Our trip to Dauphin Island was planned and paid for months before we knew I’d need my surgery. Once I found out it was imperative they butcher part of my Hanky Panky, I had to decide whether to have my little pancreas operation right away, or to wait until our schedule was open again in November. But it was best to let them cut me open as soon as it could be arranged.
If I got cut open ASAP in late-June, that would give me nine weeks of recovery time before our trip. We– including the surgeon– figured the two months between surgery and vacay would give me enough convalescent time to be in shape to go on a low-energy vacation, so we decided not to cancel or reschedule our trip.
For the nine weeks that I was stuck in the house using all my energy to recuperate, being ready for our Alabama trip was my light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel goal. It was a milestone I worked to achieve. I knew I had to take extra good care of myself if I was going to be ready to head out across the country. Suzanne and I took gingerly good care of me during those weeks.
As the trip date approached, I was excited but apprehensive. I felt like I was well enough to fly away, but I worried vacation would be too hard on my old, healing body. I was concerned that I might play too hard. But while in ‘Bama, I worked at being careful, and I managed to have the most mellow vacay adventure of my life. I had a ball. A lazy, enjoyable ball.
Even so, Suzanne and I soon realized the trip had happened a little too early in the course of my recovery. In this photo, Tie o’ the Day’s colorful ocean buoys are attempting to buoy up my spirits. I had to spend most of this day sprawled out resting on the couch, as I am doing in this shot. I wasn’t even up for beaching.
Couch potato rest, or no couch potato rest, we still had to eat– so Suzanne went out into the town alone to slay a beast for us to consume. She went to the Lighthouse Bakery and slayed us a couple of trophy cinnamon rolls. She promptly dragged their carcasses back to the condo. She’s got a sharp eye, and that’s what makes her a spot-on hunter. I’m glad it was Cinnamon Roll Season on Dauphin Island.
The pastry was health-giving, and I was later able to waller off the couch and go to the beach that evening– where we watched the sun set over the ocean. And of course I wore my new, sexy swimming suit.
It will be revealed in the next post.