Periodically I have to shut down writing these THINKING ALLOWED essays.  Either medical reasons or trips place me in the position of bottling up all the things I want to comment on.  I really do miss my morning assignments at the computer keyboard where I either vent or find something interesting to make interesting (I hope) remarks about.

Today is Saturday, three days before we start on a 16 day (with enough underwear, socks and shirts for 18 days) motor trip up north with the express purpose of meeting a great grand-daughter.  She is just the catalyst because we found ourselves caught in the dilemma about our stamina. We are counting on this stamina to see friends and special people who are on the route planned out by AAA and Carol’s super thinking skills.  I just sit back and find out where and when we are going.

Of course, since we have made the commitment to take this trip there are the problems associated with closing down our operation here in South Florida.  “Pills”, should be the title for much of Carol’s time has been spent in bullying and cajoling the druggists and our doctors to keep those pills they say we need coming to cover our days away from the suppliers.  Carol has been wonderful – particularly for leaving me out of the struggle she has with people who do not understand that while we are away our supply (dictated by doctors) must be topped off in case of emergencies.

Then, too, there is the packing that must be accomplished with gifts in order of arrival at new places.  They have to be put in the car just so in order that when we stop the car we can place our hands on the next on the list and walk into our temporary home with proper gift in hand.

Last, but not least, there is preparing our home here in North Miami Beach for our leaving.  This now includes installing a storm cover for the front door.  ‘This will cover the louvered glass in the only access to our home. It is not yet finished but will be in time for us to lock it behind us.  We have to face the first use of our hurricane shutters which we understand in theory but have not had practice in putting them all up the night before and then leaving with car properly packed and us inside, saying goodbye for a while.

So, we “gotta” go now.  THINKING ALLOWED is shutting down for about three weeks and we know we will miss you and hope you will think of us now and then.