The physical therapist was knocking on my door at 8:30 this morning. This past week, she’s added a weight to my leg for the exercises and upped the number of repetitions for each challenge. Some are a little uncomfortable, but I muscled my way through all of them. Of course, my legs feel like wet noodles by the time she leaves.
There was no time to relax for a while as today was the day I was to move back to the Okefenokee NWR. Barry and Dick, fellow volunteers, arrived to help me out with the outside packing chores, and we headed out of Okefenokee Pastimes Campground before noon. By 1:30, everything including the DISH and internet antenna were all set up. I know I couldn’t have done it without their help. It was quite a treat for me to have the outside unhooking and hooking up chores only requiring my supervision. I felt spoiled…
I think I had more exercise with the move and the PT stuff this morning than I’ve had in a long time. I’m pooped! It’s great to have 50 amps again, and enough water pressure to actually be able to take a shower. If there is one complaint I have about Okefenokee Pastimes, it would be the lack of water pressure. I’ll be taking my first shower in almost a month tomorrow. I just don’t have the oomph to do it tonight.
The lack of water pressure while I was there brought me memories of my early childhood. A tub bath was limited to Saturday nights where I shared the tub water with my brother Kurt. I always felt lucky when I got to use the water first. I never experienced a shower until I went away for college. It’s been a month kind of like some boot camps where you bathe out of your helmet.
I’m happy to be home.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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You are amazing...and it's amazing what we can actually do when called upon...That first warm shower had to feel like Heaven...Sometimes it takes a rough road to realize the smooth ones...Glad you had the help..Kudos to those peeps!!!!
ReplyDeleteI often think about how fortunate we are to have easy access to hot and cold running water, so unlike many areas of the world. And great water pressure is an extra bonus for sure.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased you are back "home" and have experienced the help of good people in getting you settled.
I thought about you lots earlier today. We toured Santa Ana NWR here in the RVG of Texas. We took the tram ride and saw many birds I've never seen before. I could picture you as the tram tour guide. Gotta love those NWR's.
Home sweet home. Glad it was an easy move back and you're all settled back in now.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the return home. Another milestone in your recovery. I hope it continues to progress well.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are all settled back at home. So nice of the other volunteers to help you out - and you deserve a little spoiling!!
ReplyDeleteyou better get well soon, migration is just around the corner...
ReplyDeleteYou certainly are making amazing progress, Judy! Nice to see you all settled in back at home. Good water pressure, good electricity, a little sunshine...you're all set!! Congratulations on your progress, now please don't overdo it, o.k.?
ReplyDeleteIt's incredible what good water pressure means and the freedom 50 amps provides.
ReplyDeleteI remember bathing in a washtub outside ... Mother would put teakettles of boiling water in then we would turn the hose on to fill it ... MY brother... told me to stick m'foot in to see if it was the right temperature ... and he hadn't even put a drop of cold water in... A Kurt! he's not...
ReplyDeleteI had to have burn treatment ... and boy did he get a licking... HA! almost made it worth it... ;)
So glad you're up and about and doing what you love... sigh
oh, I was probably around 6 years old ... a very trusting soul... never trusted him again. I can't imagine having a brother like yours... man
DeleteWhat great news that you can move back, and I'm sure Emma is glad to be home. You seem to have gotten along so well.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you.
Brings back memories for me too. Our bath in a large washtub was friday evening. I had a brother too but because I was the youngest I got to go first. My first shower was in Canada. I was already 25 years old. Did not know such bliss existed! I also feel guilty sometimes standing in the hot shower thinking of the women who have to walk many miles for a bucket of water each day. We are privileged here in North America.
ReplyDeleteHome again, home again, all in one piece... well, not counting your new parts.
ReplyDeleteAh, spoiled. Lead me to it!
Great day for you I'm sure. I know you will just keep plugging along.
ReplyDeleteFred said to say hi to Emma
I never appreciated America so much as when I came back and took a real shower. We have the greatest water pressure in the world, in most places. But now that I remember my RV, I guess it was determined by the park I was in.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back at Okefenokee, and it's good you were spoiled by your co-workers - you deserve to be spoiled!
