Friday, October 21, 2011

Back home in Mazatlan

The Whitakers arrived back home in Mazatlan on October 5, 2011. It took us five days to drive from Spokane. Our only glitch was we were given the "red light" when we entered Mexico. We had to make a list of all the property we had brought and had to pay 222 pesos, $17 in customs.

So upon arrival in Mazatlan, our friends were waiting for us and with four helpers we unloaded our fully loaded van quickly.  It then took time to unpack boxes, etc. Janice has more plans for our home as time goes by.  We were lucky as we were able to get out satellite TV and internet up in two to three days, so we were not out of contact for long. Our neighbors Joe and Cheryl, especially Cheryl took care of our plants and paid our small bills as they arrived. We brought them stuff from up north and took them out to dinner as a thank you for looking after our home. They are from the Chicago area and have live here six years. Our friends Patrick and Sandi have been very helpful in our transition and now they have moved about three blocks away. We have a great time together and make lot's of fun plans for local entertainment.


Backing up to before we left the states, many of you know, Joel had a stroke on August 21 and it primarily affected some of his speech. After 2 days in the hospital, 10 days in rehab, he has the blocked artery cleaned out, spent one more day in the hospital and then out working with a speech therapy. Speech therapy has helped and as long has he slows down this speech, most can't tell the difference. He is still working two hours or more on speech exercises every day. Luckily there was no physical affects that lasted more then a few days. On September 1, 2011 Joel had surgery for a 90% blockage in his left carotid artery. On September 30 he was given ultra-sound and both arteries are now clear. Since returning to Mazatlan several people have said they had strokes 10 or more years ago and since moving to Mazatlan there has not been repeats. (Janice is feeling really good here, and has no fibromyalga symptoms here at this point.)

The day after Joel's surgery Janice got the call her mother only had a matter of time before she would pass away.  Janice was able to spend two hours with her before she died and joined other members of her family in Heaven. The graveside service was the following week. Both brothers, one sister in law, and many nephews and nieces were able to be there for this very touching service.


Back to Mazatlan, Janice and two artist friends will open our home the first Friday every month for First Friday's Art Walk of Mazatlan. Their gallery is called Galeria de Baltazar. Kerry will sell his oil paintings, Gail her mosaics, and Janice her sea glass jewelry. Joel will pour wine and stay out of the way. Janice is in process of building her website, but you can check it out at http://www.mermaidstearsjewelry.weebly.com/


Joel plays bridge twice a week, and acts as tourist aid once a week. Starting the first Friday of November. Joel will work on shift a week at the library. Starting the first Wednesday of November the first meeting of Hermandad de Frijoles y Cervezas, (fellowship of Beans and Beer) will start up again.


The weather has been hot and humid, but usually the humidly starts falling around the 1st of November. It is our hope that it will again this year as we have both been drenched at the end of each day.  Our friends arrive from Edmonton and Minnesota tomorrow and soon after the steady stream for snowbirds will start arriving. Joel's brother will arrive around a 1st of November and his wife around the 1st of December from Iowa to stay the winter. They live about a mile from us here in Mazatlan.


Since retuning we have added air conditioning to our upstairs TV room.  Janice had bought a portable pantry plus had a bookcase built in the living room. Our air conditioning has been on every night in our bedroom. We are looking for the day soon where we don't have to have the a/c on to sleep. So far it is a necessity.


Ollie is himself and we are sure he is looking for heat to break.
Take care to everyone until next time.


Joel, Janice, y Ollie