Goodbye, Powder Mill Road

[MajGenl.Meade]

The sale of our house closed today and the money is in the bank. Goodbye to Kent, Ohio at least for a while. We have our four suitcases packed and ready to go. The flight to England leaves Saturday at 7pm and we hope to enjoy 7 fun-filled family days in Essex (yes, that Essex). Then we should be in Bloemfontein again on October 2, hoping that the car still works and the house hasn't become a tenement for camel spiders, scorpions and other friendly neighborhood bugs.

We were supposed to travel at the start of August, though selling the house was not in the plan. That all came about because of the vision problem which brought about the carotid endarterectomy which in turn gave me the pleasure of a triple by-pass which delayed our departure long enough for someone to show up wanting to buy the house without us ever listing it. And they say there's no planner and no plan! Mind, some of the details seem a bit unnecessary....

I can't see us coming back to the USA any sooner than this time in 2019 and then only for a brief period. The old plan of spending 6 mos. in SA and 6 mos. here has definitely gone by the wayside. Along with our furniture.

This is the third time in 8 years we've got rid of everything (except those four suitcases). It seems likely we'll only have to do that one more time - or perhaps just one of us will.

Anyway, don't tell anyone but we're flying Egyptair from London to South Africa with a short layover in Cairo. Maybe we'll never have to sell out again....

[rubato]

Sorry to hear about the health problems. You've been through a pretty tough road surgically. I hope your vision is restored to normal after all of that.


yrs,
rubato

[Long Run]

Here is to good travels, and better health! Hope things go well for you where ever you are.

[RayThom]

MGM, like a Timex watch you "Take a Lickin’ and Keep On Tickin’." Keep in mind, the alternative is probably worse. Plus it pisses off your enemies. I wish you well.

"... So goodbye powder mill road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough..."

[Guinevere]

Be well, Meade. Enjoy the travels and the freedom and flexibility.

[Guinevere]

Sorry to hear about the health problems. You've been through a pretty tough road surgically. I hope your vision is restored to normal after all of that.


yrs,
rubato

And how are your eyes doing? Well, I hope.

[Lord Jim]

Geez Meade, the knees, the eyes, and a triple bypass...

It's a bitch when the warranty runs out...

I really hope your sight has been restored, and that you have chosen a path that will bring you the greatest sense of happiness...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thank you all. Actually LJ, I feel like a new man.

(Where do you find one at this time of day?)

The vision... that wasn't so bad. Just the left eye kept on taking a holiday. It took a year of various doctors before a very smart ophthalmic surgeon decided it just might be a carotid blockage. That's it all right. The left blood supply is completely lost and the right was 90% blocked. Now it isn't.

The eye went haywire once since then when I was in the hospital recovering from the bypass. That presaged the TIA which seemed to surprise no one other than me. It is a terrible feeling to be absolutely mentally coherent and unable to speak anything other than gibberish. (If you people can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all! )

What is lost... about 25 lbs and my voice. (Yeah, yeah). I might be able to speak with some volume in 6-8 months they say. I say Oh I really hope so. Meantime, it's the hoarse whisperer.

[Big RR]

sounds like you're doing well and you have a plan. Wishing you all the best going forward--it sounds like the body is tuned up for a while.

[rubato]

Sorry to hear about the health problems. You've been through a pretty tough road surgically. I hope your vision is restored to normal after all of that.


yrs,
rubato

And how are your eyes doing? Well, I hope.

AFU After a series of surgeries the retinal detachment was repaired but acquired folds which make for a Salvador Dali visual in that eye. I recalculated the financial numbers* and quit my job. Driving a high speed winding mountain road in traffic in the dark and bad weather was unreasonably difficult when necessity is not the issue. Anyhow, looking for something on this side of the mountain and making contacts with volunteer and charitable groups.

yrs,
rubato

*Index funds are a good thing. Our savings was and is mostly in index funds. Bonds and target date funds are a waste of time unless you are trying to retire with as little as possible.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Good for you, rubato. Much success. (Obviously, I didn't understand Guin's question). Memory is not what it used

[Guinevere]

I'm sorry Rube. AFU vision is not fun. Sounds like you have made a good decision.

[Sue U]

My best wishes for you, Meade! On to new adventures! You didn't need rattling about in Ohio anyway when there is so much to do in Bloemfontein; I truly envy you. Post pictures and keep us up to date, will you? Some of us live vicariously.

[Guinevere]

Meade how was Cairo? Did you spend any time there?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Guin, I told Margaretta that, "No, we cannot check Egypt off the bucket list". 2.5 hours in the airport deep into the dark night does not constitute a visit. However, it was mildly interesting.

We followed signs for "Transfer" passengers, seeking our onward flight, only to find that the signs petered out and we (all) were in a sort of open concourse which clearly was outside any security zone. After some drifting about, a small group decided that "over there" must be our destination and we wandered into a full security check-up line - bags through the x-rays; humans through the metal detector. What with the knees and the chest, mine lights up and I look for the human x-ray device to go stand in. Instead, a nice Egyptian security guard gave me a perfunctory pat-down and a share in his 24-hour aroma. There was a suitably clad female ready to pat-down any non-male passengers.

We moved on to the "gate". Six chairs. People are slumped all over a wide hallway; playing cards, reading, talking. Seven thousand of 'em were pounding cell phones. Eventually the door opened and we moved forward ready to board the aircraft - but, no! This was the line to go into the real waiting area - and to get there.... another full security check. Separate line for women.

Rats! The women's line went much faster. (a) fewer women and (b) more efficient female security staff. Meantime, on the men's side, several passengers became agitated when wife/s.o. was taken out of the line and made to go in a different direction. "Ma femme!" "I say, chaps!" Those of us far enough along to see that it was simply a security check and not the corridor of rotating knives, did our best to calm the forlorn husband/s.o.

Eventually, in a cloud of b.o. (and let's face it, most of us had been traveling hard for a lot of hours) we made it to the plastic chairs and that was Egypt.

Glad you asked?

[Gob]

Geez Meade, the knees, the eyes, and a triple bypass...

Someone upstairs REALLY doesn't like Meade.

Best of luck though Meade, hit us up for a donation to any of your worthy causes, (which do not involve evangelism...)