QC12-02 A hot vigil

May 22, 2011 (Sun) Englewood, FL (4) - This was a day of family visiting. Bom seems to improve everyday but is still very weak. Prognosis is still very uncertain. Craig left this morning to return home.

May 23, 2011 (Mon) Englewood, FL (5) - Our first orders of business today were laundry and refreshing Q's sanitary tanks. Mark dropped Joy off at a laundromat while he went to a near by state park. Last year - it may have even been the early part of this year - the charge to use their sanitary facilities was $10. A reasonable fee and standard. This time it was $14 because it included the park entrance fee. Mark remembered that we had to get fresh water from one of the campsites last time as it wasn't available at the dump station. He asked the gatekeeper about this. She said, "Fresh water? You mean drinking water?" "Yes" "It's not available." "How about I go into one of the campsites?" "No. We're not licensed for drinking water" (Whatever that means.) He said he wanted his $14 back, he'd go somewhere else. While they were trying to figure out how to unring the cash drawer he decided to go on and dump anyway - which he did. He also backed into an empty campsite and stole a tankful of fresh water. We may have to paint Q a different color.
 
May 24, 2011 (Tue) Englewood, FL (6) - We haven't been tracking the thermometer readings as we usually do but it has been hot. Temperatures have ranged from about 70° to 94°. There has been no rain and only one day, so far that could be considered cloudy. The sun reigns.

May 25, 2011 (Wed) Englewood, FL (7) - Gail and Alison flew home today having said good-bye last night. A physical rehabilitation program and Hospice are incompatible - one can not have both (surprisingly). It was decided that Bom is not ready for Hospice, so today she had her first visit from a physical therapist. Kelly was amazed that she has made so much progress since going into the ICU just over a week ago - she is now able to stand and take short walks around her room. Kelly's goal is to have her in the swimming pool again in a few weeks.

Fran said good-bye this evening. She will start her drive back to Indianapolis early tomorrow morning.

May 26, 2011 (Thu) Englewood, FL (8) -  Joy spent most of the day with her mother while Mark suffered the heat and humidity on our shaded "patio'. There have been predictions of rain but the probability of it actually happening is low. This small part of Florida seems too often be spared the wet weather when storms pass either north or south of here (and sometimes both). It's a wonder the area is so green.

This is our last day here. We leave at first light in the morning. Saying good-bye is always hard but it's been particularly hard this time as it may be the last. Bom looks good though and may well see her 100th birthday in December.

Q77265 Jeanne's back yard