The Lost Week

Sunday, March 30^th through Friday, April 4^th

This past week is a blur in my memory. And, Duffy has pretty much lost a week-and-a-half while suffering with the bronchial pneumonia he had (has). Duffy is on the mend, thank God, yet will probably harbor a cough for a few more weeks as he gets it out of his system. He is no longer contagious, and feels like returning to the land of the living once again.

On Tuesday, one of Duffy's harder days dealing with the coughing spasms and difficulty breathing, it rained and I awoke in the trailer to two drips from the ceiling during a period when it rained pretty hard. According to the Casita Travel Trailer Service Department, we need to put a silicone application over the two spots on the roof of the trailer to keep it from happening again. We may just do it to all of the rooftop rivets at the same time as a preventative. Next week's temperatures are supposed to be hot here in Santee, so that should afford an opportunity to get it fixed.

During the rainy periods, and Duffy's absence, I found ants In the trailer. They are common here in the park, but normally later in the spring and summer, I think. One of my errands was to the store to get
Comet to apply around wheels and support struts of the trailer, and ant traps for inside. We also smeared vaseline on power and water lines coming into the trailer to inhibit their entry. Little annoyances, but like straw on the camel's back when stress piles up. (I am happy to report that the ant problem seems to be under control, or they are in hiding.)

Duffy returned to the trailer on Wednesday, and slept well for two nights and most of the days. Sleep he needs, and it has done him good. Today, Friday, he was noticeably feeling much better, more energetic and interested in life going on. We actually joined the gang at 'Por Favor' for the regular Friday night meal.

It's so good to have Duffy back. I did not realize how much of a strain the worry put on me. I can say that I am grateful for health care affiliates when and where you need them, family to provide a bed when needed, and sunshine to help the healing process. We are staying in an RV park with some very supportive long-term residents, and for that I am equally grateful.

For a change of pace yesterday, with Duffy getting better all the time, I drove to Descanso, a small mountain town at about 3500' elevation in the San Diego County back country where my high school friend, Peggy, lives with her husband. We had planned the visit a week prior, and both were happy it worked out. The three of us drove the 20-miles to Julian a quaint town dating from the 1870s where Apple Days are famous and Apple Pies are more famous. There must have been three or four pie bakeries in the three-block-long town. It had been so many years since I had gone there with my family as a child. I was enthralled, and thrust back in time when I entered the old soda shop. It has hardly changed at all. The best part? Well, the best part was in spending the day with Peggy and Norm, a delightful reunion. The second best part was in finding a gluten-free apple pie in Julian. Now, that I could not leave without. And, oh, it was so worth buying! Mmmm-mm!

Until next time...Pam and Duffy