Gilda Radner said, "It's always something."

Well, I thought I had planned well, making an avian vet appointment for May 25th. That way we could head to the Raleigh USDA office with Buddi's health certificate in hand, get approval there, then pack the Tribute and head across country once again. Rules require us to enter Mexico within 30 days of approval so that would give us plenty of time, with room to spare in case of any road trip problems.
So Dr. Eckerman pronounced Buddi healthy, drew blood....then informed us results from the blood work would take 4-6 weeks AND we would have to give Buddi a prophylactic daily dose of antibiotic for Chlamydia - yes, Chlamydia!  It seems this "bird form" of the illness is not easily diagnosed though blood tests so the USDA requires 45 days of a foul -yes, I said foul- tasting antibiotic.
Deep breath, change of plans.
After considerable whining from both Larry and me our vet called the lab and (hopefully) reduced the wait time on three blood tests to two weeks. Meanwhile, Buddi is royally ticked off at us for the daily insult of being force fed a yucky, bitter tasting fluid.
I wonder, does there ever come a time, is there any place on earth, where one is NOT subject to seemingly arbitrary governmental rules, regulations and laws?

Countdown

Every day brings us closer to lift off (can't resist the analogy, spent too many years in the vicinity of Cape Canaveral!) The lists are on the bar in the kitchen and we try to end each day with more items checked off than added.
Besides shopping for the items I find difficult to locate in La Paz (my favorite contact lens solution), and services impossible to find most places (an electric strings shop capable of setting up my new cello) we continue last minute packing with plans to move most items from my apartment to storage on Sunday. In between appointments and shopping trips and online ordering (boat parts!) we try to spend time with family and friends whom we may not see again for some time.
We've set a tentative departure date of June 2nd; at this stage in my life I've become pretty flexible and nearly all future marks on the calendar are tentative. In the meantime we march onward, slogging through the lists with remarkably good fortune and good humor.

Good news and not so good news

Yesterday Larry had an appointment with a Duke ophthalmologist. Vision in his right eye, previously surgically corrected, was diminishing and this was worrisome to both of us. We got up fairly early and drove through the triangle area's often appalling rush hour(s) traffic to Durham. I waited anxiously for what seemed an eternity for him to come out, thinking he would have a diagnosis in hand and we would either be required to stay in North Carolina to await more surgery or be sent back to Florida to see his original surgeon. Some two hours later he walked out wearing sunglasses and reported that his new doctor had performed laser surgery on the offending eye, removing scar tissue and thus clearing the blurring. Of course it was too early to tell anything at that point as both eyes were dilated to the point that he needed either my arm or a guide dog to make it to the car. Needless to say, I drove home.  He slept for a couple of hours on our return and awakened saying his vision was already improving. Pupils did not return to normal until early evening when he announced that the improvement was substantial. Believe me, folks, that was good news!
The "not so good news" was that his left eye would require surgery "at some time in the future."  But we were still delighted with the results of the visit and the surgery. Larry being Larry spent his down time in the office regaling the doctor with stories of Mexico and inviting his young surgeon to visit us in La Paz when she makes her yearly trip to Cabo next year. 

Cello after all...

One of the difficult decisions I have made recently was to refrain from taking my cello with me on returning to Milagro.  Let's face it: a cello is a very large instrument and it was always difficult to maneuver in the small confines of the boat. It had to be stored in the forward cabin and that meant finding temporary quarters for my baby when anyone visited overnight. The forward bunk was not an ideal spot and at one point I spent a few hours being pretty ticked off at the captain when he dropped a heavy box on top of it and popped a string.
But I found the biggest challenge in guiding the cello, both bulky and fragile, up the companionway and onto the deck and...being a bit uncomfortable with close neighbors listening to my scales and missed notes.

Can't wait to try it out!

