23 Sept. 2022 - Ga’Day, feels like Autumn in the air here in Santa Fe + while walking this morning there was the unmistakable sign of same: a tarantula on a walkabout (looking for a mate probably). Mr. T. had trouble crossing the shallow barditch at roadside, due to vegetation buildup, but was not to be denied access to the other side.
This summer was a rough and unsteady one for us. We were able to sneak in a Red River, NM trip with Meme’s sister Pat (Medici) to see/hear Michael Martin Murphy. In my last health update I mentioned being in the hospital in May for an infection in my biliary duct area. June and August also found me in the hospital for 5-day stints as the stents flushed out and weren’t working. What about July you ask? I had an outpatient ERCP procedure placing more stents (that also didn’t stay in place: hence, the August hospitalization). Rejoicing now as it has been over a month and bilirubin counts are holding: I’m getting blood work every one to two weeks.
I traveled to Burbank for a Senior Bulldog (high school) luncheon on Aug. 1st. I contracted Covid-19 (probably at ABQ airport), but it was only rough for 1.5 of the 4-days I had symptoms (really glad I got the boosters). It was great seeing so many longtime friends. I also was able to visit the gravesites of Mom & Dad, where I witnessed something extraordinary: Six antlered deer browsing on flowers followed by a coyote; eventually the two deer at the back had enough of the coyote and they did a 180 that got the coyote to turn around too, then they followed it for awhile until it was at a safe range.
Every decade, or so, we experience a microburst T-storm here. In early August we got one with cyclonic winds and hail that stripped the paint from the exposed surfaces of the portal, ruined the hot tub cover, and leaked water into a couple of rooms (office and den). Decades ago we replaced the backyard lawn that was here when we moved in 33+ years ago, with a flagstone patio. Of course no water is needed for that, but also no water percolates of drains down through it either, thus the den leakage. All was back to normal in a few days.
We’re hoping for better & more active days ahead: Monday night we have tickets to the El Paso Chihuahuas at Albuquerque Isotopes AAA baseball game; on Wednesday we travel to San Diego/Pacific Beach (Thursday will be Los Dodgers vs Padres at Petco Park. Getting those tickets was a challenge with Ticketmaster in that I somehow ended up getting two tickets also for Cardinals vs Padres a week earlier when we weren’t in San Diego. I pointed out to Ticketmaster that it appeared to be a “bait & switch” as my computer history showed no “history” for that transaction. They basically told me tough “no refunds.” At least we got the tickets we wanted and the concierge at Pacific Terrace Hotel got the seats for this past Thursday. How is that for making lemonade? Lesson learned: watch your Ticketmaster transactions very carefully).
October 7-9 I’m coordinating a tour for the Site Steward Foundation of some Tularosa Basin sites (Creekside Village, White Sands NP, Water Canyon petroglyphs, and Three Rivers petroglyphs); the next week my cousins Steve & Patrick are visiting from CA (Redding & Concord), including a 64-mile trip aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway ( https://cumbrestoltec.com ) from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO; followed by a trip to Tucson for the Assoc. of National Park Rangers annual Rendezvous. Nov. 1st is to be my next ERCP procedure (stent swap), followed by another trip to San Diego Nov. 7-10 (we’re staying at a bungalow on the Crystal Pier for that one).
Yes, this will be quite a test for me. It sounds like a lot even when I was younger & healthier, but I’m looking forward to all of it. I also look forward to seeing you sometime in the not-too-distant future. We can rejoice for our many, MANY gifts we have in this life.
Please BE WELL!
Phil
