IT'S HITCH ITCH

It’s a rainy Saturday – woke up to 65 degrees which was quite a change from the 90 degree daytime, 70+ degree night time weather we have been having. Decided this was a good day to get my check lists printed and my packing materials out……Yup! I’ve got Hitch Itch!

Been in Gatesville since the first part of April. Have completed all of my medical appointments except a couple this Tuesday. The critters have been ‘vet-checked’ and are up to date on all of their shots and vaccinations. Managed to get Holly, the cat from hell, micro-chipped with a Home Again chip. After my ‘near loss’ of Li’lBit last Christmas Eve in Rockport, I decided that Holly needed her own chip. She isn’t an ‘outside’ cat – even tho she has slipped out the door a couple of times. Fortunately she has stayed close to the RV and run right back in when I opened the door. Of course, the other problem is who in their right mind would try to pick her up to read the chip number!! But we are all medically ready now to hit the road.

I really don’t relish the thought of having 2 doc appointments on Tuesday the 19th – that is the day I have to hitch up – will be heading out first this the morning of the 20th. Will stop by Gatesville Tire and let the Orville and his guys check the tires all around and then head north.

Johnnie’s son Toby will be by after work on the 19th to help me hitch up – Lee, the one that usually helps, is working out of town now….not too convenient for Mary Jane after her fall.

Didn’t get to see or spend as much time with Mary Jane as usual – she decided to take a fall and end up with a compression fracture the day before I got back – so between hospitalizations and immobility, our paths haven’t crossed much. She did get to town and took me out for a birthday lunch at the Chinese Buffet here in town…and she found a Tres Leche cake – she knows it is one of my favorites!

Eating and coffee-drinking seem to be the main stays while I’m here. When Brenda was on early shift, it was Brunch with Brenda and when she was on a later shift it was Lunch with Brenda – we have definitely eaten at all of the places here in town – and most of them more than once! Brenda is the ‘keeper’ of my mail and that is a debt to her that it will be impossible for me to repay!

Then it was afternoon coffee and Sunday dinners with Johnnie and her family. Had to fill up on lots of coffee and lots of time with Johnnie – will have to last me until I get back this way in the fall. And just catching up with her kids and their families takes some doing – grandkids ranging from high-chairs to high-school!! Always something going on. Between her husband and her sons, I manage to get most of my questions regarding mechanical and electrical things answered.

Had the opportunity to have a couple of lunch get-togethers with Andrea -- one with her husband at Double Daves Pizza for noon buffet and once with her son -- home from college -- for Whataburgers -- a Texas Tradition! Hard to believe that William is in college -- he was all involved in Pokemon as a pre-teen when I first met him!

Never have enough time to make schedules mesh and get together with lots of folks, but that’s just the way life is in today’s world. For the first time in a long time, I had lunch with Rebecca without her kids…can’t believe they are BOTH in school now – sure makes me feel old!!!

Had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with John and Donnah Nordstrom....John and I worked together at the prison -- we are both originally from Iowa. Both John and Donnah are nurses and are on the road full-time RVing.....John is working for one of the traveling nurse associations and they are back from Arizona visiting with family here-- then headed back southwest shortly. So I'm glad our paths crossed and we got to 'play catch-up' on our visits.

My sister called to say she had made an appointment for me at the eye clinic there in Marshalltown for June 1. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they have the “magic” cure or treatment.

YUP! I GOT HITCH ITCH!