Passing of an Aunt, Bubba at Vet, 2019 Trip

Home in Holiday / Tarpon Springs area, FL

Today my Aunt Vera, who lived in Blue Springs Missouri for the past few decades, passed away.  About a month ago we heard that there were concerns for her health.  In the photo above, taken on October 1, 2016, she was still living alone in a large 4 bedroom, 2,400 sq. ft. home in what was her ninetieth year back then.  I remember that as Marcia and I were leaving, I started driving away and was watching to be sure her garage door went down.  As I turned right, I pulled over and watched…and see her walking down the driveway headed for the mailbox.  Here I was worried that she would be able to get up the stairs and close the automatic garage door…not thinking that every Monday through Saturday she went down those stairs and over to the mailbox.  I laughed and drove away.  I was thankful when I heard that her daughter Cassie and son-in-law Rick sold their home and moved in with her.

Bubba, who is now 15 years old, had his visit to the vet on Monday.  For his age, he is doing pretty good.  He does have a heart murmur, but the vet said there was little change (how she knows this since it was the first time she heard his heart I don’t know, but they grade them and it did not change).  He does have a occasional, sometimes more frequent, cough when he is laying down like this…which is his most favorite daily position outside of eating.  Wish it wasn’t on a black blanket, and I did it with my phone which does not take a very good picture.  Anyway, got his 3 year rabies shot, and 3 year license…honestly, I doubt he will get another of either…typically, a healthy cocker spaniel lives about 12 to 15 years. 

On Thursday, the 28th, we start out on our eighth “GoingRvWay” trip…this one will last around nine months if everything goes as planned.  First, we will take three days visiting friends and family here in Florida.  By Tuesday, April 2nd, we should be in Arkansas to visit with friends, family and former colleagues, along with having what I hope is my last Arkansas Doctor’s Appointment…by the end of 2020 I will finally be on Medicare.  Since I retired in 2012, I have had my insurance through the Pine Bluff Retirement System with the Library paying half of my insurance costs as part of my retirement.  However, if I see a doctor outside of the approved list (which is mainly Arkansas based doctors), then I have to pay out the nose for the services provided.  This appointment, which is at UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) will cost around $20, and will include blood and other tests as the doctor orders.  By April 22nd we will be up in the Kansas City area for my youngest son’s graduation from the Chiropractic School he has been attending the past four or five years.  After that, we will wander over to the Phoenix area, and eventually to California to see mom, dad and other family members…that part will be planned out probably while we are up in the Kansas City area..  Not sure where we will go during the hot Sacramento summer months, probably up to the Southern Oregon Coast again…but eventually we will make our way back to the Sacramento area to spend the fall, and perhaps even Christmas, with family before speeding back to Florida again.  Now the fun begins…loading up the motorhome again….