In a normal summer up north, I will take day trips to some of the towns in the north that make for a great day trip but are pretty much always overcrowded with tourists. Fun places to visit but I wouldn't want to deal with the traffic all the time. Last year, of course, no one went anywhere. I stayed happily put at my happy place. This year I wanted to visit a few of those spots, like Petoskey or Charlevoix -- both set on Lake Michigan or Little Traverse Bay.
Be careful what you ask for. You might get it.
First, I want to thank all of you for the wonderful wishes to Rick for his kidney stone issue and for each and every one he is really grateful. I filled in those of you I could reach directly with the end game but here is a brief recap -- along with a little fun!
You may remember that in June I wrote about Rick's visit to the ER on the day of our Cork Poppers Wine Tasting party. The result was probably diverticulitis, maybe a kidney stone (the latter of which was, after the visit, the guess by our family doc). And in the last post, I confirmed that with his urgent care/ER visits. With gobs of pain meds pumped into him, he went home with an appointment to see a specialist the next day (Thursday) -- in Petoskey!
Well, that day he was feeling great. We liked the doc and he could do surgery the following Monday in Charlevoix. So, with Rick feeling both relieved and OK, we left the appointment and did the town.
We wandered through the Crooked Lake Art Gallery, which is housed in a converted church. Along with the regular lighting one would expect in a gallery, there are lovely stained glass windows that add to the beauty of it all.
We saw a wonderful exhibit of pastels, which you see here by an artist named Heidi Marshall.
I'll need to write more on her work later -- it deserves being seen and for those reading in the northern Michigan area, pop by. Her work just jumps off the page.
Then we browsed in store windows and even ventured into more than a few. I really loved this window display.
It was Rick who suggested going into this antique store, which was packed to the gills.
It did have a few fun things in it -- if you could find them. It made me appreciate shops like Rita's (of Panoply) all the more with their logical, neat organization!
Rick surprised me by taking me to eat at the City Park Grill. Built in 1875, it is one of the city's oldest buildings.
It has had several names but when it was called "The Annex," it became a haunt of Ernest Hemingway, who made this are a of northern Michigan his home in the summer months.
The restaurant's website says that "Hemingway would sit in the second seat form the end of the bar and write his ideas for short stories and books. The short story "Gentleman of the World" makes mention of the Annex."
So, we sat at the bar (not in the Hemingway seat!) before moving to a table and enjoying a delicious fish and chips and heading home to watch some video. We both got what we asked for -- a quick appointment and resolution for Rick and a road trip for me.
Like I said.... be careful what you ask for!
About 2:30 the next morning I woke up to the sound of moaning and the pain was far worse than it has been and it has been bad. It sounded like what you'd hear in a medieval torture chamber. Two hours later we left for the Charlevoix ER hoping for early surgery or at least relief.
Let me tell you -- it was hell. The road to Charlevoix is a series of S-curves and tight ones at that. Try it at 5 am in the fog, worrying about deer. But we arrive, he got seen immediately and they were able to reach his doc. A few hours later he was getting his super-sized stone pulverized and after time in the recovery area, we were on our way back to the lake.
I have high praise for his doc and for the fabulous staff at the Charlavoix hospital who not only took good care of Rick but of me, too. (They put me in a room with the most calming view of Lake Michigan through a wide bank of windows -- it was the Zen that I needed, just watching waves and boats.) After catching up on sleep for both of us, life is looking a lot brighter.
But I don't think I want another road trip to Charlevoix this summer.
(I'm way behind in reading your posts. Please bear with me!)
Sharing with: Tuesday Turn About / Let's Keep In Touch / Share Your Style / Pink Saturday
48 comments:
It sounded like a wonderful day....until it didn't! Glad Rick was able to get the surgery he needed.
Oh Jeanie, I am so sorry, poor Rick, I've heard that kidney stones are the worst...I am so thankful he was able to be taken care of so quickly, amazing! Hopefully the rest of the summer will be uneventful!
Jenna
So glad he was able to get the lithotripsy! Once all those fragments are gone things will be a lot better!!
Wow, hope Rick is now fully recovered. Kidney stones are awfully painful. I never had one luckily, my husband did and at the hospital the radiologist said it was worse than birth pains :)
Those pastels are beautiful, great exhibition for sure.
All the best Jeanie and hope you are now both more relaxed.
That looks like a great place for a day (or longer) trip, but the circumstances weren't great :( I'm glad he's straightened out now and hope he never suffers this torturous pain again.
