The Gypsy Caravan 2023

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Break in the Action: Keep Calm and Stay in the Berkshires!

It was all going so well.


Rick did his trade show gig and it was a hit, bringing loads of good relationships and, we hope, sales.


So, it was back to Randy and Elaine's for some vacation time! We made a stop in Lee, Massachusetts, on the way home. I've always loved this beautiful church that we've passed by many times.


From any angle, it's a hit!


And the antique store was fun, too. No, I didn't buy this...


...or this...


...or these.


But I wanted to! And more! (And I don't even play the violin!)


We also made a stop at the Maple Sugar Shack.



Yes, maple syrup was in our future!


The plan? To enjoy a free day in Pittsfield. Family gatherings. Cross country skiing for Rick.


Well, it was a good plan.


The photo above actually looks like Rick's ankle was broken. It wasn't the ankle. It was the fibula. A bit of ice under freshly fallen snow took him out. (Correction -- they THOUGHT the ankle wasn't broken, JUST the fibula... we would find out otherwise.)


So, we spent a good chunk of time at the ER. And yes, Rick is OK with this pic being online -- it has already made the Facebook rounds; I don't think grief from Blogland could be worse!


Endgame? We both drove home in the same car. Jeanie was at the wheel but Rick drove from the backseat!

Several days later we saw the orthopedic specialist who did more xrays and it turns out the leg is broken in two places -- at the ankle and the fibula -- and surgery is required. In addition, the leg was so swollen he has developed blood clots (DVT) and is on medication for it.  They got him out of the splint and into a walking boot but he has to keep it elevated from a laying-down position. Needless to say, neither of us are happy but Rick most of all. It's the start of cycling season. He's probably the only person in Michigan who wishes it was still January.


I would be remiss if I didn't show a photo of the therapy cat! Daisy kept me from missing Lizzie too much on this trip! I think Rick's best therapy will be a visit from the Baby Grands. Till next time...

Sharing with:   Best of the Weekend    

41 comments:

  1. Oh- I am so sorry. I know how the bikers in our area are so anxious to get out and bike. I can only imagine his frustration with this setback.
    Glad you have a sweet kitty to keep you company. Praying for Rick, the surgery, and your peace of mind, Jeanie. xo Diana

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  2. I feel so badly for Rick! Sound like he could lose the entire spring of cycling and maybe more.

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  3. Oh Jeanie, that's just rotten for Rick. I feel so badly for him, especially as he is so active and enjoys his cycling so much. I hope all goes well with the surgery and the blood thinners. -Jenn

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  4. Wow! Two breaks, that's bad. But blood clots are always a worry so am glad to hear he is getting something for it. I hope all goes well. Glad you had a furry baby to keep you calm.

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  5. Hugs, Rick! Wishing you a gentle and speedy healing!

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  6. Oh no! Hope the recovery is speedy and complete! The trip looks wonderful otherwise.

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  7. The books look so tempting! (Even though I prefer kindle and non-fiction)! An "old curiosity shop"!!!
    Oh, shoot, this looks hurtful with the ankle/leg. And don´t you hate wrong diagnosises (yes, doctors are only humans, too).
    Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery - and loads of visits from the Baby Grands!

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  8. Hello,

    So sorry about Rick's injury! Sending my prayers and well wishes. The church is beautiful. I would have to bring home some maple syrup too, yum! Daisy is a sweetie. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  9. Ouch! Everything seems to be going so well - I particularly liked the look of that picture-post-card-perfect church - and then... I hope your sense of humour is such that you won't mind my saying that something you wrote reminded me of an old Tommy Cooper joke: -

    In the doctor's surgery: Doctor: "How can I help?" Cooper: "I've broken my arm in two places." Doctor: "Well, don't go to those places."

    Hope all heals well and soon!

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  10. Oh poor Rick! I can't imagine being a cyclist and breaking my leg and needing surgery just as spring is arriving. I pray for some peace for him.

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  11. Poor guy, but at least he knows now that ladies will be flocking to have his image on calendars - the firemen have competition! All the best, Rick. You are a fit guy so I am sure recovery will be swift.

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  12. Ouch! Poor Rick! I hope his surgery goes smoothly, and the leg heals quickly and completely.

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  13. Oh, Jeanie - so sorry about this. Bumps in the road are so annoying. Wishing Rick all the best and a speedy recovery.

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  14. Very sorry for Rick:( What a sport having his pic on the web..:) Take care you two..speedy healing Rick..I get you wish it was early winter.Never a good time.Thank God these things heal..

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  15. Sending speedy recovery hopes - for the sake of both of you.

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  16. Just stopping by to give you both a massive hug. Having been at the slow end of rehab for a season-ending soccer ankle injury for my daughter last year I know how utterly frustrating it can be for the sporty types. Wishing Rick a speedy recovery. Maybe you'll have to plan a trip out to France to watch the Tour de France instead!
    Wren x

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  17. This is another year I have seen your Western Mass. photos and I once again tell myself I need to explore that area some more. Glad you had such restraint in the antique store, but some maple syrup is always worth the few extra dollars it costs. They are tapping trees around here right now. An early sign of spring for sure. Happy Friday. Hugs-Erika

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  18. Oh no, poor Rick! Hope his recovery is a quick one. Have a great weekend, dear Jeanie.

