Sunday, September 27, 2015

No Matter What, Plans Change

Our plans for the remainder of this year have suddenly changed and we are not sure just when we may be able to resume our travels.  For the time being, we will remain here in Albuquerque.

Last week I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.  While the tumor is very small, I will have to undergo surgery and most certainly some kind of therapy, probably chemo.  After visiting with the breast surgeon, we found another tumor which is prompting an MRI to determine if it is also cancerous.  That is scheduled for Oct. 8 with surgery on October 20.    If the other tumor is cancerous I will be looking at a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy.  Lots of reading to do about all of these things.

While a diagnosis of cancer is scary and something that none of us want to hear, I know that I will survive just as my great grandmother and mother both did.  My great grandmother was in her 50's at the time of her diagnosis and surgery which occurred in the early 20th century and she lived to be 94.  My mother was diagnosed with cancer on both breasts at age 78 and again at 92 and died last year at age 95 from old age.  There is longevity in my family and I intend to be around for a long time to come.  With your prayers and God watching over me, I know Ron and I will have many more years ahead to travel the country in our RV.

At this time, we will attend the FMCA Rally in Farmington, NM next week.   We will caravan from here with our friend Ceil and our new RVillage friends Trishia and G.  We will return to Enchanted Trails until after my surgery on Oct. 20 then move to a mobile home park with RV's as well for the remainder of the winter unless it becomes too cold for us.  The park is close to the I-25 and more convenient for doctors, shopping and chemo.  Not sure when my situation will allow us to leave here.  Please add me to your prayers.

If you are coming through the area on your way to warmer climates, please contact us so we can get together.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Enchanted Trails RV Resort, NM

There has not been much exciting here at Enchanted Trails RV Resort except beautiful sunrises to the east, gorgeous sunsets to the west, grounds flanked by three extinct volcanoes and the majestic Sandia Mountains and overlooking the city of Albuquerque with twinkling nighttime lights.  However, the facility does have a history which is interesting.

 Enchanted Trails was originally known as Hill Top Trading Post and was constructed in the 1940's featuring a flat roofed adobe style which has been altered several times over the years.  The building was built to attract passersby on historic Route 66.  There were teepees on the roof line , a burro wandering in the parking lot, big arrows sticking out of the ground and even a stuffed bear at the door.



While all of the fore mentioned have disappeared, there are still numerous old artifacts on the property including 7 vintage trailers and cars, a wagon, and a metal garage covered with old metal signs from days gone by.  The laundry room is probably the only one in the city that sports a mangle iron and a ringer washer.




In the early 1970's the property was converted into a campground and has been the backdrop for several mediocre films and recently the Hudson and vintage trailers were featured in a Route 66 travel video and in a magazine called Caravan.  Check out the website at www.enchantedtrails.com to view videos of the vintage trailers.  All but one of these trailers is available for rental at the Resort.


This past weekend the New Mexico State Samboree took place here with Good Sam members and chapters from throughout the state in attendance.  Samborees are a gathering of chapters and members for a weekend of games, seminars, vendors, entertainment and camaraderie.  For us, it was a chance to catch up with many friends we made when we were active members in a local chapter and on the state staff.

Ron's eyelid surgery last Thursday went well and he is on the way to seeing more clearly now that his eyelids have been lifted up.  He has been a good patient and has obeyed most of the doctor's instructions.  He does look a bit like a raccoon or like he either hit a wall or I punched him out but that is clearing up nicely.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Relaxing and Catching Up

We have been in Albuquerque for just over a week and have just enjoyed relaxing in the RV, taking care of chores and sharing meals and time with friends.  Next week the RV will go to La Mesa for a pure sine inverter to be added.  We did not do this when we put in the residential refrigerator in June but there are times when we would like to do some boondocking and cannot do that without a way for our refrigerator to continue to have power.

Ron will have eyelid surgery next week so will be laid up for a couple of weeks during his recovery so I will once again become the care giver and chief chauffeur.  Don't expect any problems just an improvement in his eyelids not causing discomfort on his eye balls.  Also have our annual/semi annual doctor and dental appointments to attend to.

Next week is the Good Sam New Mexico State Samboree which this year is going to be held here at this campground so it will be quite busy here.  Having been members of a local Good Sam chapter here in Albuquerque and on the State Staff ourselves, we have many friends who are still involved with the state staff so will have an opportunity to catch up with some of them though we do not intend to register for the events.

Our plans from here are to attend the FMCA Rally being held in Farmington, NM the end of this month.  From there we will return through here on our way to Texas for the months of October and November.