Hi there, welcome back. Our last
chapter ended on Saturday, January 9th, while we were in Yuma,
Arizona, staying at the Sunset Palm RV Park. We are now about a
month into our planned three month stay. Sunday we left about noon
with Peggy and drove into central Yuma to have lunch at a new, at
least for us, Asian restaurant called Lemon Grass. It is in a spot
where one of our favorite hamburger restaurants was until it went out
of business last year. The menu was extensive, with mostly Chinese
dishes, although I did see a few Vietnamese and Thai choices. The
food was plentiful and good. Jackie and Peggy both had lemon grass
curry noodle soup and the bowl was huge! They only finished about a
third of the dish, which had chicken, fish, and shrimp, along with
noodles and some veggies. I had the more traditional sweet and sour
pork and also took a good portion home with me. We will be going
back again before we leave Yuma. After lunch we went back to the
park because Peggy had an afternoon hair appointment. We spent the
rest of the day at home. Around 2:30 or so our good friends Dick and
Millie Duffin arrived in their motorhome and parked in the spot next
to Peggy. We have known them for years from our time in Pahrump,
first at the Wine Ridge RV Resort, and now at the Escapees Park.
They have also been coming to Yuma in the winter for many years, but
the private lot in the Foothills that they used to stay at changed
ownership and they couldn't get it this year at terms that were
acceptable to them. Of course, they didn't have any problems getting
a spot in our park since it is probably 25 percent down in residents
from previous winters. They got settled in and we visited for a bit.
They came over at 5:00 for cocktails and we talked until about 6:00.
The Duffins went back to their coach and we had some pork chops on
the BBQ for dinner. After Peggy left we watched some TV and went to
bed.
Monday, January 11th, we had a stay at
home day for the most part. About 5:30 we left the park with Peggy
and drove to the Elks Lodge on the other side of town so Peggy could
be interviewed for membership in the Elks. Vernon had been an Elk
for many years and they enjoyed the organization as well as the
privileges, like the RV parking at many lodges. After Vernon died
Peggy was able to get a widows card based on his membership, but it
didn't offer many privileges outside of being able to go into the
Elks bar for a drink. This year she decided to join as an Elk
herself and thought that the Yuma lodge would be a good one to join
as it was very large and she comes here for at least a short time
every year. Part of the process after you apply is to be interviewed
by the membership committee. Jackie needed to be there also as a
current Elk who is proposing Peggy for membership. I was along to
drive. This coming Wednesday the lodge will vote and the following
Wednesday will be her Initiation into the Order. We will, of course,
be there for that meeting. After the interview it was about 7:00, so
on the way home we stopped at the new Daybreakers II restaurant. We
have been going to the original Daybreakers, which is in the truck
stop in the Foothills, but recently they opened a second location in
an old Applebee's space near what is know as the “big curve” of
Yuma. The menu is the same as the original, but the place is much
more modern and clean looking than the truck stop. Peggy and I both
had liver, which was great, as it is at the original. Jackie had an
omelet, which she said was good, but they forgot the avocado. After
dinner we went back to the park and we watched TV until bedtime.
Tuesday, January 12th, we had a stay at
home day. Peggy was having her carpets cleaned and we were dog
sitting Belle. We had cocktails at 5 on the patio with the Duffin's
and Peggy. After cocktails we did some burgers on the BBQ for us and
Peggy. After Peggy went home we spent the rest of the evening with
the TV. Wednesday we left the park about 11:00 with Peggy and went
to the taco stand for lunch. We met Dick and Millie there and had a
nice lunch. After lunch we stopped at the vet's office so Peggy
could pick up some food for Belle, and then at Walgreen's so Jackie
could get some eye drops. She has been getting sore eyes from dry
eye. After our shopping we went back to the RV park. I was supposed
to go to the jam session in the clubhouse at 1:00, but had gotten a
call from the activities director that today's session was canceled.
She didn't give a reason, but it was off. Dick and Millie had a
coach wash outfit at their place washing their coach, so Dick
suggested we go to the driving range for bit so I could see if I
still remembered how to swing a golf club. Surprisingly, it went
pretty well. After a couple of hits I found I wasn't hitting any
worse than I was 15 years ago when I quit playing. I am not good,
but I am ready for social golf. After the driving range we went back
home and relaxed for the rest of the day. We had cocktails at 5:00,
and in addition to Dick and Millie, we had our neighbors Jerry and
Debbie and were also joined by our friends Mike and Darlene
Neighbours. Mike is president of the Full Timers Chapter of FMCA and
also a Vice President of the International Area. They got into Yuma
a few days ago and will be here for about three weeks. We had a nice
visit with everyone. We had dinner with Peggy about 7:00 and she
served tamale pie. After dinner we went back to our coach and
watched TV until bedtime.
Thursday, January 14th, was a stay at
home day. Jackie woke up with what appears to be allergies. She has
an intermittent cough, running nose and itchy eyes. I took her temp
a couple of times and it is normal, so it does not appear to be a
virus. We stayed in all day and Jackie didn't even go out for
cocktails at 5:00, so I know she is not feeling well. We had a
simple dinner of bacon and eggs and watched TV until bedtime. We are
going to keep Jackie in for a few days at least and monitor her temp.
Friday was another stay at home day as Jackie was still feeling
badly. The cough has given her a sore throat and headaches, but
other than that she feels OK. Still no fever. I did go out briefly
to Fry's to pick up fixings for some chicken soup, which I made for
dinner. We spent the rest of the day and evening in the coach.
