with some travel plans.
We are just getting some actual summer temperatures which is good because I told Brett if we didn’t get some warmer temperatures soon I was booking us an all inclusive vacation this winter. Haha.
Hopefully the meds help you to feel more like yourself.
Sending you much love and strength as you navigate this challenging time.
Dani
Hi there my precious friend, what a pleasant surprise to see your comment here. LOL I like the way you roll. If you don’t get summer temps in the summer you will buy them with an all-inclusive family trip this winter. That certainly works!! You guys are due a trip, I would say. One where there are no visits to emergency rooms or unexpected early trips back home again. I have been looking into an Alaskan cruise for next fall maybe. We will see how everything plays out in the next few months but after being so hot this summer, I think I want to go somewhere chilly. In the meantime, we hope to get the clearance for Paul to get in the pool on Friday. Fingers crossed. And Brennyn and family come on Saturday. Woo hoo!!
Thank you for always being in my corner, cheering me on and supporting me with good thoughts. The meds have made a difference (whether real or just in my mind) and I am not nearly as keyed up as I have been. Hallelujah.
Big love to you all. Thank you for everything.
I think we have all had times when we’ve wished that time travel was possible, either to hurry something along or to slow it down and savor it. :sigh: I’m sorry about the anxiety and depression, and I’m sure it’s not a surprise since it sounds like you’ve had a great deal of stress to cope with for awhile! I hope the medication helps and you feel more like yourself soon.
Thank you so much. I am feeling better and the medication seems to be working. It is slowing me down where I don’t have the frantic feelings I was having. Hope I can take it for a bit but then learn to handle things without being on anxiety medication.
Oh I hate the kitty attacked you. Praying that the Lexapro helps.