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Published: February 21st 2020
Since acclimating back into our RV life, we have enjoyed visits with good friends and jaunts to sites known and unknown to us. Lulu has finally removed her black mourning veil since learning of the passing of her best friend, Little Lulu (remember she is sleeping with the fishes). It’s been tough on her but she’s a strong gal....most of the time. She has limited many of her public appearances. Our loss. She did muster up some strength when it was important for her to greet her favorite folks. You have to love her! We do have a nerve wracking concern about her, though. She finally quit smoking which pleases us all. Great accomplishment, Lu! However, coping with Little Lulu’s demise, we have noticed Miss Lulu imbibing in a swig or two of that calming joy juice. Pray that this is just a temporary crutch for her. I would hate to call her Liquored Lulu.
Our friends from Lake Magic, Mike, Joe & Charlene, paid us a visit....TWICE! We mixed up our days so when they arrived the first time, Sam & Sandy were under the weather and Cory was zonked out on our couch. We thought they were coming
the following week. Disappointed (as we were, too) they left dejected with their food gifts in hand. Lulu tried to wave goodbye to them as they sadly, dragged themselves away but ....you know the issue here...no hands. She mouthed “I Love You” to them as they disappeared far into the horizon.
One week later. These good friends reappeared.....except for Charlene. She was under the weather. Rally around Charlene and feel better soon. Now our impaired group was up and going and ready for company on this sunny day. Mike brought authentic Canadian hot dogs. I made authentic Guenter macaroni salad. Sandy made authentic Foreman Baked Beans. Joe brought an authentic Galos huge, fancy-dancy, delicious cake. It was decorated with strawberries and blueberries......ooooooo. Everything was so delicious. All of us shared stories and many laughs. We are going to miss them next year as they will be heading out West. Go West, young men, Go West! Nooooooo. We shall miss them.
One evening, we were invited by Tropical Palms friends, to join them at a nearby restaurant, Logans. The gathering was to reunite and enjoy the company of former TP friends, Jimmy and Nancy. They are such a wonderful
couple! Jimmy used to work at the same steel plant in Buffalo that Cory did: Republic Steel. What a small world. What a festive evening we all had with Nancy and Jimmy as the honored guests. Thank you, Pam & Tim.
Just the other day, we were surprised with a brief visit from Judy & Jeff. They used to live and work here at Tropical Palms. Most everyone knows and misses them! Great to see both of them, again. I’m sure you remember Jeff. Lulu acts positively crazy around him because he is one of her boyfriends. They used to be steadies but as she ages, she is getting more friskier. She seems to be able to juggle more than one boyfriends at a time. Slut!
Friends here at Tropical Palms are like one big family. Always willing to help one another. Sam & Sandy had a problem with their roof antenna. No fear: the workmen are here! Dave and Joe climbed on top of their RV to remove the broken antenna. Hold tight, guys! Art appeared to lend his knowledge and hand. They all worked in unison trying to solve the problem. Three heads are better than
Nancy & Jimmy
Friends gathered to honor Nancy & Jimmyone! Lulu watched from our window as they meticulously and skillfully removed, cleaned, tapped, and wired the tiny parts of the antenna. She was impressed. Good job, men!
For awhile, our morning coffee clatch has been missing a couple friends. Each day we waited with hope in our hearts for their return. Sam & Ray have been on sick leave, holed up in their tiny homes. Celebration Day came when they both showed up one morning.....making our group complete. ??Hail, Hail...the gangs all here! ?? You can’t keep good men down!
Sharing Time: our RV Park is behind this amusement area: Old Town. We pass it every day when leaving and returning to the park. It is an easy walk from our park also. Restaurants and shops line this “Old Town”. On the weekend, they have huge car shows. On Wednesday night, they have a terrific band playing for everyone’s enjoyment. What a fun place to have in your front yard! It's a good life being old and retired.
Highway 192 is very long. It is the main highway we enter onto when leaving our park. Full of restaurants, gifts shops of all kinds, businesses of all
sorts and so much more. We recently spied a new bakery that opened. Called Taino’s Bakery. I thought it was going to be a Greek bakery....nope! It is a Latin (Puerto Rico) bakery/cafe. Their fancy pastries looked so tempting. I took photos of all the other food which looked unfamiliar to us. Fortunately, our dear friend, Melba (who lives next door to us) is from Puerto Rico. She said the name of the bakery means Tribe. Much like we have the many different Native American tribes. They have tribes in PR. She described each and every food offered here. Some sounded tempting....others might have to wait. She said we would like Mofongo. I told her she would have to be with us so if we didn’t like it.....it would be all hers! Share and share alike. Lulu would gobble it up. She loves food! Any kind!
