Our original plans were to drive the Silver Bullet when we leave Florida on August 10. But our plans changed a few weeks ago when we got a call from Ben. He had injured his leg playing softball and was on the way to the hospital emergency room. A few hours after the call we were in the Bullet and on our way to his house in Slippery Rock, PA. Thankfully the injury didn't require surgery, and although he's still hobbled a bit, he's on the road to recovery. After a week of helping him get adjusted to the inconveniences of crutches and a walking boot, we left the Bullet at his house and flew back to Florida.
Freedom Farms Wildflower Festival
Now our plans are to fly up to Pittsburgh on August 10. We'll spend a few days with Ben and then drive about four hours northeast to an Airbnb near Geneva, NY, which is located on the north end of Seneca Lake in New York's Finger Lake region. We've only spent a very small amount of time in the Finger Lakes region in the past, so we're looking forward to having a month to explore some of the many lakes, state parks, trails, community's, restaurants and wineries nearby. We've already purchased tickets to two concerts (Chris Stapelton and Hall & Oats) at the Marvin Sands Performing Arts Outdoor Theater and are planning a day at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Ben and I spent a day in Cooperstown a few years back. I'm excited to go back and think that Beth will not only enjoy the museum, but the town of Cooperstown, whose Main Street looks like a scene directly out of a Norman Rockwell picture.
Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
It's hard to believe that it's still July, although it is the last day of the month. So far this summer we've had fun and created memories with family and friends from coast to coast. Interspersed with all the fun, there was a bit of challenging news that we learned recently. In early July, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Not exactly the best of news, but it could have been a lot worse.
Needless to say, over the past few weeks Beth and I have learned a lot about Parkinson's. It seems as if the only thing predictable about it is that it is unpredictable. Sometimes it progresses quickly and at other times very slowly. Sometimes the effects are only physical, sometimes cognitive and sometimes both. In my case so far, the only noticeable symptom is a slight tremor in my right hand. I'm being proactive with some therapeutic exercises (including boxing and tai chi) and am so blessed to be surrounded by an amazing support network, starting with Beth and extending out through family and close friends. We're choosing to be optimistic that there are a lot of fun and exciting adventures ahead for us! As a matter of fact, we're pretty much already booked out through mid-February, 2023!
The journey continues...................
