Dackel Princess

The Friday Five ~A Day Early

The last week slipped right on by. It went fast for me because I fell ill with pneumonia on Saturday afternoon. I felt I was running a fever and had a small one. I decided to go to the walk-in clinic.

The doctor listened to my congested lungs. She ordered a chest X-ray, and since I had bloodwork done a few days before, she looked those over as well.
I was ordered antibiotics and a nebulizer. I was told to go home and drink copious amounts of juice and water.
My neighbor was kind enough to get my prescription, and I got straight into my pajamas, grabbed my blanket, and fell asleep on the recliner.
The next few days found me asleep most of the time. The coughing was terrible, and my fever spiked up to 102.7 at one point. I promised myself that if it hit 103, I would call for help.
When I woke up on Wednesday, my fever had broken. Although I still feel weak and tired, I am on the upswing.

So that was my week. I am glad it is nearly over, and I am starting to feel better.

Happy Weekend!

In Memorium ~ June 13th 1985

I’ve been thinking a lot about my daughter Katie. After you lose a child, you learn to go on. Some days are better than others, and then a time will come when you are thrown back in time emotionally, and the pain is overwhelming.

You all know that Katie lived. She was my youngest daughter and a lovely, kind, and funny girl.

Our Katie.

Most of you know that on June 13th, 1985, our car was run over by a box van truck, trapping Katie and me inside.

I have no recollection of actually being in the car, and I do not recall Katie being in or out of the car after the accident. In time, I knew we were out of the car, but it just didn’t make sense. It was a warm, sunny day, and I recall seeing bright blue skies once the roof was lifted off of us.

Katie lingered in a coma until June 19th. Then Katie went home with God.

It’s been 39 years since that horrible day. One might think the memories and the pain would not be as sharp. But it is. My arms still ache for her, and I wonder what might have been.

I’m allowing myself a little bit of grief before I pack it all up again and go through the motions of the day.

My life is a good one. I have many loves. I am blessed. But until the day that I pass from this life to the next, I shall miss my girl and look forward to meeting her when I open my eyes to a whole new world.

Going Home

I lay in my bed last night, waiting to fall asleep. Feeling the waves gently rock the boat, I looked back at all the days I had on Regal Princess—so many peaceful, happy times.

Although it was somewhat chilly, I enjoyed every day, including when we got caught in the rain.

There was quite a group of characters, but several crew and passengers touched my heart.

One thing I learned about myself is that I need to make some profound changes in my life. Loose weight (again) and do some walking.

I have places to go, people to see, and things to do, and I must be in top shape!

So, I am on my way home. To my doggies, my bed, and getting back into a routine.

The Friday Five ~ June 7th

Good Friday Morning to you all. What a marvelous cruise it has been. It has been wonderful to be out and about, meeting new people, and seeing many new places. As you know, my feet swelled, and here is what happened in the last few days.

I noticed the swelling was increasing.
I also had a rash on my legs that looked like chicken pox or measles. They both itched and hurt at the same time. I admit to getting a wee bit frantic.
I SOS’d my dear friend, a retired Nurse Practitioner, and my niece, an active RN. Both advised me to see the ship’s doctor.
At 3 PM, I headed to sick bay. Thank you for picking up extra insurance, Miss Maribeth!!
I was diagnosed with severe edema and put on meds. I was also instructed to go to bed, putting my feet up and resting.
So, while in bed, I folded clothes to put in the suitcase, secured the little trinkets I had gotten for my loved ones and started packing.
Two cases are done, and just my small overnight case to go.

So, my much-anticipated cruise is coming to an end. I have had a blast, and I rested for the first time in nearly a year. I’m not going to lie to ya, it felt delicious!

The Princess Takes A Cruise

Good Morning from the waters of the United Kingdom. My trip is going splendidly, and I am meeting new people and having a wonderful time.

My Cabin is roomy and comfortable. I have a balcony, but it has been slightly cold, so I have not been out there too much, although going in and out of ports will find me out there watching the entire thing.

The first event was the Swannery in Portland, England. It was the first thing I wrote, so scroll back to read about it and see some amazing pictures.

The next day was a Sea Day, and I should have taken the time to put up my feet and do nothing. However, being a somewhat social butterfly, I was all over the ship.

It felt so large, and there were many places to check out.

I was not paying attention to what I was eating or when. Time zone changes will make your hunger brain signals go a little wacky.

After our shore excursion to Cork, Ireland, I checked my blood sugar thrice daily. This has been good for me as a gentle reminder not to eat all these extraordinary sticky, gooey confections. I stopped with the sweets and even cut down on the bread.

I loved Cork and the people I met there. Our bus driver and tour guide were kind and knowledgeable. Many people wanted to go and kiss the Blarney Stone, and perhaps it would have been a good thing for me to do, but with over a hundred steps, I decided to shop on level ground. After all, with my luck, I would bend over to kiss the Blarney Stone and fall!

Before I left, I asked the grandchildren what they wanted from my trip, especially Savannah, who was celebrating her 12th birthday. Again, go back a few days for a little montage to celebrate my girl!

The special at this shop was if you spent so much money, they would wrap it all up, take care of the VAT tax, and ship it to my home. I bought out the store! Ha!

I met an excellent Future Cruise Agent here, Mandy. She is from South Africa. She has helped me arrange a few things, and I am thrilled. She can get me perks I would otherwise not be able to get.

Then it was onto Dublin. Oh, I so wanted to enjoy Dublin, but quite honestly, our Tour Guide did not like the Brits or the Americans, and he still dwells back in time when Ireland was full of unrest. He also had a busload of people with mobility issues, and we were all begging to stop for a moment, but he refused.

