Surviving frequent travel for medical needs

As I get more comfortable sharing our story, I have a lot of ideas and tips and experiences.  Our household has some chronic health issues that are life long and require regular, specialized care.  Among the many tips are my travel tactics that have helped us to stay somewhat sane.  We travel to a world renowned clinic for care for 2 members of our household, at nearly 400 miles each way.  We do this on a regular schedule, and have come to learn that packing and unpacking are big time wasters for us.  There are certain things we try to keep in the vehicle at all times, and a few that are in the closet, ready to go at a moment's notice.  At the height of our medical needs in the past, we were making this trek once a week.  We've had varying schedules since then.  Every 3 weeks was nice, but got to be too much.  For now, we are spread out a bit more and finding a groove to it.


Among the things we depend on to get us through:

A bag that is always packed with toiletries and laundry supplies just for purpose of travel, as well as a few odds and ends for the "kitchen", such as a can opener and a microwavable container with a lid, and a small stash of napkins.  I also keep a dish cloth or microfiber rag or two in there to help with dish washing as needed.


Dollar store supplies for in the vehicle:
plastic shoe box
silverware/utensils
zipper bags
basic medicines-pain relievers, antacids, cold/cough essentials, and an allergy med or two
garbage bags
bowl or 2 with lids
garbage can/basket
basic cleaning wipes

These things do not have to be high quality or all that durable.  They are the "oops! I forgot to grab..." part of my plan.  Plastic, or even cheap metal utensils can always come in handy for a meal on the go that didn't get the needed items or a quick pick up from a grocery store. The zipper bags can contain quick leftovers from a meal on the go to be saved for later.  The medicines, I just get for the emergency times when we can't get to our regular prescriptions in our luggage or when we meet someone else who is without.  It happens regularly.  Most of those supplies fit in the shoe box.  Garbage bags and can?  Well, travel is messy.  Especially with little ones.  It gets even worse when someone gets carsick.  An ice cream bucket lined with a plastic shopping bag is my favorite. Bags lining a bucket are EASY to clean up, and in my opinion, more sanitary than wiping out a bucket with a paper towel and trying to dispose of things in a rest area.  Cleaning wipes need no introduction. 

I also try to always keep a small coin purse with several dollars in coins in it for parking meters, toll roads, and incidental needs from a vending machine.  I try to keep another in our luggage but that doesn't always happen,.

A blanket and a change of clothing and a few diapers or feminine products and baby wipes for each traveling person is ALWAYS nice.  Even if it is only a day trip, things happen.  You could have someone spill on you, your clothing get snagged getting in or out of the vehicle, an unexpected change in weather, anything can happen and you are left with clothing that isn't what you'd be comfortable wearing for the rest of the day.

Maps. 
Phone directories.  Either your own essential and possibly used numbers or a regular old phone book.  We have learned to never count on cell phone reception in all areas, and having numbers on hand has been a life saver. 
Charging cords for all phones.  We keep one for each phone in each vehicle so that there is no concern of being caught without one.  I also keep one in my luggage at all times for indoor charging needs.

I am sure there are things that I am forgetting, but we often find people who are caught off guard and have traveled hundreds of miles and are "stranded" without one or two essentials.  It is well worth the time to share the ideas that have worked for us. 

Reminiscing...

We were recently traveling for regular appointments, and ventured on a slightly different path from our normal route.  This detour allowed a bit of site seeing and re-visiting some old stomping grounds from my childhood.  Funny how things can change so much, but still be the same.  See this church?  That was my grandmother's church.  She died almost 20 years ago now, but that church somehow brought some of those memories of my childhood back as if they were yesterday.  This quick "drive by" picture just is not nearly adequate for the story it tells me.

The darker part on the right is what I knew as that church, the part to the left has been added on some time more recently than Grandma's funeral, but I do not know when.  Even though it looked so different, it was still the same.  That warm, welcome place with so many years of confirmation pictures to thumb through in the poster size flip folders that hang on the wall.  I am sure they have a technical name, but I've never known what that may be.  Most of the aunts and uncles were in there somewhere, if we took enough time to look.  This was the place where many quilts were pieced together for birthdays, graduations, weddings, or just because.  Grandma and her "church ladies" as we all knew them, were always busy doing something to help others, and they often worked as a team.  There were Mother's Day Brunches that were served by the men.  For many years, Grandma won door prizes because of the size of our family.  I can still remember all of us dressing up and going...us "girls", our moms, and then Grandma.  What a treasure she had, we always filled several seats.  I remember the laughter, the smiles, the warm welcomes, and the praise for her large family...there were, after all, 14 children to her credit.

