Mind-boggling Trip Completed

Yes, we took our anticipated trip to Washington but before we left we discovered we had somehow made double reservations, we had four seats on our flight from Tucson but there are only two of us. Along with that issue we also had made reservations for rental cars, yeah, that's correct, two cars. It took some effort but we managed to cancel one of the cars and change the dates of one of our plane reservations and we were on our way and arrived in Washington State without further incidents. Well, I won't write about the other difficulties.

After several days with my son, Todd and his wife Joy and with my sister, Mary we drove to Beautiful Lake Chelan which has been tormented by wildfires and smoke all summer. The locals don't call it summer anymore, instead they refer to it as fire season. It was clear and sunny upon our arrival after a little rain. By day 3 we couldn't see across the lake. We packed up and left heading further south to the Tri Cities area where Katherine's brother lives and we had plans to be there for birthday party. We arrived a couple days early so did some sightseeing and shopping. And then the party, fun time for all present.

Next, we drove back over the Cascade Mountains and north practically to Canada. A visit to Bellingham which was where I went to college for one year, my junior year at Western Washington University. It turned out to be the day before classes would begin so the place was over-run by new and returning students looking for the best bar and restaurants to frequent during the fall quarter which was about to begin. The city looked like a different city than when I was there, much bigger and of course a Walmart and Costco since the population is now approaching 100,000.

We drove back to Seattle to get our flight back to Tucson. Sea -Tac Airport was chaotic. Our reservations were with Alaska Airlines which has recently acquired Hawaiian Airlines and have also "upgraded" their check in system so it's all done with technology. We and the hordes of other passengers had no idea how it worked nor did the staff. What a mess. We should have caught a flight to Hawaii but thought better of it and landed safely in Tucson and drove back to Rio Rico. So our journey took us from very close to Mexico to almost Canada and back again. Incidentally, I doubt that we will fly with Alaska Airlines again unless we have no choice. 

With our rental car we drove around 1000 miles on this trip. Well, I can't say we, because Katherine was the only one who drove, the entire distance. My doctor gave me approval to drive in spite of suffering a stroke but I have chosen to give up the keys due to a chance for a second stroke. Luckily, I have Katherine who is a very good driver. 

Until next time, 

Stan the Man 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Onward and Upward

Mind boggling changes bring new challenges that make moving ahead more of a challenge. Yes, first there was my stroke which required  both occupational  and physical therapy. Of course I have been retired for some time so I did not have an occupation to re-learn or anything like that but I do write a lot so that's what my occupational therapy focused on, getting more control of my left hand for typing. I have improved quite a bit but am still struggling a little even though I "graduated" from that program this past week.

Physical therapy has focused on walking, first without the walker and then without a cane. I accomplished both of those goals and am now working on my balance, I can walk a little wobbly sometimes, my balance has improved but the physical therapists have continued to put me through my rigorous paces twice a week for almost a month now. I'm hoping tomorrow I will graduate from that program.

We are looking forward to our appointment, the first one, with a Neurologist in Tucson who specializes in stroke recovery to find out what our approach should be from here out regarding continued recovery and avoiding a second stroke which are fairly common. That will be helpful to me, having more information.

Hopefully we will be on our way to Washington State come September 10th to visit family. The wildfires up there in the Pacific Northwest are continuing to burn and insure smokey air so we don't know exactly what we will find but the key word is flexibility. I don't want to be in a dangerous location in terms of fire or smoke.I don't think that would be good for me, a stroke survivor or for my wonderful wife and caregiver, Katherine.

We will attempt to continue keeping everyone up to date periodically.

 Stan the Man

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I know, I haven't been posting here much lately so it's likely not too many followers have stayed tuned since there hasn't been a lot new. I continue to primarily work on my rehabilitation from the stroke I suffered on May 25th of this year. I am walking pretty good on my own without the darn walker or the cane. No falls yet. I suffered no damage to my speech or seemingly to my intellect like many do so that makes my recovery easier than many stroke survivors. I consider myself lucky and blessed.

This blog began with the idea that it would be primarily a story about my travels with Katherine.

With the stroke the travel came to a screeching halt but it's not going to stay that way. We have a two week trip planned to Washington State in September. It was intended to be a combination of visiting various family members, friends and a get-away for us. We planned on staying on Lake Chelan in a water-front AirBNB for a portion of the trip but if you are following the news, you know that area has been ravaged by wildfires as has the Spokane area where we planned on visiting as well. So some portions of our trip may need to be adjusted. I have no desire to catch fire or breathe the smoke laden air. What a shame many of the fires were set purposely by one man.

Things never seem to go the way we plan. I don't know if that's true for you but it has been for us. But we just forge on. I encourage you to do the same. I do not intend to allow a stroke to change my trajectory. I want travel, I want experience and adventure so we will venture on. It's none of my business but I encourage you to do the same. Stay tuned, there will be more.

