Part 2…Emergency evacuation off a cruise ship…What are the costs?…

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Emergency evacuation helicopter approaching the ship to pick up the ailing passenger. See the post here.

In yesterday’s post, we covered the process of being airlifted off a cruise ship in the event of a medical emergency. Today, we’re covering the average costs of such an event.

The cost of a medical evacuation from a cruise ship can vary widely depending on several factors. Still, it is typically costly and is not usually covered by standard health insurance. Here’s a breakdown:

Typical Cost of Medical Evacuation from a Cruise Ship
Scenario Estimated Cost (USD)
Ship-to-shore via small boat $5,000 – $20,000
Helicopter airlift (within U.S.) $20,000 – $50,000+
International helicopter airlift $40,000 – $100,000+
Air ambulance to home country (ICU) $50,000 – $200,000+

Factors That Influence the Cost
Location of the ship (remote ocean = more expensive)

Type of evacuation (boat vs. helicopter vs. jet)

Distance to nearest hospital or mainland

Level of medical care needed (ICU setup, doctor/nurse escort)

Whether multiple transfers are required

Local laws and coordination with foreign emergency services

Travel Insurance Is Essential
Most cruise lines and governments strongly recommend or require travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage for this reason. Good policies usually cover:

Evacuation costs

Medical care abroad

Repatriation to your home country

Travel with a companion or family member

A policy with $250,000+ in emergency medical evacuation coverage is often recommended for cruise travelers.

Real-Life Examples
A traveler airlifted from a Caribbean cruise to Miami due to a heart attack reportedly incurred $85,000 in helicopter and hospital bills.

A couple without insurance was airlifted from the Pacific and had to raise over $180,000 online to cover costs.

Purchasing adequate travel insurance can put travelers’ minds at ease. Additionally, it is advisable to check with your medical professionals regarding the safety of embarking on a cruise with your current medical condition, especially when traveling outside your home country.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 11, 2015:

View of the Sydney Opera House from the ship at 6:30 am this morning. It’s hard to believe we’re here on our fifth continent! For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Emergency evacuation off a cruise ship…

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The ill passenger was wrapped in the exterior covering over the basket, with a paramedic holding the passenger as he was raised into the helicopter. See the post here.

On numerous cruises, a seriously ill patient has been evacuated by a medical helicopter and transported to the closest medical facility for treatment. It’s terrifying to even think of such a scenario. In today’s and tomorrow’s posts, we’re sharing details of what occurs in these dreadful situations.

We ask the question, “When is a passenger’s health too precarious to embark on a cruise?”

Only each traveler, their travel companion (if one), and their doctor can answer that question. But, often medical emergencies occur that a passenger could not have predicted in advance. However, many diseases and illnesses are more likely to cause an emergent situation and should be carefully considered before booking a cruise.

Here’s a general overview of what usually happens in those situations, along with some guidance:

What Happens When You’re Airlifted Off a Cruise Ship

  1. Medical Emergency Identified

    • The ship’s medical team assesses the situation.

    • If the illness is life-threatening or cannot be managed on board, the ship’s doctor contacts the Coast Guard or local authorities for a medevac (medical evacuation).

  2. Coordination with Authorities

    • The ship coordinates with the nearest country’s coast guard or emergency services.

    • Depending on the location, a helicopter or rescue vessel is dispatched.

  3. Airlift Procedure

    • The ship alters course or slows down to accommodate the airlift.

    • The patient is stabilized as much as possible before being winched or transferred.

  4. Transfer to Hospital

    • The patient is taken to the nearest hospital with appropriate facilities, often in the closest port or coastal city.

    • Care is handed over to the land-based medical team.

  5. Notification and Next Steps

    • Cruise lines typically contact the person’s emergency contact.

    • Travel insurance providers (if applicable) are also notified.

What to Do If This Happened to You or a Loved One

  • Medical Care: Focus on stabilizing the patient. Hospitals will prioritize care, especially in emergencies.

  • Travel Insurance: Contact your travel insurance company immediately. They can help cover:

    • Emergency evacuation

    • Medical bills

    • Lodging for companions

    • Return travel

  • Cruise Line Contact: Maintain communication with the cruise line. They can assist with logistics, personal belongings, and sometimes advocate for you.

