Re: Gwynne/camping

[Guest guest]

Gwynne, first....Hook 'Em Horns!!!

I live not far from Lake , and one year we decided to go out to

Paleface and camp. Chaz and I, our daughter and her boyfriend.

It was incredibly windy, the kind of day they make for flying kites

in Zilker..if you're Poppins and have places to be in a hurry...

Chaz and got the Boston Whaler out onto the lake (it was a very

small boat, the smallest Whaler they make) and the next thing we knew

they were bouncing so high out of the water we thought they would

capsize. They decided to bring it back in, and promptly got the truck

stuck in the mud because Chaz didn't want to drive down to the boat

launch.

After much work, we freed the truck and got the boat out of the water.

Our food was flying out of our hands so we nearly starved....

And as I was laying down, trying to nap, a wolf walked into my tent.

And, no lie, it was a wolf!!! It had yellow eyes and just sat and

stared at me...I thought I was a goner...

Then in waltzes a long-haired, stoned-out hippie dude who proceeded

to sit down and start talking to me. The wolf was his, and neither of

them would leave. h and finally returned and lured them

away with the promise of a sandwich and the man wandered out of our

site to another group of people.

And yes, I really did just sit there, stupefied and scared to death,

while this man rambled on and on, and his wolf kept staring....

We packed up and left immediately. I was done....

Thank you for the well wishes. I am going to call my Rheumy tomorrow

for a referral to the Ortho. I realized today, after a long day in

San at the Stockshow and Rodeo, that my knees are not going

to get any better. We already know that my lungs will never be

better, so I think it is best to do this fairly soon. I am hoping to

lose about 20 pounds first though, so keep your fingers crossed for

me that I can find the gumption and the fortitude to be a good girl

and be serious about carving off some poundage. Oh, and I'm also

waiting until after August because I have a 30 year high school

reunion coming up in California, and I don't want to miss it...but

really, after that I'll get the new knees...really....I promise...

Enjoy your day with your daughter! I hope it is full of laughter and

good times. I just find it so refreshing that the young women of

today aren't embarrassed to be seen with us, and oftentimes choose us

over their peers to hang out with. What are the plans?

I pray for you too Gwynne, every night. I just know that you will get

that call soon. With so many people on your side, and so many

prayers, it's just bound to happen very soon.

Your camping story simply reinforces the reasons why I don't go

anymore. And I wonder if it actually WAS a bear? Y'know, it coulda

been...and that would NOT have been funny....

Big, big hugs from Driftwood!

Babs

>

> I have to tell you - the only real camping out in a tent

> I've experienced was a complete disaster. My dad,

> son, daughter, and dog went to a campground in a

> national park in Colorado. It was maybe 200 yards or

> so from the nearest busy road. It was very dry and dusty,

> and my little white Bichon turned brown. My allergies

> went nuts. We did make s'mores, but dropped most

> of our hot dogs into the fire. At some point something

> kept moving the corner of the tent near my head, and I

> was convinced it was a bear. The ground couldn't have

> been any more uncomfortable to lie on. In the middle

> of the night, I got diarrhea and spent the rest of the

> night wide awake prancing off to the public outhouse

> freezing my butt off. The best laugh we had was the

> next morning when we realized that my dad had slept

> in a pair of pajamas and a ski cap...you had to be there

> to know how funny that was. We still laugh about the

> whole experience and refer to it as the campout from hell.

>

> Back in college at UT Austin, a good friend of mine's

> parents had a house on Lake . A group of us

> occasionally used to sleep out on a barge on the lake

> behind their house. We'd play guitar under the stars.

> Ah, youth.

>

> Bruce, you won't believe what a slice of paradise 's

> stomping grounds are. Please, please do yourself a

> favor and go to California. I'm hoping I'll get to go too!

> So you think Feb. 29 will be my big day? We'll see.

> That would be super.

>

> Babs, It's great that you got to have a girls' day with

> your daughter. Mine is coming in town tomorrow for

> a visit, and I'm looking forward to some of the same!!

> I'm sorry about your knees. You do have quite

> a dilemma, since with your other conditions you're

> likely to be less of a candidate for major surgery the

> longer you wait. Some days I just really wish our

> choices were simpler. You're in my prayers.

>

> Jon and Teri, That's great that you also see Dr. Angel.

> I'm so glad you like him. If I'd had ten minutes to spare

> when I was there, I would have called you. My family and

> I were up to our necks as it was, though. Maybe next time.

>

> Donna, Congratulations on the big news! It sounds

> like you're doing quite well. I'm so happy for you and

> hope things just keep getting better. How long were

> you in the hospital, and where was it?

>

> Hugs and blessings,

> Gwynne IPF 7/04 listed for transplant 3/07 & 2/08 Texas

>