A father’s tale

Father’s Day is next Sunday, the 17th.

I was thinking it was this past weekend because Father’s Day sales have begun.  Silly me. If stores can put Christmas stuff on the shelves the day after Halloween, they certainly aren’t going to wait around for Father’s Day to promote lawn mowers, shavers, and electric hand tools.

Fine with me.

Because last week I got a discount on interior paint in a Father’s Day sale!

Anyway . . . 

I bring this up because of a story Wes told me.  Wes is a fellow retiree I met recently.

It’s a father’s story.

Wes is thinking about visiting his daughter across the country.

“I haven’t seen her or her husband in nine years.  They invited me to come out and see the cabin they bought. . . I would like to see them again,” he adds wistfully.

“That would be nice.  I hope you do.”

The conversation wanders hither and yon until we reach a place of memories, the way retirees often do.  Wes tells the following story:

“I marry a gal who has a little boy,” he begins.  

“I have a little girl.  The boy is a good kid but, as time goes by, he starts to get wild, you know how it goes.

“We send him off to military school.  That works out. He’s in military school for four years and comes home to spend the summers with us.

“Well, the wife and I get a divorce and she and the boy move to Montana.  The boy doesn’t like Montana so he joins the Navy.  He’s been all over the world.  In the Special Forces. Whenever there’s trouble in the world, that’s where they send him to help straighten things out.

“He’s put in enough years to retire now but the Navy doesn’t want to let him go.  They want him to be an instructor for Special Forces.  So that’s what he does.  He’s an instructor for Special Forces.”

“Years ago, when he was a young man, he came to visit.  

“Being a young man he was chasing around, asking the local girls for dates.  Well, the big rodeo was coming up and he wants to take this certain girl to the rodeo.  He drives up to her house and asks her to go with him.

“I don’t know exactly what happened.  He comes back to the house and he’s all upset because she turned him down flat.  He’s going around with his lower lip sticking out.  Not only did she let him down pretty hard, now he doesn’t have a date for the rodeo.

“I say to him, “Why don’t you take your sister?  She’s not really your sister, you know.”

“He thought about that for a minute and says, ‘Do you think she’d go with me?’

“I don’t know.  Why don’t you ask her and find out?”

Wes hesitates before continuing his story.  

Oh, here comes the punchline.

“He asks her out and she says yes.  They go to the rodeo and two weeks later they’re married!”

“Oh my gosh –“

Before I can blurt out more, Wes continues jokingly, “I like to tell people that my son married his sister.  That always gets their attention.”

“That’s funny.  I imagine it would!”

“Yep, my son married his sister.  They’ve had a wonderful marriage.”

About this blog . . .

I try to stay away in order to have a break to refresh and recharge.  It’s difficult for me to do that. First of all, I feel that I’m letting down my faithful readers.  Plus, I’m compelled to check comments several times a day to make sure everything is okay.

Face it, RVSue.  You and this blog are joined at the hip and at the heart.  You aren’t easily separated.

I would like to back off commenting for a while.  

When I reply to every comment, it pretty much takes over my day. I appreciate those of you who pledge to “carry the ball” in comments.   Please welcome new people, introduce topics, answer questions, and be your wonderful selves!

Update on life at the house:

The house is a two-bedroom, two-bath, with a small den.  I’m almost finished painting the den.  After that’s done, I’ll start on Nancy’s bedroom.  Having these indoor projects is great because outdoor tasks have come to a halt.  This is my first June in Arizona and I’m learning that every day by mid-afternoon the temperatures are into the 90s and 100s.

Saturday, on the way to the mailboxes, the crew and I are caught in rain!  What fun!

I get the mail and together the three of us run toward home.

On the porch, Roger hurries to the door to get out of the rain.

“Roger, we’re on a porch.  The rain doesn’t get us on the porch, honey.  See?”

Once he absorbs the concept of Covered Porch, he turns and engages Reggie in energetic play.

I watch the precious rain, breathe deeply the metallic smell of it, and share the excitement of the boys.  Birds are chirping and flitting back and forth between the porch and the tree nearby.

It’s raining!

Gosh, I don’t remember the last time I saw rain.

rvsue

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103 Responses to A father’s tale

  1. Ann M says:

    Welcome back, sue!

  2. Dawn in NC 🐈 says:

    What a joy to see the announcement of your new blog pop up in my email! Thanks for the interesting story! Blogorinos, does anyone know what kind of bird 🦅 makes the nest that Sue showed? As for Father’s Day, one of my favorite stories of my father is when we went Christmas tree 🎄 hunting when I was a kid. To save a little money, we went into the forest to cut down and bring back a tree. It was a great adventure at my age. We had slot of fun, but the tree was pretty scraggly as I recall. Anyone else out there have a good Father story?

    • Nancy in California says:

      Hi Dawn!
      When I was quite young, my parents didn’t have alot of extra money, with 6 mouths to feed. Oh, we lacked for nothing essential, big house and yard in the suburbs, food on the table, lits of love and laughter. Just not lots of extras. One year I heard my dad discussing the cost of xmas trees that year. I was eavesdropping, and blurted out, “Dad, can’t we afford a tree this year?” Never have forgotten his reply, “we will buy a xmas tree for you kids before we put bread on the table tonight.” He thought it was that important. It was only much later that I thought of that lovely Bible quote, “Man does not live by bread alone….”