Just a mile or so down the road is the cemetery where my dear Grandmother's body was laid to rest, but for some reason, the church is the place that tells her legacy to me.  Thinking of all the baptisms, the confirmations, the prayers that happened there for her family.  I stand in awe of this small town church and all the events it has held for our family.  Even more so, I stand in awe of the legacy of a dear woman who made this place as important as her home, and took her family there as often as she could.

Off the beaten path...

Recently, I found myself with my favorite companion (my husband) on an adventure we couldn't quite plan.  We had an appointment schedule in a town we only occasionally visit about an hour from home, and 6 hours in between visits... what does one do in a small town in the north in March when you have time to waste use in a meaningful way between appointments?  You visit the stores and other public buildings.  You drive around, trying to familiarize yourself with the architecture and the layout.  You check out the local restaurants to see what kind of fare you might have to choose from should you need a bite to eat.  You take note of business hours, because in small towns, there is not always a standard.  The library didn't open until noon that day, so that option was out for the morning.  You take note of where all the traffic in town seems to go.

Among the treasures?  A grocery store, a neat little library, several different restaurants, and a variety of big and little shops.  The biggest treasure of all?  The people. Everywhere we went, the customer service was amazing!  People treated us as wanted guests.  Offered suggestions and hints, knew their product lines well, knew their services well, and worked with us. 

The shareable treasure of the day was a neat little restaurant/cafe.  It was tucked in behind the gas station, and next to the pharmacy.  It had a worn spot near the door handle, which indicated a large volume of traffic in its lifetime, but not much else to stand out.  The place looked tiny and non-descript from the outside, blending in to the other facades.  We walked in, were greeted warmly and offered the specials, along with water and our choice of beverage.  Now, I have to tell you, we travel a lot for business and medical, so something as simple as that glass of water gets noticed.  It is amazing how few places even offer anymore.  Of the choices in town, this one was the hardest to find.  There were 3 different chain restaurants, and 2 delis attached to businesses, but we wanted something different.  We wanted sincere, honest to goodness food.  Not pre-packaged, reheated, processed stuff, but the good stuff.  We found it.  We found in that small town a treasure where the cooks still make everything, and I mean *EVERYTHING* from scratch.  Including the buns, dinner rolls and soups.  Not something you find every day, and not something you find a full meal for the comparable prices to most fast food meals these days.  We both ate full, stick to you bones meals for under $20.  Sure the ambiance was lacking.  It was rustic cafe, with worn carpets that have seen years of service.  It was still decorated with paneling.  But the service and the smiles?  Beat those details to the back door. 

Next time you are out and about, skip the chains and find that little hole in the wall place and see what treasures you might find.  Support a local business and see what response you get.  Sure the folks at the chains can be amazing, but sometimes, it is nice to know that your dollars are helping someone put braces on their child's teeth or paying the electric bill...those were two of the discussions among the waitresses at the counter that day.  It made me feel good knowing we helped them with those needs, not just handing money to a corporation that just added our dollars to the rest of the pile.  I wish I had taken my camera with me that day, but again, I am a total rookie photographer.  If you ever find yourself in Fosston, Minnesota, go ahead and look for this little treasure.  I had the liver and onions.  Not something that everyone appreciates, but if you are a liver lover like I am, you will be assured that they know how to cook it right.  Not dry and overdone, not burnt, not tough, but just right.  Served with plenty of onions and a strip of bacon for added yum factor! 

Seizing the moment and letting go...

My kids have something to teach me more often than I seem to be able to learn.  They take the chance and capture moments and use them to the fullest.  Our winter weather has produced a lot of this beautiful, heavy frost this year.  My girls have commented about how it reminds them of Narnia.  Magical.  Mystical.  Enchanting.  You get the idea, I am sure.  Their list is always growing.

Not long ago, they seized the moment and took off on a grand adventure with my new camera.  The pictures they snapped were fun and interesting.

 
Never mind there are snowmobile tracks, that just made easier walking.

Don't mind the dog, she just wanted her share of the spotlight too!

                    Sometimes, the "moment" is as much about the preparation as the final destination. 

  Boy, am I glad we have plenty of dress up clothes!  This formal has been in the girls' stash for a number of years now.  They have sure made the most of it!  I don't think I want to know what the plum trees may have done to the fabric.

                                    What grand adventure lurks on the other side of those trees?

                               A snow princess is never complete without the white gloves, you know!

