Time to Head North

On Sunday, April 3rd, Todd & I flew back to Missouri to spend some time with my niece, Jennifer, who was tragically paralyzed from the chest down in a diving accident last July.  We arrived in Springfield Sunday afternoon and were met at the airport by our good friend Everett.  Nila & Everett were on their way to Phoenix for a week so they essentially turned their home over to us and even gave us a car to use for the week.  What great and generous friends!

After taking care of some business on the campus of Missouri State University on Monday, we headed to Jennifer’s place in Bucyrus late Tuesday morning.  Our plan was to get Jennifer out and about doing things she enjoys since her opportunities for that are limited.  Unfortunately, she had a bad episode with autonomic dysreflexia coming back from some medical appointments in Columbia Wednesday evening and ended up spending the night in the Emergency Room.  She was also totally wiped out on Thursday, but we managed to get in a trip to Springfield on Friday.

We had a nice lunch at Macaroni Grill.



On Sunday Todd flew to Colorado to spend some time with his parents.  Todd’s dad, Bill, celebrated his 80th birthday on Tuesday, April 12th, and was scheduled for breast cancer surgery the following day.  Bill discovered a small lump on his right breast several weeks ago and when it was biopsied, he learned it was malignant.  Most men probably don’t realize that they are susceptible to breast cancer but they are, especially men who have had testicular cancer.  So please check yourself, men.  None of us are immune!

Happy 80th, Bill!



Does anyone recognize Todd with no hair?  He is no longer allowed to get his hair cut without supervision!



While Todd was in Colorado, it actually snowed!



After taking Jennifer around to some of her favorite shopping haunts early the next week, I returned to Florida Thursday, April 14th, and Cathy picked me up at the airport.  Todd’s father was doing very well after his surgery so Todd returned to Florida Saturday afternoon.  That evening we took Cathy out for a yummy seafood dinner at P J’s Oyster Bar on St. Pete Beach.



Today is Tuesday, April 19th, and we are gearing up to head north.  First stop will be Anclote Key (outside Tarpon Springs), followed by Easter weekend in Crystal River with Bob & Phillis.  The weekend of April 30th should find us in the Destin area (or somewhere along the Gulf coast), the weekend of May 7th in the Mobile area and the weekend of May 14th in Demopolis, Alabama, where we will spend a week or two in our "home port" on the rivers.

Toward the end of May we will continue heading north on the Tenn-Tom, spending time on beautiful Bay Springs Lake before hitting Pickwick Lake around the first weekend of June.  But, as always, our plans are in Jell-O and are subject to change.  Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate and we will have a nice weather window for the Gulf crossing in late April.  As unbelievable as it seems, this will be my first Gulf crossing since December of 2007!  And who knows, it may be my last if “Life’s2Short” has new owners by this fall.  Pass the word:  http://l2s4sale.blogspot.com/

In closing I want to note that Thursday, April 21st, is the five year anniversary of the day we took ownership of “Life’s2Short” right here at Cathy’s dock in St. Petersburg.  What an adventure it’s been and it isn’t over yet!