Stan the Man 

 I'm back! Yes, if you've been following at all you would be somewhat  aware that I was totally surprised by a stroke on May 25th, 2026. After the stroke hit me at home I went to the brand new Tucson Rehabilitation Hospital. That was my home and rehab center for two weeks before I was able to talk my way out of there and back home. Now, at home I am involved in outpatient rehabilitation two days a week. Began in Rio Rico and now transferred to Sahuarita where I get physical therapy as well as occupational therapy. The Physical Therapy is working on my walking, balance and the use of my left arm; the occupational therapy is with a hand specialist who is trying to get me back to my former typing skills. You can't know how difficult what I'm doing right now is for me.

I've learned some about strokes. There are between 700,000 and 800,000 strokes in the USA every year, at least one out of every four have a second stroke so that is something a stroke survivor like me lives with for the rest of their life. There are two types of strokes: Ischemic and hemorrhagic. The first is the type I had, it's when a fragment breaks lose and blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The second is caused by a leak or rupture in a blood vessel that causes blood to flood into the brain resulting in pressure on the brain. The hemorrhagic stroke is usually the more serious while the Ischemic is the most common, about 87% of all strokes.

From my experience you really don't want either one. Prevention involves not smoking, keeping your blood pressure under control and a healthy, low fat diet. If you aren't doing it now, start today. Also exercise helps.

What they don't tell you is that a stroke, any type is an injury to the brain and brains have a lot of control over not only the physical aspect of our bodies but also the emotional. It is quite common for stroke victims to have increased and unexpected bouts of anxiety, anger and depression. I have experienced all three along with paranoia. This process can easily change a person's personality. I'm now working on that aspect since I am walking pretty well and certainly hope to improve my typing skills.Please stay tuned. I have to say thank you to Katherine the Great and God for being on my side throughout my recovery. 

Stan the Man 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mind-Boggling Struggles

 

Post-stroke...we finding its a roller-coaster ride of moods and emotions, brain altering, body and balance meddling, and yes, life changing.  It's a maze we have to find our way through.  What's not helpful; stroke survivor groups posts on their subsequent 2nd and 3rd strokes following the first one, being told, "it could have been worse," and all the flim-flam posts on Facebook on this or that gadget "guaranteed" to fix weak limbs in exchange for your $$$.  Turns out stroke recovery is an industry unto itself. With 700,000-800,000 folks per year falling victim to strokes, they have a large audience, and pool of buyers.  

What to and hope for as we move forward on this path to recovery?  Stan the Man is resolute in ditching "Johnny Walker," and his newest helper, "Hurri-Cane."  He's getting there!  We'll keep you posted.

Until then...adios, 

K 

 

 

  

Mind-Boggling Events...

  

I am home again as of yesterday, the 8th of June.  The target date for my release was the 9th but I was able to impact the process and get out.  What?  Was I in prison or what?? No, on May 25th I had a stroke while sitting at our new table in our new home in Rio Rico.  I still can't believe it!  Stan the Man had a stroke.  It didn't impact my cognitive processes, speech, or anything like that-only my left leg and arm have been weakened and I don't have total control sometimes.  Two weeks in a rehab hospital with 3 hours of therapy a day; speech, occupational and physical therapy and nothing else, about drove me crazy.  If you have been following the blog, you can imagine the shock to me and Katherine. Mind-boggling events continue, but not all are positive...that's life!

With the loss of dexterity I am finding it difficult to type.  I wrote this long-hand and Katherine is typing it for me.  Thank you Katherine for all your love, support, and assistance.  You are truly Katherine the Great-I love you! 

Stan the man 

 

A Mind-Boggling Place 

Yes, in a number of ways, this place is mind-boggling. In the first place it was mind boggling how we found it, we searched Green Valley, Tubac, Nogales and were getting discouraged but then we stopped in Rio Rico and saw one place for rent, called the owner who came to show it to us but the then current tenant wouldn't be out until the next day. The owner said, "I have another place that's available" and vacant. We followed him for a couple of miles and here was this kind of weird looking house, brand new. The next day we went back and looked at the first house and then took another look at the new house. It was no contest and we rented this new one the spot after a little successful negotiating. 

Ironically after we sold our Green Valley house in January the first Air B&B we stayed in was probably 1/2 mile from here so to some degree we were familiar with this "outback" area of Rio Rico. We enjoyed our time before and now we love this place. Beautiful surroundings, hills of all sizes and shapes and the peaks of our familiar mountains in the distance. The sky is so blue, gentle breezes most of the time and so quiet. It is an unusual occurrence to see or hear a truck. Coyotes serenade us every evening with birds joining in that we haven't been able to identify. Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets every day.  

This will be our home base for a year but who knows after that. We still have the travel, wandering bug so that won't go away. Need to go take care of an errand at the mini post office that's a ten minute drive from here but we will be back on soon I'm sure.

Stan the Man