Here we are on the verge of departure of our 11th year of post-retirement traveling. It has been an eventful summer, let alone couple of years. We realized a couple more projects around the farm, yet spent much of our summer waiting our place in the 'contractor line'. In the end everything got done and we are completely satisfied with the work. We highly recommend Paul Martin for anything trees and The Flooring Pros for the work on rebuilding the floor in our upstairs bathroom, entryway, and stairs.
After several years of helping to care for my mom long distance, she passed away peacefully in her sleep at the wonderful age of 95 on July 11th. I am grateful to have been at her side when it happened. My sister and her husband deserve all the credit for her wonderful care at the end of her journey since we sold the family home and she moved in with them in 2018. Even with expecting the end, it was hard for all of us. I can remember when we were children we'd have these family gatherings at the holidays, but sometimes in the summer. Mom, my Aunts Lillian, Bonnie, and Betty labored in the kitchen for hours, making sure all our plates were full and everyone was fed. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone saying a bad word about these ladies. I expressed these thoughts at her graveside and although rehearsed for hours getting them out damned near killed me. Now, the job as executor is in front of me. I think Mom, Dad, and I planned pretty well. They took care of their money and Barb and I helped out after Dad passed. Mostly a matter of taxes now.
I turned 70 this year and my health is starting to show the wear. Diagnosed with COPD about 7 years ago I have been through a few different inhalers to keep things at bay. It really limits just how much and for how long you can do anything. My bear hunt this fall exposed my gaps. I also have a sleep study scheduled this month, but other than that, I'm just cruising along, pacing myself, and unsuccessfully working on 'that belly'. We don't think of ourselves as 'old', but we know we're slowing down.
Barb is sailing along pretty smoothly herself. She has had several appointments for minor stuff, but nothing major. In fact, she has REALLY taken up the mantel for my limitations and makes me realize just how much we love each other. I wouldn't exist without her. Behind every good man should be a woman like........Barb.
I have for several years now tailored my cooking to healthier alternative and more portion control. We do depend on the fish, clams, pasties, and occasional wild game we harvest in Washington and Michigan each year. Additionally, we refill with more deer, pigs, and beef during our winter hiatus in South Central Texas at the Rotodome Ranch. We don't shop for much more meat at the store other than poultry.
Travels are still fun and not much trouble. The occasional hassle with the truck 'check engine light' or whether she brings the jeep along or not are the limit. Once again, this year I spent a few $$$ to get her back up to snuff. It's always EPA sensors or Check Engine Lights. We always monitor our three biggest foes on the road: gas prices, propane prices, and laundry prices. A pretty low level of stress, actually. Of course, occasionally someone forgets to thaw out tomorrow's entre and then we just order out anyways......lol. We got the RV stocked up with freezers full of lake perch, UP Sausages and pasties, Chicken, Pork Belly, Ham Hocks, Corned Beef Brisket, corn, asparagus, and cauliflower. Our preplanning always seems to work out just fine; 10 years' experience?
Roux and the Outlaw Josie Wales are doing fine, but just a little confused after being home for 4 months, then in the RV for 10 days during bear camp, then home again, but unable to move about much due to the remodeling.
In 3 days, we'll be on the road again, headed south to Texas with stops in Oklahoma for our grandson (who has become a good cook in his own right) and Lockhart, TX for the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival. In reality I have felt myself in a void since Mom passed. Perhaps the reality of it all will take some time to fade, but for now I feel a bit lost at times.
“The good thing about crying, I’d realized, was the catharsis you felt when everything finally came out. It was as though I’d cried tears of poison; poison that didn’t have to be inside me anymore.”
Jeremy Jenkins
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