  • Documentation: Keep all medical records, evacuation paperwork, and communication logs.

  • Aftercare: Once stabilized, talk to doctors about when and how it’s safe to return home. The insurance company may arrange a medical escort flight.

Being airlifted off a cruise can be terrifying and disorienting, not only for the patient but also for loved ones. It’s not just a health scare; it’s an upheaval of plans, privacy, and peace of mind.

We’ve been on several cruises where this has transpired. Rumors of the cause of the medical evacuation and potential costs circulate throughout the ship. We’ve never heard the outcome of an emergency evacuation, but always hope and pray that the patient was well-served and survived.

For the costs associated with the necessity of medical evacuation, please check back tomorrow for Part 2.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 10, 2015:

Helicopter preparing to pick up a sick passenger from the cruise. For more photos, please click here.

The past 24 hours…Typical busy day while in Minnesota…

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A photo we posted on June 7, 2013, as our ship pulled into port. See the post here.

Yesterday, Tom started early, getting up at 6:30 to prepare for his day. His sister Patty, 90 years old, had a doctor’s appointment at 9:00 am for a cardiac ultrasound, also known as echocardiography, which uses sound waves to create images of the heart and its structures. It’s a non-invasive and rapid diagnostic tool that provides detailed information about heart function and structure. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s a standard procedure used to assess heart health and diagnose various conditions.

Patty lives about an hour from our hotel, so Tom left the hotel at about 7:30. He picked up Patty, and they easily made the appointment on time, as the clinic is located within minutes of her home.

Since Patty doesn’t use the internet, she was unable to access “My Chart” to view the test results. Instead, she’ll have to wait to speak to her doctor in about a week. I tried to set up a “My Chart” account for her, but since she doesn’t have internet access, I was unable to create an account using my phone or Tom’s phone. She seemed fine about waiting until next week for the results.

Tom returned to the hotel by 10:45, and he settled in, content with nothing to do for a few hours. In the meantime, I worked on the post, some financial tasks, and responded to email messages from our readers, a daily occurrence.

At noon, Tom took a nap while I quietly watched a movie, streamed from Hulu. I love those quiet times when I have nothing to do, with no cleaning, no cooking, and no travel-related tasks to attend to. I ventured outdoors a few times to walk around the building, since it’s easy to become lazy and inactive while staying in a hotel.

By 2:10 pm, we headed out to pick up sisters Patty and Margie, in their two separate locations, to take them with us to Billy’s Bar for the usual Friday siblings afternoon get-together, starting at happy hour at 3:30. After over an hour, we arrived at Billy’s and the typical big round table was waiting for us.

After drinks and food, when it was only 6:00 pm, we all headed back to Mary and Eugene’s home in Andover to play cards. I had yet to play cards. Buck Euchre is an exciting card game, and unlike traditional Euchre, it’s played individually, without teams. Players aim to be the first to reach or go below zero points by winning tricks and carefully choosing when to stay in or drop out during each round.

Whenever we’ve been around Tom’s siblings, whether in Minnesota or Arizona, we’ve always played this fun card game. Neither of us has ever become tired of playing. It’s such fun and we love every minute. I lost $8, and Tom won $10. The stakes aren’t high, $2.00 a game, nor are the winnings when finishing a game. But the laughter and fun more than make up for any potential losses.

We played cards until about 10:30 pm, and then we drove Patty and Margie back to their respective homes. By midnight, we were back at the hotel and went to bed shortly thereafter. Neither of us slept more than six hours, but we both feel fine this morning, ready to tackle another family event.

Tonight, at 5:00 pm, we’re meeting Vincent, 19, and his girlfriend, whom we’ve never met, for dinner at Dolittle’s in Golden Valley, about 25 minutes from our hotel. It will be fun to have a “double date” with a grandson. Tomorrow night, we’re meeting Maisie and her boyfriend, Dakota, at Maynard’s in Excelsior, our old neighborhood, for another double date.