  3. Donna n Girls Chandler, AZ. says:

    Oh please send some of that rain up here. I love the smell of rain in the desert.
    Welcome back, wonderful post.

  4. Shawna says:

    Glad all is going well!!!

  5. Ann M says:

    I can just imagine how good the rain felt after so much time without it. We have had lots of rain here this spring, so much that we have trees coming down due to the soaked ground. One came down just this morning across a state highway.

    So glad you are back, Sue. I have followed you since you used to write on George’s blog and you started travelling. I hope all is well with you.

  6. Angela Sipe says:

    So happy to see you blog again!!!

  7. Ann M in Va says:

    A father’s day story? One of my best memories of my dad was, when my mother went on vacation with the rest of the family, Dad and I stayed home. I had to do some of the cooking, with his help, and it made me feel so grown-up. Gave me a lot of confidence! But we ate a lot of rhubarb sauce that week! We both loved it and it was easy for me to make. Rhubarb on toast for breakfast, rhubarb for dessert, rhubarb on ice cream………………..

    • Rochelle in IN says:

      Oooooh, I love rhubarb. You and your dad’s menu sounds yummy to me!

      • Ann M says:

        We never forgot it! We always talked about it after I was grown. We both got to eat all we wanted! Plus it was a special time with just Dad and me. He used to take me fishing a lot, too, and I loved that.

  8. Chris B and Diego says:

    So that’s why it’s so green in Tucson. When we were there a couple of months ago, I was surprised at how green it was. Must be those little inbetween showers.

    You are coming on on the monsoon season, aren’t you? Can’t wait to hear about that and what happens. We lost an awning on our Casita years ago during the monsoon season. Lesson well learned about camping in the desert.

  9. Nancy in California says:

    Hi Sue!
    Good to see you this morning. That is a good story, guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows and have a little fun with people. The rodeo coming. Small town life. My father lived that. I think I would have been so suited to it! But, my small town dad joined the Navy, married my Boston born city girl mom in San Diego, and here we are, all 6 us siblings, big city kids!

  10. Sharron says:

    So glad you are continuing the blog! So enjoy your stories at your house in Arizona as much as your travel stories.

  11. Sandy and Scott says:

    I gotta tell ya we’re a mite confused!!
    But glad you’re back.
    S&S

  12. The Rain that came could be the start of Monsoon Season and you’ll feel a little Humendy along with it, that’s purity funny for the first time living in a Aired Desert Sue,,,,, great post and what is that first photo of?,,,,,🐾👣👣

  13. Big says:

    I haven’t checked your blog in some time and so only now just saw the recent big change by moving into a permanent home. It makes a lot of sense to me and seems to be the logical progression for a retiree — sell the house, go fulltime and embrace the nomad lifestyle, have great adventures, then you probably end up missing some of the benefits of a house, then you return to putting down roots but keep your RV for when you want some adventure.

    There are lots of vlogs on YouTube now featuring people in their 20’s-30’s “escaping the rat race” and getting a van or RV and hitting the road. Seems great but also strikes me as a future source of regret, because after awhile they too will probably want to put down stakes and they’ll be 35 or something with no real estate equity or job history. The vlog “We’re the Russos” especially comes to mind because they’re about 40 I guess and as far as I can tell walked away from very promising and established careers and liquidated all their assets with the intention of owning nothing more than what would fit in their Class-B. I used to watch with great interest but I unsubscribed because I always ended up feeling depressed watching their show! I keep thinking, “One or both of them are going to get weary of this lifestyle in a few years and then what?” Living the nomadic lifestyle certainly has its many benefits but there’s so many limitations as I am sure you of all people know well. Anyways, I’m rambling, best wishes for your new home life!

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Thanks for the best wishes. I appreciate your thoughts on this topic, Big. I do want to clarify one thing as it relates to me and my decision to purchase a house with my sister.

      I didn’t do so because of “so many limitations” of full-timing. I would’ve continued the full-time vagabond life I love.

      You may have missed where I explained my sister is working in Florida and nearing retirement. We’ve been apart (across country, not in touch) ever since I left New York state in 1975. The house is a place where my sister and I can be together again, sharing expenses. Other benefits are secondary to that.

    • Renee G says:

      But then again they may never tire of that lifestyle. We can never presume one’s dreams.

    • Linda Sand (Minnesota) says:

      We have friends who are going into their 18th year of living in RVs. They recently inherited a mobile home in an RV park so they will have a place to go if they ever decide to get off the road.

      It’s best to not let tomorrow’s worries mess with your today.

  14. Bud (N E Washington) says:

    Sue, that post about Wes reminded me about my son and my daughter in law and how they met. I like to tell people they met in jail and the look on their face is great. My son was a police officer and my daughter in law worked for the sheriffs department while she was getting her degree. He met her when he would take some one to be put in jail, after a while he asked her out and eventually they were married. She became a police officer also, now they are both retired and moved next door here in N E Washington, by the way I was raised in Arizona as were my kids and have lived in different areas of the state over the years. Hope you and your sister enjoy Arizona.

