A Final Summary of 2025 - Happy New Year 2026

 Apache Junction - Highs 68 to 78   Lows  mostly in the low 50s and up to 60s

I haven't blogged in so long, I'm not sure I remember how to.  

My legs are back to "normal". Even after x-rays and all kinds of blood work, we still don't have any idea what happened to me. So we are hoping it was a one time thing. I haven't been doing much. Still can't walk too far. Enjoying visiting with all the snowbirds.  Going to the temple. Loving the cooler weather with the beautiful sunsets. Missing my family. 

 

Lots of pictures of Elias

The Gurrs and McKnights have made me an honorary Aunt and included me in all their holiday fun.

Thanksgiving

Christmas - Pat was in charge of the program and she decided that we should have breakfast for dinner and all of us wear our pajamas. We then had a program of music and stories. Stucky decided I was his new best friend for the evening and I had the most enjoyable time with him snuggled up close to me. After dinner and the program, they set up for donuts and hot cocoa. They let people know that they will be handing out goodies as people drive though their parking area. They have done this for five years now. In fact, the first time we went Jim was still with me. It's a lot of fun and they have a huge turnout.

Pat, Marilyn and I decided we needed to have a much needed lunch break. Pat reminded us that a brand new state-of-the art library had just opened in Mesa and we decided to check it out. Definitely not how I remember a library. No more shushing. Little ones were exercising their vocal chords and people were visiting. 

They have several separate areas for teenagers or children with sensory issues or nursing mothers. They offer all kinds of programs such as Pixel Paseo which is an interactive digital art display and THINKspot where you can go to relax, reflect or problem solve away from daily distractions. 

 

You can check out a wide variety of non-book items such as bike tire floor pump, or cake pans, croquet sets, and plant seeds.

After exploring the library we went to Wildflower Cafe for really good soup and sandwiches. Our next adventure is being planned.

 

I had a couple of visitors. Jim and I met Key several years ago but I only get to see him occasionally. He was on his way to Florida but had time before his plane left to meet me for lunch. Always fun to catch up with old friends.

And Vaughn actually stayed for a week. I've talked about him before in my blog. He's been my friend for 55 years and used to live in AZ. So he got to look up some people he knew and we had enough time to do some much needed visiting. He lives in Montana and is now thinking he may need to come back down to get out of the cold. We went to breakfast with Wendy and Paul so he could meet some of my friends. Then I introduced him to Pat. 

Little did I know that he and Pat knew many of the same people because Pat used to live in Miles City, MT (many years ago) and knew members of the church in both towns. Sometimes this world gets really small. 

Several of our RVing friends were in Mesa and we all got together at Mesa Regal resort. (My sister used to have a park model there but sold it when they decided they were not coming back for the winters.) They were able to claim a couple of tables and it was so fun to visit with everybody. And I appreciated the fact that they included me. I was really glad my legs were better so I could walk somewhat.

Our park also had some activities to enjoy. Our welcome back dinner and Christmas Cookies everywhere.

The annual side-by-side parade through our park and I did not get one picture. We also had our golf cart parade.

So I've been staying busy having lots of fun times. Christmas can be a lonely time without Jim but it's amazing how much good friends can help you through those times. As 2025 leaves us, I want to say how grateful I am to be surrounded by so much love.

One of the Christmas presents I received was from 15 year old Hunter McKnight. He is a very talented young man and has a 3D printer that he loves. He gave me a printed Mesa Temple. It's so beautiful. 
 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Leg Update

 AJ  High 91  Low 73

First of all, thank you to everyone who has checked in on me.  I am feeling about 85% better. I still have no idea what went wrong and my doctor's appointment is not until October 30. I no longer need a walker or a cane. However, by the evening, my legs ache and if I really have overdone it, my left foot drags. I, personally, think I must have done something to a nerve or a muscle and it is just taking me a long time to recover. 

I did have a deep tissue therapeutic massage which helped. She told me that my left hip was higher than my right but as she worked the muscles she could feel my hip start to relax and line up with my other hip. I have another massage scheduled for tomorrow.   

I have been out and about a couple of times, but that will be another post.  The neighborhood is filling up and it's fun to see all the activity happening after a long quiet hot summer. 

Home Sweet Home

 AJ. High 98. Low 84

I am so grateful to be home both mentally and physically.  Carol turned my A/C down so it was nice and cool in the house when I got here. Unpacked most of the trunk. Took me several days to get laundry done and things put away. 

 Something happened on my way home and I'm not sure what it was. But I could barely walk when I finally got here. I needed help to get up the stairs into the house. Help to unpack my car. Thank you to Carol and Melva who have taken such good care of me. 

 

I had hoped that once I got home and slept in my own bed and sat in my own recliner, that my legs would start working again but no such luck. Over a month later and I still have lots of pain when I walk. I could not get a doctor's appointment with my doctor until January so I have an appointment with a PA but not until October 30th.  I don't know how to describe what is wrong. It is like my left leg and foot have forgotten how to walk. It's very painful.

I am doing better and I even have a good day once in awhile. But most of the time I'm in my recliner because my legs don't hurt when I'm sitting. 

Melva loaned me a cane to use which helped but both legs need to be stabilized so Pam loaned me a walker. I'm hoping I will not need it much longer.  

We had a wild monsoon storm go through. Lots of wind and rain but no damage to our park. However, Globe and Miami, AZ did not fare so well. And we are expecting another stormy weekend starting tomorrow. We really need the rain but hopefully no more flooding.

 My neighbor's golf cart cover took a real beating with the wind and rain. 

That's about it from here. 
 

Almost Home

I am so ready to be home.  Seeing the Welcome to Arizona sign was a sight for sore eyes.  My right leg has started to ache so  I guess it's also tired of being in the car.  I made a few stops to walk around and make my leg happy.

The first one is Lake Powell at the Wahweap Bay Overlook. Welcome to Arizona. It was raining on me so I did a little happy dance in the parking lot. But then I looked at the lake. So sad and depressing at how low the water levels are. Still a beautiful place.

The two young ladies in the next picture must be influencers or wanna bes. They were busy standing in the rain changing clothes and posing. They did have an umbrella but I'm not sure they even saw the beauty all around them. 

About 30 miles south of Page, the clouds and rain went away and the temperature started to rise. Glad I stopped in Page and picked up a couple of bottles of water.

Next stop. Strawberry Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was built of pine logs in 1885 and is said to be the oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona. It became a historical Monument in 1981. 

The Old

The New

My next stop was Zane Grey's Cabin in Payson. The original cabin that he built, was destroyed in the 1990 Dude Fire. In 2005 they rebuilt an exact replica of the cabin using the original blueprints. He was known to write 10,000 words a day when he had a story he wanted to get on paper. He had a typewriter but preferred pen and paper. No pictures were allowed inside but it contains personal belongings as well as original first editions of some of his books. 

In 1929 Zane brought a film crew to AZ to film a bear hunt. However, he was unaware that the hunting season had been changed. He attempted to get a special license from the Governor but was denied. Grey vowed to never return to Arizona and his cabin was left abandoned for 30 years. Talk about holding a grudge. 

I was ready to call it quits and my hotel room was beckoning me. Now there are some people who know that Payson is only about an hour and a half drive from Apache Junction. Why in the world get a hotel room when you could easily make the drive. You must remember that AJ is still experiencing SUMMER!! I wanted to get home in the early hours of the day so I could unload the car when it wasn't 100 degrees. And I was tired. Worth the cost of a hotel room.