Sailing Last Mango

Another week has gone by and we’ve (Dad) has cleared a few more hurdles. Dad’s getting tired of sitting around when not exercising and has started venturing out of the house. He’s been walking with the cane and now walks the yard. Last Tuesday he had Karen back the tractor out of the garage. Dad sat down on it and took a ride over to the neighbors house to visit. Sunday Dad decided to climb (side saddle) on the ATV and take a ride around the property. Once on the ATV he decided that it was possible to move his leg over the ATV seat and ride it normally. Afterwards he said it was easier to climb on the ATV now that before the surgery which is the way it should be. The vision on the other hand is a moving target that appears to change day to day. We hope for the best but assume that his vision is not going to change. Mom & Dad relaxing on the deck. As I mentioned last week Karen and I have been leaving my parents at little periods of time seeing how they fare and gauging th...

Things are starting to get back to normal, a NEW NORMAL for dad. Our trip to the University Iowa doctors revealed that his vision has improved marginally and probably won’t get any better. We still hold out hope that things will improve but the medical staff stated he’s probably were he’ll be for the rest of his life, They don’t believe his vision will get any worse as the optic nerve swelling is gone.  Dad notes that he sees colors one day and they disappear the next just to re-appear after a day or two. His vision is hard to predict as sometimes it appears to me that he can see some item that is very small but other times he can’t see his glass of water on the table. Things are strange and it may be his brain just learning how to interpret the imaging it’s now receiving. All this vision talk I almost forgot to inform everyone that his hip is doing great. We perform PT twice daily and he’s stronger every day. A couple of days ago the kitchen sink drain plug...

Another two weeks have gone by and we’ve been very busy, Lots of doctors appointments and physical therapy before surgery day. My dad seems to enjoy the pre-surgery therapy we’ve been doing but says I’m pushing too hard at times and then is very sore, but we completed therapy everyday without fail. The day of surgery came without issue other than being very early. If fact we made it to the hospital and entered through the ER because the other entrances were closed. The ER person working reception called up to the surgery floor and there was no answer. We were told to go on up to the 5th floor and we may need to turn on the lights if nobody is there yet. The procedure lasted the appropriate prescribed time as my sister and I visited in the waiting room looking forward to the surgeon to come and give us the good news. Good news it was. Dad came through surgery without fail and everything went well. We called Karen so she could bring mom to the hospital to visit. Dad a...

Well, the days and weeks are flying by (at times) out here with my parents in Savanna. The motorhome has quickly become home thanks to Karen’s hard work. Dad’s new hip is being installed the beginning of June. Karen and I are preparing for the event and Mom is of course worried and denying that Dad needs a hip replacement. The garden is fully planted and all plants are healthy looking. Dad’s still mowing the property without fail when it is not raining. Karen will soon learn the finer points of mowing with a Woods mower and Ford tractor. She’s really looking forward to being out on the tractor to get her suntan back.  Soon Karen will be on the Ford mowing. I’m not exaggerating, the time is going by quickly as we’ve been busy. We’ve acquired a place to live come September provided my parents are doing well enough to be on their own. Karen and I have been making trips back and forth to the Elgin area for retirements, dental appointments and to visit family and friends. I’ve...

First let me say to everyone that has been following our travels that I’m sorry for the long delay posting to the blog. I’ve told myself to continue because it helps my memory and I think its good for my well being. That being said here’s what has been going on the past several weeks. Karen and I left Last Mango in Harbortown Marina in Fort Pierce Florida with all of our possessions packed into a Chrysler Town and Country minivan. We stopped and spent a few days with Karen’s parents and then headed north to Illinois for my great nieces first birthday. We got to see her take care of business when it came to her smash cake. I guess I lead a sheltered life because I’ve never heard of a smash cake until now. It was a great time to return home since we also got to see other family that we hadn’t seen in quite some time.  Last Mango hauled being taken to her summer home. One of the main reasons to come back to Illinois was to assist my parents since they are getting older...

4-14   Morning came and again the wind was the same and up went the spinnaker. Again we sailed all day and decided to go further due to the ongoing wind. We spent 3 hours of the night off anchored off Memory Rock in 12 feet of water just a couple hundred yards from over 5000 feet of water. While setting the anchor I peered down in the water with my headlamp attached and noted all kinds of sea life swimming around beneath us. The sight reminded me of an old time movie reel running as my light illuminated a small spot of water below to reveal crabs swimming along at the surface and other creatures that I can only say looked like large mosquitos that glowed in the dark water. There was much more odd looking sea life moving about below that I wish I knew what they were, I guess I need to bring a marine biologist with me next time.  Pictures from Spanish Wells Budda Shack not published due to poor internet Budda Himself ...