Friday, June 8, 2012

From here to there....

I live in VA. I wish I knew how to mark Roanoke with a great big X.
 
Virginia 
 
 
Tomorrow we are going to Wisconsin.
 
 
Wisconsin
 
 
 
810 miles
14 hours
 
 
My husband's two sons and his granddaughter live near Madison.
We don't get to see them very often.
 
I surprised him for his 60th birthday 6 years ago.
 I cleared it with his work, packed his suitcase, 
met him at work, and drove him to the airport.
He enjoyed a long weekend with his kids.
(I also asked friends to send him birthday cards that I kept from him.
When he came home, I displayed them in a huge 60.)
  
We are taking my parents with us. 
 
 
 
 
They have visited 48 states. 
(Yep, they've been to Alaska and Hawaii, but I haven't.)
Wisconsin and Minnesota are the only 2 they haven't seen. 
(And I've been to both of those before.)


Dad is having trouble with his hip.
The doctor told him he should stop every hour for at least 10 minutes.
 
Mom is on oxygen at night, so we will be hauling her oxygen concentrator.
 


In addition, we have her wheelchair and commode.
Since this is a thrifty blog, you should know that we bought 
the wheelchair at an auction for $15.
(She has a smaller one, but we call this her all-terrain vehicle.)
 
 
 
 
The commode came from Goodwill for $5.

Medmobile <em>Commode Toilet</em> And Shower <em>Chair</em> With Removable Back ...

Mom's seat is special. I added a Virginia Tech toilet seat to it.
 
 
I limited us to one suitcase apiece.
Thankfully, we're taking my parents' van.
 
See you in a week.


18 comments:

Debby said...

Safe travels and have a good visit. My oh my you are brave taking your parents. But very nice of you.

Chatty Crone said...

How sweet of you to take them. Have a fun safe trip. sandie

Anonymous said...

Have fun and be safe - so excited your parents can complete seeing all 50 states!!! Hugs ~ Mary

Liene said...

Yay, road trip! Safe travels, maybe rent an audiobook or two from the local library for 'those' moments...

Paula@SweetPea said...

Have a safe trip and I hope that it is a trouble-free one.

I went to Madison once and enjoyed it very much. We stayed in a hotel that overlooked the farmer's market. When I woke up Saturday morning and saw it, I could hardly wait to go visit it.

Have a wonderful time!

middle child said...

At lot to travel with and a long way to go. I pray you have a safe and wonderful trip! We are leaving today and will pass through Madison on our way to Fall Creek (past Eau Claire)for a graduation party. Only a 6 hour drive for us. Will stay overnight and comehome tomorrow.

Faye Henry said...

Have a great trip.. So sweet that your parents can go..
See you soon..
Blessings..

Becky said...

Safe travels and no drama!!! Congratulations to your parents for visiting all 50 states! I always wanted to do that, but prospects aren't looking good. Limited travel opportunities on fixed income and a traveling companion that balks at going where there "isn't a palm tree". lol Enjoy the adventure!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Have a wonderful trip, Grammy! Gotta love vans. That is so neat that they have been to so many states too.

Kathy M.

Melissa G said...

May God bless you with safe travels, good health and lots of fun togetherness! Enjoy your trip!

Unknown said...

This sounds like the start of a very great movie script!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Bless your heart...your parents are troopers to even want to go! Be safe and have a good time.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Have a fun trip. Amazing about your parents and 48 states. Hubby and I visited Door County Wisc. a year and a half ago. We loved it!
Hugs,
Jann

Jacqueline said...

Say hello to Madison for me! It is my hometown. We haven't been back for a few years but the lakes all around Madison are so beautiful. This will be such a pretty time of year and not too hot and humid yet. Makes me wish I was going there. My parents are both passed away and my two aunts so we don't get there anymore but when they were alive we went a couple of times a year and yes we often drove - 24-28 hours depending on how many kids needed to stop for potty breaks. Making me just a little homesick.

Sharon said...

Hope you have a wonderful time...it's so nice that your parents are able to go with you!
Sharon

Alex, Speaking Denglish said...

Have a safe trip and enjoy your time with family!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Enjoy the visit with family and safe travels along the way, Pat. You will be travelling further than we have on our recent and upcoming family road trip visits.

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Oh my -- what an undertaking but I know they will treasure this time with you and you with them!