Chapter VII 1992-2002 Age 60 to 70

Follow you passion and success will follow you. Arthur Buddhold.

As I recall the only trip I made in 1992 was to California. Nebraska gets wicked in the winter months, so being a warm weather person I did need to return to warm weather and  visit my friends. When I say wicked that is likely an understatement. I recall once not being able to go to the mailbox at the end of my driveway for 3 days, due to temperatures of 40 degrees below zero. My poodle was much braver than me. She loved the snow and would dig holes and come back in the house with ice cycles hanging from her long beautiful ears. I think it was this year I sustained a knee injury and had an arthroscopy, followed by being on crutches for a few weeks.

1993, A trip to Texas to visit a friend. My trips were brief, as both my parents needed my nursing care. I continued to work for the Ophthalmologist as well as some independent consulting.

In June of 1994 with friends, a cruise of the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean visiting Yalta and Odessa, Russia. Followed by Istanbul, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Olympia, Romania and ending in Venice. Flights were a little messed up due to weather conditions.

In January of 1995 Dr. Schlichtermier treated his entire staff, including spouses to a 6-day trip from Omaha to Cabo San Lucas, including handing each of us $150.00 at the airport for spending money. It was his way of saying Thank you for the many hours the staff had worked during the time when RK surgery was high on the priority list of those that were near sighted.  He holds a record of never having an employee resign, for any reason, other than relocation away from Omaha. My father passed away the end of October of this year.

In 1996 I flew from Omaha to Honolulu to board the USS Nimitz on a 6 day Tiger cruise. My stepson was with one of the squadrons and they were returning from deployment. As I have related I’ve been on many luxury cruises, but 6 days on the Nimitz was a shinning star in relation to all other trips. When they announced over the loud speaker, “all Tigers to the flight deck” you can bet I was the first one up to the flight deck. We sailed from Hawaii to San Diego. My two-step daughters were also on the trip. An aircraft carrier is a huge floating city, however the food was so good, I managed to gain 8 pounds.

I returned to Nebraska to continue the task of caring for my stepmother who had Alzheimer’s disease. She passed away at the end of the year. Both of my parents were cared for in their home and not subjected to a Nursing Home. We all managed to do what was required to accomplish keeping them at home to the end.

In 1997 having reached my golden retirement age of 65, I put in my resignation to the University of Nebraska. Somewhere along the line I had been hired as a staff member, instead of a consultant. I might have lasted a little longer, however having 3 patients; ages 49, 50, and 51 all expire within a 2-week period took toil on me. As many WOCN’s burn out in about 5 or 6 years, I figured lasting 15 years was a pretty good record. I decided my tasks given to me by a higher power were complete and it was time for me to move on. Again I will encourage you to schedule a colonoscopy if you are over the age of 50.  I may be a Nebraskan by birth, but a Californian by choice. My stepson and family persuaded me to move to Hanford, California. It is in the San Joaquin Valley. He was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station. That turned out to be a terrible mistake. That Valley is the 2^nd most polluted place in America. Houston, Texas ranks first. With my history of allergies I was actually told my physician I needed to get out of the Valley. Even my little poodle, Cherie developed emphysema. Not to mention the fact it was a very boring place to live. I did attempt to do some volunteer work for the Health Department, but didn’t last long, when I called a nurse on the fact that she given a patient and his wife incorrect information. Sounded to me like a little more of the fraud I witnessed working for VNA of Omaha. And where does the Public Health Department get their funding. The California Tax payers, of course. House went on the market and I made trips to Oceanside to find a house. Oceanside, is where I wanted to move to, when I left Omaha, but got side tracked. At last, my goals are falling in place.

I moved to Oceanside, 20 October 2000. I had to march down to this area in a hurry, to beat the moving company for a door-to-door move. I arrived about 2000 on the 19^th and the moving van arrived at 0800 the following AM. I stayed in my newly purchased home, as long ago, I learned to carry a Japanese futon, pillows, sheets and a blanket with me so I could avoid dealing with motels because of my 4 legged friends.

By the end of March of 2001 I was reasonably settled, so went on line to find the local Navy League Council. Yes, yes, yes. Who was on the other end of the phone, but our friend? That would be Mr. Albert R. Renteria. I wasn’t on the phone 3 minutes, when he was twisting my arm to become the Council Secretary. My answer. I’m a nurse, not a secretary. Did that work. Of course not. He put people on my trail and I got one message I really remember. “Who takes better notes than a nurse”. Thus the beginning of a new adventure.

I know this is getting lengthy, but would like to make it to 2002 in this chapter, so bear with me.

Through Navy League, I also became acquainted with some special and I do mean special people. Many are still fast friends and have been at my side, when I was in a dilemma of some sort.As a result of these new friends, my introduction to Operation Interdependence, ending up as Area Manager of Oceanside for 5 years. I will have to admit, I loved the job, but did take a break and travel to Thailand for 3 weeks with a friend from Kentucky. I highly recommend this trip. I traveled to San Francisco to greet my traveling friend that I had not seen for 30 years. We landed in Bangkok, traveled to Chaing Mai, and then went to Cambodia. I don’t remember our exact itinerary but in short in Bangkok the outdoor market, the Samnoen Duduak floating market, Opium Museum, Orchid gardens, training center for elephants, Kanchanabouri War Cemetery, Golden Triangle, Bridge over the River Kwai, built during the last 2 years of WWII, by 16,000 allied prisoners of war, mostly from Btitain, Australia, USA and Holland. Just before the end of the war, the allies’ bombed the bridge. We had a raff ride down some steam of water, rode elephants and had a dinner cruise on the Chao Phranga River in Bangkok. We also visited the island of Phuket. 

I don’t know about you that are reading this, but this lady is getting tired of writing, so as this brings me up to 2002, I managed to accomplish these 10 years without turning it into 2 parts. I’ll polish my halo tomorrow.

You are not stuck where you are, unless you decide to be. Unknown.