Two dogs, two people, one RV. What could go wrong?
September 6, 2023 on a trip to Wisconsin our RV was wrecked. Nine days later my left leg was amputated below the knee. My memory of the early weeks in the hospital is foggy, but I do remember Ben squeezing my hand when he said "happy anniversary, babe," on September 10, our 12th anniversary. It's... Continue Reading →
I received my first prosthetic leg on February 26. Moments after taking my first steps, Ben asked Brian, my prosthetist if he thought I’d be able to make it to Florida at the end of March. Brian is a kind man with a dry wit and an inner life he keeps mostly to himself. His... Continue Reading →
I celebrated my 70th birthday last June. Ben concocted a surprise party at one of our favorite restaurants. He put a note about the party on Facebook, and the number of people who showed up was double the number of people he was expecting. All kinds of friends and family showed up and we partied... Continue Reading →
Until recently, we were Labrador people. They are the sweetest dogs and are also among the most allergen-producing of any breed—or so my allergist told me. I got the news a few years ago that I had managed to become allergic to dog dander. We didn’t get rid of any of our three dogs—as if... Continue Reading →
Gumbo came to live with us in the spring of 2017. He graduated from obedience school with a B+ average because he could not sit still if there was a person to greet, which meant he bounced up every time the instructor walked by. His tail wags furiously in the presence of any human. At... Continue Reading →
God's greatest gift to dogkind is that God withheld concern for the future beyond the next immediate experience--like suppertime, for example. It doesn't say so in Genesis, but I think one of the great curses leveled on humankind is that we are aware there a future and we spend an inordinate amount of time worrying... Continue Reading →
Over the years when I traveled the one person I always checked in with was my mother. I’d let other family and friends slide for a while, but never my mother. I’ll bet that 99.99% of travelers do that. Moms rule. Our conversation always began like this: Me: “Hi Mommy Dearest, how are you?” Her:... Continue Reading →
What do travel bloggers do when there is little in the way of travel to blog about? Some wrote about what it was like traveling during a pandemic; the short answer is “difficult.” Others have fallen silent for a time, or recap past adventures. For a variety of reasons, this is my first post since... Continue Reading →
The Christmas holiday has always been a complicated bag of mixed feelings. It's a juggernaut of expectation, emotion, and expense. I feel bombarded by commercials and holiday specials and buried in over-the-top nostalgia that causes general anxiety even when everything goes as planned. I'm sure I'm not alone, holidays are hard for lots of people,... Continue Reading →
You hear people say it again and again. “I never visit local attractions unless I have company from out of town I need to entertain.” I know people who have never visited our local zoo, art museum, theaters, parks and historical sites. We’ve done our fair share in checking Ohio's offerings, but this particular summer... Continue Reading →
RedDog on Wheels 