Accomplishments

This is Barbie writing to you. I haven’t written in some time now due to being very busy with being a “nursemaid” to Jeff. I have felt “kind of down” due to all the responsibilities that I thought I wouldn’t have after I retired, but now I am feeling upbeat again. Why? These accomplishments that have occurred this week.

#1: Jeff can now get into and out of the motorhome without my help. He can use his hands to get up the five steps without me having to push his feet on each step. A big success for both of us.

#2: We went to the neurologist on Thursday and she spent an hour with us. She thinks that Jeff has made a tremendous amount of progress considering his nerves have been damaged. She said it should take 6 to 8 months for nerves to heal. She prescribed low impact physical therapy and wants to see him in two months. She observed his walking with his walker and also pinpointed his numbness in his feet by marking it with a marker. His numbness has improved greatly. He can now move his legs and wriggle his toes. He can’t stand up or walk without the walker, but he is trying very hard. It just takes time.

#3: Jeff tackled bringing himself and his scooter into a restaurant twice this week. We went to La Cabana on Tuesday after his haircut and then to the Feed Mill on Thursday. I didn’t do too bad with getting the scooter in and out of the car either. We have ordered a hitch and a ramp to go onto the car for his scooter to be placed outside of the car , rather than inside it.  That should make things easier for both of us. We will then have more room inside the car when we go on short trips.

#4: I took everything out of the shed and laid down carpet that we had bought back in June. It looks great! The only hard part was getting the small refrigerator out , but I did it! Now I will assemble the shelving unit so that the refrigerator will fit on it. When that is done I will get some of the guys who are working next door to put the refrigerator on top of it for us. I am not that stupid to lift it up by myself!

#5: I found a great little used bookstore in Franklin, North Carolina called Millie and Eve’s Used Books. I really don’t need anymore books but I had to see what it was like. The aroma when you enter is very enticing! It makes you want to stay awhile and look over all their little rooms they have that are full of books arranged very nicely. I did buy two history type books. My goal is to not buy any more books and join the library in Clayton and Franklin. That will be next month.

Five accomplishments in one week is a great motivator to do other things. Today , it has been raining since 11:00 this morning and most likely will continue until late this afternoon. But, the good news it will bring lower temperatures. It is supposed to go into the low to mid 60’s for low temperatures and highs around 82 for the next three days or so. We can live with that. So, my goal is to clean the inside of the rig this afternoon and then read and relax.

Thanks again to those great friends of ours who wish us well by email or cell calls…. Linda and Bill F., Steve and Linda C., Ron and M’liss K., Sandie and Pat G., Bill and Diane M., Linda and Al W.,Nancy and Danny P.,Carol and Tim G., Donna R, Barb and Ray P., Wendy and Tom C., and Donna R. If I missed you, I apologize--let me know and I’d be sure to mention you next time. It means a lot to us that you care. We are doing fine now and can see that the future will only get better. Patience is a virtue… and we need to practice that.

If any of my old colleagues are reading this, I hope you have a great school year. It sure feels good to not have to plan lessons, sit through boring meetings, and do school work at night!!! haha I don’t miss any of it!

Remember… have a great moment!