We made it back to North Carolina on Tuesday. On Wednesday we took Ellie to our Vet. She has an "old" dog spinal condition. Very strange since we're pretty sure she is actually between 4 and 5 years old. The Vet took new x-rays and has sent them off to a Radiologist for review. He wants to make sure there isn't any bone infection that he can't see in the film. In the meantime, no cure for the condition just treat the pain and try to prevent flare-ups. We're pretty sure this one was caused by her slipping in wet grass on Sunday. Medication for pain and inflammation. Surgery is the only possible fix. Yuck!!! She got a shot of steroids yesterday and has started feeling better today. And she already doesn't like that she can't chase and run. Only walks on a leash for 10-15 minutes 2-3 times a day. I think Gary will miss the playing as much as she will. This "cage rest" is to go on for 6-8 weeks. Patience is sure going to be needed. The vet was great and offered that we call him whenever we need to talk about what is happening to her. I guess this is better than some things but not as good as just a temporary injury. At least she isn't hurting as much today.
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14 years ago
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Only in America, land of retirement
They grew up in Durham, a product of the public schools; she graduated, he dropped out and joined the army at 17.
When he told his father what he wanted to do, his father thought his son was crazy. So the father looked his son in the eye and said, “Okay. You think you want to join the army? Well, I’ll show you.” And he did. He signed the paper.
Luckily, the young man learned his lesson in Germany, not Vietnam. He did his time and learned a trade: air conditioning and refrigeration.
The two young folks met when he finished his tour of duty and came back to Durham. He got his GED and went to work for the University of North Carolina in air conditioning and refrigeration. She went to work for the UNC Hospitals in medical coding.
They married and had a daughter, and they bought a house, living the American dream. They weren’t rich, far from it, but they did their jobs well and gradually worked their way up through the ranks.
Time flies when you are having fun, and they had lots of fun. They learned to enjoy camping, first in tents and later in a small pop-up camper. They continued to work and soon came a new house. Later came a bigger pop-up trailer.
The daughter graduated from high school and (eventually) went out on her own, marrying and going to work. The parents became empty nesters, if you don’t count the dog that filled the gap.
Suddenly 30 years had passed, and at the amazing age of 53, he retired and took a job in the private sector making as much as he had before he retired. He knew his trade and as a bonus for his employer, his benefits were being paid for by the state.
He worked on for three years as he waited for his bride to do her 30. It did not take long. She also had a skill that was in demand and she was able to tele-commute at her leisure.
So here we have two very young retirees who love to camp. For the past 12 years they lived across the street from me. For the past 27 years they have been best friends.
Then just a couple of months ago, they were gone. Just like that, gone from my life, leaving a huge void.
Nope, they didn’t die. They put their house on the market, bought a 30-foot camper, and suddenly they were on the road like Charles Kuralt, seeing this great country of ours up close and personal.
I follow them on the internet, through their blog, as the travel to Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York and Maine. For them it is just the beginning. For me it is more of an end. No longer can I walk out my front door and smell steaks cooking on their grill, knowing I can holler out his name and hear his reply.
We still talk through the magic of cell phones, and North Carolina remains home base, as her parents still live here, but the old neighborhood will never be the same.
As I grow older and wiser I tell young people this story and hope they will learn from it. If they have a job working for the government and stick with it, they too can live the American dream of retirement at a young age with plenty of years to enjoy themselves.
It’s not a bad life, don’t you think?
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