  15. Renee G says:

    Well, what a nice surprise! I too am compelled to check for new comments from you. So happy for the brief visit for now. Yes, as much as I said I was going to stay away till I saw you post again, I couldn’t, hence how I discovered you posted again (and my email, but I skimmed through it for ye ol blob (g)).

    I’ll help carry on the best I can.

  16. Rochelle in IN says:

    A dad story, huh? Well, get a cup of coffee or tea ‘cause this is a-gonna’ be a long one.

    When I was 15, we lived in Walla Walla (“the town so nice they named it twice”). Located in the far SW corner of Washington, just over the state line from Milton-Freewater, Oregon, there weren’t a lot of summer job opportunities for a not-yet-16-year old. But there *was* Klicker’s Strawberry Farm. Show up at the bus stop at some horribly early hour – 5:30 or 6:00 am, IIRC – and you were hired! I decided I wanted to do that. My dad was a “finish what you start”, “honor your commitments” kind of guy, so he made sure I understood that if I decided to do this, I would have to finish out the strawberry picking season. Full of youthful confidence and certainty, I agreed.

    The bus delivered us pickers to a field where we picked up a flat from the truck parked there. Those lucky enough to be on the “fast crew” got to pick in the best spots and had 12 quart-sized green boxes in their flats. They were picking for grocery store and fruit stand sales. Meanwhile, the rest of us had an empty flat that we had to fill to the top of the cardboard sides. We were allowed to eat as many berries as we wanted, which was really smart of the owners, as most of us gorged on berries the first day and then…..not so much.

    We were also allowed to bring certain items to help us be a bit more comfortable in the heat, humidity and blazing sun of summer. So there I was, day after day, pushing my flat down a row of berry plants, with a cushion for my knees, a hat, sunscreen, a transistor radio (remember those?) and a water bottle, picking and picking and picking. When we filled a flat, we carried it to the truck and if it passed inspection – oh, how we dreaded hearing “not quite full enough” – we’d get a hole punch on our card, grab another empty flat, refill our water bottle and head out again. On Saturdays, we were paid 65 cents for every flat we had picked.

    You always knew when spiders or the occasional snake were spotted as you’d hear a feminine scream somewhere (not being sexist here, that’s just the way it was). Either a girl had found it or a boy had found it and flipped it her way. When the field supervisor wasn’t looking, we’d have occasional strawberry fights with overripe or rotten berries. At about 3 pm, we’d get back on the bus and it would drop us off at the stop nearest our home.

    Well, that was fun for about a week. Then I decided I had had enough. I wasn’t going back. No sirree, not me – no way, no how. Enter my dad with a reminder about finishing what I started, keeping my commitment, etc. I begged, I pleaded, I tried the soulful daughter eyes and all I got was a story about how he knew exactly how I felt because of a summer he spent in a prune-packing plant. Oh that wasn’t the same thing – not at all! He just didn’t understand! Life was SO unfair!!!

    As I returned to those strawberry fields each day, I muttered and grumbled under my breath about how unreasonable my dad was. In adolescent superiority, I KNEW he was hopelessly out of touch with how things were now. Prune-packing plant, my foot! What did he know? Harumph, harrumph!

    One Saturday I was half-heartedly trying to fill my flat, when I heard the field supervisor call my name. I looked up and to my horror, I saw my dad headed my way. He was dressed in his oldest khakis and sport shirt (my dad has NEVER worn jeans and t-shirts) and carried an empty flat. The field supervisor reassigned the worker in the row next to me and my dad settled in to pick. What was this? He didn’t say anything and I didn’t say anything. We picked together in silence for about an hour. He gave me his full flat, got up, bid the field supervisor farewell and left.

    I was horribly embarrassed until the other pickers, mostly teens like myself, started talking about how cool it was that my dad had come out on a miserably hot Saturday to help me pick. As an adult, I now know how precious that time off work is and he sacrificed some of it to make a point to me. I understood. He knew EXACTLY how I felt. It didn’t change the fact that I had to finish out the season, but suddenly I didn’t feel so bad about that.

    And yes, I still finish what I start. Thanks, Dad!

  17. Leslie says:

    They had the same mother? Surely not.

  18. Geri in the FL panhandle! says:

    💗💕😁💕💗 So happy to see you in my mailbox! 😊

  19. Beth and Rosie dog, Arizona says:

    Oh, father stories… well when I was a teenager and the younger of two girls, my dad told me that my sister was his favorite! I have one fond memory of my dad. I was 11 years old and wanted to make some money, so I started mowing lawns. We had a small electric lawn mower. I’d roll up 200 ft of outdoor electrical cord sling it over my shoulder and get on my bike and ride to my lawns pulling that little mower with one hand and steering my bike with the other. I ended up with 33 yards to mow, definitely good business! One day I came home and my dad gave me a brand new gas powered lawn mower that was a lot bigger than that tiny electric mower. I was able to get all my yards cut in three days instead of five! He said he was impressed with how many yards I had and wanted to make it a little easier, and with that lawn mower he did just that! My fondest memory of my dad was that lawnmower he gave me. He told me I never asked for much but always worked for what I wanted, which was the nicest thing he said in the first 24 years of my life. I guess it’s the way he said it and the look on his face and eyes; I knew he was proud of me. At 11 years old I’d already figured out he liked my sister and I didn’t think he liked me at all, but I knew that day that he was proud of me.
    He never did get to know me very well, but he and my sister were close. I’m glad I knew my father, so many kids don’t even know their dads.