I wish there was enough time to get together with each grandchild individually, but our schedule for the next week is packed with family and friends get-togethers. We’ll see most of our three kids who live in Minnesota, and six grandchildren at gatherings over the next week.

Gosh, the time is flying by quickly. We begin the return journey to South Africa, a week from tomorrow. We’ve loved being here and will love returning to the bush.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 7, 2015:

The previous night, we attended an invitation-only party on the 9th deck by the indoor pool. For more photos, please click here.

We’re back!…Repost of a story 10 years ago…Lava coming…

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Photo, not ours, of lava flowing onto the road in Pahoa, Big Island, where we were staying, waiting for our kids to arrive for Christmas.

Here is a clarification of the name of the Big Island of Hawaii: The Big Island is the nickname for the island of Hawaiʻi, the largest and youngest island in the Hawaiian chain.

Ten years ago, our adult children (except the eldest son), their partners, and young children came to the Big Island to spend Christmas with us. We rented two oceanfront houses next door to accommodate 14 of us.

A few months before we arrived on the island, we became aware of the lava possibly approaching the town of Pahoa, where the houses were located. Still, with everything booked for Christmas, including their flights, we decided to take our chances. Lava tends to move slowly, and we’d have ample time to relocate if necessary.

We never had to move when the lava flow stayed away from the neighborhood, but it was close enough for us to see the lava flowing in Pahoa. Who has an opportunity to see lava flowing in their lifetime? It was an interesting and unusual experience we’ll all remember.

When checking our post from ten years ago today, I’ve reposted what I wrote since many of our readers may never have seen the post so long ago. Here it is, and here’s the link:

“Lava is on the move again, faster this time…Closer this time…

on 

This morning’s news announced that the lava flow from Mount Kilauea has escalated in speed and is advancing toward the strip mall where we shopped on Monday afternoon.

Apparently, the gas station owner at that strip mall will be selling off the gas at discount prices so that he can drain his storage tanks to fill them with water to avoid explosions when the lava arrives.

Oh, my. We’ve yet to see the lava since it’s illegal to go into the area where it’s flowing. A viewing area is being set up at the Pahoa Transfer Station that will soon be open to the public. As soon as that is available, we can share photos here. This is a phenomenon one most likely would never have the opportunity to see in a lifetime.

Now that we’re in the first house, we’re surprisingly less anxious about the lava flow than we were from afar. We’ll figure out if we must leave when our family arrives. All that matters is the safety and well-being of our family and the area’s citizens.

At this point, the lava is several miles away. At its current flow rate of 1200 feet per day, considering how many miles we are from the current flow, it could reach the ocean where we are located in about 30 days.

In 30 days, most of our family members will be on their way back to the mainland, leaving only two remaining: our daughter-in-law and one granddaughter, who will stay until January 9th. If there is a risk, we’ll send them home earlier than planned and find other accommodations for Tom and me.

Of course, the flow rate could change at any time, making our calculations irrelevant. We’ll continue to watch the local news for daily updates.

However, we can’t speculate any further than that which we know at this point. We choose not to worry or fuss over this. More so, we’re fascinated with this amazing fact of nature over which no one has control.

As for the house, we’re content. With screens on the windows, everything is wide open for the fantastic ocean breezes. Last night, we slept with the window open for the first time in so long I can’t recall. It was so cool that we left and cuddled up under the comforter. There’s no AC in the house.

Yesterday, at high tide at 11:48 am, we spent considerable time outside in the rear yard of the house watching and taking videos of enormous waves. Neither of us had ever seen anything like it. With the windows open, we can feel the ocean spray inside the house when standing near the windows.

The wear and tear on houses this close to the sea and surf is unreal. The house is well maintained, but apparent signs of the destructive nature of the salty sea air are everywhere, especially on the house’s exterior, where there are no metal or wood surfaces.

On the inside of the house, the curtain rods, shower rods, faucets, and some window handles show signs of corrosion due to the salty air and spray. We’re sure this is a major concern for owners of properties in such proximity to the ocean worldwide.