Next door to Tiano’s is a restaurant supply store called Lebron’s. Sandy said that the Pioneer Woman (TV cooking show guru) goes into these stores and buys up items to give as shower gifts. Ok....worthy to be checked out. WOW! It was huge! It had everything in the world related to cooking, tableware,
restaurant supplies and much more. You could buy individual pieces not just bulk items. Prices were very reasonable. Try it, you’ll like it!
President’s Day arrived and do you remember what that means? No....not just a day off with Governmental buildings closed. Recognition of two very famous Presidents...nope. Answer... It is one of the BIG days at the Webster Flea Market. Not very patriotic but lots of fun. Lulu threw herself in my carry cart and the five of us were off. The tires hummed as we sped along our familiar route to the Mecca of antiques, collectibles, made in China stuff, fruits and vegetables and junk. Whoa! What’s happened here? Not as many dealers in the over-flow but enough to still enjoy the hunt. We don’t really hunt for stuff anymore....out of the business, ‘member? But we still like to look. Sam is always anxious to search for parts to use in making his cannons. Sandy likes the veggie side plus the China stuff.
Looky here! Look what Cory bought me at this flea market for my future plans! A rollator walker. Yup! Lulu loves it. Now she can ride and see what’s going on around her.
Before, she was either stuffed in her carry bag or my pull cart. Living in a dark hole. Now, she’s out and loving it!
My future plan consists of a total knee replacement. Ouch! Ow! Owie! No other option. My cortisone shots have worn off. Got them last October in both knees (second time around). I’m back to hobbling around like Quasimodo and wearing a support brace on my left knee. Stumbling Sandy you call me...boo! My right knee is sore. The left knee is painful. That knee has bone on bone. No cartilage anymore. A little remains on the right knee. The doctor forewarned me that I was looking at a knee replacement. Right he was! I’m going to get cortisone shots in my knees in April and pray they help me get through the summer. Once we return to Tropical Palms in October, I’ll have surgery on my left knee. WAAAAAAA, EEEEEEEK! Warning, Warning. That will not be a pretty picture. I hope you all brush up on your patient care skills....I’m going to need all the help I can get. Lulu will be at my side the entire time but we all know her many limitations.
She will sing soothing melodies to me and that’s about it. ?Get well, Get we’ll soon!?. I make a very poor patient. I was good as a nurse but when the rolls switch....it’s not going to be good. Warning. Art, a TP friend and knee replacement survivor, told me he used a walker for about a week post-op. Thus, my new rollator. For $20 bucks, how could we not get it? I may find other uses for it. Rolling serving tray when entertaining, extra chair, mobile table for dining, leg rest, new pedestal for Lulu,....lots of stuff. If I can just get Lovely Lulu off it!
After this beneficial purchase, we ambled ( I limped) through the crowds at the extra big flea market. Lulu was excited to pose with various items. She jumped from my walker seat to an ejection chair. Took her nowhere so she came back to me. Fickle! Our friend, Ray, plays the accordion so she really wanted that snapshot taken. She tried to make the hog oiler work....no luck...thank heavens. We didn’t need her greasy head in our car. Thought our farmer friends would like to see the grills from old tractors. Would make
good wall hangers. Sam was happy...he found parts for his cannons. Sandy got her veggies. I had my rollator. Cory bought giant $5 bills to add to his cash winnings. He tells everyone he has BIG money and now he really does! He says he got them from a BIG ATM.
Our latest event was a “Roll-Out” meeting with the management of this park. Here they presented changes in the park and the cost increase for our next reservations. The options for our reservations are creating confusion and distress with many of the people who stay here. Hopefully, their revised explanations will become clearer. In the meantime, we hang in limbo and wait. C’est la vive.
I belong to an Eagle Group on Facebook. It is so interesting and intriguing. Sometimes, web cams show the lives of eagles close up and live. I have to share a few pictures from it. Couldn’t just keep them to myself even though there are thousands of members in this group. They are so beautiful. Can you see the new eaglet in the bottom pictures?
And now we have come to the end of this blog. Don’t fret....there will be more
to follow. Remember, there are 24 pictures so you have to scroll way down and maybe go to another page. Adios.
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Mary Willetts
non-member comment
Love reading your blogs and seeing your pictures