    Hey Sue, with time your body will acclimate to these AZ temps. Your blood will thin out, or something like that. Oh, the monsoon season brings some of the best electrical storms you’ll ever see!
    Thanks for the post!

  20. Rhodium in sw va says:

    It’s great to do tasks that, when done, stay done. Unlike, say, mowing the grass or laundry. Next I guess will come curtains. I find it amazing that there are whole stores and catalogs devoted to curtains. I don’t think many guys have the curtain gene. The next time you want to post perhaps you could discuss improvements you are thinking of making, if any. We have put down so many new floors it’s not funny

  21. Liz says:

    Sue, seeing a new post from you is always terrific! I love the fact that when you get the “hitch itch” again, off you can go! Painting and fixing things up has its rewards too, as Nancy will certainly appreciate all you are doing to make this a great home for both and your soon to be triple crew.
    Change in life circumstances always has its rewards as well as challenges. Always better to make the changes because you want to, not because you have to. You go, girl!

  22. Columbus Calvin says:

    Thanks for the story!

    My lungs and I breathlessly await more reports on Arizona’s summer/monsoon season.

    I think I understand your conflict with the time and energy the blog consumes versus the community and other rewards it brings. I hope you keep a good balance, whatever that means in your life.

  23. Suzicruzi from The 'Couve says:

    😊😊😊 Howdy Sue. I’ve missed you, and was happy to ready this post. Sounds like life is good. Keep it that way!! Stay well. xo

  24. Linda Sand (Minnesota) says:

    My Dad was a strict disciplinarian so I was mostly afraid of him. One day another family and mine decided to go to the St Louis Zoo. We packed ten of us into our nine-passenger station wagon and went off for a day of fun. When it was time to head for home we made a last stop at the restrooms. I got to watching a family while waiting to leave. When I turned around, my own family was gone. I was terrified! But I had been trained to stay where I was if I ever got lost because family could retrace their steps and find me only if I wasn’t moving about. Eventually, the other mother asked why they had more room in the car and they discovered I was missing. When my Dad appeared over the hill by the restrooms may be the only time in my life I was glad to see him. I cried tears of relief and he never did punish me for that incident.

  25. Lee DeLong says:

    Sue! What a lovely surprise to find a new posting. Rain in Arizona, so very welcome, lots of memories lots of smell memories the kind that never leave. I was back visiting a few years ago, having been gone for 10 and the rain, just the smell of rain brought back so many memories of growing up. Retirement is on my horizon, where to go what to do, back home to Southern Az or up to the great NW. Don’t know right now.
    Glad the new house is coming together, love the nest in the Palo Verde tree, hope life is treating you well.

  26. There is nothing like the smell and relief of rain on a hot Arizona day. Hopefully a good monsoon awaits to bring relief from the hot temperatures. New paint will definitely brighten the walls in your little house.

  27. Cynthia in San Clemente says:

    I love Wes’ story – how nice that something good came out of his divorce. Glad you are taking a break from responding to comments. I have occasionally thought about starting a blog, but when I’m honest with myself about how much time it would take to write an interesting post on a regular basis, I decide it’s not for me. Add in the burden of responding to most of the comments and I can see how it would be huge time-suck.

    I’m wondering if you picked out the color for Nancy’s room, if she requested a color, or if you’re just doing the entire interior of the house all in one color. But … since you aren’t commenting I’ll have to wait 🙂 Glad you’re getting some rain – it’s always nice in the desert.

  28. Gingerita says:

    Rain!! I love the smell of rain in the desert so much that I keep a bundle of creosote in my bathroom. I don’t have a lot of Dad stories. He was a quiet guy that worked a lot. Farmer. But he led by example and taught us to work hard and do for others. He always came to our games and concerts etc in school. This was significant because we lived in a very rural area and a considerable amount of travel time was involved. So happy to see you back!

  29. Marilu in Northern California says:

    I can just imagine the joy of all the desert creatures when it begins to rain there. The plants will be happy, too. Do you know that many desert plants drop their leaves or inhibit their growth to keep from losing water in the dry, desert heat? Then when it rains some little leaves pop out. The adaptations to desert life is quite amazing!
    I grew up in the Rocky Mountains and never thought I liked the desert. Then I started following a lady’s blog called RVSue and Crew! Now we spent at least two months camping in the desert every yearand I love it! Thanks Sue!
    I wonder how many other desert lovers/RVers Sue has created. Pipe up if you’re one of us.

  30. Linda Mary Soaft says:

    Thanks for the update. Enjoy your sabbatical!