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  19. Well I was enjoying the photos of the church and dreams about getting some maple syrup until you showed Rick’s ankle! My goodness how a moment can change a person’s life. Best wishes to him and I hope they’ll get him straightened out and on the mend!

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  20. I hope Rick heals up quickly. Ice is evil! Nothing beats NE maple syrup. That church reminds me of an old 1836 one built in my hometown. Lizzie is adorable!

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  21. As the wife of a guy who doesn't take "resting" well - good luck to both Rick and to you! Hopefully the swelling and clots will dissipate quickly, the surgery goes well, and the healing can begin. Rick is a trouper and so are you - hugs to both. PS I love the title of your post.

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  22. Wishing Rick a quick recovery!

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  23. Oh, my gosh, Jeanie, what a shame. I hope he is not in too much pain and will recover quickly. Bad timing all the way around..xxoJudy

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  24. Oh, NO!!! I'm so sorry about Rick! I hope he only needs one surgery and that it goes well. I'll send warm thoughts your way and say a few prayers, too!

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  25. Sorry about Ricks leg, looks bad. I have a set of the same Edition of Dickens. Happy weekend, hugs, Valerie

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  26. Oh no, poor Rick. That looks really swollen. I'm so sorry he will need surgery. That maple syrup looks good, and now I'm craving pancakes haha. Ok, those Santa's are too cute and would have had to buy one. I love vintage Santa's. That antique store sounds like just my cup of tea. : )

    I hope Rick's not in any pain, and I hope all goes well with the fibula. Daisy's eyes are so pretty.....and mesmerizing.

    ~Sheri

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  27. Yikes!!!! Get well soon, Rick!

    Cath

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  28. JEANIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

    WOW,I have missed way too much in your life! Goodness, I don't think I can truly go back to catch up,but it sure looks as if you and Rick have had quite the adventures! Oh Jeanie, first of all, thank you for coming to my blog. I just saw your lovely comment. Secondly, how are you emerging from the winter of 2019??? What a heck of a ride, huh? Yes, spring is happening slowly but surely here in the midwest, and I am hoping that for both of us, spring and summer adventures await us so we can tell all about it. BIG HUGS TO YOU!

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  29. Jeanie, your trip started out so wonderful to have such a harsh ending. Tell Rick to take care, blood clots are serious business! Wishing a quick recovery as you nurse him back to health!

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  30. What a great beginning to a trip. I couldn't have passed up the set of Dickens! So sorry about Rick's accident. Wishing him a speedy recovery.......

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  31. OH NO!That is terrible and then he has surgery facing him also. I so hate that you guys are having to deal with that. You the underwear shot is not bad, he is covered more then if he was on the beach! Speaking beach, them are white legs...haha. Hoping he is doing well.

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  32. You're both not having much luck with your feet/legs recently.
    Hope Rick has a good recovery.
    Love the white violin!

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  33. You've brought back memories of the January my mother came to visit, broke her tibia and fibula, had surgery, and stayed until May! Oh, what an experience that was. Of course, Rick is much younger than she was, and much more fit. He'll do fine, despite all the frustrations and limitations, and his recovery will be much more swift.

    Your photos from this trip always are appealing -- these are no exception.

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  34. Oh poor Rick! That is just awful! Especially since he will need surgery. Poor guy. I know how much he loves cycling so it sucks that he can't get out there and do the thing he enjoys now that it's warming up! I can relate as my stress fracture was detected shortly after I arrived in Charlotte in April of 2013. I was in a boot for a good 5 months and it was awful!! And then I had my hip surgery in May of 2015 and was cleared to run in late October - right as the weather cooled off. :(

    I think a visit from the grands would be very therapeutic so hopefully he's seen them or will see them soon!

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  35. This really was a "break" in the action and not in a good way. I'm so sorry about Rick's accident. I had the same breaks years ago but mine included a third bone being broken. I'll be thinking good thoughts for both of you during the coming months as he recovers.

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  36. Poor Rick! Ouch! Broken in two places doesn't sound good. I hope he can heal quickly and that the recovery will be a speedy one so he can get back on his bike. For you I hope that he is not too impatient of a patient.
    Your post also brought back memories of a family vacation to Switzerland when I was about 12. My dad broke his foot while playing around with the kids. He had surgery the following day and "enjoyed" more than a week in a Swiss hospital (seriously he lived like a king, albeit one with a broken foot - Swiss hospitals are very good). After that my mom has to drive back the entire route back home with both my dad, my brother and me on the backseat. It was a long journey...

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  37. Oh goodness! So sorry to read this.
    Sending my good wishes for a speedy recovery.

    I'm sure a visit from the Baby Grands will be good :)

    All the best Jan

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  38. What great trip... How lovely that white church--it practically sparkles, it's to bright and beautiful! How fun that collection of Dickens...And china (oooo!!!) ...mmm... MAPLE... yum! Glad Rick's show went well.... But oh, no... sooo VERY SAD to see/hear of Rick's broken bones! :( I'm sure he's going pretty crazy, what with cycling season in motion now and all... So hoping he makes a good recovery! Thinking of you both during this tough time... ((BIG HUGS)) P.S. What BEAUTY is Daisy-kitty!

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  39. Glad all went well for the first part of the New England Trip, Jeanie, and that includes the trade show and seeing friends. Drat on the rest and especially Rick's injury and now immobilization until surgery and most likely for awhile afterwards. Remind him that cycling will just have to wait until he's fully recovered. Sure he already knows that deep down.

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