My Florida trip was fantastic!! I went with three friends, two of them are caregivers, one a caregiver a few years ago to her husband. I'm the youngest of the four, the eldest is 87. What a group!! I was the chauffeur, which is odd because I don't have any sense of direction and can't remember where I turned five minutes ago. Thank goodness for the GPS on my phone! lol We rented a condo on Treasure Island in St. Petersburg. The condo was a couple hundred feet from the Gulf. We had four days, two of which were travel, so only two days to do anything. I was up every morning and on the beach by 7am watching the sunrise and listening to nothing but the waves and seagulls. So incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I really wish I had been able to stay one day longer so I could have some time to myself. The airline cost for me returning on Saturday instead of Thursday was $444, I almost choked! Plus paying Dan's caregiver another day it would have cost me over $600. Needless to say, I didn't stay longer, that's what the four day trip cost for each of us. Next time I'll stay an entire week, THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME! (yes, I am shouting, mostly at myself) lol I've decided that I will be taking a trip a minimum of twice a year, they won't be this elaborate or expensive, but I will be getting myself away more often. I can't believe how rested I felt when I got home.

Then this morning I had to bring myself back to reality, to the real world, to my real life. Jeff tells me that Dan was great while I was gone. They went out every day, one day they were out for six hours, all with no complaining. He said Dan was even polite, saying please, thank you, I appreciate you taking care of me, etc. WOW...that's a first!!!! Dan and I had a little talk shortly before I left. Well, I talked, he listened. I told him that I am NOT his slave nor his maid. I'm his wife, granted I'm his caregiver, but I am first and foremost his wife. Jeff may work for us but that doesn't mean that Jeff and I both don't deserve courtesy and respect. I thought I was being ignored. Guess he did listen to me..that's another first!!!! Time will tell if it's going to last, somehow I doubt it, but I can always wish.

His surgery consult is this coming Wednesday. I hope that the surgery is scheduled soon so we can get it over with and recovery started.

Hopefully my vacation "glow" will last a little longer, if only another few days.