And the road goes on forever...

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Getting Out of Here—MAYBE


The latest arctic blast has partially paralyzed the Pacific NW and left us six inches deep in the fluffy white stuff with overnight readings of zero degrees. While admittedly beautiful, I hate it. We now have no water in the RV and since we are on only 15 amps of electric and thus no electric heat, our two powerful Olympic Wave catalytic propane heaters only provide an inside temperature of 58-65 degrees, both at full bore. Our front door handle is matted with frozen frost inside, as are all of our windows. Icicles cling to awnings meant for the sun. We burn through a 10 lb bottle of propane every three days (i.e. $25). As is her usual winter-want, central Oregon tries her mighty best to suck us in and not let us go.



We certainly plan to try our best tomorrow however—the Saturn is trying on her newly adjusted chains like a pony with new shoes which will hopefully allow me to control her movements over the mountain passes and snow packed highways. Oregon doesn’t use salt for road maintenance so driving on hard packed icy snow is the only option here. The big hang-up will be if Marc can get the RV slides to retract—right now they are frozen solid in their open positions. Ah, ain’t life fun in a northern winter?

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Cooking Knight


Dressed in his black cooking smock, he’s a moving blur across the see-into kitchen as he reminds me of a Ninja. Here to there and quickly back again, his focus never waning as he jumps between the tasks of being the head chef at Kayo’s Restaurant--my son has invited us all to come as his treat, for a feast to celebrate my upcoming birthday. So despite a blizzard-like night, we do just that Monday evening.

As we settle in and peruse the extensive and upscale menu I get half way down the day’s fresh seafood specials and don’t have to look any further as my choice has been decided once the entrĂ©e “Razor Clams” jumps to my attention. Other than the Pacific Northwest, the only place they are dug, I don’t think razor clams are even offered on menus and I can only say what a delicacy the entire world is missing out on. Yes, Oregon; how I have missed your seafood! Add in a wonderful salad, my son’s homemade French bread with a smoky salmon spread, a 5 oz. lobster tail and cold glass of Chardonnay and I’ve all the makings of the most wonderful dinner I’ve ever had.


Marc is well pleased with his Cajun style, smoky and blackened huge prime rib (also with lobster tail) and my mom is thrilled with her bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon. The restaurant is newly opened and very comforting inside with its plush interior, beamed wood ceiling, crackling fireplace and shutters that hide much of the falling snowfall.


Thank you, son, for such a wonderful evening and birthday present. Your cooking is truly on par with the best we’ve ever had and it will be a meal I will never forget.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Our Thanksgiving


Mom outdid herself this year, feeling the need to have her family close and supportive. We opted to celebrate Thanksgiving early so that both my son and daughter-in-law could join us as today was their only common day off this entire week. Hillary has to work on Thanksgiving. Daughter Rachael however, was unable to make the trip over the snowy mountain pass from Seattle as she has to work tomorrow. With the weather forecast, it appears like the end of the coming week could be the best weather window for us to try and escape the Central Oregon deep freeze to the warmer south, so maybe it will be possible for us to be traveling on the real Thanksgiving.



A moment of silence was observed for my dad just before we sliced into the huge apple pie Mom had made with his help. He had peeled and cut the apples for her and made comment that he wished he didn’t have to wait until Thanksgiving before being able to enjoy it. Alas, that was not to be, so I think it made Mom sad that she had denied baking it for him beforehand but who can foresee these things? Otherwise the day was one of fond remembrance and rueful sadness at his absence from the head of the table. I suppose the first holiday is always the hardest. But for a few short weeks we would have been back to see him still alive and enjoying that piece of apple pie he so yearned for.


Enjoy your friends and family; travel safely if you’re going somewhere this holiday, and give thanks for those around you. To you and yours: Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Progress


The days passed quickly this week; a blur of business and medical appointments. Marc talked with our supervisors at Southern Cross and they terminated us as of Friday because we couldn’t give them a return date. Thinking that our medical insurance would run through November I have made several appointments and been able to keep them but Marc hadn’t gotten around to any of his save his vision exam. We found out our medical insurance also ended Friday with our termination. We don’t have word yet on whether it will go Cobra, but even if it does we will not be able to keep up with the expense with no income coming in. At least I feel good about the things I did get handled after a lapse of two years of no medical care.

