12 September, 2014

 I’m trying to plan a trip for us to see his son and my sister and brother-in-law.  Chris wants to go because it’s probably the last time I’ll get to see everyone.

I’d like to honour this wish, but there are issues.  To do so we’d be changing flights in two large airports, flight changes involving wheelchairs and luggage and food appropriate to his diet.

And once we get to either of the two destinations he’ll need time to recuperate; days that he will want to spend in bed.  There will be no bath bench, and it’s unlikely there will be six extra pillows to keep him fairly upright at night, and or chairs with arms to help him hoist himself up.

These are younger people we’ll be visiting—healthy jogging, hiking types.  The homes will not be geared to the needs of a person with mobility issues.

And then there’s the airfare.  In his condition, he does not qualify for travel insurance, and because of his condition, since I am travelling with him, neither do I.

 And if he has another heart attack or what the medical professionals refer to as ‘an event’, the trip will be off and we’ll be out that money.

Taking all this in, he has a suggestion.  Let’s drive down.

To Arizona and California from our Vancouver, BC home?

This is a man who no longer has the energy to drive to his favourite nearby US location, Tulalip, Washington.  It’s a two hour drive one way, and last time we went?  He turned around half way there because he was so tired, he just wanted to come home to bed.

So now we’re going to make it to San Diego or Phoenix?

I think his son has to come here, and my sister and her husband, too.  I think I should ask them.  So he can say his goodbyes.

Yours truly,

Margaret Jean.