After the steps collapsed under our feet on our anniversary in Belize on March 7, 2013, during which we were injured, we hesitated to step out onto the lanai in the upper-level main bedroom. Click here for the story and photos we posted on March 9, 2013.

The lanai upstairs looks sturdy, but then again, so do the steps in Belize. We’ll proceed cautiously and advise our family members to do the same.

In the interim, we’re mesmerized by the roaring sea out the door. The roaring sound of the surf is almost earsplitting, and we love every moment. The house is relatively shaded by coconut and palm trees, but there’s a perfect spot in the yard where we can languish during our usual hours in the warming sun.

As we lounged yesterday, we had a clear view of the house next door, to which Tom and I will move on December 20th in a mere 17 days. We will then move back to this house again on January 3rd, when the contract on the second house ends, as most of the family departs. Thus, we must pack three more times (including the day we leave this island).

Tomorrow, we’ll post interior photos of the house. We have been a bit sidetracked with Mother Nature’s antics. She’s quite a gal, isn’t she?”

It’s interesting to reread a post from so long ago. Ironically, our views and perceptions have remained essentially unchanged. Not only did we enjoy having our family with us, but the unique experience offered by Mother Nature added another element.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, December 3, 2014:

That morning, ten years ago, I slept until 7:45 after awakening several times during the night while getting used to the sounds of the sea. This was what I saw the moment I stepped out of bed. For more photos, please click here.

Birthday party last night…Heading to see granddaughter at 11:30…

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Time was winding down as we prepared to leave Madeira to sail to Australia and the South Pacific, where we’d stay for several months.

Again, I am rushing this morning to leave for Chaska to go see Maisie. With Tom feeling better and no longer contagious, we feel confident visiting her and seeing Miles and Madighan. Most likely, Greg will be working, but we won’t see him. I’m glad Tom will drive there after my driving experience to Target on Sunday for cough medicine for Tom. I am not a good driver, and it’s best I don’t get behind the wheel.

Last night, we headed to Champlin for DIL Tracy’s 60th birthday party at a festive bar and grill, where 11 of us sat at a big table and had a good time. Tom wasn’t feeling 100% yet but could interact and enjoy the few hours with everyone. The limited meal options made it tricky to find something I could eat.

I ordered a relatively plain diced chicken salad when I’d left out some ingredients I don’t eat, such as tortilla strips and bottled dressing. It was okay, but I was still hungry when we got back to the hotel, and I had a big bowl of Fage plain Greek yogurt with added frozen berries, my go-to snack when I’m hungry at night.

Tom insisted on sleeping on the sofa last night, although I pressed him to let me sleep there while he had the bed. It’s a queen size, and if he’s facing me, he could end up coughing in my face, so we knew we’d have to sleep separately until his coughing is gone.

It’s hard to believe I didn’t catch what he had. He is often the one to start with a cough or flu, and I catch it from him. But his symptoms started a week ago, and so far, I’m OK. Most likely, this time, I dodged a bullet. This is a big relief since we’re leaving in three days to head to Milwaukee for Sister Beth’s 70th Jubilee celebration. Five of us from the Lyman family will attend the mass and celebratory luncheon prepared by the nuns.

We’ll all spend time with Sister Beth, but her health has been challenging, and she can only visit for short periods without becoming exhausted. That’s why we planned to spend two nights in Milwaukee, enabling us to visit with her over two days. The others are staying one night; we can be with her again on Sunday.

We’ll return to this same hotel but most likely will be staying in a different room.  We didn’t want to pay for two hotels simultaneously, so we’re checking out on Friday and back in on Sunday. The hotel will keep our excess luggage so we don’t have to leave it in the car while staying in the Milwaukee hotel.

As a result, on Thursday, we’ll do laundry again and then pack the one bag we’re taking with us and store the rest in the storage area in the hotel. We’re glad we’ll get a different room when we return since there are some problems with the TV for streaming shows, and there’s an issue closing the door. Maintenance has been here twice for each issue but hasn’t been able to resolve them. We haven’t pressed it since we figured out workarounds, as we often do.