Looks like it was a great day exploring the town, but so sorry Rick had to be taken back to the hospital and in so much pain. It sure bet he (and you) are glad that's done and over with now. Wishing him a speedy recovery!
Thank goodness it was sorted so quickly - and now you can enjoy the rest of the summer
Sending loving thoughts to both of you, what a big pain! Literally! I am so sorry that Rick had such a hard time, but so happy the surgery went really well. You must have been a mess, the view was a lovely way to help keep you calm. Stay safe my friend.
'Pulverised' - that's it; they don't do invasive procedure for kidney stones nowadays. wishing Rick a quick recovery!
At least it's resolved.
The pain sounds excruciating but I'm so happy to hear that all has been resolved for Rick! The tour of the town was very interesting. I'm amazed at where Hemingway used to sit, drink and write. He seems to have been virtually everywhere. I love antique stores and that is something my neighbours to the south seem to have in great abundance including in little towns that I've been too. I do prefer a more logical presentation to the goodies on offer ;-)
Oh, my gosh I just love those paintings you shared. Makes me want to make a trip up to see her work in person.
I'm so glad Rick got his stones smashed! He's had quite the yer, hasn't he.
The pain must have been excruciating and that is great they did the right treatment. Your visit to the Hemingway restaurant and art gallery sounded like fun, the artist you showed us is very talented.
I can relate to the kidney stone issue. Not me but my husband had them many years ago. I remember his pain, and trips to the hospital. You were lucky they were able to take care of them so quickly. I hope Rick doesn't have any more and if there is any lingering recovery it is quick. I can understand why you don't want to go back to Charlevoix this summer. Hope this new week is better health wise for your both. hugs-Erika
I am so relieved that the stone is GONE.
You poor dear, driving in the dark, early morning hours,
twisty turns, fog, deer, husband worries . . . not fun at all.
Happy the hospital found a respite, zen room for you.
Now to recover, not have any more.
Enjoy these next weeks . . . please!
Hopefully, Rick is feeling much better. That is way too much excitement, so glad he was seen and the kidney stone issue is resolved. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Eeeks- man I hate pain and I feel so for anyone who is in pain. So glad to hear he could be treated quickly and hopefully had some decent pain meds. Here’s to a much more relaxing rest of your summer! -Jenn
It just goes to show how quickly things can turn around and how life can take some unusual twists and turns. Probably more turns than that foggy road you had to navigate.
Beautiful phoots. Sorry to hear Rick had to be treated at the ER twice. Kidney stones are no picnic. Glad all is well. Take care
Glad Rick is recovering well, and the hospital found you a nice room where you could enjoy some zen moments and a lovely view while he was being taken care of.
I'm glad you got your road trips, but sorry it was under such circumstances.
Glad to hear that all is well with Rick after such a harrowing ordeal. After all, you can't have the bread maker out of commission for too long!
Hello Jeanie,
I am so glad Rick's pain is gone and the surgery went well. You did have a great waiting room with a lovely view. You did a great day before the bad event with a nice meal at the restaurant, the art gallery and antique store. Sending prayers for Rick's quick recovery and best wishes for calm days at the lake. Take care, enjoy your new week!
Jeanie, I was so glad to hear Rick's stone was taken care of so quickly. My guy's, on the other hand, is just lingering. {sigh}. Now you can really enjoy your time at the lake while Rick recovers. The trip through Charlevoix looks like a fun one (apart from roads there and the ER visit). Thanks for the shout out! We know there are customers who enjoy both ways of shopping vintage, styled or nothing but piles. That one definitely looked like a junker's dream. :)
Jeanie,
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Well, yes, I guess be careful for what you wish for...Sounded though like you had a great day up until you had to rush Rick to the ED. I hope that Rick is feeling better and so glad that it was nothing more serious as it was in my case.... Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Glad all is well now. Thankful for modern medicine in so many ways. Both of you take it easy for recovery.
Your road trip to Charlevoix was memorable but certainly not want you will want to repeat anytime soon unless it is for a nice lunch, I'm sure.
Poor Rick! I am glad they were able to do an emergency surgery. Poor guy. That just sounds so miserable. Our realtor had kidney stones the winter we closed on the sale of our home and she said the pain was unreal. Glad he was in such good hands and that they took care of you, too!
But I am glad you had a fun day of exploring together before this hit!!
So glad Rick has put this behind him. What a scary road you traveled on that day - literally and figuratively!
