…that Colin suffered a stroke. A stroke that left my dear husband totally paralyzed on the right side. Fortunately he did not lose his speech. Unfortunately he used the power of the word often that first month about not wanting to keep living as he was. The medical team told us that Colin was lucky to be alive. That a stroke in this part of the brain has never been recorded in a patient in the medical books as ever having recovered. That if he lived he would be basically remain a vegetable. The doctor told Colin to go and buy a lottery ticket as he was very lucky.
It is because of Colin’s extremely strong mind and will power that he is walking today. The guitar playing hopefully won’t be far behind. I never gave up trying to find the very best therapists. We spent everything we could on therapy and more and trying this and trying that. We seem to have found the perfect combination. One more year and Colin should be back to as normal as he ever will be.
Lots of resting between the tiring therapy sessions. The girls always sit with him.
Now we need peace and quiet and time to do want needs to be done.
Oops, one less doxie to pack!
But first we must get through the difficult week ahead of us. As you read in my last post the house in Kelowna, Canada has been sold. Tomorrow we meet with a Mexican notary along with our brand new ten year Canadian passports that recently arrived. All the paper work will be properly notarized and sent back to our lawyer in Lake Country, B.C. whom have been ever so helpful to us. Completion on May 27th and possession is May 28th.
The smaller of the two iguanas teases the girls.
We have to be so very careful when opening the RV door so that there are no more battles. Can you see the iguana on the top of the fence post to the left of Carlie’s ear?
Meanwhile back here on Isla De La Piedra we are awaiting the arrival of a second potential buyer for our 45′ Monaco Signature RV. The timing of this buyer has caused some stress but it is good stress. Well can stress be good? Maybe I should say a positive stress because the stress is still physically painful and mentally challenging. It is a welcome stress but must be lived through to get to the end result.
Lots of fragiles to pack.
It takes me a few hours to get started but once I am on a roll – watch out!! Let the packing begin. It seems that I all have been doing is packing storage totes and now large cardboard boxes. One even came with a scorpion, our first one. Fortunately Colin dealt with it before I saw it. It is rather amazing the amount of things we were able to ‘cram’ into this RV, so very much storage. Nice to have all that we brought from home. And in repacking I am not throwing very much out. Glad those difficult decisions were made the summer of 2024. As I said in my last post, we both had hoped to spend more time in the RV but it that was not in our future.
We had a medical appointment last Wednesday. For the first time in 16 years we were held up for 40 minutes by “that train”! It blocks the road we have to cross from the ferry boat lancha to get a taxi to get into Mazatlan. The embarcadero is so close to the shipping docks that this train thing happens perhaps once per day. But this was a record long blockage. The doctor waited to see Colin. Mexico is great.
So suddenly we are having to pack up and move quickly. This potential buyer has not yet actually confirmed that he is arriving May 2nd but if he does and buys the coach he is planning to leave here on May 3rd and drive it back to the USA. He is not retired. The gentleman is actually selling his personal RV, today, April 27th.
The older sunset cruise boat.
Fortunately Colin and I had already rented a condo for May 1st. We had expected to move in slowly over the month but now we are moving in mere hours. It has been flurry of activity and planning and arranging a multitude of details. The rental truck is booked for 2:00PM May 1st and so on and so on…..
And the very fancy newer boat.
But what you don’t know is that this move is only for 3 months!!! The condo that we intend to live in long term is only available on August 1st. So we are moving into an Airbnb for 3 months in the same complex. Only we are moving into one tower of the complex this week. You guessed it 8O! We have to move yet again the end of July into the other tower. We figured it might take us 9 months to finally get organized 😮 Who else but us would move twice 😳 I know, I know – but it will be so worth it.
The blue line on the left is our 3 month rental commencing in only four sleeps while the red line on the right represents our long term rental starting August 1st.
It has been bit of a difficult several weeks as we have been low on water. It just stopped coming in from Mazatlan. We have it less days than we have it which makes it difficult to get all the laundry done that I had planned to do while packing.
Fortunately 90% of what I wanted to sell has sold which has been helpful. Especially as we are paying for rent for two locations the month of May.
We sold our UTV to a lovely family from Rosario.
Well I best get back to the packing….my priority – but I needed a break so I posted.
Only four more sleeps.
Super news!! Keep pressing forward. We all love the updates and can hardly wait to see the new place! We know this building. Hugs and stay well!! 💖
Best of luck! So happy for you all!
Looks like a lovely place to move to and the views will be amazing. Maybe we might have to rent an Air B&B in that area for a couple of months to get away from our winters as we no longer will be wintering in AZ. Fingers crossed for the sale of your RV and happy moving.
Good luck on the move
Probably won’t unpack everything till August I assume
You have had a busy year
Was great to see you both , never know if or when we will be back
Adios to the iguanas
Oh my…the times just get busier and busier, but it appears that you have a very positive attitude, which is wonderful with all that’s ahead in the next “few sleeps”. Darn delay, that train, but wonderful the doctor waited for you. Hope the motor home purchaser realizes what a fabulous vehicle/home he’ll get, as you and Colin have treated it like gold since purchasing it. So glad your Kelowna home sale is finalized…that must’ve been a worry over all those months. This one-year stroke anniversary shows how far Colin has progressed…and in the next year, he’ll be practicing his dance steps with you again. Glad you’re looking forward to his guitar playing! Thank you for posting and showing us the two towers and your temporary Air B&B as well as full-time home with fabulous views. Exciting–and busy days–ahead. Will look forward to any news whenever you have time to jot down a new post. Be well, folks!
So many changes for you in the last year! Hoping the move will go without a hitch and you will soon be in your new location. I can only imagine the sunsets you will see and hope your camera will catch a few to share with your readers. Continued improvement in health for Colin and a more restful time for you.
Contessa, you are a trooper. I hope these two moves will be less challenging than you expect. Please don’t over due it. Your health comes first:)
Good Luck with Mike.
Paul
So nice hearing from you all four; congratulations on all the sales that took place; Is my hope the RV is also sold. What a view from the condo, love it !! ❤️ ❤️
As a former RVer who is now stationary in an apartment, I must say I love it! I hop you do, too.
Happy you will be settled soon.. Good to hear your house and MTR.Home have been sold.. Stress-free move..Good luck with you both and continued improvement with Colleen..Hugs to both and the sweet girls .💕
Good grief! So many changes since I last logged in to your webpage. (I found you again with a link from The Bayfield Bunch page. ) That is sad news about Colin and his stroke, needing to sell your RV, and moving off of the Isla. You must have incredible stamina to endure all that you have had to face over the last year or so. When my partner was diagnosed with cancer and with approaching an end of life (now 17 years ago,) I told people that you just “do what has to be done”. You seem to be doing that now. It’s a mindset that allows a person to push through and let go of the familiar. I’m glad to see that you have found the energy to do that.
Once again, u have it all planned and organized… Truly an inspiration. I fund myself saying to myself, self: if Contessa can do it!
Please take care of yourself. Try to take relaxing times for yourself
…take care and God Bless
I think if I were you I would have to spend the 3 months in the condo just looking out the window and breathing.
What a year your have had.
Thanks for the update! Hopefully the RV sale will go through quickly and most of the stress will be gone from your lives!