  31. Ruthie in Fontana says:

    I am reading the many comments about Fathers, Dads, Papa’s, Daddy’s…I have two sisters and three brothers. So sometimes my favorite memories about my Dad revolve around my siblings interactions with my Dad. The one lasting memory was when I was eight years old I got to go on a date with my Father. I was in the Girl Scouts. On a winter evening the troops had a Father/Daughter dinner. So my Dad took me. He had worked all day and was used to coming home and sitting in his recliner and reading the paper (with his eyes shut). But that one evening we drove to the location. It was snowing and the snow was knee deep (to me)! So I walked in his foot steps. I don’t remember the dinner but later there was some dancing. We danced one dance then it was time to go, because it was a school night! Dads are so important to a little girls life. He now lives with my husband and me. He is 93!

  32. Don in Alaska says:

    If you like rain, then you will just **love** August – the start of the Monsoon Season.

    Daily thunderstorms, heavy on the lightening. Dust storms caused by the downdrafts associated with the storm.

    I used to lay out on the concrete driveway (nice and warm) and let the freezing rain pour down in my face and enjoy the fireworks. I’ll also admit that is the only thing I miss about SoAz summers…

    Just wondering, now that you are a full-time desert rat, do you have the foil-bubble window shade for the windscreen and dash mat to protect the dash from melting?

    BTW – you should look for photos pf folks baking cookies in their autos rear window shelf – folks who have never lived there just don’t understand. This is found in both Tucson and Feenix.

    Yes, asphalt has a liquid phase, you can often leave footprints in the summertime….

    Glad to hear you are dong well and getting settled in.

    • Chey (WA coast) says:

      Wow Don, nice comment. I’m curious about the dash screen, can you explain?

      • Don in Alaska says:

        These are basiclly a foil faced bubble wrap cut to fit the auto windshield. Slows the direct solar gain.
        I have seen cars, where the driver closes all the windows and when the heat expands the air …it blows out either the front or rear window. An image search will quickly sows the results.

        As for the SolarShade. Even Wallmart carries these, as does Amazon.

        I tell folks there are many reasons I now live inAK. That it is 10 pm in Tucson and still over 90F is just one…

  33. Barbara (Nashville) says:

    So happy to see this post. What a nice story about Wes and his children.
    I will always love my dad as I was a daddy’s girl, being the first of us siblings. He passed way too young (59.) My dad took me everywhere with him if I wanted to go.
    I went on HVAC service calls with him, the butcher shop, fishing, whatever. He was a jack of all trades and darn good at all of them. It was a big deal to catch a bigger fish or carry out the coal embers for him. He taught me to work on my own car, change a tire, change the oil, etc.
    He was quite a card player, too, not gambling, so he taught me to play. When he came home from work, he would clean up, we all had dinner and then we would play cards or checkers or something. Later on he got into selling tools and parts to large roadway contractors and I would ride along 1-day a week during the summers. We always stopped for cherry pie, my favorite.
    My dad was my best friend. I love and miss him every day of the 50 years he has been gone.

    • Dawn in NC 🐈 says:

      What a tender remembrance Barbara. Thank you for sharing.

    • Jan Johnson says:

      What a wonderful dad! I loved mine so much too, and he passed at 43 from melanoma when I was 13. In our case I barely got to see him – he worked the night shift, 12 hours, and during the day our mother whisper-yelled at us constantly not to make noise. But when we had him it was so wonderful. What great memories you have of spending time with your dad!

  34. Jan Johnson says:

    What a great story! I love talking to people, complete strangers. So many people don’t engage any more. Often I offer a friendly hello and I might as well be invisible. In a couple of weeks we’ll be living in the country rather than this very crowded town, and I am hoping folks will be friendlier!

    • Chey (WA coast) says:

      The weirdest thing about Alaska to me was how truly friendly and interested folks were to newcomers. I think because there are so few people. Not Los Anchorage, small towns. Everyone waves when passing in cars.

  35. Karen LeMoine says:

    Unfortunately I don’t have a happy dad story. My father was a vicious alcoholic. He was ok with my brother and sister but not my mom and I. The only good thing is that I didn’t become an alcoholic like him! He finally moved on to the great beyond due to complications with drinking.To this day I can’t be around anyone who drinks.Im happy for those who had/have great loving Dad’s.Sue thanks for keeping in touch. Can’t wait to hear more on how the house painting is going. I’m right outside of Holbrook Az and we need rain desperately! Very dry and hot here.

    • Renee G says:

      You know, Karen, all the while reading about wonderful fathers, I wanted to instead wish my beloved mother in heaven a Happy Father’s Day. Even though I had a father, he was an alcoholic and not a good role model. He didn’t discipline us and only showed affection when he was drunk. He didn’t manage the money, nor the house, it was all my mother. She was the disciplinarian, the money manager, the chief cook and bottle washer per say. She’s the one that taught us valuable lessons. When I was in high school I was pretty serious about a boy. My mother took me to the local corn cannery and had me work there a couple of nights. She said that if I was more serious about a boy than my school work then I better get used to working hard labor because that would be all I’d be able to do without an education. Then on another occasion, she had me work the fields with the migrant workers that she did interpretation for. She wanted me to appreciate what they did and how they suffered at manual labor and she wanted me to understand the importance of an education. She was a great mother, a great role model, and the best mother/father combination out there. I was probably not alone though. I bet there are others with the one parent who did the most for them. God bless you Karen. I bet you turned out alright!

