WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

March 22, 2020

Last blog ended with a Valentines Dance in Benson, AZ where we like to spend our winters.  You may remember that a year ago this past January, having waited 3 years, we were able to lease a lot in Benson that has a small building on it called a casita.  I am bringing this up as Jerry spent a great deal of time renovating the inside this year and it turned out beautifully!!

This is our casita at the SKP Saguaro RV Park in Benson, AZ

When we received the lot the outside of the building was fine but the inside needed lots and lots of work.  It had concrete floors, faded paint, and a very ugly work bench in what is now Jerry's office.

Unfortunately we can not find any of those pictures so please just use your imagination and know that it was anything but warm and welcoming.  Before we left Benson in March of 2019 we had made some improvements but this past fall and earlier this year Jerry has worked hard to make it a great little welcoming place for us to enjoy.  It has 3 small rooms:

2019 - What we refer to as the kitchen after Jerry and friends installed new flooring and he and I painted 

2020 - the kitchen after Jerry added blinds, cabinets, counter tops and sink

2019 - the living room

2020 the living room

2020 - this is Jerry's man cave that had the awful work area in it.  Can't be seen but he also has a nice desk set up

2020 - the full bathroom

There are still a few things we want to do but for the most part we are done with the inside.  It is a nice retreat from the motorhome and we can spread things out we are working on and not have them be in the way.  We are also set up for guests - hint, hint :-)

I know I have mentioned before one reason we love spending winters in Benson is the great entertainment they have at the park.

Pueblo High School from Tucson, AZ Mariachi Band

Wonderful Blue Grass group called Monroe Crossing

Some pictures from the Mardi Gras Parade at the Park

Every parade needs a Grand Marshall

Sad news that my second cousin Mary passed away mid February in Tucson.  The good result is that my 2nd cousin Helen and 1st cousin Bill flew to Tucson to take care of her affairs and they asked Jerry and I to join them for dinner - which we gladly did.  After dinner I got a HUGE unexpected surprise.

By first cousin Bill Dorn, me, second cousin Helen Jahnke and Jerry

Mary had left me in her will her Mother's wedding band and engagement ring!!!
I could not have been more surprised or touched.
As a kid my family used to drive to Aunt Eve and Uncle Loyd's outside of Kankaee, IL.  They lived on a farm and I loved going.  We got to collect the eggs and just run around and be around all of the horses and cows, etc.  Plus Mary's older brother had a great collection of comic books (I am sure they would be worth a fortune today) and we got to climb the steep stairs to the attic and look at Tom's comic books.  Mary and I were not close as adults and I have racked my brain trying to figure out why she would do this for me.  My best thought is that she wanted to keep them in the family and I am the oldest girls of my generation in the O'Neill family.  Aunt Eve was my Grandpa O'Neill's sister.  I guess in the long run it doesn't matter - she did it and she touched me deeply.  My guess is the band is the original wedding band but that the engagement ring came later.  

 Jerry and I belong to a group called Harvest Hosts that allows us to park for one night at a huge variety of different business.  Typically a winery, brewery, farm, museum, etc.  We have stayed at many and it has always been a great experience.  We had planned all along to leave Benson on March 9th as we had plans and commitments for April & May.  The Cornona Virus info had just started reaching us and we did say, half joking, maybe we should stay here in Benson.  But like I said we had plans and commitments so we spent the next 3 nights at various Harvest Hosts as we traveled East.

Our first night was as a small dairy in San Elizario , TX

They also had a small petting zoo and Teddy was able to make some new friends.

Our second night was in DeSoto, TX at a Petroleum Museum.  We normally visit any museum we stay at but we got in late and left to early to do that this time.

After our morning walk Teddy refused to come in the motorhome.

When we first started our full-time lifestyle Teddy loved going but as he has aged he doesn't like it at all.  He will be 12 in October so perhaps his eyesight or hearing are failing and it scares him.  

Poor baby.  He settles down once we get going but doesn't really relax and can not wait to get out once we stop.  We have tried Thunder Jacket, medication - nothing really helps.