I have never complained about a side trip on my cruises, but seeing these 65-80-year-old people begging for a bathroom break broke me. I made sure this Tour Guide was reported. It just wasn’t right!

Now, that was the only negative thing that’s happened.

Once back on the ship, I noticed my feet swelling even more.

It is like walking on water balloons filled with needles.

I went to the Spa, where I soaked and had my legs and feet rubbed. There was no way I was going to miss Liverpool the next day.

I was up early and the first one on the bus! Our Tour Guide and Driver were native Liverpudlians who loved the Fab Four as much as I do. She was amazing. Imagine going to Penny Lane or Strawberry Field and listening to the music as you arrive.

This gal knew her shopping and where to go to get what we wanted!

It was just as wonderful as I imagined it to be. I will say I felt a natural longing for Janet and Melodie, especially Janet, with whom I used to play Barbie Dolls. They were always the Beatles and whatever girl they were with.

When I returned to the ship several hours later, I realized I had not seen the iconic statue of the Lads from Liverpool. I asked how far it was and was directed a few blocks to the statue. As I hobbled along, I thought about getting home without this picture. Indeed, I would be thrown out of the family.

Me with the Lads from Liverpool!

That is all for today. I could write forever, but I must put my feet up and drink lots of water.

Happy Birthday, Savannah!

Today, my sweet Savannah Rose turns 12! Wow, I can’t believe how quickly she has grown and changed. I can’t believe how quickly the last 12 years have gone, and in many ways, I feel like I have always known Savi as if she has always been a part of my world.

Me holding Savi the day she was born!

As she has grown and changed, I have marveled at her kindness, gentleness, and caring nature, and Matt and Mandy have done an excellent job as her parents.

Happy Birthday, my darling Savannah!

The Swans

Yesterday, despite the known drizzle in the UK, I boarded my bus and headed to the Swannery.

I have been fascinated with swans all my life. There was an area near where I grew up where the swans in Falmouth raised their young. That was nothing compared to this place, where there were well over 100 pairs of mating swans.

To say I was astonished would be an understatement. This was beyond my wildest dreams!

Here is a Mommy Swan with a newly hatched Signet under her wing.

I walked there and stood in wonder. What I have long known about myself is that I am a Nature Freak. Perhaps this explains my obsession with the TV show “Northwoods Law.”

By the time I returned to the ship, I was exhausted. I had a little lunch, and then I took a nap. I recall a time when naps were punishment. Now they are bonuses!

Anyway, I digress.

My best shot of a Mommy and her Signet!

I will share the last picture of a beautiful mommy, Swan. It was lovely.

Lost In Translation

Here I am in Southampton, England. It was quite a long journey by car, bus, plane, and taxi, but it was worth it.

It’s Springtime here, and the trees and gardens are all blooming. Any relief I thought I might get from allergy season disappeared as my allergies set in, as did the coughs and sneezes.

Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa

Last night, we stayed in for dinner, and it was fabulous. I ordered a roasted feather blade of beef with mashed potato and roasted root vegetables. It was splendid!

Yesterday, I was settling into our room when I heard someone tapping their key at the door. I stood there. The door opened, and my daughter Jessica was there. We flew into each other’s arms and held each other for the longest time.

Our room.

This morning, after breakfast, we headed out to the shops. I needed a dress for the cruise, but I had not found anything Stateside. I found two cute dresses here, which will be carefully packed.

We booked two Spa treatments for tomorrow. In the late morning, we will have back massages. Yahoo. I jokingly asked if they had baby goats to walk our backs, and they looked at me as if I were insane.

We may be speaking the same language, English, but sometimes things are lost in translation.

The Friday Five ~ May 17th

Life seems to be speeding by right now. A trip I planned last December will begin on Wednesday, and I am sure that too will go by quickly. So here are the things I am thinking about this morning.

The first part of my trip involves flying from Boston to Heathrow Airport. When I clear customs, I expect a handsome British man to greet me and drive me to Southampton.
I will meet Jessica, my stepdaughter, at MacDonald Botley Grange and Spa. It’s a lovely hotel with a British pub and a restaurant where we can have tea.
They also have a spa where one can have their nails done or swim. But best of all, I will be seeing Jessica again.
So, now on to packing. I am attempting to bring only two carry-ons. I’m using packing cubes, which seem to be doing their job of compacting my clothes so far. The killer is traveling with my medications in their original containers. Having those at the top of your carry-on is also advised.
Since my hair is very short (and appears not to be growing back), I will not carry my blow dryer. My hair is naturally curly, so I will do a lot of scrunching.

That’s it for today. I will try to write while I am gone. Pictures too. I can hardly wait.

Happy Mother’s Day

I’m often torn about how to celebrate Mother’s Day—many of the happiest times in my life revolved around being a mother to my two girls.

Yet, for thirty-nine years, there is a part of me that grieves on Mother’s Day for the daughter I lost.

Katie

But God is good! He sent two beautiful children to my older daughter, Mandy, and the three of them rock my world. I feel like I am the luckiest!

Life is funny, you know. I thought my life was over thirty-nine years ago, and now I feel like I am on the grandest trip, along with Mandy and her family!

I see the world in a whole new way. Through the eyes of my grandchildren.

Although my love will never end for Katie, and I shall never forget her or how she was when she was alive and in our lives, I have been able to move forward and live again myself.

So, on this Mother’s Day, I celebrate my motherhood, but more than this, I celebrate my daughter’s Mother’s Day.

Matt, Savannah, Quinn, and Amanda.

Mandy is a wonderful, caring, and gentle mother. She listens to and adores her kids; I admire her so much!

So, Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers. Be you biological, adoptive, or step. Mothers and their love come in all shapes and sizes.