A Little Unplanned Leapity-Plop, with Black-Eyed Peas and Ham
Someone Else Will Have to Make the Cornbread
It's 3:30 a.m. I am sitting outside listening to the rain fall and wishing bed wasn't such a miserable place for me to be. Having laid there for hours already doing my best to flip my bacon from one side to the other to get comfortable, I have proven to myself that it is just ain't gonna happen and I have retreated to the patio. I count myself lucky that I can take as large of a slice of of this day for a nap as needed, if laying down is tolerable later on. I did not listen to my husband's advice to rest and get off my feet yesterday. As charming and loving and caring as he is, he’s usually more persuasive than I am stubborn. Usually.
This past week, our third vandweller pal landed at the Camp Cordray riverside oasis. Jerillyn is an around-the-globe solo adventurer with fascinating stories to tell and a sweet little casa perched on marina in Crystal River, Florida (yes, the place that had a tornado just yesterday). Dan was recommended by a mutual friend when she was searching for solar installation help. We were camped at Cobb Hunt Camp in Osceola, Florida, a U.S. Forest Service primitive campground, so she came to see us there.
She loves to tell the tale of her arrival at this dispersed campground and her first impressions of this section of the Cordray clan. A smiling head popped out above the human shaped log that was rolled up in a hammock as a tall, white-bearded lumberjack dude emerged from behind a white van, kilted, and ready to help. Minutes later this kilted creature was just about upside down and certainly sideways in her van, diagnosing the problem.
Soon, we were relocated to her driveway, where Dan did the solar repair, fixed her golf cart, and then fixed her buddy's golf cart. He's just that kind of guy. We made friends with her friends and neighbors and enjoyed the comforts of being indoors with run-of-the house access to all of the modern conveniences. I found a kindred artist, Sue, a few doors down. We covered her garage floor with wet watercolor and glue paintings several times during our stay. Yipppeee!!
From Jerillyn's backyard, we could see boats, dolphins, and manatees moving along the channel. Her place is paradise. We have an open invitation to visit whether she is home or not. We have enjoyed that luxury several times.
Brown pelicans swooped down to scoop up fish as the sea birds and songbirds entertained us every day, calling to each other as they searched for their meals and mates. Dan scooped up a big ol’ fish, deceased, but still something cool to look at. I guess we are weird but we like that kind of stuff. Layla spent her time watching the manatees float by and wondering if she could catch one of ‘em, or at least ride on its back. Libby was fascinated with the doggy door, the vehicle to her best innie-outie dog life. It has always been a perfect respite from road life for all of us.
Jerillyn motored us out on her boat for a sunset cruise to the scallop grounds at Shell Island one evening, icing the cake on this glorious stay.
We have camped with Jerillyn and friend Solange at Palm Canyon when they came to Quartzsite. We were really looking forward to seeing her as she passed through our area. Their visit was part of the first Great-Inbetween post, which you can read here.
So she came, and we spent a couple of days hanging out while Dan was at work, waiting for the weekend. What fun to have female company and to hitch a ride in her van down to Cordelia’s Market for a fresh sandwich, and to be right back home, sitting on the couch visiting and catching up in an instant. I am very grateful for our time spent catching up and telling our tales. I needed that, and really enjoyed her company.
On Saturday, we all loaded up in the Groove On-Demand van and headed for the Memphis Crafts & Drafts Festival Summer Market held at Crosstown Concourse, a historic building that hails from 1927. The Crosstown Concourse is ten stories tall and was originally built as Sears mail order distribution center. Today, it is full of shops, restaurants, and art, and serves many purposes such as a residence for some Memphians. We got there early, knowing that we were facing upper-90's temperatures with high-fifties humidity, the hottest day in Memphis so far this year. We walked around the outdoor and indoor booths, and when had just about melted, called for the rideshare van to take us to BB King’s on Beale Street for live music and lunch.
As we waited, Jerillyn and I were standing in the shade, next to the bicycle racks. Dan was standing across the street, watching for the van. When he saw it coming he waved us over. We advanced forward and both fell, tripping over a very small step that neither of us had noticed. I didn't know that she had fallen as well until later, because her teeny tiny Tinkerbell self managed to fall lightly and avoid any injury.
I, on the other hand, fell like a toppled redwood. Thud. Dan and Jerillyn rushed to help me up and get me into the van, limping and bleeding. I could feel my left foot swelling inside my shoe with more swelling popping out above the ankle. My right knee was scraped in two places, oozing, throbbing. The driver asked and Dan agreed that a route change was necessary. In that moment as the tears flowed out the bottom of my sunglasses, I felt angry, defeated, cheated of and guilty for ruining all of the fun. I do my best to be gentle with my body when these things happen, but I get so very tired of them happening. So. Very. Tired. A year ago Memorial Day I landed with a thud out out on the desert and shared that tale here. With five flavors of arthritis, bone loss, and a fused spinal column I can sometimes fly and land badly without meaning to.
So home we went, instead of out to lunch. Ice, bandages, a fat shot of tequila, and an elevated legs position for me, with a Door Dash delivery lunch instead. I will admit that it was nice to catch up in the cool apartment and with Dan this time, and happy dogs, and everything that might help my situation right at hand. We had a great visit and made plans for the next one, somewhere down the road. Jerillyn and Solange are off to Costa Rica soon. I had the experience of living vicariously through her as they made their travel plans via video call. Solange lives in Canada. I sure miss road life and wish it was time for us to ramble. Here’s a great picture of Dan and Jerillyn from that day. I will save you from seeing mine with her, as it includes the icky knee and that shot of tequila didn’t flatter me much but it sure helped my pain level.
Which brings me back to the part about not listening to my husband. He said stay down tomorrow and rest. Let yourself heal. Instead, I soaked black-eyed peas because I found a piece of ham when I was cleaning out the freezer that needed to be used up. Yes, cleaning out the freezer. I diced and sautéed orange and green bell pepper, onion, celery, a smidgen of fresh garlic, and the ham, and set that off to the side. I cooked the peas in the instant pot with broth and herbs, then added this to the sautéed veggies and ham. I let that marry and mingle and bubble a bit while I was unloading and reloading the dishwasher. Dogs in and out when they had to, a watercolor painting that would not wait, and a myriad of other activities done standing up meant I did not rest. By the time Dan got home, I was stoved up and barely limping, wincing and trying not to whine. I did whine, I sure did. My swollen, bruised foot was even thicker, my knee puffy, red, heavily scabbed and angry looking. Yes, today I will rest. Finally, I will rest, as I have no choice but to rest. After I post this blog post, of course.
It's crazy how far we will go when we shouldn't go any further. I was thinking that I could make something we could eat on a couple of days, so I could rest. Cart before the horse, now my bacon will be fully reclined as much as possible. It is what it is, and I yam what I yam. And there’s hoppin’ John in the fridge, made with upcycled ham.
Only John is hoppin' at Camp Cordray. Well, and Dan, who is taking excellent care of me, as always. Thank you, my love. No matter what is to be, I got you, and you got me.
For those who caught our last post about the current Great In-Between, we still have no answer about whether we will be staying in Memphis past the beginning of August.
Coming to you from just this side of the pillow,
Brenda Cordray
The Desert Rose
Of course I'll take care of you!! It's my chance to try and even the score for what you do for me. 💕
Loved this post as I do all of them. Great shot of you and Dan, a really fabulous photo!! Get some rest my friend. Big hug!
Now, that camp in the pines .... PERFECT!