Road Trip - "It Was Just Time!"* to get away

After a stressful trip to Texas (see first post in August 2015), hubby and I needed some couple time and we wanted to visit with a dear friend we hadn't seen in awhile.

Time to bring out Baby and hit the road.

As always, 1s stop for fuel we got an offer from a stranger to buy her.  She's 16 years old (we're the 3rd owners) and only has 68,000 miles on her.  So sweet.  Not for sale!

Our first stop, thanks to Groupon, was the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania.  Without the half price coupons, I would never have considered staying at such a ridiculously priced hotel out in the middle of nowhere.  At least southwest PA is lovely.

Dinner our first night was in the pub.  One of the best Rubens I have ever had.

 After dinner we took a stroll and enjoyed a cool evening at the fire pits.

Not sure what this young man was reading but he was engrossed and stayed in the hammock the entire time we were outside.  So cute.

Next we headed to the library where I found the most complicated jigsaw puzzle I have ever seen.  Having a base that is not a straight line is a really tough challenge!  A glance was all it took to  keep me walking.

The next morning we headed for the hiking trails.

 We followed the green marker.

 We hit the trail in full hiking gear - boots, Tilly hats, walking sticks, water, camera gear, etc.  On a rather steep incline we were passed by a sweet young thing in flip-flops.  Was she nuts or are we too susceptible to the sales staff at REI?  Gotta admit they are cute and so darn healthy looking.

Hubby spent the afternoon reading while I indulged in the most luxurious spa I have ever seen.  There are fifteen massage therapists on staff and mine was terrific.  Of course, they have many other services offered, but I wasn't interested - let's be honest - I couldn't afford anything else.

I didn't understand why they instructed me to arrive 1 hour before my scheduled appointment and to bring my bathing suit.  I didn't know about the defoliate/shower/steam room/hot tub/cold plunge/hot tub/shower gauntlet they put you through before you ever got to see a robe and a steaming cup of tea and fresh strawberries.  Did I mention the entire place looked like a Roman bath?  Gorgeous.  By the time I got to my massage I was already feeling like a limp noodle.  The massage almost left me comatose. 

We enjoyed a gourmet dinner in the Chrystal Dinning room.  Amazing staff - great food.

Good grief.  Someone must have stayed up all night and finished this puzzle.  Well done!

It was time to give up living like the idle rich and head to the hills of West Virginia.

My college roommate, Dr. Linda Gantt, lives on a small lake in WV right on the Pennsylvania border.    She and her husband, Dr. Lou Tinnin, moved there over 30 years ago to continue their work with patients suffering from PTS.  He taught in medical school at UWV and they opened their own clinic.  Lou had started his research into PTS during the Viet Nam War while director of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in DC, where they met.

We have been visiting them at the lake during all this time but this was the 1st visit after Lou's death last year.  Recently Linda was diagnosed with bladder cancer and has just begun the post-surgery therapy.  So far so good - we were delighted to see her going great guns.  We took the 3 mile + hike around the lake 2 of the 3 mornings we were there.

The view of the house from across the lake.

I worry about Linda living alone at the lake.  There are only 40 lots around the lake and only 5 are occupied year round.  The road to the lake is AWFUL.  Costa Rica can point to this road and say "See, it's not so bad here."  

There's a story about this road.  When they moved to the lake, it was just a dirt road.  Now it is sort of paved but currently the pot holes have pot holes, but I digress.  Lou and Linda had a secretary that came to the house 3 days a week.  On a lovely Monday morning in June she called and said she couldn't come to work because the sheriff had closed the road.  This happened all the time in the winter when the snow is too high, but never in June.  Well, there was a stretch of road between the lake and Bruceton Mills where all of the mail boxes on both sides of the road had the same last name.  Lots of boxes for over a mile.  Seems there had been a family gathering on Saturday night and it sort'a got out of hand.  The family was still shooting at each other across the road and the sheriff thought the best thing to do was wait until they gave up and went to bed.  At least it wasn't the Hatfields and McCoys, but pert near.

Linda's cat, T. S. Elliott, had died shortly after Lou's death, but we were happy to meet her new companion - Miss Molly Ivins.  If you don't know who Molly Ivins was, shame on you.

The nights were cold up the mountains, so hubby and I were happy to have her for a foot warmer.

 The following shots were taken from Linda's place and during our hikes around the lake.

 Last year everyone's favorite huge chestnut tree died but the owner didn't let the loss go without finding a way to make it a positive event.  What you see is his new addition to a much older home.

