Hello, Dear Readers! It feels like a lifetime since I last posted. I hope every one of you had a wonderful Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Winter Solstice, or any other holiday you may celebrate this time of year. For us, it is Christmas, and it was wonderful!
As I’d mentioned, we spent Christmas with my oldest brother in Colorado. Beautiful Colorado, which graced us with a shocking 70 degrees Fahrenheit on Christmas Day. I prefer a snowy Christmas, but we get what we get. I might have mentioned that Kevin is a wonderful cook and smoked a turkey for our holiday meal. It was delicious! Our child and I cooked some side dishes, and Kevin made a tasty dressing. And we enjoyed his holiday decor to help get us into the mood:
His tree is beautiful:
Yep, that’s our little Sophie on the sofa beside her mama (me).
We also went to the German Christkindl Market in downtown Denver. Both Kevin and I were born in Germany, seven years apart, when our dad was stationed there while serving in the U.S. Army. Dad served for twenty-three years and retired after being shot in the leg in Vietnam. The market was on its last day, so some of the shops had already pulled their booths, but it was still fun, and there were items we recalled from our childhood there. Sadly, my parents’ home burned to the ground when I was around fourteen, and many of the treasures they had purchased in Germany were lost, along with the home and everything we owned. I wish I’d taken more photos, but to be honest, I was just enjoying the time with my brother, our child, and Jay. This was approaching the market, which was located on Auraria Campus in Denver, Colorado:
And the entrance sign:
And the first shop as you enter was selling cinnamon-roasted nuts:
There was a beautiful Merry-Go-Round in the center, too:
And that was all the photos I took. But we enjoyed ourselves. I especially enjoyed being able to freely walk as we had to return to Utah on Christmas Day for me to have preventative surgery on BOTH my feet the day after:
Yes, this looks awful, but it should prevent future issues with my toes as we straightened three of them. Two on the right foot and one on the left. And, no, I will not be showing photos of my actual feet. I hate what they look like and have no desire to share it. The left foot is not bad at all, but the right foot is forever nasty-looking. Imagine being unable to wear flip flops or sandals ever again. That should explain why I will never reveal them.
In two to three weeks, I should be able to have my cataracts removed and will be seeing better. I will only need glasses for reading, then. Right now, I don’t drive much and don’t even like to go out after dark, as my vision is so impaired. But I had to take care of my feet first. And then we will see if we need to stay parked for a few months.
Honestly, the costs of preparation for the bike trip (which, for Jay, sadly never happened), my many required medical care issues on the road, the botched surgery that lost one of my toes on my right foot, and the far too many damages requiring repairs on our RV have left us in debt. That’s something just a few short months ago we had none of. Jay’s trying to pick up a part-time job in town, and I’m hoping to be fit enough to do some dog walking to slam some cash on that mess. I wish we could hit the road again, because yes, this means no Mardi Gras this year for us. We’d planned to go to New Orleans this time, where there would be much more opportunity to listen to music. Both of us are music lovers, and I, especially, enjoy all genres of music. We might still go to New Orleans for the music, though, next WINTER. I’m not going south in the summer months! LOL.
As with all things, the struggles will pass, and brighter days are ahead.
I’m unable to tell you what’s up next. I don’t know where we will be – probably still here in Tooele, Utah – or what we’ll be doing. We have so many things we WANT to do. And we pray that the Lord sees fit to let us enjoy these years of retirement and travel with good health. So, until next time, Dear Reader, stay well, enjoy the sunshine if you’re lucky enough to have it, love one another as our Savior loves us, and find peace and joy in your life, where you can. Most of all, be KIND. It doesn’t cost a thing. Hugs.
On Hummingbirds Wings 