For those of you over age 60 who had childhood chickenpox don’t forget to think about getting the shingles inoculation. My dad suffered from painful shingles for months about ten years ago and it is not something anyone wants to go through. Sometimes this second bout of the chickenpox virus can also cause permanent joint pain. Fortunately, our insurance covered this very expensive shot ($275) as part of my wellness exam.

The death certificate finally arrived and the attorney will start next week on helping to wrap up many of the details that need attending to. We dodged in and out of some light snow days so are really hoping we get all this wrapped up soon so we can leave. RVs and snow just don’t mix!

Mom seems to be getting incrementally better and Marc has attended to many “honey-do’s” around the property. She finally made the right decision to come with us to Yuma this winter. She needs the change of scene and activity level and we won’t be left worrying about her sitting alone grieving for dad nor of her having to manage in the snow and ice. My brother can keep an eye on the property. The warm days of Yuma can't come soon enough.

Progress


The days passed quickly this week; a blur of business and medical appointments. Marc talked with our supervisors at Southern Cross and they terminated us as of Friday because we couldn’t give them a return date. Thinking that our medical insurance would run through November I have made several appointments and been able to keep them but Marc hadn’t gotten around to any of his save his vision exam. We found out our medical insurance also ended Friday with our termination. We don’t have word yet on whether it will go Cobra, but even if it does we will not be able to keep up with the expense with no income coming in. At least I feel good about the things I did get handled after a lapse of two years of no medical care.

For those of you over age 60 who had childhood chickenpox don’t forget to think about getting the shingles inoculation. My dad suffered from painful shingles for months about ten years ago and it is not something anyone wants to go through. Sometimes this second bout of the chickenpox virus can also cause permanent joint pain. Fortunately, our insurance covered this very expensive shot ($275) as part of my wellness exam.

The death certificate finally arrived and the attorney will start next week on helping to wrap up many of the details that need attending to. We dodged in and out of some light snow days so are really hoping we get all this wrapped up soon so we can leave. RVs and snow just don’t mix!

Mom seems to be getting incrementally better and Marc has attended to many “honey-do’s” around the property. She finally made the right decision to come with us to Yuma this winter. She needs the change of scene and activity level and we won’t be left worrying about her sitting alone grieving for dad nor of her having to manage in the snow and ice. My brother can keep an eye on the property. The warm days of Yuma can't come soon enough.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

The Detritus of Death


I wanted to write but I’m not quite sure what to say. The long days merge into one another in an attempt to deal with the issues of death. For the most part, we try and keep Mom on an even keel, knowing the waters of grief are waiting to snatch her under. She’s doing pretty well, considering that Dad was her entire life and reason for living.

I seem to be on delayed-reaction but have not given any introspective thoughts to figure out why. I stay busy being the practical one, handling items of death like I’m moving through my grocery list—sort through and dispose of Dad’s meager possessions—a bag for Goodwill, a bag to be thrown out—check. My son and Marc move the dreaded hospital bed from the living room to the shop after I remove the bedding which she doesn’t want to touch—check. Drive to Goodwill to donate the bag—check. Drive Mom to Veteran’s Services to see what benefits may be available to her—check. Next week, his ashes and death certificate can be picked up, then we will visit the Social Security office and DMV—check. Call the union pension plan to see when her benefits end, will they last the month?—check. A meeting set up with an attorney to discuss the real estate issues—check. Try and squeeze in my mammogram—check.

Try and find our smiles again—check.

Monday, November 1, 2010

The Blog I Never Wanted to Write

This morning at work I got the call I have been dreading for a long time. My father just died.

Since we're all still in a state of shock, there isn't much I will add excepting that I will be off-line for awhile. I'm not sure we will have internet and I'm not sure how long we will be in Bend helping my mother. We are leaving today as quickly as we can pack and fuel up--it's about 1250 miles and we want to arrive just as quickly as we can.