I was on an 11-day roadtrip with two friends through upstate New York and it was mostly wonderful. The truth is I learned a few things about myself as I mainly gave up control and went along with the program so-to-speak. With the inflammation/joint issues I only drove on the first day and then my friends took over. I can drive, but with all the twists/turns of mountain roads I thought I was giving it up for a rest and ended up not driving again until I returned home. It was weird being a passenger, but gave me a chance to take a few pics of clouds and such.
We traversed 1969 miles and I was able to cross a few items off my bucket list: Niagara Falls (American side); Baseball Hall of Fame; West Point; and Gettysburg. Don't worry still plenty more on the bucket list for another trip. I posted lots and lots of pictures from our entire trip on my personal FB page and I am always amazed at how many people follow our journey.
We got to see a few friends on the journey. One friend, Brad, I had not seen in many years. He did not know about my health issues so he was surprised. I forgot I never mentioned on my personal FB page that I had cancer surgery, etc. We had a great time sitting along the Erie Canal catching up. We saw other friends in Tupper Lake and got to eat maple donuts (YUM) at the Washboard Donut Shop. We saw Olympic Ski Jumpers practicing in Lake Placid. So many ventures. I came in contact with so many kind people in the small towns we traveled.
Walking was very difficult for me quite a few days of this trip so my friends got a wheelchair (no pics) at a few locations. I walk like a robot or if you are old enough to remember Tim Conway - one of his characters. The first time I shed a few tears as I did not want to use it and felt my independence draining away. But, they did the right thing and insisted I use it and I'm glad they did as I don't think I would have seen everything I wanted to see. The wheelchair definitely helped with my stamina during the journey. I was able to function better later in the day after being in it in the mornings. Don't worry the wheelchair is not permanent, but I can definitely understand the value of using it.
It also gave me a little bit of perspective seeing the world from a wheelchair and how people react. It made me realize how I need to check myself when interacting with others whether from a wheelchair or upright. I also truly appreciate ramps and railings.
Even with the difficulty in walking, I did quite a bit every day. I was surprised when I looked at my stats and realized I walked about 5000 steps a day throughout the journey. They may have been slow ones, but they got done.
I packed 5 books in my big suitcase (1 already started) and I came home without finishing one. I was too tired at night to read anything and barely checked emails while gone. I returned home and finished a book within 24 hours.
Over the past several weeks I read the following: "FALLEN" by Linda Castillo - murder in Amish Country featuring Kate Burkholder. "FIND HER ALONE"; "SAVE HER SOUL"; "BREATHE HER LAST" by Lisa Regan - books 8, 9, and 10 of the Josie Quinn series. "SUMMER COVE" by Nora Roberts - 2 short stories. I also watched: "BURNING AT BOTH ENDS/RESISTANCE" (2021) - Caught behind enemy lines, a small group of dissident survivors struggle to remain hidden from the Nazis as they use a radio to broadcast a message of hope. "GOLIATH" (2023) - Wilt Chamberlain docuseries.
I won't say I came back from vacation recharged as I thought I might. I was exhausted and it took me a few days to unpack and get life in Sterling going again. I spent 11 days away without napping once. I have napped at least twice since my return.
My sincere hope/wish is that once I am done treatment and hopefully my joints return to normal, I will walk more and have more energy. I would love to explore Gettysburg again, especially downtown, as it's a very walkable place.
The daily and wacky holidays for the week...provides something lighthearted to think about:
September Monthly Celebrations
- Baby Safety Month
- Chicken Month
- Better Breakfast Month
- Classical Music Month
- Fall Hat Month
- Happy Cat Month
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Honey Month
- International Square Dancing Month
- Little League Month
- National Blueberry Popsicle Month
- National Courtesy Month
- National Mushroom Month
- National Piano Month
- Self Improvement Month
- National Sewing Month
- World Beach Month
- Whole Grains Month
- National Indoor Plant Week – third week of month
I included the first two days of September since I did not publish last week.
September 1
Emma M. Nutt Day, the first woman telephone operator
National Cherry Popover Day
National Tofu Day (UK)
September 2
International Bacon Day – Saturday before Labor Day
National Tailgating Day – first Saturday of September
VJ Day, WWII
World Beard Day – first Saturday of September
September 3
Skyscraper Day
September 4
Bring Your Manners to Work Day
Labor Day First Monday of month
Newspaper Carrier Day
September 5
Be Late for Something Day
Cheese Pizza Day
September 6
Fight Procrastination Day
Read a Book Day
September 7
National Salami Day
Neither Rain nor Snow Day
September 8
International Literacy Day
National Ampersand Day
National Date Nut Bread Day – or December 22!?
Pardon Day
September 9
Teddy Bear Day
Lastly, I would like to say "THANK YOU" (never seems enough) to my friends who traveled with me and kept me going along the journey. Thank you for knowing when I needed a break or a wheelchair. We had quite a few laughs along the adventure.
I am leaving it here for today. I hope you have a wonderful week. Take care. Chat soon. Marie
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” —Confucius
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” —E. M. Forster