On my birthday, I got a call from Florida.  Guess Tom is paying for an unexpected, added birthday gift.

I headed down the day after my birthday and stayed for nine days while Mom brought Dad home from the hospital and settled in at home.
A lot of changes to be made and routines to be set.
I flew out of Erie, to Philly, then to Orlando.  I ended up in Tallahassee where Aunt  Bette Jo picked me up. So this is their Big Town.

  She took me right off to the hospital to meet with Mom and Dad.   They were just getting ready to release him.
It was finally dark by the time we drove by and picked up the medication he would be needing.  It sure seemed like a long way from the city when it's dark and you don't know where you are being taken!
In the daylight came the surprise of where I actually was.

A view from the kitchen window every morning as I got my coffee and breakfast.  Hang out the flag as soon as it was daylight.   I could see those giant pinecones that had fallen in the front yard and drove Mom crazy.   I would work at getting breakfast ready for them  while Mom got Dad up and moving.  When he finished his morning routine he would come out and get comfy in his chair and have breakfast.  Usually his routine was sitting on the edge of the bed in the morning and evaluating how he feels.  Then off to take care of business.  Walking with the help of his walker he would go in and sit on the edge of the tub and I could see him grab his comb and start combing back his hair.  Watching himself in the mirror, it reminded me of "Fonzie" in the opening credits of "Happy Days". 

  Once in a while he would shave if he needed.  Then out he would come.    I would do some housework while Mom trained herself in pharmaceutical, and did a few things for herself.  I liked working in the kitchen.  I had made some homemade bread and cookies while I was there.  I made some peanut butter ones knowing Dad liked them.

Take a look at this kitchen that I got to work in.   Dad remodeled it all, including making the kitchen counters!

A time or two I went with her to get Dad's meds in a local town.

I got to see the moss in the trees.  They told me that it only grows along this area of Florida.  Meaning southern Georgia/Northern Florida.   Uncle Dick took me over to see his home too.   I even got to see his little green car!   He has many old  memorable pictures there.  Ones of my maternal grandparents, and of my maternal great grandparents.  I was hoping to get a picture with a picture from my camera (I love how  camera can do that) but time escaped us.
 One day I decided to go out and get some fresh air.  I went out back and picked up a few sticks and pinecones that fell.   Then I  got to thinking about how they said they have red ants, and how they bite, and how Tommy's girlfriend Devin said that they all ban together and can give you a good SHOCK.  Then I stood up and heard a "WHIZZ"  fly by my face.  O.k.  I live in the woods, but this really bothered me out here.  I was done!
Inside, I picked up a pair of needles Mom had and made up a few washcloths for Mom, Aunt Bette Jo, and Mom's friend Evelyn.  She and her husband are such good neighbors that brought in a dinner when they first arrived home.  They are the friends that played the Train Game every Friday night.
As all things, my trip had to come to an end.  Mom got a grip on things and Dad was feeling good.   Before I left though, Dad took me in and showed me the train station buildings he had worked on. 

This one is an electric sub station.  Pretty neat!  He even made some of his own add ons from leftover pieces he had.  See "Reddy Kilowatt"?  He even has one of the foreman standing there up in arms over what to do next! 

Great pictures to take back with me.