Jeanie, I was meaning to comment about Rick on your last post, but I’m relieved that he’s now doing well. I know what the pain is like because I had a stone years ago when our kids were teenagers. Knock on wood, I’ve never been bothered by another one. I love the small town of Charlevoix!
So glad it ended well!!
Wow,,he had a busy day leading to all this..a trooper!
I am happy to hear Rick has been repaired and wish him a quick recovery. At least you guys got to have some fun prior to surgery. Heidi Marshall's art looks amazing! The sort of paintings you want to enter for a relaxing time.
SO HAPPY to read that dear Rick was able to have the stone pulverized. And I absolutely loved that they took care of our dear Jeanie too, giving you a quiet room with a lake view. Mercy!
May the rest of your summer be QUITE more peaceful, happy, and pain-free!
XOXO
Glad to hear Rick's recovering well. I enjoyed seeing Heidi's art. I like her style, too!
So glad the kidney stone was pulverized and the pain is gone and all is well. That town is lovely.
I’m glad Rick is feeling better. Beautiful photos. Hope today is full of zen for you.
My best wishes to Rick for a speedy recovery. Glad its over...
I'm glad Rick was taken care and you got a little trip to town. Hope the worse is over and he is feeling better. Enjoy your lake views and relax (hopefully)
I'm glad he's now back home and both of you are feeling much calmer. I often think we are so lucky these days to have modern medicine and particular anaesthetics (and I think that EVERY time I go to the dentist too!) I hope Rick is soon back on his bike and that you have a calm, uneventful stay for the rest of your lake sojourn.
The art is very pretty! So sorry that Rick was put through that kind of hell I hear it can really be awful. Thankfully you were able to get it taken care of. Best wishes that he’s doing well and that it won’t happen again!
Oh my! I'm so glad things worked out all right for Rick. I had no idea of the Michigan Hemingway connection though. That sounds fun. I'm with you on the "one and done" summer jaunt though. I've had mine too.
Heidi's artwork is gorgeous!
Having fish and chips at The Annex sounds and looks amazing.
But what a relief to have Rick taken care of in a good place for him to be and to even have you taken care of. So glad the outcome was the best, but sad he had to go through it. Whew! Sounds like quite an adventure just getting him there too.
You're going to think this is crazy, but my husband had lots of trouble with Kidney Stone for years until he saw a smart urologist who told him to drink a BEER at least twice a week. My husband wasn't much of a drinker but we made it a point to go have Mexican food once a week because he liked beer with it. Honest! He went about 10 years without another kidney stone, and when he did have one it was because we had moved and had so much going on we forgot to make sure he drank 2 beers.
Lithotripsy! That's the word I was looking for. I'm glad it worked, and that Rick's feeling much better now. I suspect you are, too, although a little R&R wouldn't be the worst thing. Have you ever heard of the weird plants called Lithops? Another name for them is 'living stones,' and it's the "lithos" that's the connection between the plant and our kidney stones. Here's a bit about the plant. You already know enough about kidney stones!
Never a dull moment. Hope Rick is feeling good as new.
oh my, poor Rick, and Poor You too! Our friend Paul went through that experience recently at his cottage. He was in so much agony, but his wife P. can't drive! They ended up sending an air ambulance in to fly him to a hospital 200 km. away because the closest hospital in the remote community didn't have a surgeon available.
Those kidney stones are a B***R. I know it takes awhile to get rid of the "gravel" so hopefully he is feeling much better soon, and you much less stressed.
My aunt is at her cottage at Traverse and telling me how her anxiety has just melted away as she digs in until the snow falls. It sounds like a marvelous place.
Talk about stress!!! Waking up to moans and knowing how much pain Rick was in to having to drive to the hospital in those foggy conditions must have been just terrible. Thankfully, they relieved his pain. Hope being back at the lake will relieve that stress and you both will enjoy the summer without another trip like that! All my best to Rick for a full recovery.........
Dearest Jeanie and Rick, I knew about Rick's battle with the stone, but not any of the details, or that you were fighting back problems.
I am so glad that you see the bright side of most everything, you are an amazing lady! Please continue to take care of yourself. You are very loved - both of you.
I was so enjoying your post, seeing the lovely photographs.
The lovely stained glass windows and gorgeous pastel paintings and then!!!
Just so pleased that the hospital was able to sort Rick out.
Hopefully all is well now and you can both relax a little.
Take care, my good wishes.
All the best Jan
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