I began meeting with a palliative care doctor through Mayo. Interesting first appointment - he just asked a lot of question but came away with that I was tired and fatigued a lot and didn't have much energy (I hadn't cooked since July 2016 nor participated in grocery shopping - Larry is a very good care giver). Anyway, he sent me home with a prescription for low dose steroids. I felt better immediately. It is Dexamethason and I've been on it for two months and find it is keeping me awake at night which isn't a problem since I don't have a job. The beauty of the drug is the energy to do social activities and an appetite and I'm helping out with meals!
Friend, Michelle organized a gathering in May at which time I was able to see many people I hadn't seen for awhile. Not these ladies, of course. I see each of them on a regular basis. (l-r: Sue, Allison and sister-in-law, Liz.
The following weekend, we traveled to Jim and Liz's for a birthday celebration for friend, Lisa. Good food, good cupcakes thanks to Karen, and just an all around nice evening. It was nice catching up on of the lives of Lisa, Patty and Karen. Yes, Larry is at these events. (l-r: front row, Birthday Girl, Lisa, Liz and back row: Patty and Karen.
Our North Rim of the Grand Canyon trip was a bit of a roller coaster. We've had our reservation for three Western cabins for a year to be able to get a cabin for the first week the North Rim is open. We were notified in late April of a landslide that took out fresh water to the North Rim which delayed the opening week by a week and a half but we were told our reservations were cancelled and our deposit would be refunded - no wait list for any cancellations once the North Rim opened. Then, we receive a phone call a week before the trip was to happen and were notified the crews had repaired the water line and cleared the trail and our reservations were reinstated. We were all thrilled. Larry had been training for this 23 mile hike for some time and was going to get to see if he trained enough or not - determined by how bad he felt when he got out!
One of my favorite parts is the traditions we have heading to the North Rim. We drive to Flagstaff (2 hours) and stop at a Starbucks. Next stop, Cliff Dwellers for lunch (maybe 1 1/2 hrs.) It sits at the base of Vermillion Cliffs - great setting and usually very, very good food. They lost their chef though. Still a tradition I'm not ready to give up. Next stop, Jacob's Lake (1 hr.) where we buy...cookies. Lots and lots of homemade, delicious cookies! Next stop, North Rim (45 min.). We stay for two nights and the third morning, at 4:30, we shuttle them to the head of the North Kaibab Trail where 10 1/2 hrs. later, Larry came out. The rest of the hiking crew made it out 2 1/2 hrs. later. Jim and Liz drove our vehicle to get us from the North Rim to the South Rim (5 hrs.) and then it was home, another three hours. Long day, especially for Larry.
Below is our crew. There were 12 of us and six hikers out of the 12.
Those of us who made it to the North Rim headed for the porch to enjoy snow flurries and cold weather. Mike and Sue and their van load were delayed by a roll over accident they witnessed and provided assistance to the driver and EMS crews once they arrived. They were delayed a couple hours.
So, the third morning, we delivered the hikers to their trail head and off they went. You always assume all will go well. One of the group had a bit of a problem with a knee going down North Kaibab but no problems coming out uphill on Bright Angel Trail and one of the fellows decided to wait for shade on the trail before hiking out although, all in all they had great weather for that hike.
Larry had a great hike and hopes to do it again - in fact, five more times. This 2017 trip was #20. The core group of Larry, Mike and Mike's brother, Steve have been doing this since 2003?
(l-r): Larry, Mike, Steve, Ryan (Oregon), David (Oregon), and Mike and Sue's son, Kyle (Florida).
4:30 a.m. and cold but worth it to be there to send the hikers on their way.
Larry coming out after 10 1/2 hrs.
What a guy!!!
The news is, Larry is retiring the end of May. Our first trip, the next day. We're heading for two nights to Telluride, one of our favorite Colorado cities (about 8 hrs.) We'll return Sat. The trip following that trip, we fly to Calgary and visit Banff National Park, Jasper, Edmonton and back Calgary and home. Then, doctor appointments, scans, drug therapy and time to plan our next adventure!
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