That’s it for today, folks. Again, thanks for all Tom’s well wishes. He surely appreciated all the kind and thoughtful comments.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 11, 2014:

Tom’s photo is at dusk, as we spent our last night in Madeira, Portugal. For more photos, please click here.

He’s doing better! Whew! What a relief!!!…Back to our busy schedule…

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As we drove around Campanario, Madeira, we encountered these blue stalks. We stopped the car, and I got out and zoomed in to get a closer view of these beautiful flowers. See the photo below.

I hoped he was on the mend when I didn’t hear Tom coughing much during the night. When he got up, he said he was feeling much better, so much so that perhaps we could go to Tracy’s birthday party tonight at a restaurant in Champlin (35 minutes from here) at 5:15.

We wouldn’t have gone out tonight if he weren’t so much better. As we discussed this morning at breakfast, the virus began about a week ago when he noticed a fullness in his ears, and his nose ran a lot. We assumed those symptoms were due to an allergic reaction to all the pollen flying around Minnesota this time of year.

But when the awful cough began, we knew it was more than an allergy, and he was down for the count for the entire weekend. It’s quite a relief that he’s back to being his usual cheerful self, although the cough continues to a much lesser degree.

Usually, when he gets sick, I follow suit a few days later. I am hoping that this time, I dodged a bullet. So far, I feel fine, for which I am very grateful. In the meanwhile, we’ve had to stay away from our granddaughter, who had surgery on Friday, who we’ll visit tomorrow, hoping enough time has passed since the onset of Tom’s symptoms.

It was a long weekend. On Saturday, when Tom was coughing badly and had a fever, I drove the rental car to the closest Target store to get him Day/Night Nyquil. I’d ordered Nyquil on Amazon, but there wasn’t same-day delivery available for that product. I hadn’t driven a car in a long time but decided I could make it one mile to the Target store.

Up close and zoomed in, we were shocked by what we saw the above stalks. Quite lovely.

Driving like an “old lady,” I made it up and back to Target without incident and other drivers honking at me. While driving, it was easy to tell how diminished my reflexes are right now, most likely due to my current heart condition. I am hoping that this will improve after I have surgery.

Tom didn’t eat much on Saturday, but finally, he ate half of his dinner last night. This morning, he had a small breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage. I was happy to be able to take care of him while he was so sick, as he has done for me in the past. Soon enough, he’ll be busy taking care of me.

We’ll see how he does during the day today to determine if we can go to the party tonight, if only for a few hours. Right now, he is napping while our usual favorite podcasts are playing in the background. Sleep can be curative when under the weather for one reason or another.

That’s it for today, dear readers. Tom, thanks to you for all the get-well messages and our readers for their continued readership during this quiet time in our lives.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 10, 2014:

Tom enjoyed taking these sunset photos while in Madeira, Portugal. For more photos, please click here.

We need new phones and a possible new plan…Delightful dinner out with my granddaughter, at a favorite old location on Lake Minnetonka…

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This is the Catholic Church of São Brás do Campanário, from which many traditions in this quaint area are instituted.

Today, I am rushing to get the post done and uploaded. Soon, we’ll be heading out to Verizon and T-Mobile phone stores to investigate possible phone plans and acquire new phones when both of our phones are over three years old and have started to have problems.

My phone camera is shot, and Tom has trouble keeping Google Fi connected when out and about. We have tried every possible fix and based on the fact that cell phones don’t last for very long with heavy use, it may be time to upgrade. Before we head out, I will put together all of our expenses for Google Fi for the past few years to compare our current cost and the cost for a plan with new unlocked Google phones.

It may make sense to change based on how much we determine we’re paying with Google Fi for data while we’re in the US over the next many months. Otherwise, we may purchase two new Google Pixel phones, the latest 8a models, and keep Google Fi as our provider with its current pay-as-you-go plan.

While outside the US, we use data and rarely make phone calls unless we’re using WhatsApp, which requires an internet connection. We’ll carefully investigate the options from both stores and then decide. I’ve been limited in taking photos lately and haven’t been using our stand-alone camera when the photo quality is lower than that of a phone.

