Uncorked

One of Lizard's favorite quotes is frequently uttered in admiration of someone else's accomplishment. When Disturbed covered the famous Simon & Garfunkle "Sounds of Silence", Lizard excitedly exclaimed (after listening to the song about eight consecutive times!), "Boy, did they uncork a big one!" I think that was the first time he'd described anything like that to me. I've always thought it's such a cute way of saying, "Wow!"

Well, now Lizard has uncorked a big one of his own. I wasn't sure we'd ever again get to travel more than about four hours. Being in a (tiny) moving vehicle is just too difficult for him. He experiences demoralizing tremors, anxiety and restless legs. As well as a few other unmentionable Parkinson's symptoms.

We wanted to do something special for our 20th anniversary, and I was looking for things within about a three-hour radius. When I discovered the public open house for the Farmington (New Mexico) Temple would be conducted right after our porcelain anniversary (yes, what a strange emoji for such a big accomplishment, right?!?), I asked Lizard how he would feel about a seven-hour drive, which we both knew probably meant about 12 hours for us. He was game. He knew it would be rough, but he wanted me to be able to go.

We made arrangements about six weeks in advance, and his anxiety got the best of him the night before we were to leave. He was up. ALL night. Which means I was up all night. And I would be the one doing all the driving...

The trip to Durango, where we would home base for three nights, took 11 hours. Not as bad as I expected, but it was incredibly hard on Lizard. We drove the hour to Farmington the next day, then the hour back, and because he'd had next to no recovery time, that short jaunt was difficult for him, too. The heat didn't help much. We took the next day as a rest day. He actually told me he wouldn't mind staying in the hotel all day. He didn't even want to go to the pool or hot tub.

I managed to drag him downtown for a quickie 20-minute walk. We hit his favorite Durango bike shop and the only remaining quilt shop. He got just about the best souvenir ever (a unique bike bag) (his favorite treat of all time is a Snickers), and he got pretty excited about quilting again because of a few quilts on display in the quilt shop.

He slept through the night that night, and the trip home took nine hours! We did it! We successfully uncorked a big one!!! And we both slept through the night back at home. Just that one night. But, man, we did it!

I decided not to take my laptop this trip. I decided I'd use my paper journal instead. I knew I'd probably have my hands full, be too tired to fire up the computer each night, and I didn't want to have to tote it around. I had not used my paper journal since I retired last year. It was so eye-opening to re-read what I wrote a year ago...

"I fired off bug bombs in the basement (because Lizard thinks the entire house is infested; it's not) before we left to spend the weekend with Lizard's mom. Lizard wanted to put up a sign to warn the *people* living down there. He thinks we have scores of homeless people squatting in our house, not paying any rent. I'd been telling him for three months the only way anyone can get in our house is if they come in under the front door, so they must be made of air. Typically, he blows them out the window like candles or tries to spray water on them. This time, I told him I want to poison the intruders. He thought about that for a while, then said, 'That's probably a good idea.' I couldn't help but giggle."

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Wordless Wednesday

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Memories from Another Decade

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My Best Day Ever

I wrote about the dress I made for my special day. And I designed a snowflake on my special day. But I've saved the rest of the story for an equally special day. What day could be more appropriate than Thanksgiving?

Everything about our special day was a miracle. Literally everything.

We had long hoped to be sealed in the San Diego Temple on the anniversary of our civil marriage. 2020 happened, and all temples were closed. That temples began phased opening in time for our anniversary this year was an answer to the prayers of many, not just us. Limitations remained. Numbers would be limited, and we could go only to our temple.

I had hoped my brother and my mom would be able to join us if and when we could finally be sealed. Too many restrictions remained in place. If we were able to go to the temple during the summer of 2021, there would be no family members present to celebrate with us.

Being able to go to the temple would still be a tremendous blessing. I had the feeling I should not wait. I didn't know if it meant Lizard's health would continue to deteriorate or if the world situation would get worse. As it turned out, there was a little bit of both. I'm very glad we moved forward with our plans, even though sacrifices were required.

