A little town called Crystal River

Some of you probably know that Crystal River isn’t in New Hampshire, it’s in Florida. Well, Florida is where I happen to be right now. My parents live in Crystal River. My mom hadn’t been well for quite a long time, with the last year being the worst. In August, she was accepted into hospice. I have to stray a little here and tell you what a wonderful group of people hospice has!! They did everything possible to make sure my mom was taken care of and it didn’t end there, they also made sure that my dad had all of the resources and help he would need. You couldn’t find a more dedicated, loving and helpful group of people if you tried! My mom passed away on Sunday. My dad, her husband of 42 years, and I were by her side. We’ve known that the day would come, but you are never ready when it does. My mom was an awesome woman! She was a nurse who spent her working career making the lives of people she came in contact with better. When my dad retired, they sold their house and bought a motorhome. They spent the next several years “bumming” around America. They even made it up to Alaska. My mom loved every minute of it. I was the one who named the motorhome Waldo because I never knew where they would be when she called. One day she called and I asked her “Where’s Waldo?” and the name stuck. When people wold ask me where my parents were from, I would tell them “Wherever they slept last night.” In July of last year, they settled in Crystal River, Fl. Mom always loved the ocean. When she was feeling well enough, her and my dad would go out fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.She would tell me about all of the cool things she saw, manatees, dolphins, sting rays. Several times over the last year, I got to go with them. I loved seeing her so happy.

It’ll be a few weeks before I go back to New Hampshire and continue my tour. Next stop…Hancock…