The wind farm is over in Pennsylvania.  In West Virginia just down the road from the lake they are still doing mountain top removal.  To find out why this is really a stupid thing to be doing, read John Grishman's "Gray Mountain".

Whenever I contemplate what would be involved if Linda decided to move, I'm struck with what a challenge it would be to give up her wonderful art collection - most of which is scattered all over the property.  Here are a few pieces, both inside and out.

This is Fred.  He originally resided in their 1st clinic.  Any special event he mysteriously disappeared only to return in an unexpected spot wearing a costume related to the holiday/event.  Neither Lou or Linda were ever able to catch the staff in the act of making this happen.  I'm not so sure they looked very hard.  Wish I had some photos of Fred in costume but I understand some were rather risqué.

 I'm especially fond of the collage above because it was done by my 1st hubby.  Lou and Linda were terrific friends to him.  He even lived with them for a time.

 This photo is mine.  It's Lou sailing across the lake, smoking a cigar and drinking a glass of wine.  It was taken in the '80's when I was still shooting with slide film.  He wanted this to give to his grandkids to prove they had a cool granddad.  There was never any doubt.

On Saturday afternoon, when the clinic was closed, Linda gave us the grand tour.  I have never been so proud of her (that's say a lot - she has always amazed me).  Here's the link to the clinic:

https://traumatherapy.us

This wonderful wall hanging was done by the staff at the clinic in loving memory of Lou.  He was an avid fly fisherman, so each fish represents one aspect of Lou, from always wearing bow ties (see bottom  row) to his love for Linda (see kissing fish in the middle).

From the "dream wall" in the staff workroom.

This is one staff break room they can't complain about - they designed it and made the wall hangings. 

This hangs in one of the treatment rooms but Linda explained it was the visual image Lou would describe as he was using hypnosis with a patient.  I could see myself walking in this scene.

 Another example of  the creative talent of the staff.  This is the children's play room and I love the crochet   hanging basket to keep the toys off the floor.  

A photographer knows that the sweet light requires getting up early.  One morning I was the 1st up and here is my reward:

While having dinner under the cupola, some of the neighbors came by.

That's an example of the only type of motor allowed on the lake.  The rule keeps the entire area so quiet.  I love it.

Here's how most get around.  There is also a lot of ice skating in the winter.

Linda always has a project in the works, so hubby and I spent our last morning on the lake giving her a hand.  It was actually fun.  Who knows I may try to do something about my ratty kitchen stools.

Old look.

New look.

Four hands are better than two!

*Time to explain the "it was just time" in the title.  All couples over time develop catch phrases that mean something to them and no matter when or where the phrase is used, it brings a smile in recognition of the private joke.  Well, back in the '70's a friend of a friend was give a DWI.  Believing in his innocence,  he insisted on a jury trial.  During the trial it was revealed that he and his girl friend were found having sex in his car on the off ramp of IH35 near downtown Austin.  When the judge heard that this occurred just 2 blocks from his home, the judge leaned over, looked down at him and asked why he didn't go home to have sex.  You can guess his reply.  Everyone laughed and he was acquitted by the jury because he was obviously NOT driving his vehicle while intoxicated.  Only in Austin.

A Trip That Begins in Fear & Ends in Relief, Awe, and Inspiration

Normally I use my blog to post my photos and a little bit of text so I can convert everything to lovely travel books (thanks blurb.com).  This time I’m using it in lieu of a journal, something I’ve never been able to keep.  All that self-focus really bores me.  This post, as usual will avoid names to maintain privacy and protect those with security clearances who really hate being on social media.  So much has happened this trip that I need a way to reflect on it all and this seems like a viable option.

Thursday, 7/23, I received a call from my son letting me know he was in the Critical Care Unit of Seton Hospital in Austin suffering from kidney failure but they were filling him with fluids and he’d be going home the next day.  He assured me he would keep me informed and I decided I wouldn’t be too hasty about hopping on a plane and hightailing it down there, although that was what every fiber of my being wanted to do.  When he called back the next day he said he was still in serious shape and could I come down.  Well, I’m a mom, of course I can come down just needed a flight and place to stay.  Also, having to focus on getting ready made it easier to deal with the fear I was feeling.

I’m fortunate to have wonderful and generous friends who have a gorgeous lake house outside Austin.  Even though they flee the heat of the Texas summer every year for a 4 month RV vacation in northern climes, they always make their home available to me along with one of their SUV’s that gets left behind.  I just let them know, they contact the next door neighbor, and voila, the keys are left where I can find them.

