Just when I thought I couldn't keep up with the long walks to and from the current bus stop, a neighbor just informed me that they are now picking up a few blocks away at the library. Just in time, as I have been wearing myself out. Now my walking will be better spent while on my errands, and maybe I won't have to go in so often.
The bus line is open here, but not three blocks away, as I thought. Because of the Covid situation, they are only running it from the park, which is about a mile away. Lots of walking, but a lovely view of the bay, and the nice houses over there are nicely landscaped. I wear my mask as I walk over, and I watch for creepy crawlers along the way.
It's tiring. I'm sure the bus will be better once I get the schedules down, but it's a lot of work and waiting right now.
While everyone is pretty much staying inside, I do have to get out for shorter trips every few days, at least to go fill my water jugs and get a few groceries. I have to do more frequent, short trips, as opposed to getting a bunch at once - partly because that's about all I can handle in the stores, and partly because I can only carry home a little at a time on the bus.
While the walking is a bit much - almost torturous at times - I am pleasantly surprised that I am able to walk as much as I do.
I have gone over to the beach a few times. People are few, but the sunshine and Vitamin D are abundant. I have always been deficient in Vitamin D, so I really need that sunshine. I feel so much better in that salt water as well. I have my mask with me. I am usually the only one on the beach with one right now, but we all stay more than the required 6 feet apart as it is.
I have found a little thrift store that is open on the island, and between that and Dollar Tree, which is right by the bus stop, I have been able to get some much-needed kitchen stuff.
Well, here I am - plenty of heat, but no furniture. I would rather have it that way than to have plenty of furniture and no heat.
I actually baked homemade bread! I always love to bake bread when it's hot and humid, cuz the bread rises so nice. I am trying not to eat the whole loaf in one sitting.
I am feeling really good, enjoying the heat. It is in the low 90's during the day, 80's overnight. Nice! And I just feel so different inside. So I went to check my potassium, and it is 5.5!!! In the whole time I had my meter in Spokane, it was never above 4.2. I would start getting symptomatic by 4 and pretty much incapacitated by 3.5. But I am feeling no weakness here. The last time I had any paralysis was on the trip down, and the last time I had any jerking was in the motel room Monday morning, from the air conditioning. How long will it last? Who knows.
So here I sit, looking forward to a few weeks of sitting on a hard floor watching my little flat screen TV, with an antenna that only picks up about 10 stations, about 7 of which are Spanish. It only picks up MeTV when the antenna is precisely a foot in front of the kitchen window. Well, then.
I really wasn't taking lockdown into account when I thought I could move and just find used furniture when I got here. No stores are open. Not much for sale here on Marketplace. So I am about as minimalist as you can get. I found a used queen-size mattress that someone is willing to deliver, so after a few weeks of sleeping on a hard floor, I will have a mattress on the floor to sleep on.
You know how they say, "Be careful what you pray for, 'cause you just might get it?" Well, here I am, reveling in warmth. And it couldn't suit me more.
I'm sweating!!! I always feel better once I get to sweating, and I am sure getting that here.
Audrey messaged me, worried that my old indecisiveness might have swung around and hit me from behind. "You don't feel nervous or abandoned, do you?"
Well, we made it. My daughter Audrey was so kind as to help me to make the long move from Spokane to South Padre Island. As we were on the road, I was feeling pretty unsure. It is a pretty gutsy move for me to move so far away by myself, and as is typical for me, I spent pretty much the whole trip second-guessing my decision. However, my daughter Audrey encouraged me just to go for broke and head to SPI, come what may. "Just go for it. Have your adventure. No matter what happens, you will have had an adventure."
We got to SPI Sunday night, after Audrey found a great Priceline deal on a nice, beachfront motel. Lockdown was in full force. Masks required to go anywhere, even while in a car. Policemen stopped us at a checkpoint just after we crossed the St Isabella bridge. It was late, and sleep was welcome. Audrey welcomed the air conditioning, and in order to reward her for all her days of driving, I didn't even complain. I just got under those covers and drifted off to sleep.
If I still had any doubts, they all left me Monday morning, when I was able to take a glorious walk on the beach at South Padre Island in comfortable temperatures. Amazing.
I got back to the room and Audrey went for her walk, and then we drove up and down the island just a bit, and headed out to the apartment. I couldn't get over the warmth. The feeling of warmth. Finally.
I signed the papers, and we unloaded the car. No furniture, just my clothes, papers, family pics, and my little flat screen TV. Audrey took me back to Port Isabel to get a few groceries for the fridge, and she was back on her way. I'm sure she probably needed to sleep for a week, after driving a rental car from Omaha to Spokane, Spokane back to Omaha, and then to SPI and back to Omaha. Yikes.
Well, this is it. Last day. Though I have still had a lot of health challenges here, I have made some good strides forward as well. Most of all, I have had some good, regular family time, including precious times spent as a grandma to my sweet Scarlet. Regular time spent with grandchildren is something I haven't had much since living near Jake and Danielle's family a few years ago. I am really, really going to miss having Scarlet come down to my room for those evening visits, and especially taking the bus to school for a while before lockdown hit.
I am so grateful to Jason and Ericka for giving me this opportunity to spend time with them, make new friends, and get to know this glorious area. I will never forget my time here.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
I can't believe that I'm moving. I have so many mixed feelings. I have really loved it here in Spokane with Jason and his family. There was a lot that I wanted to get to know about Spokane in the summer, but even if I can't do all that, I knew that I didn't want to leave town without taking a walk along High Drive. Jason drove me past it when I first came here, and I couldn't wait to see it close up.
Lockdown is pretty much in effect, but thankfully here in Spokane people still make outdoor exercise a high priority. I was not alone, as there were many walkers, joggers, and bicycle riders out, though people were maintaining distance.
Taking this walk sure made it hard to think about leaving.