  36. Chey (WA coast) says:

    I was out walking with my prosthetic leg today when the hinge that the strap goes around broke off, which holds the leg on. When things like this happen, or when, like now, I was on my way to pick up my van when I “broke my leg”😀 I always think how I would handle it if I were traveling and boondocking. There is always an answer to the introspection, and usually it ends up inconvenience I would be overcoming and not of great consequence. Then I think of the Milky Way.
    Glad to see you so chipper and open for business and easy to find Amazon link (actually I saved your last post, in case) because Chancy’s retractable leash broke today and I ended up running over it a couple of turns around the axle in my chair. 🐾🐾

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Gee, Chey, I hope you’re okay after that fall! I assume you wear your phone at all times in case something like that happens.

      And then the leash breaks! Sheesh.

      Thank you for thinking of my blog when shopping Amazon and for keeping in touch.

  37. Mona from West Texas says:

    Greeting Sue,
    After several months of looking at different trailers, I have decide on ordering a Casita. You have inspired me to get back on the road. I need to to make a decision on optional equipment. The optional equipment that I am not familiar with : “Friction Anti Sway Control” vs the Andersen “No Sway” Weight Distribution hitch. Both options are listed on the Casita list. I would like some input on what I should purchase. I know someone can provide some information . The difference in price is $400.00. I decide on ordering a Casita 2019 17’ Deluxe Independence. I will be using a Nissan Pathfinder as my towing vehicle. Thanks to all .. Stay Cool

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Hi, Mona,

      Congratulations on choosing Casita! I have no experience with a weight distribution hitch. The BLT has an anti-sway bar (friction) which has been sufficient. Sway has never been a concern, but I realize that each set-up (tow vehicle/travel trailer/weight added) is different and requirements can vary.

      I’m sure the Casita folks will answer any questions that aren’t answered here by blogorinos. If it were me, I’d go with the less expensive option. You can always make changes later if necessary.

      Blogorinos: Anti-sway control or weight distribution hitch?

    • Kitt NW WA says:

      Hi, Mona,
      If I recall correctly, Sue uses the friction type.
      We tow a Casita Spirit 17 and use a friction anti-sway bar. Its been seven years and it has worked just fine for us. We currently tow with a Toyota Tacoma and have never had a problem even in some pretty stiff side winds.
      Congratulations on your new Casita!
      Kitt

    • ApplegirlNY says:

      Hi Mona, Congrats on deciding on a Casita. We have one, and really love it.
      We do have the sway control bar, and I highly recommend it, especially good for windy days, and if you have to make a quick lane change. We do not have a weight distribution hitch, so I can’t speak to that. We don’t seem to have missed it, but others that have one swear by it.

      Make sure your Nissan Pathfinder has a tow rating of at least 4000lbs. Once the Casita is loaded , you’re probably going to be well over 3000lbs, and you don’t want to be pulling at much more than 80% of capacity. I think it can really take it’s toll on your tow vehicle, especially if you’re doing some mountains. Have fun in your Casita, and keep us updated on ETA. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long. Very exciting.

    • Marsha says:

      We have the Anderson WDH for our Oliver since that’s what they offered and it’s kind of fiddly. You have to have your tow vehicle lined up exactly the way you had it when you unhooked in order to get it hooked back up. A pain sometimes.

      The sway control offered by Casita works great (we had one on our Casita). That may be your best option.

  38. Funny, I thought this past weekend was Father’s Day too..for the same reason you did.

    Glad inside projects are getting done. Did your sister pick out the color for her room? Did you pick yours? I had fun doing that a couple months ago. We remodeled the entire house and it’s been ready to paint for about..well…10 years…but husband and I couldn’t agree on anything. So it didn’t get done. Just a couple months ago he finally gave in and let me pick the paint colors. Don’t mind saying it looks fabulous! 🙂

  39. Cinandjules 🌵 says:

    Rain? It’s been scorching here all week! 109 today! AO is acting like a crocodile in the pool! It does smell different when the first rain falls.

    Cute Wes story. Isn’t the cost of paint crazy? I mean SERIOUSLY Cray cray…like for the price of a gallon…shouldn’t that include someone applying it? Sheeeeeeshhhh! Great you found it on sale! Here’s a AZ tip…the leftover paint can’t be stored in the garage due to the heat! You’d be amazed at what can’t be stored in your garage. Basically anything you want to use in the future…keep it in the house. The house house! One of our bathroom cabinets is filled with paint, caulk etc.

    Our family really didn’t celebrate Father’s Day.

    August will be here soon! Are your projects multiplying? Enjoy your evening!

  40. B says:

    Lol. So much for putting a pause on the blogging. I guess you really need that Amazon income.

    • weather says:

      B, what you really need is a grip on reality. If Sue’s primary motivation was money she would use all of her skills to make a financial profit in less time consuming and difficult ways than keeping this blog going. This blog was started and remains as a way to help anyone interested in living on less and enjoying life more-whether done with an rv as a home or not. Your motivation for writing an ignorant and belligerent comment was to attack a much finer and far more intelligent person than you are. Go away, B, you aren’t welcome here.

