AND SO IT BEGINS AGAIN......

It's a season of change again in our household.  First let me start off by saying my Mother continues to heal and recover from what every doctor has told us is one of the most extensive surgeries a person could ever have.  Total recovery may take up to a year, but I have seen her make great strides this week.  We have one more specialist to see this afternoon, and then we should have a clearer picture of the road to her recovery.  Prayers for her, if you are so inclined would be appreciated.

Now.........for some even bigger news.  It saddens me to leave behind a partnership with my BFF Cori, but I have decided to go back on the truck with Craig. I leave Cori with a full inventory of products which we amassed over the past year, and plenty of orders for dress forms to keep her busy for some time.  Of course you know I'll be visiting there every few months as I did in the past, and will be assisting with creative ideas and a pair of hands willing to get dirty to work on a few projects.

 Many reasons prompted the decision to go back on the truck, but the main one was Craig and I missing being with each other everyday.  Also, with being on the truck, it is an easy drop off and pick up in Modesto anytime I need to be there for my Mother during her recovery.  Additionally, when Craig was dropped off in Modesto for his vacation, Roy informed him that his son in law was back in town and was going to team back up with him, hence leaving Craig back as a solo driver.  Trust me when I say this, Craig was not the least bit disappointed.  All in all I think it is a win/win situation for everyone concerned.

 So now I have even more great news to tell you.  See that brand new, still having the plastic wrap in the interior truck #350 parked there?  Yep, that is our new home on the road.  After almost 6 years of living in previously used trucks with Craig, (with two of them previously used by smokers.....YUCK!),  I will finally have a new truck to live in.  This is getting to be old hat for Craig, since he was just given one about 5 months ago while team driving with Roy, but when he called to say he was going back solo, they said he would be given a new truck.  I was so excited.

The plan is for me to drive our pickup back up to Washington, shortly after the Labor Day weekend, with a short stop in Walla Walla, and then onto Usk to check on our house and collect our mail.  Then Craig will ask for a run through Spokane where I will hop back onto the truck with my belongings and once again, report back to you through the blog, with our adventures out on the road and my perceptions of life viewed from the passenger seat.  I can't wait!

CHECKING IN

I've been absent for awhile.  This has been the longest I have ever gone without posting a blog entry since 2006.  Life has a way of getting in the way of doing what you really want to do.  Jury duty is not something I want to do, but wouldn't you know it, not being a resident of California for over three years, I get a jury duty notice mailed to me at my Mom's house.  Do you think they knew I would be in town?  Years ago, while still working, I would have loved to have the chance to be on a jury.  Now?   Not so much, but I thought it would be fun to actually show up when requested, but then realized that the Judge would not be half as amused as I would be, and thought better of that idea.  I regretfully sent in my notice, checking the box indicating that I was no longer a resident of the County.

Moving on......my Mother came through her surgery quite well.  After 9 days in the hospital, she is home and I am helping her with her recovery.  After all those years of feeding me, cleaning up after me, and changing my diapers, I thought it was about time to pay her back with the feeding and cleaning (no diaper changes needed, thanks for asking)  and take care of her for awhile until she is back on her feet.  I only wish that the weather was a bit cooler, but we can all be thankful for air conditioning.

Craig is taking a week of vacation and spending it here in Modesto with me.  He figures he might as well get in on my feeding and cleaning up after gig while the getting is good.  He should be here by Tuesday, and we plan to check out a few of our favorite places around town, when we used to call this place our only home.  Now it seems we have many homes, our house in Usk, Cori's little cottage in Walla Walla, my Mom's house in Modesto and of course the big green truck.  Well as they say, home is where the heart is and wherever we are together, will always be home to us.