Back Again

(NOTE: View a larger picture by clicking on the photo(s) above.)

Did you miss us? OK, we’re back. I haven’t talked to you since, how long has it been? Let’s see, yeah, since May 18th . We have a little catching up to do. Now, where do I start?

We got back a little too early (or late) in the week to get the RV to the dealer. We arrived in Tennessee on Saturday, May 17. We found a campground in Goodletsville, about ten miles from where we used to live in a “real house.” We had stayed at this campground when we first purchased our RV. It is not the nicest place to stay, but it would do for three days until we took the camper to the dealer, which we did the following Tuesday. We got the fifth-wheel to the dealer early in the morning, got squared away as to what was needed for the RV, and then headed straight to Georgia.

Now it was a little more complicated getting away than just parking the trailer and leaving. The RV was scheduled to be at the dealer for at least two weeks. So, we had to empty the refrigerator and freezer since an electrical hook-up was not guaranteed. We packed cans, boxes and bags in containers and frozen items in insulated bags. We loaded all this in the truck along with clothing, personal items and bedding (more about this later). We had forgotten what it was like to pack for a trip. We got use to the fact that everything we need when we travel is just behind us in our “mobile condo.”

It is about a 285 mile trip to Georgia where our son Don lives. We were traveling early enough in the day to miss the after-work traffic snarl that is common in Atlanta. We arrived first at Don’s office to retrieve keys to his apartment and to the storage unit where a lot of our “house” stuff is stored. We needed to find some bedding for our stay there.

Don only has a one-bedroom apartment. He and the two of us makes three. A difficult mathematical problem for sleeping. Now, because of my back, I have always carried my own bed (one of those select-comforts, or sleep-number beds) and slept on the floor. We had another such bed in the storage unit that would serve for Carolyn’s use. So, we got the keys, dropped our things in the apartment and headed to the storage unit. Guess what? The key didn’t fit the lock. We called Don and the word is, he doesn’t know where the key is. Maybe at home. So we wait.

After Don got off work, and after some searching, we think we now have the right key for the unit. Carolyn stayed to start dinner and Don and I started for the storage unit just as the sky let loose with some very large rain drops. The rain drops got closer together and faster until it was coming down in “sheets,” sort of like driving under a water fall. When we pulled in front of the unit, the rain was still coming down in buckets.

Don got out with an umbrella and fumbled with the lock. I picked up another umbrella and followed. Splashing puddles as I went. There is no light in the unit, so we needed a flashlight. I was to pick up the spotlight from the truck, which, of course, I forgot to do. So, splash back to the truck and try again. He found the right key and had the door up by the time I arrived with the light. The rain was pouring into the unit, so we pulled the overhead door down to keep the furniture near the opening from getting drowned.

I turned on the spotlight and surveyed the mountain of furniture and “stuff” in the 20’ x 30’ unit. Where are we going to find a small package in this pile? I spotted what looked like bedding stuff in the back on top of one of the mountains. How do we get there? I moved an antique chair in front of one pile in preparation for my “climb” to the goal. Just below the chair was a familiar looking bag. I lifted it. It felt right. I opened it. Surprise, surprise---it was just what I was looking for. What luck! But that was about to change.

Since we had accomplished our purpose, we were ready to leave. We put our hands on the overhead door to push it upward. It wouldn’t budge. We pushed harder. It still wouldn’t move. Great! Were we stuck here? We tried harder, pulling upward on the door. It raised about six inches, but no farther. Our re-chargeable spotlight was beginning to fade. Terrific! Stuck in a storage unit without light. Who can we call? No one it appears. We had left the cell phone in the truck.

With renewed motivation we worked on the door until it was opened about fifteen inches from the floor. But we could get it no farther. Don decided to try sliding under the door to the outside, then we could work from both sides to get it opened. He did, but got soaked in the process. We struggled with the door from both sides, but it still would lift no farther. We decided to push the door down again and start anew. Now, I’m the only one stuck inside. We soon discovered that the door was off track and slightly askew. I pulled on one side of the door only and it began to raise. Finally, as the spotlight faded to black, I too could get outside in the pouring rain.

Our purpose for being with Don was to help him complete some jobs to finish renovating a house he had bought for re-sale. We spent a week there, with nights on the floor of his apartment and days working on the house. With my back still giving me fits, much of my effort was sharing my building knowledge with Don while he carried out the work.

After eight days in Georgia, we headed for South Carolina to visit with two elderly aunts, ages 95 and almost 93. I did a couple odd jobs for the aunt with whom we stayed, but mostly we relaxed. Then, it was time to head back to Tennessee and pick up our trailer.

At least, our luck is better than the RV’s fate in the first picture above. Wonder what caused that? Actually, it is a sculpture in Chicago. Fooled you, didn’t it? The second picture is no fake. It shows my aunt’s dog, Smokey, having a staring contest with a small rabbit that came onto the front porch. We discovered this encounter in passing. The dog had not made a sound. He just laid there watching the rabbit, and the rabbit watching him. They must have done this for at least five minutes. It was long enough for me to get my camera, make the setting for no flash (so as to not startle the rabbit), and take three pictures. The rabbit blinked first, and left.

We arrived back in Tennessee on Tuesday, June 3rd to pick up our RV. It took about one and one half hours to get settled up for the RV and unload the truck and reload the trailer. Then we headed back to the campground we had previously left. We had made a reservation for a spot upon our return. When we arrived, we got another surprise. We had no reservation. They had given our spot away and the campground was full. We soon discovered that every campground in the area was full due to a local music feast and auto race.

We made a phone call to a campground in Lebanon, TN, where we had stayed a year ago, to see if anything was available there. They had one site available. We reserved it and immediately headed that way, about 37 miles from where we intended to be. So, that is where we are now. The site we are in only has 30 amp and no sewer, but it is a place to stay. Maybe next week we can move to a better site with 50 amp and sewer. We’ll see. I have learned not to hold my breath.

As far as my back is concerned, I have seen the orthopedic doc and am scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday, then back to the doc on Friday to see what needs to be done. I have stronger pain meds now, so at least life is a little more bearable. I have made one startling discovery---pain is no fun! I bet you already knew that. Right?

I’ll be back later to let you know how it all turns out. In the meantime, hope for the best.

Did you know: The average pencil will write 45,000 words or draw a line 35 miles long. Why am I telling you this? Just thought you would like to know. In these terms, I have used 1.2 pencils writing (54,300 words) and 357 pencils marking a line behind the trailer.