The first flight I could get on was early Sunday morning.  First a puddle jumper from Dulles to Charlotte, NC, on a tiny plane - one so small carry-ons had to be checked at the gate, to be retrieved on the tarmac when we climbed down the steep stairs after landing.  I was surrounded by a large group of giddy Christians from Houston who had just completed 22 hours flying back from Africa where they had been on a hospital mission project.  They were sleep deprived, loud, and excited to be almost home.  I was next to a nice young man who showed me ALL of his photos of the trip (plane was so small that only 2 seats per side of the aisle), including some rather gruesome shots of people with horrible injuries.  I hadn’t been “yes mam’ ” ed so much since I taught high school in Texas.  He was excited to be starting EMS training in the fall, and I’m sure he’ll be terrific.  He had a generous and caring nature.

I was actually met at the Austin airport by my son.  He had been released from the hospital once his electrolytes, etc. were sort of back in balance.  His sugar count was still sky high and he looked awful.  We were going to focus on getting him medical care and sorting out his personal finances during my stay.

More about him later.  While in Austin I had time to reach out to friends and see how they were doing.

The first person I called has been a friend since we both worked at the same law firm in the ’80's.  She hit me with shocking news:  in March 2014 she had fallen at work and broken her neck.  She never lost consciousness so she could describe in detail how they managed to get her out of a tight spot and lift her onto the gurney.  Seems Austin EMS hire very short people to get under barriers and assist moving the injured.  In her case, she first saw the top of his head as he was approaching her desk.  He got under her desk and pushed her toward the other EMS techs on the other side.  Because she wasn’t in any pain, she found it all rather strange and amusing.  It was a reminder of 2 characters in Tuna Christmas.  I’ll not elaborate but those familiar with the play will understand the reference.

Just prior to her injury she had lost all of her contacts because her laptop was hacked, therefore she couldn’t notify those of us not in her immediate circle of friends and family.  Only those in range for word-of-mouth found out.

Although she still requires 24/7 nursing care (thank you workers’ comp!) she can sit in a wheelchair and use both arms.  This is HUGE because she was originally paralyzed from the neck down.  Hard work and determination have gotten her this far and she is confident that she’ll be able to walk again some day using a walker.  I had no doubt after talking to her.

Her caregiver got her to the new Kerbey Lane on 183 for lunch.  Once at the table, she left us to have a private time together.

My friend blew me away when she said “All in all, it’s been a positive experience.”

Whoa!  How many people do you know who would say something like that given the past year she’s just had.  She praised all the acts of kindness she has received beginning with a niece coming in from CA and taking charge of remodeling her condo and getting it sold, her friend, who is disabled with rheumatoid arthritis, allowing her to move into her home once out of the hospital and rehab (a 6 month time period).  She has also loved her caregivers and has found their stories fascinating.  One is from Kenya, one from the projects of Houston, and one who is a British free spirit whose father was the architect in charge of the restoration of Buckingham Palace after a fire.  She had no idea how the last one ended up in Austin, but she says she’s learned so much from each.

Looking to the future, she sees a time when she will be able to return to work, but having to work from home.  She also wants to return to the pre-seminary training program offered by the Presbyterian denomination.  This led to a discussion of my experience of taking the same thing through the Episcopal church - it was a very intense 4 year program called Education for Ministry - and my working as a parish administrator for 2 different parishes in the DC area.  We had an interesting conversation about our divergent spiritual journeys and said she would look up the Ethical Society just to find out more about the group I have joined.

I just have not been able to stop thinking about her story and attitude.  Of course, I wonder if I would be able to face the future with the same grace and confidence.  I]I’m pretty sure there are a lot of people who would be full of anger, despair, and “why me?!”  My friend has such a generous spirit that her focus has remained on the others around her and she could find interest in learning her caregivers’ stories and never find fault with their service to her.

Next a called a friend from my old political days in Austin.  Well, she had fallen this past Father’s Day and was still recovering from a broken hip.  At this point I was wondering if I had any friends left standing.  I was able to visit her at her home a couple of times.  The last I begged for a TV fix because where I was staying didn’t have cable service since it had been disconnected while the owners were on their trip.  Wifi sort of worked but not well enough to stream anything or open any attachment for that matter.  Turns out we both addicted to the Sunday evening line up of PBS shows so a good time was had by both of us.

