Chuck just didn't seem to be himself after his fall so we'd arranged for an appointment with an internist in Grand Junction. It's approximately 110 miles to GJ with NO food or potty stops so we decided to pick up a quick snack at McDonalds. I guess I was taking too much time deciding what I wanted because when I looked up, a car had slipped in between our car and the one that had been in front of me. I yelled out "that's not very gentlemanly" and the discussion went downhill from there. Chuck got irate, got out of the car and yelled "would you say that to your mother?," when the young man jumped out of his car and rushed back to push Chuck on both shoulders saying, "I ought to break your other arm old man and give you a matched pair." At this point, I called 911. Chuck might have looked weak with his cast but I think it's a good thing that I got in between the two of them or Chuck might have clocked him with his deadly cast. The upshot was that we spent 1/2 hour talking to the police and filling out forms - and being asked if we could kindly go to Burger King so that we'd get away from the scene. I should have asked for a drug screen but I really wasn't thinking...it wasn't so much that he called me a bitch...it was the "OLD bitch" that got me going!
Good thing we had a long drive to cool down. Imagine an area so remote that they have a road sign warning "Eagles on Hwy."
The upshot of the doctor visit was that we learned that Chuck's thyroid was off and also that he probably has sleep apnea. Now, in addition to the wires that were already hanging, we've got tubing from a condenser running to the back so that Chuck can use oxygen at night. Hopefully that situation will improve when we return to a lower altitude - he'll follow up with our doctor when we're home in August. On 7/16, he'll have the pins removed from his forearm. Oh, happy day.
The second trip to the Moab emergency room took place 3 nights ago. Chuck started to exit the RV when he realized that the steps had mysteriously retracted. He had a terrible fall - imitating a flying Wollenda while trying to protect his cast as he went down. Fortunately, he appears to just be contused and abused with no additional breaks. If you still have one of those horrible old rabbit's feet, could you lend it to us?
In the meantime, we've had the opportunity to see some of the incredible beauty of this area: Arches, Canyonlands, and the Needles District National Parks and Dead Horse State Park. All breathtakingly beautiful. The RV park we're in is next to a creek and faces high red cliffs. A white Robin, considered sacred by Native Americans, inhabits our park. The dirt here is so red that they sell "Red Dirt T-shirts" - so they look cleaner longer. The smoky-purple LaSal Mountains are to our back. The mountain peaks have had snow with subsquent melting several times since we arrived. The huge cottonwoods in the park seem to drop their own snow...fluffy white seeds that are so profuse that they actually pile up in places. We've had very little rain and it does get pretty hot - so hot that McDonalds sells 10# ice bags!
We had no intention of returning to Roswell but we're not that far away and the schedule of speakers for the annual celebration is so phenomenal that we've decided to go back - leaving tomorrow. Chuck will drive in the cities and I'm going to try driving on the more deserted stretches. YIKES. The plan is to go 20 miles and if it seems like it's going to be too much we'll go back and just drive the car. In addition to the presentation given by Ron Regehr, we'll see Don Schmitt (from Wisconsin) Jesse Marcel, Jr., Derryl Sims (the "Alien Hunter"), Kathleen Marden (niece of Betty Hill), Ruben Uriarte (MUFON),Richard Dolan, Peter Robbins and Travis Walton among others.
Will report on all of that later. In the meantime, I think I'll have a sip of one of the local brews "Polygamy Porter." Here's to you!
Love,
Vicki and Chuck
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