Today one of our chores was to change a fluorescent tube in a ceiling fixture in our storage room/office/former utility room. It was really dark in there with the light not working (no windows). We got the tube/bulb yesterday and John successfully put it up this morning. The cover fixture isn’t up and it would be good to switch the second bulb so the two match, but at least there is light. John’s napping and recovering from putting the first tube up. Eventually, we’ll get it up.

We’re trying to get ready to head north.

John definitely can’t drive us the 1,300 miles home so we put a claim to Emergency Assistance Plus (a travel insurance plan we took out a couple years ago). The insurance is supposed to help if you have a health crisis while away from home. We’ll be transported back and our vehicle (our GMC truck) will be returned to our home location.

We’re getting ready and hoping we can file all the paperwork on May 7th. The company will have three days to get us back to Michigan.

We lost Paul Van Arsdale, an awesome traditional hammered dulcimer player, on March 29th. Don Fitzpatrick, a former president of the Original Dulcimer Players Club, passed away on April 5th. Today our friend, Bill Markland, died, April 14th. He’d been teaching dance classes at the end of February, now he’s gone.

We have another friend, Mel Bushart who we just learned died of brain cancer March 18th.

We’ve lost too many friends.

Yesterday John’s pulmonologist talked about the benefits of hospice and he gave us a referral if we want to use it.

We realize that if John conditions to deteriorate his time is limited. John and I have talked about the details. It’s not easy but we both have an understanding of the situation.

But even while Dr. Clum was talking about hospice, he was talking about the hope that John will improve. And today it seems that he has. He isn’t giving up on him. He is continuing to find other solutions. Right now it’s more steroids. Let’s hope they help.

My life is so dull that I really don’t care if my information is shared or not. I’m very protective of info that would allow my identity to be stolen. I subscribe to Life Loc and run Norton which protects me from most invasive attacks. My Facebook settings are quite restrictive. I am not worried. All this talk about Facebook selling our data doesn’t scare me.

Am I naive?

We always thought we could do things “later.” Now I’m realizing we waited too long. John’s not well enough to consider any of these activities or do these revisions…

Going to St. Pete Beach or one of the other beaches on Tampa Bay.
Traveling more to places like Nashville or Graceland.
Do some kitchen and bath remodeling in at our Michigan home.
Get a sleep-number mattress.
Replace the range and dishwasher here in the condo.

I’ll add more as I come up with them.

When we first started coming down to Florida in 2002-2004, we loved attending Thursday night’s Rockin Rendezvous in the South Club. It was the highlight of our visit and we wouldn’t miss those gatherings for anything.

It’s many years later. With John’s illness, we haven’t gone to many events and Rockin Rendezvous is one we skip. The DJ plays the music too loud, and it isn’t worth the effort to be there.

But Tuesday night I stopped at karaoke night for a few minutes on my way to pick up a carry-out order of tacos. I’d heard the tempo of the karaoke evenings surpasses the that of Thursday’s Rockin Rendezvous. It was loud and rowdy and it looked like everyone was really having fun! I had a flashback to the enjoyment John and I used to share. I hadn’t thought about it much, but seeing the good times brought back fun memories.

I love my husband, and his condition doesn’t allow him/us to handle those kinds of events but Tuesday night pointed out that they are still happening. I certainly prefer to be with him no matter what we are missing, but it was surprising that I found that the fun is still going on. I’d thought that they’d quit when we stopped going. Glad to see others enjoying the good life!

Saturday, John was taken by ambulance to South Bay Hospital after something ruptured in his throat or lungs and he was bleeding profusely. Blood flowed from his mouth and nose. It scared me. I called his pulmonologist who said I should call an ambulance and get him to a hospital.

It didn’t take long before the blood quit flowing, but the hospital wanted to keep him overnight to make sure it didn’t happen again.

I was able to bring him home Sunday (Easter).

He keeps coughing up bloody phlegm and he hasn’t been able to sleep much. He’s extremely weak.

We have no plans until Saturday. I want him to just take it easy.