I may feel differently about only using a phone for photos down the road when we return to Africa, but that is a while from now, based on my upcoming open heart surgery in the next several months. I haven’t missed using our camera, which is on its last leg anyway, due to damage from constant humidity in countries we’ve visited in the past several years.

Last evening, I went to dinner with my eldest granddaughter, Maisie, at a favorite restaurant near our old home, Maynards, on Lake Minnetonka. In July 1977, as a single mom, I purchased my first boat, which I kept docked at St. Albans Bay for the summer.

On the 4th of July 1977, I took my two sons, then ten and eight years old, out on Lake Minnetonka when I’d never driven a boat. When we first took off, I drove the boat over to Maynard’s, then called T. Butcherblock, docking the boat in their slips, and the boys and I fed the ducks bread we got from the restaurant.

Later, when we continued to my friend Lynda’s home on Black Lake, I hit bottom and tore up the prop. I managed to make it to Lynda’s many hours later with the bad prop and her then-husband Jim helped me out. He removed the prop, took it to a repair place and then I was good to go the following day.

Many years followed when I had bigger and bigger boats on Lake Minnetonka, and I never hitt bottom again, destroying a prop. My sons still remember that day.

Thus, last evening, my dinner with Maisie, which was delightful, reminded me of that 4th of July 47 years ago, which is as fresh in my mind as if it was only a few summers ago. Wow!

Maisie, 17, and I chatted enthusiastically while seated in a booth at Maynard’s, sharing stories of our past and current lives. It was such fun! The food was good, the ambiance was perfect, and the conversation flowed with ease. After dinner, she drove me back to the hotel. It was the first time I had ridden with her since she got her driver’s license. She’s a good driver, and I am very proud of her in many ways.

Soon, I’ll head down to the fitness center to work out on the bike while Increasing the time a little each day. It feels great to be doing this. We’ll move to the next hotel in two days, and I’m hoping they will have an equally good fitness center. They have laundry facilities, which is a big plus for us. Neither of us is interested in sitting in a laundromat again.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 21, 2014:

This little house on a cliff created a picturesque scene in Ribeira Brava, Madeira. For more photos, please click here.

Cleveland Clinic update… Fantastic evening with my son Greg and family…

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My 17-year-old granddaughter Maisie and I were at the Children’s Theater last night.

While we were on the challenging road trip from California to Minnesota, I received a notice for a few bills for upcoming tests and cardiology appointments in MyChart, which had been set up for me weeks ago without any recent updates.

When I called CC’s billing department, they advised me to ignore the bills since my Medicare and Plan G supplement would cover them 100%. It was a relief to see my new insurance plans doing their job.

When I hung up and looked further into the bills, I noticed the appointment date of August 28, over three months from now. Then I returned to MyChart to see if I was booked for three appointments on said date, starting at 12:45 pm, including tests and consultations.

I sighed in relief, seeing the appointments in place. Little did I know this was how I would be informed about upcoming appointments at the prestigious facility via My Chart rather than a call or email. Nonetheless, I was relieved. How I found out is irrelevant. The fact I have the appointments is of the utmost importance.

You may ask why the appointments are so far out when my Mitral and Tricuspid valves are severely regurgitating. Isn’t this an emergency? They take cases based on when they were requested and how urgent the cases are. I am still walking around and not in the hospital. Many patients are already in hospital, have had heart attacks or strokes, or are bedridden at home. These cases would supersede the urgency of my case.

I will continue to watch for potentially dangerous symptoms, like shortness of breath, swollen legs and ankles, and chest pain, none of which I have right now. Sure, I feel like a walking time bomb, but I can almost function somewhat normally. My biggest issue is my inability to walk since my legs and my arms feel like lead, a sign of poor blood flow to the extremities.

However, I will wait with determination and a positive attitude, making every attempt to live generally over the next three months. Tom is very helpful and supportive, as are family members and friends. No doubt, time will pass quickly while we keep busy with social events and time spent with those we love.

Speaking of “those we love,” last night, at 5:30, Greg and the kids picked me up to go out to dinner at Champs and then off to downtown Minneapolis to the Art Institute’s Children’s Theater, where the musical. “Frog and Toad” was being performed. What a delightful musical! It was full of humor, great singing and dancing, and excellent acting. It couldn’t have been more fun.

