After my work-comp knee injury, the surgeon released me for "mostly-sitting" light duty at work. They didn't have any of that, so I packed up the cat and went home to Kino for a month.
By the way, did you know these roadside things are NOT tiny bathrooms? Ask me how I know.
The first few weeks were great! All of Mi Amigas were there, and it felt SO good to spend time with them. Among the highlights: (Click on photos to enlarge for details)
Segunda-ing
Those junk shops still amaze me. I usually drive, because you may need a large truck in the event of large purchases. The trips usually include lunch and the grocery store. One trip, I needed furniture for the screen-porch-in-progress. They had it all. I got a table with 4 chairs and a glider with 2 ottomen. And 1/2 way home the glider and a couple of chairs fell out of the back of the truck. And we didn't even load it! No permanent damage, in fact, one chair landed upright on the center divider!
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| Glider, Ottomen, Ron, Jaq, and Buddy (eating the chips he spilled.) |
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| Table and chairs, with Christmas tree. See my ivy? On the screen. |
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| Karen, Jan, and Delfie, after a hard day Segunda-ing. |
Dinners Out
SO much better than dinners in (my cooking, you know...) Mi favorito is Pancho's. Pancho is a family man that opens up his kitchen evenings. Outdoor seating, usually chilly after sunset, but to-die-for food.
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| John and Bette |
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| Sal and Al |
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| Jan and John |
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| Chilly but full diners! |
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| Ron, Delfie, and Jose |
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| Pancho, owner and chef. |
My Surprise 60th Birthday Lunch
This got a bit messed up. Because the date really was a surprise, I messed it all up by canceling my planned lunch date with Maggy. (It was while my cat was trying to die, and I just needed to stay in and wallow.) That date was a ruse, turned out. All hell broke loose: IM's and emails flying, as no phone service where we all live. Finally Jan came over and had to tell me about the party. It was great! I got SO many presents. Jan's invitations stipulated either a thrift store gift, or a re-gift, something used. I actually got a pair of socks: hand-knitted wool socks that Joan said do not work out well in Mexico, but felt I'd appreciate them in Show Low. How right she was! I also got the obligatory Depends and pill organizer, a homemade quart of Kahlua, a fun fish-shaped chip/dip that I'd recently admired on someone's table, beachy wall plaques, a huge framed print of a sleeping polar bear, and tons more!
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| Birthday girl and Maricela. They reneged on the male strippers I'd ordered,I only got photos... |
Secret Santa Lunch
10 of us, a five dollar gift for the name you draw, alcohol, good food. This year's was at Pargo Rojo.
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| Delfie got spreaders, Bette and Joan in background |
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Jill got a plaque (curious, made near Show Low...)
Click on photo to read it. |
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Back row: Bette, Delfie,Karen, me, Joan
Front row: Jill, Sally, Joyce, Jan, and Nell. |
Craft Fair
I didn't bring my stuff down, so I was appointed Jan's helper and cashier. I mostly shopped, though. Got turquoise ostrich Tony Lama boots, all-broke-in, fit like they were made for me.
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| Tony Lama's |
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| Joan, shopping at Nell's embroidered shirts booth. |
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| Maurice, looking for food. |
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| Lunch at Casa Blanca after the craft Fair. |
In between all those events were lazy days sitting on the new screen porch, shelling on the beach, or just giggles and cocktails with mi amigas. Lots of ATV rides (there's a place for my cane on it).
It was both a wrench and a blessing to come home to Show Low after losing Rocky. I was positive I could never go through that again, but I'm bereft without him and want another one. Looking at shelters for an older male that needs me as much as I need him. I figure if I get an older one, I might not get as attached to him, knowing I wouldn't have him forever?
Yeah, right.