I received something of a surprise invitation to lunch from my soon-to-be ex-daughter-in-law.  While eager to see her I didn’t want the meeting to turn into a slam-athon against my son.  It didn’t.  We had plenty to discuss - her new job, how her terrific kids were doing, her extended family, etc. so it was a lovely time and I hope we will remain in contact after the divorce is final.  I can’t begin to express how much I admire her and I’m so grateful for the positive influence she did have on my son.  It may not be showing yet, but I’m positive it will.

It is interesting that I have very few memories of growing up in Sherman, TX, while my years at NTSU (now UNT) are vivid as if they happened yesterday.  Most of the memories I do have involve my immediate family, dance classes and church, but very little about school and friends.  I was able to spend a few hours with a high school chum that I only recently reconnected with (thank you Facebook).  A lot of the conversation was her saying “do you remember ….” and me saying “no, but go on.”  It was good to hear her stories as a reminder that, yep, I was there.

She’s in the middle of a 4th divorce - I didn’t know about the first  3 - and has had an interesting career as an actress and published poet.  She also is a substitute teacher in the Austin Public School System - a source of many interesting stories.  She stayed one evening for dinner and met my son and his 2 kids - my 6’ grandson who will be in the 7th grade this year, and, no he hasn’t had to repeat any grades, he’s just big, and my 5’10” granddaughter who is “searching for herself” - sad that she lost it in the first place but I understand the external forces that contributed.  I trust her innate intelligence and kindness to win this fight.

I took my son and grandson to see Mission Impossible.  My son said he’d never pay money that might end up supporting Scientology but he wouldn’t mind going on my nickel.  It was my first time to go to an Alamo Drafthouse for lunch and a movie.  Not sure why anyone wants to eat in the dark but the theater seemed almost full, interesting since it was a work day.  Once seated we started looking around and were surprised to find out that we were at a “babies welcomed” mantinee.  There were a few moms with babies, but what was amazing was the number of dads with babies strapped to their fronts.  The movie started and it was LOUD and long.  Not one baby made a sound and you could see them sleeping through the movie (or they were heavily drugged).

Even with Tom Cruz in the movie, all of us really enjoyed it and the company around us.  Lunch was just so-so.

I left Austin not able to see all of the friends I have there.  My son has a new doctor and we’re confident he is on the proper path to good health.  I was saddened to hear how defeated some of my political allies are.  The social pressure even in Austin to be a right wing follower has driven many former activists away from politics.  I hope next year’s presidential campaign will reenergize them.

I eagerly returned to northern VA and the cooler days and the comfort being with my supportive hubby and friends.  I will miss skinny-dipping in the backyard pool - no neighbors, why not, and any camera-carrying drones flying over head would be shot down in that neck of the woods in a heart beat.  The only company I had while in the pool was a rabbit who came and watched, seemingly fascinated that I chose to be in water, and a baby garter snake swimming around that I had to toss out.  I will also be thinking about my son and friends in Austin and the many stories of struggle, perseverance and grit.

Return to Photography

Hubby and I have vowed to go on more photo shoots.  This past Sunday we went to the National Zoo very early to beat the crowds and here are a few of my shots.  Obviously I need lots of practice.

Our subjects aren't the most warm and fuzzy of what is available to see at the zoo, but we are members of the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) Photo Club.  Because of the budget cuts, the zoo relies on the club for a lot of their photos on calendars, social media, etc. and they are always asking for photos of the unusual residents.  Lets just say I'm really thankful for a good zoom lens.

Apparently young gorillas find brown paper as much fun as cats find boxes.

Golden Headed Lion Tamarin

Slender-Tailed Meerket

Emperor Newt (really tiny!)

Everglades Ratsnake

Phillipine Crocodile (also small - the smallest of all the crodocile)

Renee's Birthday, 7/11/15

This year Renee's birthday fell on a Saturday, making it easy to celebrate her birth on the actual date of her arrival on this planet.  Even the City of Alexandria is participating with fireworks tonight in Oronoco Park, down by the river.  Actually, the City is celebrating Founders Day, but, still it's a lovely coincidence.

Brian and Sandra, Greg and Eddie, Linda, and hubby and I (I've promised you-know-who that going forward I will not name him or show his face on social media) hosted Renee for a lovely Saturday brunch at Bastille.  The restaurant is owned by a lovey couple who just opened in this location a few months ago.  The original location is still open near the Metro Stage theater, but called a bistro with lower prices.

Here are photos from the event:

Sandra and the birthday girl