1994

When I start to think what to write about on any particular year, I always start by going to my photograph album and reviewing the photos of that year.     When I looked through 1994, I recalled that it was on a trip to Northern California that Dick had medical problems which resulted in our finding out about his diabetes.     But in recalling that I realized that I had missed two huge events involving Dick's health in the prior years.     He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in late 1991 and it we were quite concerned about it.     We had noticed when we were in the Alps that he was having a terrible time handling the altitude, and when his strength and stamina continued to be bad at home, we learned about his condition.     But in 1993 he had a gallbladder attack which resulted in two weeks in the hospital, most of which was spent in ICU.     First he had a major pancreas infection so they had to delay the gallbladder surgery.    He was really ill, and the surgeon was juggling the gallbladder needing to come out with his pancreasitis which made it impossible to operate.     Finally they did the surgery and it was late one evening.    It was passed midnight when I finally left the hospital with Dick in recovery and the surgery declared a success, although it had required larger surgery than they had anticipated.     I was woken up about 5.30 the next morning to say that Dick was in ICU.     When I arrived, his blood pressure was 49 over 18 and they were pumping his lungs.     It was only by the alertness of the ICU nurse that he survived, as his heart failed.     Another week in ICU before he was able to come home.    

Less than a week after arriving home, he had a major sneeze one day and opened up his incision.     We rushed to the doctor at the hospital and he had to remove the stitches and open the wound (about 1-1/2 inch deep and some 10 inches long) all with me standing there!     Since I didn't pass out, he told me that I could take care of him at home and it would prevent his having to drive all the way from Caruthers to North Fresno twice a day to have it done at the hospital.     We can't remember how long it took to completely heal up from the inside out, but twice a day for quite a long time, I had to remove the dressings, open up the wound and clean it out, and put new dressings on.     Quite an experience.
Dick's faithful Samanth would sit on the bed by his side and supervise the whole thing!    She would probably have bitten me if I had made a mistake!!

Dick's strength was slow in coming back and we decided to make 1994 a slow moving year devoted to rest and relaxation.     We spent three months in the winter months at Twenty Nine Palms, California in an RV park with a golf course:

and taking numerous side trips.

Joshua National Forest

Lake Havasu and London Bridge.     This bridge was actually in London when I lived there and I have walked across it.

San Felipe, Baja California, just to name a few.   

Later in the year we went to Northern California

and Crater Lake, Oregon.

I don't know if I ever told you, but the first Christmas Dick and I spent together he took me home to Wales, but the second Christmas was spent in Santa Barbara.     We were out of work at the time and money was tight to say the least.     We didn't have the money to buy any worthwhile gifts, so made a big deal about making elaborate packaging.     We kept this tradition up for almost 35 years and the following is one of Dick's masterpieces (he always outdid me).

We had another addition to the family for a short time during this year - another drop off dog that we named Rusty.    Rusty had quite a personality and I think a real sense of mischief and humor.     He loved to follow me into the bedroom and when I was quiet and my eyes closed, he would take the blanket in his teeth and slowly but surely start pulling it off me.     All I had to do was open my eyes, and he would immediately drop it and look at me in total innocence!    Close my eyes and there came the tugs again.     Unfortunately he was hit by a car up the road from us and we only enjoyed his delightful personality for a few months.

Samantha was two years old when I brought her home from the pound and she lived to over 15.     Of all the photos I ever took of her, this is my favorite.