    • Cynthia in San Clemente says:

      What in the world is with these obnoxious stalker/trolls? Every time I read such a nasty comment I just wonder why anyone would waste their precious time typing out such vitriol. Please, get a life or take your meds or see a therapist or do whatever you have to do to behave yourself.

      • Barbara (Nashville) says:

        Amen sisters. Take your ugliness elsewhere.

        • Barb in Florida says:

          I didn’t take it that way. She did start out with Lol and it kinda is the reality. Sue said herself a few posts back that replacing things she had gotten rid of was costly. Also that she didn’t want to take a long break because she didn’t want readers to leave which would affect her amazon sales. Forgive me if I remembered wrong.

          In the beginning I honestly thought that was the only purpose of this site. Glad I went back and found out it was not the reason she started blogging. Also glad it helped to keep her on the road and giving us all this good entertainment.

          • rvsueandcrew says:

            You thought I started blogging to make money, Barbara? After all the heart I’ve put into this blog? Tell me you didn’t mean that!

            I wrote the following:

            “I try to stay away in order to have a break to refresh and recharge. It’s difficult for me to do that. First of all, I feel that I’m letting down my faithful readers. Plus, I’m compelled to check comments several times a day to make sure everything is okay.

            Face it, RVSue. You and this blog are joined at the hip and at the heart. You aren’t easily separated.

            • Barb in Florida says:

              When I first found this site, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. Maybe you were working for Casita, I didn’t know. Why would you work so hard to retire and then spend so much time to work to make Amazon money. It didn’t make sense to me. That’s why I had to go back to the beginning.

              The stuff from the first paragraph was in response to someone asking in the comments a couple of posts or more ago, why you don’t just shut it down for six months and take a break.

              Why would I think your heart and soul is not here when I went back and read it all? I also had never followed anyone or anything before. I wasn’t even sure you were real until I found a picture. There is so much junk on the internet, who knows. We don’t even like Amazon, but use it because of you. Sorry. Maybe I should just not comment.

            • rvsueandcrew says:

              Don’t take offense, Barbara. I was hurt by your comment that sounded like you thought my main reason for blogging was for money. I didn’t know all that you’ve explained in this most recent comment. I accept your apology.

              You’re under a lot of stress these days from what I gather from your other comment. I don’t want to add to it, so let’s start fresh.

    • AZ Jim says:

      “B” speaking only for myself…..Go away and get a life somewhere!!

  41. Chloe Derian says:

    I love your blog and was so worried when you mentioned you were taking a break from the blog. Thanks for coming back. I usually don’t comment on blogs but I really really enjoy yours and look forward to it. Thanks again. Also welcome to Az. I live in Apache Jct probably somewhere north of you. Hugs to your boys.

  42. ApplegirlNY says:

    Nice to see a new post, Sue. You’re so generous with your time, that you have us all spoiled rotten.

    Your hard work on the house is inspiring. I’ve been looking around our house, and noticed there are some rooms that need a bit of fresh paint. It can wait until fall, though. I won’t be spending any extra time indoors, if I can help it. So, you see, Sue, you inspire us whether you’re moving or staying put for a while.

    Fresh strawberries are here in Upstate NY. YUMMY! I’ve been making strawberry rhubarb pies and cookies for a local farm stand (on top of my real job of selling real estate). I do love to cook and bake, but we don’t eat much of it anymore, so it’s a great outlet for me.

    I’ll be out watering my garden in a few minutes. I love June. The Adirondacks were beautiful this past weekend, warm days, cool nights, lush green foliage, and of course the smell of the pines.

  43. weather says:

    It’s kind of neat that daughter and stepson chose marry each other. They have some shared history, memories and parts of their much younger years in common. Most people only know what they are told about their mate’s experiences before they knew each other, and have to use their imagination to try to understand what that was like. I think the continuity in knowing each other for so long before and after their wedding may lend a sense of stability to them, similar to that of couples having been married for much longer than they have.

    For your sake, Sue, I wish you could take a vacation away from this blog. Yet, I’m happy that you feel joined to it ” at the hip and at the heart “. It is after all a lovely place to visit and think about … Keeping a connection to what’s good in this world enriches one’s life. Thank you for sharing that gift with us.

    What a wonderful feeling being on your porch while it’s raining is! You described it so well that I could feel it, too.Gosh, I’m really looking forward to your telling us about the monsoon season there.

  44. Pauline in Mississippi says:

    So good to see a new post from you!!! Loved Wes’s story. I have a similar one. Years ago I was asked to sing at the wedding of my husband Jerold’s 2 first cousins. Yup, first cousin marrying first cousin. The Bride was Jerold’s first cousin on his mother’s side and the Groom was a first cousin on his father’s side, Not as close as brother and sister but close enough to raise a few eyebrows.

    Excited about my 2 sister getting together!!!! There is no telling what “mischief” they will get into!!!

    Happy Father’s Day to all Blogerino Fathers!!!!

  45. Cheryle says:

    Hi Sue!
    I ordered the Smoothie Blender. Have not opened the box yet! I am finally retiring next month. Ordered the blender as a treat to myself and am now collecting recipes. Please print more if you find a recipe you really like!
    Cheryle from Charlotte NC

    • rvsueandcrew says:

      Thank you, Cheryle!

