Merry Christmas 2021

 

Merry Christmas!

Well, 2021 will not go down as a banner year, thanks to the ongoing COVID restrictions.  Travel was one casualty, socializing another.  It’s been tough not to see family on the major holidays, but at least we’ve all survived.

Betty had “the covid” last December and didn’t begin to feel herself until June.  Talk about Long Covid!  Both her sister and brother-in-law also survived the virus, but are still struggling in recovery.

I did run away to Myrtle Beach for a week last April.  We celebrated Mom Cyr’s birthday at the Myrtle Beach State Park which was wonderful.  We consisted of her actual daughters, Melody, Johnna and Darci, and her grandson, Brandon.  Oh,yeah, me too!  Originally I was planning on going to Texas in May, but that got pushed to November. 

I did go to Maine (Bangor) for a week at the end of May.  We celebrated my cousin’s graduation from high school and just being able to get together.  My cousin Todd checked out Rigbee and spotted a possible problem in the overhead.  He also gave me some tips and suggestions for maintaining the big rig.

I came home from Maine and took Rigbee up to our RV place and had them check out the issue Todd had spotted.  It was MUCH WORSE than we anticipated.  The whole bottom half of the overhead portion had rotted out completely.  Several thousands later, not only was the overhead rebuilt, but the carpeting replaced with vinyl and the whole exterior scrubbed down and resealed.  We’re good to go, now!

Tripp and I continue to work on Agility, and are now pursuing our Novice titles.  We’ve yet to get a qualified run, but we have fun.  We camped out at the Big E for the Thanksgiving Cluster and had a great time in Rigbee with Piper and Tyson.  While we didn’t qualify, it was exciting and different and we learned a lot.

Tyson is learning scent work and I think he’ll be very good at it.  He enjoys it and I enjoy working with him.  We are still attending Family Dog 3 classes, because it’s just so much fun.  Piper is just busy being the beautiful blond.  Her Addison’s is being held at bay with 10 mg of prednisone a day, which also means she’s constantly hungry and thirsty.  Age had also afflicted her with arthritis and some days she limps a lot, but her eyes are bright and her tail wags, so we soldier on.

Our month-long Texas trip was again pushed off, and now will commence the long drive in early January.  I can’t wait to see my sister-from-another-mother finally enjoying retirement! 

I came down with a virus a couple of weeks ago and ended up in St. Francis’ ER early last Wednesday morning.  By mid-afternoon, I was released to the waiting room as they needed the bed in the ER.  I had an RSV – respiratory virus, not the flu, not Covid, but quite intense.  I’m still not 100%, but I do feel MUCH better. 

Looking forward to a brighter, healthier 2022!

Raelene, Blackie, Piper, Tripp and Tyson.