My grandkids, as did Greg and his girlfriend Heather, were stuck by my side and joined us at the theater. My 17-year-old granddaughter Maisie, shown in the above photo with me, was a constant joy, as were Madighan and Miles. How lucky I am to have them.

Tom got together with his son TJ and had a great time visiting with him, as always. We both ended up back at the hotel around 9:30 pm, and shortly after, I went to bed for another great night’s sleep. Tom didn’t join me until about 11:30 when I was already sound asleep. Today, I feel good.

At 3:30 today, we’ll be at Billy’s Bar and Grill in Anoka, a 45-minute drive, to meet with his sisters and other family members. Billy’s is a weekly tradition in his family; we will join them all each Friday while we are in Minnesota.

Yes, our lives are up in the air, but somehow, we will make it through.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today. May 10. 2014:

Undercover at the ATM area, where there were multiple machines. For more photos, please click here.

Tom’s fantastic time with his kids at the cabin…Last evening with Tom’s family at Billy’s Bar & Grill…

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Tom, Tammy, and TJ had a great time at the cabin for two days, enjoying evening bonfires.

I didn’t go up north with Tom, Tammy, and TJ, knowing it was important for Tom to spend quality time with his two adult children at TJ’s cabin in northern Minnesota. They had an excellent two days and nights together in the rustic cabin on a lake, dining at local pubs and restaurants and enjoying the special time together.

They were there to catch up and relax. With cold weather rolling in, they didn’t spend much time on TJ’s pontoon, instead hunkering down by the bonfire during the evening hours and laughing and chatting throughout the day. All had a good time.

With our planned final attendance at Billy’s Bar and Grill in Anoka at 3:30 pm yesterday, I had to find a way to get there since TJ was dropping Tom off at Billy’s on their way back, all of which is in the northern suburbs, there was nothing I could do to get Tom than to drive the 45 minutes to Billy’s in Anoka from our hotel in Eden Prairie. I hadn’t driven a car in about two years.

Tom’s son TJ’s lake cabin in northern Minnesota.

My reflexes aren’t as good as they were years ago, so I questioned my ability to drive safely for such a distance, especially on a busy Friday afternoon with lots of traffic. We couldn’t expect any family members to drive Tom back to the hotel, resulting in a 90-minute or more round trip when everyone lives in the northern suburbs.

There were no other options than for me to make the drive. As suggested by Greg, it was better to leave early and wait for Tom and everyone else to arrive at Billy’s than for me to be stuck in slow-moving traffic. It was a great plan to leave the hotel at 2:15, even if I had to wait for awhile at the restaurant.

As it turned out, when I arrived around 3:00 pm, Tom was waiting for me in front of the restaurant. He didn’t call to tell me he’d arrived early to avoid me being distracted by a phone call during the drive. Well, driving is like “riding a bike”. You don’t forget how to do it. I was on extra alert.

Most of the drive was on the freeway, which I preferred over busy city streets. I did fine, mostly driving in the fast lane and staying up with traffic. It wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be. Does this mean I will drive more in the future? Not necessarily. When we are in countries where driving is on the opposite side of the road from what we’re used to, and having to use a stick shift with my left hand, which is entirely useless, I will continue to let Tom do the driving.

Lake cabins are highly desired in Minnesota, with over 14,000 lakes. Often, they are this size on varying-sized lots. TJ has over two acres of land.

Also, in many countries, it’s an extra daily rate, up to $10 a day, for a spouse to drive a rental vehicle. That’s not worth it to us. Generally, a couple can each drive the car in the US without additional fees, but prices on rental cars are much higher in the US than in many other countries.

Again, we had a great time at Billy’s with the family. It was wonderful to see Tom’s adult niece, Kari. Also, next to me on the other side was another of Tom’s nieces, Jerri Lee, whom we hadn’t seen in years, along with several other nieces at the table. It was wonderful chatting with them and the others.

By about 6:30, we were back on the road to the hotel and had a quiet evening streaming a few shows. We’d finished binge-watching Formula 1 and had to search for something new. By 10:30, I was off to bed, but Tom, as usual, stayed up later.