After taking Navy showers in Q for three weeks I so can relate to taking a nice long shower. Enjoy yours for as long as you want to. Isn't it wonderful how folks just step up to the plate when you need help. This last year sure showed me how many great people there are living right here in this park.
ReplyDeleteThose exercises are going to make you so strong. You won't be walking the trails, you will be running them!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about sharing the bath water. I had to do the same thing with my brother. I made sure he wasn't mad at me on the days he got to go first. I didn't want him to pee in the tub.
That is amazing! Welcome home:)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are getting back to normal. Enjoy the pampering today, as you know it won't last. Have a great weekend, and enjoy your very long.... shower.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back home, Judy. I could relate to your bathtub story. Same story in my past, only since I was the only girl, and had two brothers, I got to be the first one that bathed in the shared water. No experience with showers until I went away to college, just like you mentioned. Those were the days--not!
ReplyDeleteWow you made it full circle. Well done!!! You are back at the refuge and coming along smartly in your PT. congrats!
ReplyDeleteThe lack of a hot shower is the one thing I miss a lot in boondocking. Too many bucket baths to save water and tank space. BUT that once a week shower is divine and the sacrifice to be out in the middle of NO where with NO one else is really worth it in my book. Not sure I'd think it worth it in your situation.
It's hard to imagine that wonderful Ratchet Nurse did that to you......
ReplyDeleteI know you are happy to be done with all the surgery and moving right along with therapy!...onward..
ReplyDeleteGlad your move went smoothly. That shower is going to feel great!
ReplyDeleteWelcome home! I remember the feel of that first shower after a long rehab stint. It was absolutely heaven and I felt "whole" again for the first time in several weeks. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you had lots of help for your trip back home. Enjoy your shower and make it a long one.
ReplyDeleteHooray for water pressure!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being back in the Land of Adequate Water Pressure! There's NOTHING like a good shower, especially after being without one for a while. I am so proud and in awe of you! You rock, Judy! One of the things on my bucket list is to actually hook up with you in person one day. Now don't overdo (yeah, right . . . ), pace yourself and enjoy! Hugs to Emma!
ReplyDeleteWelcome home weary non-traveler! So gald to hear that you had plenty of help getting set up, there are some truly great folks out there, and they don't even have to be relatives.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you spoil yourself with those great hook ups. You certainly deserve it after all you've been through. Pampering is good for the body (and soul). :c)
Ahhh, a hot shower! There is nothing like it. No matter that we have taken too many to count, it always feels heavenly.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home! Even though you were "home" all along, I bet being at the refuge compounds the feeling ten fold.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I didn't mind staying in the tub until the water got cold. My brothers thought that meant I shouldn't mind getting in after they used all the hot. So I was almost always last of the three of us. Plus they would time their turns according to the TV schedule but I had no idea what was on when so I just went whenever they told me it was my turn. I still don't care what is on TV when.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your progress. And being such a nice person seems to be paying off for you. How's the pain. I can't imagine wanting a shower. I'm the opposite - always want a bath. But with the water running the whole time.
ReplyDeleteAnd I remember the Saturday night baths. We took them in the kitchen behind the wood stove in a round wash tub. Bathtubs I can stretch out in are my luxury.
I'll bet by now you are a very, very clean Judy!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that all has gone so well for you, Judy. You really are amazing and an inspiration to all us old farts. You really showed how it could and should be done. Good girl! Don't get too cocky though and over-do. Take care of yourself. Hugs. Ann
ReplyDeleteGlad you are back home. Take care and don't over do things.
ReplyDeleteHi, I just discovered this blog. I guess you had an accident. Congrats on getting back home! My mom's been sick with ALS for a few years so I know it's hard to lose some of your mobility, and priceless to have good friends that are able to help when needed. I don't know how you do it without electricity and hot water in this condition, you're really strong. Much respect and much love!
ReplyDeleteThe day you've been dreaming of - it's here!! Yeaaaaaa!! Enjoy that first shower. :)
ReplyDelete