Leave it to Larry to come up with a solution. "I really want you to bring your cello," he said. "Nope." I replied, I've thought it over and the cello is just too big to go with us on Milagro. It's like having another person on board, one who doesn't  earn his keep."  That when he showed me  the "silent" cello; it's an electrified version which can be played through a small amplifier (battery operated) or, for comfort in practicing, through headphones! It is smaller, easier to store and we've already chosen a place for it.
The actual cello will be ebony but will otherwise look like the one pictured. I don't expect the tone quality of my current cello but it will be nice to have a practice instrument while my baby sits in a climate controlled storage unit and waits for my return.

Ahhhhhh......

Buddi in her favorite place...

Thanks to East coast storms Larry's flight arrived a bit late and it was nearly 12:30 when we arrived at my apartment in Cary, both of us tired from early rising and a long day. Buddi, however, had taken a three-hour nap and was bright eyed and bushy tailed. At first she was hesitant, even wary, on seeing a "strange" man putting his hand in her cage, but after just a few seconds she began snuffling and chirping and ran up to his chin to be hugged and kissed on...then refused to leave him to get back in her happy hut. It continues to amaze me - although it shouldn't - that this tiny little creature has so much love for her human flock.
We finally settled down to go to sleep, all three of us  happy to be together once again...

Sailor home from the sea...

Counting the hours 'til touch down. Larry is in the States now and should arrive at RDU at 11:00 p.m....I say should because we are currently experiencing severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings! Everything should be easing off by the arrival time, but one never knows.  I have to run a few errands before heading to the airport so I'll be leaving home soon, hoping to miss the storms and willing to arrive early and enjoy a cup of coffee and my latest book while I wait, hopefully for the last time, for my Captain.

Tomorrow

So much to do!

Arrrgggghhh!

 I have lived a nearly nomadic life since graduating from college. I used to joke about moving once a year whether we needed to or not. But the truth is, other than a nearly seven year stint in our Palm City home, we did  change abodes if not cities quite often. I am an experienced and pretty efficient packer, but I can't say I like it any better now than I did the first time. Yet here I sit once again among half-filled moving cartons and piles designated To Garner, To Rutherfordton, To Roger, To Holly and To La Paz. Given half a chance my inclination is to be orderly (in part the influence of many years in libraries) and  the disorder surrounding me at the moment makes me just a little crazy.

Yep.....he's worth it!

So I take a moment, sit down, write a bit on this blog, have a second cup of coffee, take a long deep breath...and smile broadly when I remember that Larry leaves La Paz tomorrow morning and I will see him at RDU late tomorrow evening.

Chapter 2

Bahia de la Paz 

I toyed with the idea of starting a new blog, coming up with a different title, perhaps a different slant. After all, the Captain and I are about to begin anew. Although we have been together for more than thirty years there have been periods of separation, though none so long as the most recent. There was a time back in the 80's when he took a position in the Carolinas while much of the rest of the family remained in South Florida. Then there were shorter periods like my excursion to Colorado to study yoga and another jaunt to allow me travel and camp, the first time ever "on my own." And there were even shorter trips for business and family matters.
But about a year ago I left Milagro and her captain to return to the States, ostensibly to give him an opportunity to sail unfettered by a reluctant first mate, and me a chance to visit family and perhaps satisfy my do gooder instincts. But sometimes getting what one wishes for simply illustrates that, well, one didn't really want that outcome after all..and so it was for both of us! Now, after much deliberation and planning, we will  resume the following of a dream, to share whatever adventures come our way in however much time we have.
In just a few days Larry will arrive from Mexico and we will begin reversing the processes of last May. I've already begun making arrangements and packing up my belongings. Rather than each of us driving a vehicle and pulling a trailer we will be riding together in my trusty truck (with Buddi between us, of course), packed to the roof and looking like Ma and Pa Kettle (!), as we once again strike out across the the country. I am looking forward to seeing the amazing landscapes our country has to offer; I can't wait to climb the rugged mountains and see the beautiful

So good to know this smile's for me

vineyards of the Baja; I'm so excited to see the new upholstery and tile on Milagro and try out the newly installed auto pilot: but most of all I am looking forward to sharing my days and nights, through the good and the not so good with Larry, who somehow manages to be both my Captain and my remarkable first mate.