 When all was said and done, there was no "perfect" shot.  No grand picture with the perfect pose.  No amazing portrait that is worthy of a spot on the wall for the sake of art or beauty in the photographic elements.  What there WAS in all of those pictures was an imagination.  A passion.  A moment, seized by the young ladies of the house with a sense of adventure and enthusiasm to jump in and enjoy what is around them.  A chance to bond and build memories that I can't give them.  The kind they have to find on their own.  Without the barriers of mom's rules to squash their imaginations.  While I could be fussing over the lack of a coat or the use of my camera or the danger to the dress or any of a number of things along the way, I am letting go and enjoying the adventure. 

Look at that amazing place they found in our own back yard!  I wish you could see how brilliant those trees sparkle in the sunshine!  How heavy those branches get with the weight of the frost.  How it feels and looks like it is snowing big, frosty flakes when the wind shakes it all off of the trees.  What a magical place to live in!

A place of peace and contemplation

 While spending time in Minnesota in the winter, it is easy to find yourself being dragged down by the weather.  On a day when this is what it looks like outside:

Along with snow and -20F temperatures at night, it is easy to find places inside that can warm the spirit.  A recent journey to the Mayo Clinic introduced me to one such place.  Among the various subway tunnels and art and historical displays, the powers that be at Mayo have created some spaces that are just relaxing and restful.  On this particular day, while it was barely safe to walk outside due to the freezing rain, I happened across this beautiful piece of stone:

 This lovely work of art was found in a beautifully large room full of many, many live plants and trees.  What a welcome sight this time of year!  What a relaxing place for a weary soul!

The skylights top it all off nicely, even on a gloomy rainy day.  While my photography skills are very amateur, the sentiment carried well for me.  In my time in that atrium, I spent some time reading.  Some time crocheting.  And even a bit of time watching others come and go and enjoy the quiet peace of this room.  Those who come and go at the Mayo Clinic tend to be there because of difficult things going on with themselves or a loved one.  Such is the case with my own family, but this place brings a special comfort.  Not just in this atrium, but in many of the various buildings and walk ways.  Over the years, we have found many favorite spots to sit and relax.  I hope to share more with you in the future.

The pondering of people

Recently, as we sat along the side of the road, working on our van, there was a bit of time to "people watch".  It was storming, wet, cold and dark.  We didn't mind, the van issue was caused by wet, slushy roads, we knew what to do and had the basics to get it done.  We were in a metro area, and knew roughly where we were, but not exactly which town we were in and couldn't see a gas station.  Those things weren't a problem, but did make it a little more interesting wondering if we would be miserable before the fix could be completed. 

We hear so much about the cynical nature of people lately.  "No one stops to help anyone anymore" or "they always just drive on by".   Being in a metro area, we surely expected to sit and just watch people drive by.  We quickly realized that we were in an area that is mostly immigrants and it was a very busy corner.  It took maybe 10 minutes for the first car to stop.  The young man was smiling and eager to help, even though his English was difficult to understand.  He offered to give us a jump.  I had to politely inform him we were fine, but he was glad to offer.  He went on his way and it was a short time later when the second one stopped.  It was a couple of young ladies in their silk head coverings and sandals.  They offered help as well.  I assured them we were good, they were free to go.  They insisted they could help.  I just couldn't imagine how in 6 inches of wet fluffy snow that they could help, but they were eager to reach out to us.  I sent them on their way, showed them we had the tools and a flashlight, and they smiled and obliged.  It wasn't long before another stopped and again offered help.  It was pretty amazing that we were there for about an hour and had 4 people stop.   

I can't help but to wonder what sparked this train of good will.  Was it their background?  Did someone help them and they wanted to return the kindness?  Did they feel bad for us because of the cold weather?  Was it just human nature and empathy?    Or was it just because humanity isn't as bad as most people like to think?  I don't care.  I know that total strangers were willing to help.  I admit, I did laugh a bit when I asked hubby if the ones who offered really could have helped since they all offered a jump while we were sitting there with our lights on quite strongly, but their skills weren't the point.  It was their heart.  And they all shared a little piece of it with us.  What a refreshing thing to see!

Funky art found on my adventures....

After visiting the sod houses in southern Minnesota, my friends and I continued on to their destination in Missouri.  I had a day to myself while they were occupied with family obligations.  It was raining that day and some wicked weather moved through the little town of Stanberry.  I got to enjoy a restaurant that focused on local foods, studied some maps at their amazing little library, and then found the welding shop on my way to the farm.  Apparently, the welder is also a bit of an artist.  None of the works are for sale I am told, but purely for the enjoyment of those who can appreciate alternative art.  I didn't dare get out of the van for fear of ruining my camera in the rain, but the pictures turned out well enough for me.  This is definitely whimsical!

The Mom