SLIP SLIDING AWAY (January 27 - February 15, 2020)

After Curt and Jenny, Sherry's brother and sister-in-law, pulled out of the parking garage at the Wyndham Ocean Blvd Resort, we turned and found our way back to our 14th floor, ocean front room.  It had been a nice three week stay with them but now we found ourselves alone and ready for
a couple of weeks of  "down" time before the arrival of special friends from Indiana, Doretta and Jimmy Durnil.  Sherry and Doretta were High School friends in Bloomington, Indiana and we had recently reconnected with her and her husband.  Shortly after their arrival, a phone call informed us that Sherry's sister's husband had died after a long battle with cancer.  We left the Durnils in charge of the condo and flew to Indiana and the funeral.  We returned in two days and shared a couple of more days with our friends.  Now we've had North Myrtle Beach to ourselves for two weeks and have enjoyed "Beach Life" to its fullest.  Six Weeks of our nine week stay here is finished and we have already made reservations to be back in 2021.

REFLECTIONS

Both life and death remind us of the journey we are on.  It is a journey to be cherished and treasured.  It is a journey to be experienced knowing that, at any time, it can completely change.  This week I took an unexpected slip and slide journey to the hard, narrow, bottom of the bath tub while entering for a quick shower.  I had just finished a wonderful 4 mile walk on the beach, enjoying the slights and sounds of a sunny South Carolina day.  I felt great!  The next thing I knew I was headed for a fall.  It is amazing that in the 2 seconds it takes from stepping in to crashing to the shower wetted tub you can actually have time to reflect!

I thought about all the times I had heard of "elderly" folks break arms, legs, hips in such a fall.  I thought "now it's your turn".  As I pretzeled my way down and hit hard, I groaned and took inventory.  I was conscious and nothing seemed broken or "pulled".  Sherry ran to the site of the commotion and inquired; "You OK?  What can I do?", to which I responded as I lay there in the cascading water; "I think so, just hand me the shampoo."

Today, four days later, I'm a little bruised (blood thinners enhance bruising, by the way) and sore but continue walking everyday and enjoying my time on planet Earth.

Yesterday someone in the elevator stated; "It's a beautiful day to be on the right side of the grass."  My quick response was; "If you are prepared, it will be a great day on either side of the grass."  That's just the way I look at it.....THE BEST IS YET TO COME.