Driving Driving

Our journey to Hilton Head involved a lot of driving!  It was 950+ miles down and 950+ miles back home again.  Going down, on the second day, we encountered heavy heavy rains, deluge, hour after hour.  On the way back, the second day was rain, sleet, wintry mix, and snow.  Thankfully,  we did ten hours on the first day, which brought beautiful blue skies, warm and sunny weather.  The six hours of day two were constantly tense, due to slippery conditions, poor visibility, and no let up.

 A change of scenery is a good thing.  Going other places and seeing new sights is a welcome change.   And it is always good to get home.

The best part of being down south was that it was definitely springtime there;  daffodils were past their prime,  Trees and shrubs, lawns were beginning to turn green, and put out buds and blossoms.   We enjoyed walking on the beach, playing tennis outside,  taking pictures, exploring, etc.  

I have more to share, but it is late, and I am tired, so goodnight blog.

Hearing Problem

Somewhere in the midst of all my various ailments lately,  a new one suddenly came on the radar.     Maybe there is fluid in my ears, or wax or both.  I have had a long bout of sinus and cold related issues.    But yesterday, suddenly, I could not hear!   Both ears were stuffed up at the same time.  That is honestly, the first time I have experienced what it is like to be seriously hearing impaired.  And let me tell you, it is terrible.  It happened on a Sunday morning, and I went to worship services anyway,  but it was just dreadful not to be able to hear, and worst of all,  not even to be able to hear what I sound like.  I definitely did not attempt any singing.  I just moved my lips.

When I discovered this in the early morning, getting ready,  it felt so weird, I stood in the bathroom, saying out loud  "Testing, one, two three, testing."  to see if I could hear my own voice, or what it sounded like.   Toward the end of the service, one ear popped a little and opened up somewhat.   I was so very thankful for having some ability to hear.   I can understand how hard it must be for hearing impaired individuals to be in public places.  I can see how isolating it is.

Today, I can hear a little better than yesterday morning.  Sound is coming in both ears a little, but I'd say I'm at no more than fifty percent capacity.

I just made a quick trip to daughter Brenda's, who has also had the same cold and sinus problems.  She said she had had fluid in her ears.  That helped me to think of it as part of this awful viral affliction, and hope that this too, shall pass.

If not, off to a hearing specialist I go. I thought it was bad when I could not taste, or smell.  But  not being able to hear is the worst, really dreadful!   I would not wish this on anyone.

Change of Scenery

We have a mini vacation coming up before long.  It's always nice to have a change of scenery.  This one was supposed to be about getting away from the terrible winter cold to warmer temperature.   But I realize that the strange weather we are having could actually produce almost anything, either here, or in our warmer climate.   It could be cold there.  It could be warm here.  We've had that happen before.

Some years back, Gerry had a conference in New Orleans; our youngest child was three at the time.  She and I joined Gerry toward the end of his conference.   We packed and dressed for the expected temperatures there, warmer.   

And almost predictably,  the temperature plummeted to the high thirties, with high winds.  As I recall, it stayed unseasonably cold for the entire time that we were there.  I also recall that Vic fell asleep just before we landed in central New York.  It was just the two of us traveling.  She was deeply asleep, and I had to carry her out of the plane and to the car, which was parked in an outside parking lot, quite a distance away,  and covered with a foot of snow.  I also had to carry our suitcase.  I can remember that being one of the more challenging of our trips,  though most of my travel seems to have been challenging for one reason or another.

I'll hope for cold weather in New York, and very warm weather further South.  Hopefully, this will be a winter tennis trip, rather than a winter skiing trip, weather permitting!

For most of my past trips, I have traveled light. This time, I plan to be better prepared.    At least in the area of clothes---I will have clothes that will cover both possible temperature extremes.   

Of course, life happens, and you can never be prepared for everything.

Handsome Pair

It is a weekend for family celebrations.  V&M are home for the weekend.  Today they went skiing with Gerry.   Sunday we are all gathering at Brenda's to celebrate Sadie's third birthday.   In between now and then,  V&M have lots of plans of their own.  To the left, they are dressed up to go out to a favorite fancy restaurant.   They both looked just smashingly handsome!

By my calculations,  this must be about a year and a half since their wedding.  Maybe this is an 18 month anniversary.  They are going to the same place where the rehearsal dinner was held.  What an event that was!  As I recall, I had a couple of glasses of wine (too many), but it was a fun time.

I think I'll post a close-up of the two of them.  I can post pictures, though not names.  That is so that every time someone Googles their name, they don't end up on my blog.

As aging senior citizens, it's hard to believe we have such beautiful children in their twenties.