Let the Lists Begin!

Mom creamed me at cards yesterday. I was bruised! We played two games of Shanghai and she had the luck of the Irish! It was brutal. She had a ball. After working out at the other rehab, we went shopping to find a little table for her front entrance. We finally found it at Pier One Imports before having lunch together. She, who is so very careful of what she eats, had TWO large pancakes! It was pure joy watching her so happy and satisfied.

During our road trip in 2011, we spent just over $1,000 in food and $1,000 in gas. It will be cheaper this trip as we will be on the road fewer days and will not travel as many miles. We always charge the hotels and we love Hampton Inns. They have a great breakfast and fantastic locations. They have never failed us.

I worked on more of the trip details yesterday and have begun to make lists, which included rental of a portable oxygen system. I love the Eclipse as it has continuous flow, very important for my disease. I also need to make sure I have ordered and received all my medications, buy a new device to charge our cell phones in the car, stop the mail, make the hotel reservations, buy some new clothes, buy gifts for the people we are going to visit, prepay all our bills, garden and water right before we leave, arrange for Natalie and the kids to water while we are gone, have the monthly check of the house alarm, notify the housekeepers on the change of schedule and oh so much more. Let the lists begin!

But, it is all that preparation that brings the anticipation of the trip to a feverish pitch then what follows is the pure peace that overwhelms me as we back the car out the garage pre-dawn on the first day. Everything is done. All that has to happen is to enjoy the adventure ahead. No doctors. No phone calls. No rehab. No appointments. Freedom of the road. That is also the reason why I always dread the end of the trip. The closer we get to home, the more I feel we are traveling back to reality. Back to real life. Re-entry is always a challenge. The gardens will need work, the bills will be piled up, groceries will be needed but we will be home and there is nothing like our own bed. So, the trips are good for our soul but it reminds us that our home and lives are pretty good, despite the disease. Then we dream about the next road trip!