March 15, 2023. Madison, Mississippi. Showering.

 Showering in Mexico was a bit difficult.  Bars to hold on to were few  so old ladies like me struggled.  But we managed, one way or another.  As there was nothing to hold on to, I was required to use a chair in the shower.  Fortunately, the plastic chairs fit in the showers.  Also there were no hand held wands for the water.  Once or twice, Wendy got wet while helping me but by we did better as time went on.  When Wendy went home, Anna helped me.  So all was well.  But showering was not easy.

Showering at home here in Mississippi was a delight.  My shower has four grab bars in the shower plus one bar outside the shower to hold while getting in.  This morning I showered.  I was able to stand the whole time for the shower, always holder one bar or another.  From mid December I was forced to sit in the shower so I wondered how I would manage.  But I had no trouble.  My legs are stronger now and I have more energy, which is a good thing.  Standing for my shower is a good sign of better health.

Returning to Mississippi is always a pleasure.  This is true for anyone returning home.  There are many reasons that please me when coming to my home on Roses Bluff Drive.  But perhaps taking a shower here pleases me the most.

March 14, 2023. Madison, Mississippi. Troubles.

On Sunday we had internet.  We also had the television working  on the lower level.  I called AT&T for a technician who was to come at 4:00 on Tuesday.  Yesterday morning a person from AT&T called to help.  It took an hour but the person managed to mess up everything.  In the afternoon some one called to help but to no avail.  Now the Internet is working.  But the televisions will not work.  So our very nice tech man is still with us.  One problem we have is his Mississippi accent.  Neither Sara Lou or I can understand him.

More troubles came with me PET scan, which was not good.  All the cancers  in the bones and the liver are bigger.  So we will work out a plan.  At the moment I will still take the chemo, which was half the dose of the original.  I knew the chemo was not working because my back was still hurting so sitting in a wooden chair was difficult.  So more troubles.  But whew we go. 

March 12, 2023. Madison, Mississippi. All Set.

My chargers are all plugged in but in the living room and the television room.  One suitcase has been opened and everything put away.  That was the small  case with my medications.  The medications are all put away in the proper place.  I just realized that I had left money in that case in a small zippered pocket so Sara Lou helped me to open it up and put the money away.  Portia will help me tomorrow to empty the bigger bag which houses my clothes.  So by tomorrow I will be able to function.

The television in my floor will not work so the technician will come on Tuesday afternoon to check it out and fix it.  The television on the lower level works just fine so this evening we watched a few innings of the Classic Baseball Tournament between the USA and Mexico/.  Mexico was winning.  I suspect that the storm blew out something on that TV.  But other than that, everything in the house seems to work.  

But I am set to function in Mississippi.  I still must open and review all the mail but that will keep.  And I must get an apostle stamp on the death certificate from the state of Mississippi.  I will do that next week.  For now, Sara Lou and I will enjoy ourselves.  We have plans for the week.  Now we are ready because the house is all set.  I can function.

March 11, 2023. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Moving Day.

Today is a big moving day at Playa Royale.  My condo will be empty today but for just a few hours.  Soon another happy family will take over.  But for the four of us, we are moving on.  Anna and Abe will return to Pennsylvania to resume the rehab at the old house owned by their daughter and son in law.  It will soon be turned into an air&b.  The 5 grandchildren there in Pennsylvania will be delighted to see them.  But Anna and Abe have enjoyed themselves in Mexico.  And of course they looked after me.

Sara Lou and I leave a bit later than Anna and Abe.  We will be both flying to Mississippi, where SLC will visit me for the rest of the week.  She will return to Maryland next Friday.  In the meantime, we will have a busy time in Mississippi.  Sara Lou is kindly accompanying me home.  When I came to Mexico I needed Chris to accompany me.  Now SLC will be with me now.  I am in better shape now so perhaps by the time I get ready to travel to Nova Scotia I will be able to travel by myself.  But today Sara Lou will help me.

So we are all once again, moving on.  And here we go.  

March 10, 2023. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Old Puerto Vallarta.

 Sara Lou and I decided that Anna and Abe should make a visit to the old town of Puerto Vallarta.  So far they had never ventured down to the big city.  But the Malicon is there with all the sculptures so we thought that it would be a shame to miss it.  So I gave them instructions for the bus and on Thursday morning they headed out for a day in the old section os Puerto Vallarta.  They left at 8:30 and got home at 4:00 and they had a wonderful day.

Anna and Abe are good with public transportation here in Mexico.  They ask people until they find someone who speaks English.  In order to get downtown, you must take two buses which you change at Walmart.  They took the two buses and first walked the whole Malecon.  And they took a picture of every statute.  Then they wandered in town, ate a bite to eat, then took the bus to Walmart where they used the bathroom.  And believe it or not, they met a couple from their little town in Northern Alberta.  Small world.  Finally they got home, tired but happy.  They were happy that Sara Lou and I encouraged them to visit the crowded, hot Puerto Vallarta.  

March 9, 2023. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Porto Bello.

Tonight we celebrated.  Anne is finished with her isolation and has no more symptoms of Covid.  Anna and Abe leave for Pennsylvania at 2:00 on Saturday.  Sara Lou and I fly to Mississippi on Saturday  too but not until 3:30.  Anne and Kenny take their boat to La Cruz, to a new moorng.  They will lie at anchor and use their tender to get into shore.  So tonight we celebrated our time together here in Mexico.

Porto Bello is a wonderful Italian restaurant here in Nuevo Vallarta.  Ken and I ate there many times.  The food and the service have always been excellent so I was hoping that their standards have not slipped because I invited everyone to dinner tonight.  I was not disappointed.  My lamb chops were wonderful as was the mussels I ate as an appetizer.  We were a festive group.  And everyone was happy with their food.

I took everyone out to dinner because they all were a huge help to me so I was celebrating my good fortune in having such good friends and family.  I could not function here without my family and friends so tonight we celebrated being together and we wished Anne and Kenny all the best fortune as they head to the French Islands.  Our celebration was splendid at the Porto Bello..  

March 8, 2023. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. La Isla.

Most of the time we eat at home.  I am more comfortable sitting in comfortable chairs so even when we are not cooking at home, food is brought home from the restaurants.  Anna has been cooking for us here since Kenny and Anne moved to their boat.  But today I suggested we should go for lunch to our favorite Mexican restaurant, La Isla.  Neither Sara Lou, Anna or Abe had eaten at a Mexican restaurant and as we leave on Saturday, we are running out of time.  Now was the day.

I took a taxi with Abe helping me while Anna and Sara Lou walked.  Sara Lou was treating us.  To celebrate we all drank a margariita and ate guacamole dip.  Then we ate delicious food.  I ate a shrimp dish that was superb.  And we were all pleased we had come.

On the way home, Anna and Sara Lou stopped in to the new construction, where they have a model condo.  The construction has 6 floors.  The first three floors are condos.  And the top three floors will operate as a hotel.  They have already sold all but one two bedroom condos and all the three bedroom units.  And they have just a few one bedroom units.  The hotel rooms are all the same which is a regular room with an efficiency kitchen with a couch and chair.  And they have no view of the beach as they are on the opposite side of the road.  Amazing how quickly they have sold.  Possession id early 2024.  

We four enjoyed La Isla.  It is our favorite restaurant.