When we first began trying to schedule a date, I tried to get the day of our anniversary off from work, but was unable. Then I learned our temple would be closed for it's regular maintenance break the week of our anniversary. If I'd been able to secure that day off, we would not have been able to go to the temple that day. An unusual blessing, but a blessing nevertheless.

One of my friends suggested I set our date for a different day so we could have two anniversaries. I requested another day off, and not only did I get that particular day, but the following day, too. I thought that would be very fitting as a sort of second honeymoon.

Because temples were going back into operation on limited schedules with limited volunteers, the scheduling process was quite modified. I cried when the temple entered it's regular maintenance closing without our sealing scheduled. I assumed I would have to secure yet more time off much later in the year. I wasn't the only bride awaiting a temple date.

To my utter delight, a volunteer called me during the break to schedule! Because of Lizard's special needs, the temple staff suggested I divide our special day into two to make it easier on him. Less time sitting still. And I already had the two days off!!!

The temple staff was beyond helpful in making adjustments and modifications to accommodate Lizard's special needs. I purchased his clothing, and on the day of our sealing, at his request, I let him try to get dressed by himself. (Buttons and other assorted tasks are challenging for him these days.) Half an hour before we were supposed to leave, I noticed he had not put on his Sunday best yet. He was decked in his khaki utility shorts and Mt. Rushmore T-shirt. When I asked if he knew he needed to wear Sunday best, he not only was shocked, but devastated because his church clothes, unbeknownst to me, were in the dirty clothes.

I did a rush wash and dry on his clothes while he panicked. Before we left, he asked if I had our "coupons." Our temple recommends (sort of like a driver's license, required for temple entrance). His sense of humor brought joy to what could have been a very stressful rush to arrive at the temple on time.

We arrived at the temple right on time, and Lizard was taken in quickly by kind and patient volunteers aware of his needs. He didn't have to wait around at all, which might have made things more difficult for him. We also managed to schedule during the very short time period in which masks were not required. Just two weeks after our sealing, masks were required once again.

Walking into the temple with him that first day was the most incredible feeling! He has taken me to so many temples all over the western US, and he has always waited patiently for me outside. This time, he went INSIDE with me. It was just about the best feeling in the entire world for me!

Lizard was seated at the back of the chapel for easy escape, but he didn't need it. He rarely is able to sit still for more than ten minutes, so an hour was asking a lot. He did beautifully. He was able to remain seated the entire time.

Special arrangements were made for the second day of our temple date, too. But Lizard once again was able to stay seated the entire time, even though he was in his medication down time. One of my dearest friends used my phone to snap some photos of us outside the temple. I neglected to bring the good camera because I just had too many other things on my mind. A hawk was pearched on the temple spire! A holy hawk, we called it. I returned later in the day, hoping to be able to get a close-up of my winged friend, but it was not to be.

Lizard was miserable when I asked him if I could go back to the temple for a few photos with the good camera. I know he probably didn't want to because he was so miserable, but he said yes and even went with me. Even though he knew I'd probably spend an hour.

Not only was the hawk missing, but there were not that many different varieties of flowers, either, so I was done fairly quick. I wanted to Photoshop a flower frame for one of our temple photos. Each of our friends who were able to attend sent us photos. I try to do something fancy like a flower frame for each bride I shoot, and now I've done it for me!

As time goes on, the Parkinson's grows worse and takes a little more of my sweetheart away from me. I don't know that we'd be able to make it through an hour now, just a few months later. The timing really was perfect, even if it wasn't what I'd dreamed. Being able to be sealed during everything that is going on in the world these days has brought me joy and faith and hope I'm not sure I would have been able to maintain without this special blessing.

When a marriage occurs outside the temple, it is "until death do we part." When a marriage occurs in the temple, it is "for time and all eternity." I'm losing a tiny bit of my favorite person each day that goes by, but I know I will see him again on the other side, and I know we both will be whole. Parkinson's will no longer have him... I will have him!!!

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