Holy cow what a holiday season. So Gina's Mom gets somewhat pressured into visiting her SIL in New Mexico. SIL says she'll pay for a train ticket. Gina's Mom says she has a bad feeling and hesitant but her SIL still insisting. Gina tells her to pass on the offer but her Mom thinks this could be her last chance to visit home seeing she grew up in Albuquerque. All 6 of her siblings and parents hone, Gina's Mom is the last one. So she wants to see nieces and nephews maybe one last time. She'll be 82 in May and actually in pretty good shape and damn strong. Lady ain't no sissy, I see where Gina gets it from. She rearranges her furniture often with no problem. Very strong 💪
So she goes no covid requirements for the train ride. She wears her mask but packed in a holiday train ride, 14 hours iirc.
She gets to Albuquerque on the 23rd and feeling ill on the 24th. 3 days later she calls Gina barely able to speak. Her SIL, bitchy type seems bothered having to take her for medical treatment. WTH!!! GET THERE CALL UBER, GET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM!!! SOMETHING!!!!
So Gina's upset because Mom is crying saying she thinks this is it. She thinks she went home to NM to die seeing her last brother passed exactly a year ago.
She goes in, Gina's siblings out of state, the ones local can't do much. The hospital won't let anybody visit anyway. Well crap, we have 4 days off for Christmas and can make the drive to pick her up but the hospital won't release her.
I tell Gina we can't drive down there now because of that and I'm worried about the weather. It's freaking pouring and several ice snow warnings in NM. Gina's Mom is very scared and calling/texting daily saying she might not survive. Voice sounds bad but I think about it. Gina, she's been really bad for 3 days but yet still texting and calling. Your Mom is one tough cookie and if she's still communicating, she's going to be OK.
I was right, she starts getting better. She doesn't want to ride the train, plane etc and still wants us to drive up to pick her up. She just wants to get home being released on the 5th of January. Pneumonia as well so her stay was rough. The entire time, the 23rd to the 5th, she didn't get to visit much.
Her SIL ends up with covid too but not serious, still at home just fine.
So now, the 5th, I have a vacation day and 3 sick days. I'll take them and head over to Albuquerque to pick her up. I'm worried about the drive with the way it's been raining here. But her Mom treats me like a king so how can I say no?
This really sucked! Gina and I work Wednesday planning to have the car serviced on Thursday. Luckily Gina took it in to America tire with her bonus warranty road hazard policies. Free rotation and they find a nail. Free repair as well. Great policy saved us a few times now, $20 new tire replacement type saves.
To make it easy that night getting home late, pick up Roundtable pizza. MISTAKE!! Got food poisoning. Next morning we both woke up puking. I rarely puke so I was surprised at how it shot out not wanting to wait at all. You know, that full on sprint to the bowl.
Feeling sick and weak, we stayed in bed till 2 pm puking and 💩. Felt bad after that but had to take the car in for the oil change. Got there, felt ok but near the end, I started feeling bad. I only puked once but Gina several times which is normal. She's far more sensitive that way.
I thought I was good but started feeling bad at the oil place. Went to the restroom just in case. Nothing, no puke or poop. Ok! Car is done, get in feel ok but as soon as we hit the road, I get this sour feeling in my cheeks . Crap, I gotta puke. I had brought some plastic shopping bags just in case.
I asked Gina to go to the pharmacy for stomach meds. Of course 20 yards away, I have to puke!
I grab the bag, open it then puke violently. Not once, twice but like 5 BIG times. I was shocked and so was Gina saying she was REALLY shocked because she had never seen me puke.
I almost filled up the bag. But the kicker, I was puking in the bag thinking, this puke is warm because I can feel it right through the bag and yeah, it's warm. I finish my third load then look down only to realize that the bag had folded in by my chest and I puked all over myself like an 8 year old kid. 🤣
Lucky just on myself and not any on Gina's car. So then I got the Pepto. Great! I was good after that but real shaky the next morning when it was time to leave. Gina was still somewhat sick but I was feeling better.
Luckily, a big break for us, one of Gina's cousins that didn't get a chance to visit her Mom, offered to drive her from Albuquerque to Flagstaff. Saving us 10 hours and about 600 miles of driving. Bless her and her hubby's hearts.
So Gina and I make reservations in Laughlin for 2 nights. Drive half way to Flagstaff, spend the night. Pick up The Package on Saturday, drive back then stay in Laughlin another night. Gina's Mom loves to 🎰 and a member so I figured she'd like it.
Of course, heading out Saturday morning, you know I'd be up all night I mean all night with stomach issues. I mean running to the bowl every 5 minutes. Oh my, slept about 2 hours before midnight, up till 6 am, slept 30 minutes then had to get up to drive 6 hours.
I was super worried having to be on the bowl 20 minutes before leaving. I was very worried! Enough to buy a REALLY expensive bottle of Pepto at the gift shop. Took a big chug then headed to the gas station to fill up hoping I wouldn't poop myself by then. 🤣
I don't know what happened but a miracle, I went 3 hours to flagstaff, 3 hours back and didn't have to go once, not even to tinkle, AMAZING!!!
Returned to Bullhead City, other side of the river from Laughlin. It was about 5 pm and hadn't had a thing all day so I actually ate pretty well. BTW, ALL DAY THURSDAY, only thing I ate was one small McD's burger, one of those 75 cent burgers which is amazing for me. I don't think I've ever ate that little in my life, not even as a child ha ha ha.
So Gina and I weren't back to normal but somehow made it through. The girls had fun in Laughlin, slow pace fun and playing shots. I gave Gina 40 bucks telling her to play it for me since it's not fun gambling myself. 10 minutes later she walks up with 400. Put couple back in but we're still ahead.
We make it with a rather nice trip. Worried about dying to a stay at Laughlin having fun enjoying her Mom time. Her Mom actually thought she may never see Laughlin again couple years back so I think she's always happy when I say, why don't we go stay in Laughlin?
Everyone is home safe after a long worrisome holiday and I didn't shit my pants on the road, so I'm good. And a big thanks to Gina's cousin for cutting our trip short by several hours.
AND, not one drop of rain, perfect weather. A little snow near Flagstaff but the road was clear. 🙂
Of course I just go along for the pics.