Saturday, January 16th, Jackie was
still feeling poorly. It was another stay at home day. I did a few
chores and played on the computer some. We had a light dinner and
watched TV until bedtime. Sunday, January 17th, Jackie was still
sick and wanted to go to the urgent care, so we left the coach around
10:30 and drove to the Primecare Foothills facility. They were not
real busy and almost everyone who came and went was there for
something related to Covid, whether to get a test or get test
results. When the doctor finally saw Jackie he told her that her
cough and sore throat could be a Covid symptom, despite the lack of
fever. He suggested some OTC medications for the symptoms, took a
urine specimen and suggested a Covid test. Since she was getting one
and it didn't cost anything, I got one too. Now we wait for 72 hours
or so for the results. So far I am feeling fine. Just before we
left our friends Dick and Millie came in too. Dick has been feeling
poorly off and on for several days and they also wanted to get
tested. After we got back to the coach I got Jackie settled in.
Later in the afternoon I took a quick trip to Walgreens for a
prescription for Jackie. We spent the rest of the day in, and given
the fact that we may be Covid exposed, we will probably be under a
voluntary quarantine for a week or two.
Monday, January 18th, I was awakened at
4:30 by the sound of truck engines and when I looked out the window I
saw flashing lights. I got up and checked and saw that there was an
ambulance and fire truck parked on the street, in front of Peggy's
coach and Millie's coach. Since I knew that Dick wasn't feeling well
yesterday I assumed it was probably for him. I got dressed and went
outside and saw that they had brought Dick out on a gurney and put
him in the ambulance. He was partially sitting up on the gurney, so
I knew he was at least conscious. I talked to Millie when the fire
engine and ambulance left and she said that he got continually worse
as the night wore on and by early morning she was very worried and
called for an ambulance. My educated guess is that he was dehydrated
and exhausted from not eating or drinking and not sleeping. Millie
said she was going to wait a few hours before going to the hospital,
so I went back home and back to bed.
Jackie woke up still feeling about the
same, not worse, not better. We did hear from Millie that Dick was
responding to treatment and they were going to admit him for a day or
two at least. They also confirmed that he tested positive for Covid.
Of course that is worrisome, not just for him, but for all the rest
of us who have been around them for the last week and a half. Almost
all of our interaction has been outdoors and somewhat distanced, but
it is still a concern. Since I consider us now quarantined, at least
for a while, we spent the rest of the day inside. Since I am still
not sick at all I did make a quick run to the store to stock up on
food for Jackie. We didn't do anything else all day but stay inside.
Tuesday, January 19th, Jackie was still
feeling about the same. We had a stay at home day. Interestingly,
we are not missing much as all of the activities here at the park
have been canceled due to illness in the park. About half way
through the day I checked on my Covid test from Sunday and found out
I was negative for the virus. Yea! We tried to get Jackie's results
but hers were not done yet. Later in the evening I checked again and
her test came back positive for Covid, so, despite the lack of any
fever she has the virus. Dick's condition is still about the same.
He is stable and on oxygen but not intubated. Peggy got her results
and is also negative. So for the moment Jackie and Dick are the only
one's testing positive. Wednesday continues as a partial lockdown.
Jackie seemed to a little bit better, but still pretty down. I did a
quick run to the store for some stuff. I still don't have any
symptoms at all. I made spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner.
Thursday, January 21st, Jackie doesn't
seem to be getting better. She said the sore throat is a little less
painful, but now she has body aches. We had another stay at home
day. Friday was another stay at home day. I did go to Walgreens
briefly for some supplies, including an oxygen saturation meter, one
of those thingys they put on your finger to check blood oxygen
levels. It occurred to me that Jackie might be low, which could lead
to the constant headaches. She was a little low the first time I
checked, but after a couple puffs of oxygen from one of the little
bottles she has on hand for high altitudes brought it up to normal
and it was fine the rest of the day. Other than that one short trip
we were inside all day. We are now approaching 10 days with Jackie,
so I would expect to start to see some improvement soon.
Saturday, January 23rd, Jackie finally
seems to be turning the corner and getting better. Fewer headaches
and less body aches, other than the lethargy that comes from not
doing anything physical for two weeks. We stayed in all day. Sunday
was yet another stay at home day. Late in the day I got really bad
allergies from something. My eyes were watering uncontrollably and I
felt like I was running a fever, although the thermometer didn't show
one. I took some Niquel went I went to bed and that seemed to do the
trick. Monday was more of the same. I did go out and get some KFC
for dinner. Jackie continues to slowly improve.
Tuesday, January 26th, we stayed at
home all day. Jackie seems to be over most of the physical symptoms,
but is very sad and depressed over the whole isolation thing, Dick's
condition and just life in general. Wednesday more of the same.
Thursday, more of the same. Stayed home all day. Friday Dick lost
his battle with Covid. Millie and two of his four kids were there
with him when they disconnected the machines. Very sad. I made
chili colorado in the crock pot for dinner. I did go out in the
afternoon to do a grocery run at Frys. Other than that we stayed at
home.
Saturday, January 30th, we along with
Peggy drove into Yuma proper to go through a drive through Covid
testing clinic. We had signed up for the tests last week. This was
not the swab up the nose test, it was a spit test. You put a small
sample of saliva in a tube which was then tested for the virus. It
is supposed to take at least two days for the results to come back.
After the testing we stopped at the Lemon Grass Chinese restaurant
for lunch, then did a quick stop at Sam's Club, mostly for vodka
restocking. After Sam's we headed back to the coach. Jackie appears
to be feeling quite a bit better. I am now a little unsettled,
slightly light headed and slight tummy distress. Not sick, per se,
but not a hundred percent either. We spent the remainder of the
evening in the coach.
We are now three weeks into this
episode and it is time to close it out and get it published. Until
next time, ponder the words of Physicist Albert Einstein. “Life is
like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
See ya soon.
