Honduras update, recovering, doctor visits, packing, computer repairs

Cori, Nate and the kids are still without power at their home in Honduras. They are not alone in dealing with the issue, but that makes it no less frustrating. In recent interactions with the power company, they have become convinced that there is little impetus to more very aggressively in making needed repairs, meanwhile four other houses on their street are suffering through the powerless state with the ambient temperatures in the high nineties. Fortunately, Cori and her crew have relocated to the Rierick property and have remained there waiting out the issue. All appliances at their house have been unplugged, cleaned, and are awaiting full power before they will be used again. There is a chance that those appliances will be damaged by the continuous low power fluctuations. So, they live away from home and wait. 

The main issue is still the undersized transformer that is set up to supply their block with electricity that was damaged in a recent storm. Replacing that lone transformer is not on the high priority list for the power company, so we need to pray that the Lord will move the urgency up on the part of the power company and get the required work done quickly. Additionally, the pump for the water tower that supplies water to the neighborhood has now failed because of inconsistent power issues. The loss of water is perhaps more of a health issue than the loss of power and that effects everyone in their neighborhood. That has brought the limited power outage to the forefront in everyone’s mind. That is a good thing. Cori left us a message this morning stating that as inconvenient as the circumstances may be they are not life altering. Like COVID, sometime in the future the problem will be remembered as an afterthought. Something else they had to deal with. Something else we got through.  

All of us here at the farm are recovering slowly. I took a sick day yesterday and spent a lot of the day sleeping. I must have gotten sufficient rest because I was up at 3:30 this morning wide awake. I am off all medicinal aids to treat the cough and congestion as well as all meds to treat the bronchitis. I still have a bit of a cough, but the congestion is more like an allergic reaction to whatever is blooming around us right now. Only Victoria is still manifesting the symptoms that set all of us back for the past few days. Grandpa is also mentioning (he never complains) that he is not feeling well but he manages to keep himself busy. I am again convinced that being here on the farm is keeping Grandpa motivated and Mama and I are pleased to offer him the distractions and busy work that keeps him active. 

Meanwhile, Grandma saw the doctor yesterday and was referred to a gastroenterologist for her digestive issues – many of which I have been unable to understand other than a general lack of interest in eating anything that is not soft and sweet. However, an opening in the schedule of a recommended specialist gave Grandma the opportunity to see him today. I am not looking for any earthshattering news to come out of that visit. Any suggestions from the doctor will be taken only if Grandma agrees with them, otherwise, things will go on as they have. I wish I had higher expectations, but we have been down this road before and as Grandpa had instructed us to let Grandma do as she pleases in her food choices. We go along to get along. 

Eventually Mama and Victoria are going to have to take the time to pack for their trip Thursday. Even though Victoria is still struggling with a cough, she is set on flying to West Virginia with Mama. They will get to spend a week with Brittany and the girls. Zoe, Sophia and Audrey are looking very much forward to the visit. So is Brittany, but the girls are really looking forward to Grammy and Victoria coming. Brittany called last night, however, to tell Mama that she and Zoe have strep throat. Nevertheless, the trip is on. Mama has told me that as she is packing, she is going to clear items out of her closet that she no longer wears. I will be delighted to see that happen but am not holding my breath. It is hard for Mama to part with things if there is even the hint of purpose in retaining those items. Occasionally that has worked to our advantage, but all of us are tiring of the clutter in the house, the garage and the well house. 

During my sick day yesterday, Mama and I made a trip to Decatur to drop off my computer to a repair shop. My MacBook Air, now almot ten years old, had begun to swell. Literally. It was rounding to the point that it was getting difficult to use because it would not sit flat on my desk. As I expected, the issue was the battery. The replacement/repair will cost me about $180. Not too bad, especially since I cannot afford to replace the laptop. I certainly cannot replace it with a new model of MacBook, so less than $200 is affordable. In the absence of my laptop, I initiated some updates to Mama’s computer. I have to admit, I like Mama’s newer laptop better than my own, but it will be nice to have mine back in a few days. The repair technician assured me that the laptop has a lot of light left in it. That is good news.

Right now, we need some good news.