Today is a quiet day. We have no plans other than deciding what to do for dinner tonight. I checked out GrubHub, for which I have a few coupons, but I found nothing we like. Also, we cringe at paying more for delivery food than if we went out to dinner. We shall see what the day brings.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 7, 2013:

This is one of our favorite photos with the lion with the remnants of his zebra lunch in the background, taken in the Maasaii Mara in Kenya on our first safari experience. Up close and personal! We were in a Toyota Land Cruiser with open sides, 25 feet from this lion. To our surprise, we never felt frightened or at risk at close range to any of these big animals, including this massive male lion who gave us a great show. For more photos, please click here.

Daytime get together with Tom and a few guys from work…Another evening with family…

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Last night, grandson Vincent, daughter Tammy, and daughter-in-law Tracy joined us for dinner and trivia at Pizza Luce, walking distance from our hotel.

Tom didn’t order dinner last night when we met Tammy, Tracy, and Vincent at Pizza Luce for dinner and trivia. He could have ordered dinner since he ate the entire plate of garlic bread that accompanied my dinner, as shown below. My guy sure loved bread.

He’s loading up now, knowing eating bread will come to a quick end by the end of the month when we arrive at our holiday home in Ecuador, and I start cooking again. No bread is served with our homemade meals unless we have guests for dinner, and bread is an appropriate accompaniment.

My meatball meal was topped with sugar-free sauce and mozzarella cheese. No pasta. It was delicious.

However, bread and doughy things are popular with meals in Ecuador, so dining out will allow him to enjoy the local flour-laden flavors. We may dine out on Fridays and Saturdays as we’ve done in the past, but that will depend on the foods offered at the local restaurants. We shall see.

At this point, we are leaving the US in eight days on October 11. We are getting everything we can ready for our departure next Wednesday. We both ordered hiking boots this morning after the cruise line reminded us we’d need them for the Galapagos. They will arrive from Amazon by Thursday.

The plate of bread that came with my meal, which I handed over to Tom, knowing he’d love it even though he was still full from lunch with the guys.

Also, this morning, I ordered a swimsuit since a few years ago, we accidentally left all of our swimwear at the top of a closet on a cruise. There were three or four swimsuits I liked, and I had to order one today for the pool at the upcoming house in Ecuador.

At this point, we have everything we need. We’ve ordered quite a bit, replacing worn-out adapters, plugs, earbuds, and miscellaneous items we use. I was thrilled to be able to replace a worn-out pair of white leather Keds slip-on shoes, which are hard to find online.

Also, we took many old clothing items to Goodwill, and if they were worn, we tossed them in the trash, including my suitcase, which was now cracked and unusable. Tom hasn’t found a taker for his railroad memorabilia and is taking it to the Minnesota Transportation Museum, Jackson Street Roundhouse, to donate the entire lot. We’ll receive a tax-deductible receipt for the items.

Vincent’s large pizza.

Yesterday, at 1:00 pm, Tom met up with a few of his railroad buddies at a restaurant in Roseville and enjoyed the time with the guys. Tomorrow, we’ll post those photos.

Besides Tom dropping off the railroad stuff at the museum, we don’t have big plans today. Tonight, we’ll dine out at Champps, where we can always depend on fresh and consistent food. This morning, we had a light breakfast in the hotel restaurant, but my choices are limited. The only things I can eat are scrambled or hard-boiled eggs. I prefer the hard-boiled eggs since I know what I’m getting.

Tammy’s lasagne.

Soon, when I’m done uploading today’s post, I’ll be heading to a lounge area in the hotel to call my dear old friend Cathy, whom I didn’t get to see this time. I usually speak to my girlfriends from that room so Tom can continue to watch football games and listen to podcasts on his laptop.

I will post the photos from Tom’s afternoon with the guys tomorrow. But that’s it for today, dear readers. Enjoy your day!

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, October 3, 2013:

There were no photos posted on this date ten years ago. Instead, we posted about what we needed to bring on our first safari in Africa. For details, please click here.