      I don’t have any special recipes to share yet. I have learned something important about making smoothies: the results are only as good as the quality of fruit you put into the blender. I made one with a cantaloupe that wasn’t sweet or flavorful. I had to throw out the smoothie it was so bad!

      I think it was Cynthia in San Clemente who suggested spritzer water. For a refreshing drink when it’s 100 degrees, a smoothie made with the jar filled with 1/3 spritzer, 1/3 orange juice, and two ripe fruits such as frozen banana or frozen pineapple with frozen strawberries or frozen blueberries.

      Any more smoothie recipes, blogorinos?

  46. Terri in Tx. says:

    I, too, loved my Dad. He was my fishing buddy, played football and softball with me, took us camping, all while working 6 days a week to support a family of 6. I wish I had appreciated him more in my later teen years. I remember when I got my Masters degree we went to a restaurant to celebrate. He ordered all of us a screwdriver, of all things. That was a big deal as he never drank hard liquor! He passed away at age 74 of cancer. I was 30 years old. Missed him ever since! (Crying now…)

  47. Barb in Florida says:

    Hi Everybody! Get Ready – it’s a long one.

    Dad and I were early risers. We’d sneak off to Panda House Restaurant for breakfast while everyone else slept late. I’d have my usual French toast, sausage links & OJ. He’d smile at me as he put ketchup on his eggs & hash browns. He knew it grossed me out. Sometimes he’d be up before me on Sunday morning. I knew he’d come in after going to Grand Newsstand to get the Sunday papers & hoped he stopped across the street to pick up some Dunkin Donuts. He never forgot to get my chocolate long-john – or one with sprinkles if they were out. We’d read the paper together, me with the funnies and I’m not sure what he would read first, but he had an order to it. I’d have to wait if I wanted a section he wasn’t done with.

    My dad was a good provider. I got my good work ethic from him. He worked three jobs when we were little. He made false teeth for soldiers while stationed in France or Germany during the Korean war. Even though there were lots of guys walking around with teeth dad had made, he couldn’t get hired doing that when he came home. He worked at Kroger’s, a Mobil station (I can still smell that place) and somewhere else I don’t remember, until he got hired at Abbott Labs full-time. He would come home from AL after a day on his feet, sit down in his recliner with the paper from the porch, put his feet up and have me take off his shoes and Ewwwwwwww pull the socks so they weren’t stuck to his feet. It was the least I could do. I could tell he was tired. Plus, it always seemed to make him feel good.

    I got my first paycheck job at that same Dunkin donuts. Only 12 1/2 with a summer work permit. My sister was working down the street at Brown’s Chicken. More than once, dad would pick us up after work at the same time. He holler “Roll down the windows, you guys STINK!” Me like greasy donuts and her like greasy chicken. Then straight downstairs to throw the stinky uniforms into the washer to get them ready for the next shift and keep the smell out of the house.

    Wish my dad could hear me when I call on the phone. The transcription phone he was gifted – he has no patience for. My mom is bad, Alzheimer’s:( It seemed to happen fast. I’m 1500 miles away and missing them so. It’s why I keep looking at RV’s so that I could go up there and have my own gluten-free home. I was told I wasn’t wanted when I offered to come up and help:( That was a while ago. I figure I could help with short intervals and retreat to the RV or if they really don’t want me, I at least could visit my kids, friends and other relatives as I travel and maybe end up in the winter in the desert.

    One more paragraph to ponder peeps. I also got addicted to this blog(internet) and realized I was wasting too much time. In the beginning, some days all I managed to do was eat, drink tea, pee and read RVSue. I had to read it ALL! Now I read other blogs, watch YouTube, read history, search for news and other stuff. Still a real Time Suck. Also, something awful happened and I don’t know if I can keep the computer in my life. The internet has destroyed lives and relationships. I also have a family fight with someone over facebook, which I am NOT on and never have been and don’t want to be, which is what the fight’s about. I don’t like the loss of privacy I’ve been feeling lately. Even in WalMart, when you use the self-checkout, they are using facial recognition. You can see yourself on the screen! All the talk about Mayberry really hit home.

    I’m going to go back to downsizing to keep getting rid of crap. Can’t sit online all day hoping Sue is going to post. Let’s see how long MY self-control lasts. Maybe, Sue, this can shed some light on why people come and go. I’ll be back for now unless things get worse, if that’s possible. Life is hard sometimes. It is what it is. Anyone for lemonade?:) Love & hugs…..

    • Barbara (Nashville) says:

      I am not on nor will I ever be on facebook, twitter, instagram or any other social media. I have just been hacked on my computer for the second time in 2 months.
      I am in the process of changing every password I have. I am so frustrated, but I work from home via the internet, so I have to have it. Also working on changing my email account, but that is the last item I will do, as that will be a chore to notify only folks that need to have it.

  48. Susan in south central WA but visiting family in CO says:

    Even at my age I can’t get used to having to shop 6 months in advance for holiday items. Noticed 2 weeks ago that HL had their fall to nearly Halloween displays out already. And yesterday I drove all over the place to find my Mom a pair of fake Teva style sandals. The sales people reminded me that sandal sales start in late February….

    Have a great weekend and hello to the boys!

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