On April 16, we flew back from La Paz to the U.S., mostly because my (Cindy’s) appointments with a spine specialist and a hip surgeon were finally coming due after a two month wait time. We also planned on taking care of some other medical appointments like dental work and eye exams, doing maintenance chores on our home that is rented out, and seeing family as we could.
The trip was, as always, a worldwind. We took one day off to go wine tasting and the rest was busy, busy busy.
The medical news was, overall, good. Although I definitely have some spine issues in the form of degenerating discs, apparently they are not likely causing the bulk of my pain in my hip, back and leg. Instead, my left hip is now bone on bone, having deteriorated in the last year faster than most people’s would have deterioted in five to ten years. Go figure. They say it is not likely due to my lifestyle, fortunately; rather, it is just luck of the draw, i.e., genes. Of course our highest priority was to get rid of this pain as soon as possible, but it was not to be; the doctor of choice wasn’t scheduling new surgery dates until July. And what the heck, if we had to wait that long, we decided, why not wait until after July 30 when our tenant’s lease is up, so that I can recover in my own home?
So, I am scheduled for hip replacement surgery on August 15. I really hope that will put me on a road to recovery and back out sailing by December. I will still have to be very respectful of my back but it might last a little longer if I am good to it. Meanwhile, we are free to return to Mexico, bring Cool Change across the Sea of Cortez from La Paz to Mazatlan, have her hauled out and worked on in Mazatlan for a month or so, and then sail her to Puerto Vallarta where she will stay while we are back in the States for the surgery and recovery. We will rent a condo in Mazatlan while Cool Change is out of commission. That will be easier on my hip and there will be a pool to exercise in – the only kind of exercise I can manage these days. We plan on staying in the States through Thanksgiving. We will bemoan the loss of income on our property while sailing but it will be really nice to have our home back. We are not sure what we will do with our home when we return to sailing in December.
Meanwhile, we visited with Rick’s nieces Cara and Robin and families. Cara just bought her first home. I came down with a cold virus right after playing with the toddlers but it was fun anyway. Our son Andrew flew down for the weekend and we took him to visit his Grandma and family in San Rafael, with a big BBQ for Greek Easter. I visited with my longtime friends Chris and Roz, and we got to house sit for Bev with our kitty she adopted, PO. We went to a gathering pre-surgery in honor of our brother-in-law Rich Sr. I also visited with my sister Sharon, whose husband’s health is critical. It just kills me to leave now, when his health could change for the worse so quickly. And Rich Sr. is not completely out of the woods yet. Every time we go home, we are reminded how much we miss our loved ones, but this trip was especially poignant because of health issues that made the time together seem so much more fleeting. Fortunately we will be back shortly this time around, and stay for at least a little while.
We are off tonight on a plane to La Paz with a long stopover in Guadalajara. Bon Voyage!
The South Fork of the American River on the road where our home is and where we house sat. Spring is lovely there.
Niece Cara and Cindy in front of Cara’s new house
Our son Drew, who visited from Seattle for the weekend, and Cindy
Visiting with Cindy’s dear friends Chris and Roz
Rick enjoying one,of his favorite eating haunts, the Auburn Mongolian BBQ
Rick holding our former cat PO in the way only Daddy can
Niece Robin and her lively daughter Skylar.
Mom, Rick’s sister Elena and her husband Neal, and Rick’s brother Andrew at our Greek Easter BBQ at Mom’s house
Nephew Rich Jr. and Robin’s son Harper at a pre-surgery gathering for Rich Sr.
The view from the deck of a local winery on our one day with no other commitments
Best of luck with your hip replacement!
I enjoy your blog.
Finally found your card you gave me at a beach pub in Mazatland last year (?) just before you were to sail to Australia. I was from Canada and with a friend at the time. I’ll be riding to California (Yosemite) next week and expect to be there mid-June likely on hwy 49 at some point. I’ll email you and if it ever happens, I’ll buy you a beer. Hope the rehab is going as well as can be expected. Good luck!
Thank you, Mary! We are hull #47! Hip surgery is in 9 days and counting!