Hopefully, this year will be easier than 2012 for us. When I
think about it the last three years have not been our best. 2010
was the Fourmile Fire; 2011 was the flash flood that almost
washed Robert away and filled our barn with 16 inches of mud.
In April of 2012 Robert found a place he thought we should
look at and eventually, at the end of May we closed on the
house at 239 76th Street. We had work done on the house
in June and finally on the 27th ofJune the movers arrived to
move us. This was after family,friends and neighbors helped me
pack up the house. Much of Robert's stuff hadn't been packed
and was left to be moved later.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel well a couple of days before the
move and by moving day I felt worse. Things were so hectic I
didn't go to the doctor until Friday, the 29th. By that time it
was clear I had a severe case of the shingles presenting on the
left side of my face and scalp. Dr. Haimes who had talked me out
of getting a shingles shot was not much help. He supported my
diagnosis of shingles, but said it was too late to give me the
anti-viral that is prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms of
shingles. He handed me a prescription for percacet and said it
would probably last 6 weeks ( a tad optimistic considering the
severity of my symptoms). I was sick for more than 12 weeks.
And am still suffering the pain on my face and scalp. About
three weeks into my bout of shingles Robert, too, came down with
shingles. He went immediately to the doctor and did get the
anti-viral which was very lucky. Considering his lack of immune
system because of the CLL he could have been much sicker. As it
was he didn't feel at all well for more than six weeks. By the
time we were both feeling well, summer and most of the fall had
passed.
We have done no travel in the VAN since last February. We are
hoping to take off again this February and head west.
I did see the Cornea specialist and I asked him if any more
damage to the eye would occur if I did not see the retina
specialist. He assured me that it would not. I have opted to
just wait and hope the shingles around my eye will just subside.
Jo and Alf did come for Christmas dinner with us and we had a
very pleasant time.
The rest of the week was pretty quiet here. John came most days
to work on the Solar system until it got too cold to work in the
shed. They are putting up insulation and then plywood, but until
that is done it is impossible to heat the hut. It's sort of a
catch-22 at this time. John is working on making a shelf to
extend the windowsill in my office so that I'll have a place for
plants. Since that was decided I have acquired a Christmas
cactus from KingSoopers (on sale for $3.99) three pots of herbs,
a ficus that Julie gave me as a house warming and a pot of bamboo
that John gave me for Christmas.
I'm enjoying the pots that Viki made and gave us for Christmas. I
have one on my desk for paper clips. The rest are in the china
cabinet and are used as vegetable dished.
I am reading Ford Denison's book, "Darwinian Agriculture." He
shows, among other things, how important it sometimes is to avoid
evolution of plants in the agricultural setting. More when I've
read a little more.
We look forward to 2013 and hope to do more travel. Tentatively,
we plan to do the California circuit visiting friends and
relatives. I now have three grandchildren and one
great-grandchild living in California as well as friends in the
south and north whom are no longer able to travel. Getting old
is the pits! But, better than the alternative, I have no doubt.
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