Our third night was at a car dealership just south of Dallas, TX (takes along time to drive across Texas)  This is an unusual place, even for a Harvest Host location, but they were warm and friendly and we had a good nights sleep.

Every time we drive our "home" it is like taking her into an earthquake (tells you what we think of the roads across this country).  So it is not usual for things to go wrong (thank God Jerry is handy).  So we were ready to head out and our steps wouldn't retract!!  Can't drive down the road with them out so Jerry climbed underneath totally undid them, bungeed them closed and fixed them after we stopped later that night)

We spent the next 3 nights at a wonderful park in North Little Rock, AK right along the river.  The weather was cloudy but it was wonderful to look out our front window at the water.  In the picture above we are the 2nd rig from the left 

We could walk over the river into Little Rock on this bride right outside the RV Park.  At night, every hour on the hour, the bridge put on a light show.  Didn't last long but it was pretty.  None of our pictures turned out though

View from our window at night of Little Rock

We left on Monday the ninth and on Sunday the 15th we arrived in Red Bay, Al where our motorcoach was built and we return to every year for engine maintenance.

I post a picture similar to this every year as it just astounds me how they lift our coach up in the air to change the oil and give it a good going over.  Fortunately nothing unexpected so technically last Monday we were free to leave.

We had planned on staying until last Wednesday to do a plant tour here at Tiffin and to meet some dear friends for lunch. They cancelled the tours due to the virus and we decided to avoid restaurants (at that point Alabama had not closed them).  So this past Monday morning we decided to stay here a few more days and see what happened.  So since then all of our plans for the next 2 months have changed.  We were supposed to go to Georgia to the Will Graham Celebration (cancelled) and then a three week mission project at the Billy Graham Center (we have chosen not to go).  Then a 3 week trip through Virginia ending in Maryland to attend Jerry's godson's graduation from the Univ of Maryland, Parker Main and at the same time visiting Washington DC - we have reservations for The Capitol, The Mint, The FBI and the White House.  Parker's graduation was cancelled, we are so sad for him and all the graduates everywhere.  All the places we were to visit in DC are closed.  

We are not complaining and keep thanking God as we feel very lucky.  We are parked a day and a half drive from IL (the only advantage to here over going back to IL is that it is warmer here).  Right now we couldn't visit my mom anyway as she is in complete shutdown at her Independent Living Facility.  They are doing a great job of keeping them safe and occupied - even playing Bingo over the TV - if they bingo they call a phone extension and tell them :-)  Many campgrounds across the country are closing but doubt that will happen here,  Of course anything is possible but this is a very basic campground and you have always paid by check in a deposit box they have here so there is no human element.  So the plan is to stay here until it is warmer in IL and then head there. 

This is the current view out of our huge front window - just incase we forget who is in control

This is the same church as above but that is our coach driving in front of it yesterday.  Yesterday we closed it up and Jerry drove into town to fill with Diesel.  We had about a half a tank which wouldn't have gotten us to IL.  It was bothering me incase there was an emergency with my mom or anyone at home and we had to go there and heaven forbid we had trouble getting diesel.  So to ease my mind Jerry went into town and filled the tank.  Love that man!!
Now we can leave anytime if needed and not worry and just get there.

"Attending" our home church in IL this morning.  We are always able to stream the sermon but was extra special getting to actually see everyone this morning.

So as I close this blog know that Jerry and I pray daily for all of those we love (and if you are receiving this you are part of that group).  This is a trying time and there seem to be no answers and things change daily or sometimes hourly.  What I am sure of is that we will see kindness and togetherness.  I also totally believe that God has this under control and the majority of us will be fine - and if I am one of those who isn't don't feel bad.  I believe in our Lord and Savior and if I am not here I know where I will be.  If you don't - please call me, email me contact me somehow so we can talk,  I don't have all the answers by any means buy I would be honored to pray with you and to try and calm any fears you have.  Five years ago we sold our home and all of our "stuff".  Those five years have convinced us it truly is just "stuff" and we still have all that is important:  Our family, friends, each other and our faith in Our Father.  

God Bless you and keep you safe as we all travel this unprecedented times.