Pollen coating the parking lot in Savannah, Georgia
Yes...we made it home last night by 9:00. Not the original plan, but...once my husband starts seeing how many miles it is to home on the road signs, we’re done. There’s no stopping that draw, no matter how hard I whined. In all actuality, I was really ready to be home in our own bed and the peepers greeted us where ever there was any standing water...all the way out the two lane. I stood at the edge of the driveway and tears stung my eyes at that beautiful sound...SPRING!
I woke up in the stillness of our hotel room. My husband slept quietly by my side. I turned over and reached for my phone...6:05. I closed my eyes, willing myself back to sleep...to no avail. I felt...uneasy. My radar was up and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Usually I’ll take a quick look at the news, but yesterday I went straight to the weather. As soon as I saw the first weather warning for the south, I sat bolt upright in bed....just enough to stir Mr. FixIt. He knew by the look on my face, I meant business.
I like to think I am a virtuous woman, but when it comes to the virtue of patience, I came out on the short end of the stick. I have never liked waiting for anything. When I was a child, I would wear a pair of shoes a full size too small if it meant I didn’t have to wait till we found a pair that actually fit. When I knit, it’s seldom a complicated pattern because I want it done yesterday. Cliff Notes are my friends. So are cake mixes and instant mashed potatoes. I’ve always been in a hurry.
I hate to admit how much this surgery has taken out of me. I feel so much better as far as the symptoms I had before, but yesterday I woke up with a swollen neck I won’t scare you with. Apparently, the ice pack fell off during the night and I was laying flatter than I thought so I have that “flappin’ in the wind turkey neck” thing going on. And sore??? Oy. I had to get up and out some, though.
We both slept pretty well the night of surgery so we awoke yesterday morning refreshed. I felt much stronger, but I had no voice. This often happens after being intubated. We managed to get up in time to catch the morning breakfast in the Starbucks in the hotel lobby. Hot oatmeal really soothed my throat. And I have to say...a cold brew coffee didn’t cause my stomach to revolt like it did before surgery so let’s hope I can drink coffee again! I love it so.
After I had my covid test on Tuesday, they told me to “go home and stay there...don’t be around anyone that you don’t live with.” Well...that’s, like...everyone in Florida! I lasted till the sun started to turn everything golden then I couldn’t stand it...I had to get out of this room. We decided to take a drive and find a place to get something to eat. A Wendy’s salad was just what the doctor ordered! We pulled into a Walmart parking lot to eat and the sun was setting. I had to grab a quick photo. We were saying how pretty the sunset would have been over on the beach. But we watched the local news and the next week is supposed be 80-82 and sunny! I’ll take it!
I can stay in for days and days at a time and find plenty to do. But, once I had my pre-op Covid test yesterday, they gave me a little instruction sheet. It said ...”Go straight home and stay there till you come to the hospital for surgery.” Are you kidding me??? I’m in FLORIDA. It’s 70 degrees and sunny! Waaaaaaaah....SO not fair. Well, ok...the adult in me says I surely wouldn’t want to come this far and run the risk of getting sick and not being able to have my surgery. That would be stupid. So, I’m sucking it up and putting on my big girl panties. *sigh*
Mavis has taken me on many adventures. She and I met the day I left Colorado in my rear view mirror and headed for West Virginia and a whole new life. I didn’t realize how very much I needed her, till I stopped along the way and picked her up. Mavis is my GPS. She tells me, almost without fail, exactly where to turn. She lets me know in advance what lane I need to be in for the upcoming exit on strange turnpikes. She reassures me I am on the fastest route, and if not, she either lets me know how long we may face delay or in worst case scenarios...redirects me in a safer direction.
Spring has been hiding in the south and we didn’t know it! We drove through South Carolina and Georgia then on into Florida yesterday. We had every intention of staying in the historic district of St. Augustine so we could go over and walk at the fort. Then by the time we arrived, we were both too tired. But we still had a lovely hotel room in a safe and quite neighborhood and I negotiated a good rate. One of the benefits of working in a hotel in a past live...negotiating skills.
This feels pretty normal. Well, if you call still wearing an N95 mask and carrying your own cleaning supplies with you to go over the hotel room when you arrive...normal. The drive was the same as always. We popped a frozen container of my homemade beef and noodles in the HotLogic Mini and plugged in into the converter, then plugged the converter in one of the 12v outlets in the truck. Four hours later, when we stopped for gas, we pulled it out and had a nice hot home cooked meal. SO good and so much better for you than fast food.
