Good times, sad times
The good news is that all is well here. Lesley's 91 year old mum is doing well and still driving and living alone. While Lesley was there this spring she got mum set up with many benefits she was entitled to. New Zealand does a very good job of helping seniors stay in their homes as long as possible. Just a few of the benefits are extra money for getting her lawn mowed each week, two hours a day with a real person to get her up, showered, go shopping, clean house, etc. Also has a life alert type system available and a few other things.
More good news: Lesley and I are both doing very well. My knee surgery is a distant memory, all is well there. The trip to Ohio to get the motor home modified is over and we are most happy with the results. We are planning our trip to Kansas in September and from there we are planning to go to Utah or wherever the road leads.
My physical health is good. I have started exercising again after the knee healed up. I now do more reps and more weight than I could pre-stroke! I now lift my canoe easier than I have in many years. Fishing this summer has been good indeed.
Now the sad news. A 82 year old local man has gone missing in the wilderness just about 25 miles north of us. He went out to pick blueberries in an area he knew well and has picked in many times before. It is a very remote and rugged area. Lots of brush and cliffs. He grew up here and never left. Very fit. He just never came home. The search team found a few bits of his gear and then called off the search after 4 days. We locals are outraged by the short search and a volunteer group is out looking as I write this. Lesley is one of the volunteers. She herself has picked berries in the same area many times. She said "That could have been me" since she had planned on picking berries there this week. I go out in the woods alone often. It could have been me as well. I offered to go as well, but Lesley would not hear of it. With my balance issues, I might have needed rescue myself, so here I sit dog watching.
The lady heading up the volunteer group has closed her restaurant until he is found and is paying her staff to help in the search. This in the busiest time of the year for her business. Now that is the type of person you want on your team. Lesley and I agreed that if either of us was looking for the other we would want the help as well.
Anyway, the weather is great, fishing good, health is good, dogs happy, and nothing personal to complain about.
The coffee cup is empty but will stay that way until tomorrow. I just don't feel like any now. A bit sad at the moment
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