How's everyone doing?

[MJ]

I haven't been on in so long and was thinking about everyone during this crisis. Please check in, how are you coping?

[DorothyB]

It has been a long time since I've been here also.

Let's see - I retired in Fall 2014 a few months before turning 57. I did a lot of intros (10 - 15 miles) and limited distance (25 miles) endurance rides in 2014 - 2019. Shiloh turns 25 this month, so he is basically retired from everything other than just fun riding now.

I got another horse - an Arabian killpen rescue. We think he is 7. Unfortunately, he has bone spurs in his withers and one shoulder, so still working on getting him pain free so I can start riding him.

I was diagnosed w/ breast cancer (stage 1) last April and had lumpectomy and radiation last summer. I am on hormone blockers, but fine at this point.

With covid-19:

I was on vacation in Panama starting Mar 2nd. I wasn't really aware of anything going on until just before I left, but never thought it would be this bad. All I did before I left was look to be sure I had toilet paper. I was scheduled to come home on Mar 17th but there were rumors of Panama limiting international flights so I came home early on Mar 15th.

While it wasn't required since I didn't come from Europe, I chose to self-quarantine for 14 days to be sure that I didn't pick up anything in the 2 international and 1 domestic airport I traveled through. I had 4 hour layover in the Panama City international airport. I got home late Sun night. I did go shopping Monday with the idea that I wouldn't be contagious in less than 24 hours. I didn't get sick so was OK to go out again on Mar 30th.

I went shopping again on Mar 30th & Mar 31st with the plan that I won't "need" anything until the end of May. Texas isn't supposed to peak until early May while a lot of the US is scheduled to peak in mid-April.

The feed store left one bag out of my order, so on Apr 1st, I went to feed store. I haven't been anywhere in the last 4 days. I am going today to do pick-up of pizza and a WalMart pick-up because my dog's flexi-lead is breaking.

[Marci]

A lot less busy than Dorothy. Haven't been near a horse pretty much since Shadow died almost 4 years now. Oddly I am OK with it, I do miss her but its just her not all horses. And I wonder where that passion went. I think a lot died with my hubby, and more when it got so hard to afford her keep. But I often wonder where that person went? Well I guess with the creeping Arthritis its for the best.
Oh I forgot the best news I am in remission from the Sarcoidosis. After 2 years of gnarly drugs I was weaned off them and my lung function was 97% last lung test. Up from 75% for the last 8 years. I think the swimming helped a lot too, but alas with this Corona Virus the pool is closed. But I am still riding bikes, now almost daily since its my only exercise. Allergies are terrible this year, and Flonase is my best friend lately, about the only one I can let in the house. LOL
I did have a virus of some sort right about the time that they shut everything down, But my temp didn't get above 99 so didn't go get tested. It was more of an intestinal thing anyways. But a friend had the same symptoms the same week too so who knows? Sure hope they come out with mass testing, both for the active virus AND the antibodies. I am no longer sure which one I would be in, I am hoping I did have it, a very light case and am now immune. Perhaps the allergies making me use my neti pot several times a day is a godsend and kept it out of my damaged lungs?
Toby turned 10 this year, seems like yesterday he was just a puppy. But he is still hale and hearty and loves to run alongside the bike like he did with the horse. I have clocked him at speeds of almost 15 mph, so he is a fast for a tiny old dog. LOL Of course that is downhill speeds, flat and uphill I am not near that fast. LOL
Not sure I updated everyone but both of my unmarried brothers got married 4 years ago, or is it coming up 5? I think it is 5. Man time flies. My older brother married a long time friend, the funny (odd-not funny haha) part is both of their marriages broke up because their spouses were having affairs with each other. But it was not until a few years later they got together, Mostly because when my brother needed someone to help nurse him-I had just lost Mark so mentally couldn't do anymore. She stepped up and helped, it rekindled an attraction and that ended in marriage. They have since both retired and are very happy. My Younger brother was chatting with a young lady (almost 20 years younger) from Romania and she came over and it was lit, she never left. He hemmed and hawed but in the end tied the knot. So my 50+ year old bachelor brother has now got a wife. They had some ups and downs mostly due to cash flow, but she is now working in a lawyers office and he has a good job that has given him upward movement and raises. But both of them love to get out and mingle and party so I imagine this being stuck at home is hard for them. Luckily both can work from home. She actually became a US citizen a couple months ago and I couldn't be happier. She actually reminds me a lot of my mom with her temperament. They wanted to have a child but they are having trouble conceiving. But he is pretty old to be having a child anyhow.
My third brother is still married ,they celebrated their 43rd anniversary Last July. Their kids are grown and they have 6 grandsons now and one on the way, I am hoping for a girl. And last summer one of his girls got married, I imagine she will be getting pregnant soon, she's in her late 30's so I hope so.

No love life to talk of for me, I did date a guy but it was more work than it was worth. But I am pretty happy living alone. While I miss Mark I am not sure I would ever want to break in a new husband. LOL But I hang with the bicycle group couple times a week and we are being careful to keep that 6 foot distance. Usually more like 10 feet, or we crash into each other. LOL
I have discovered a new passion, doing my geneology. It is so fun. I finally broke down and paid for ancesrydotcom and have now traced my tree back to England, Ireland, and France. Did my DNA too. Along the way discovering I am related in more than one way to most of the royals in England and the world. Read about some really interesting people I am related to, Like Henderson Lewellen a Quaker who brought the first fruit trees to Oregon by wagon train. After building a successful nursery here in Oregon he moved to CA near Oakland and started one there, the name is Fruitdale. But by far the most interesting thing was he started a free love type movement, sold all of his investments, left his wife destitute in Oakland and bought a ship to sail to Honduras. As they were ill prepared for the tropical diseases it was a dismal failure and he ended back in the US starting over again at a late age of 69. Even his death was weird, seems he had a heart attack while burning brush to clear room to plant trees. And fell over into the flames. I can only hope he was passed before he hit them. But he is only one of my weird family lines and my favorite story.
And I finally found my Grandfather family, after years of searching. And all of the stories he told over the years turned out to be true. Another colorful relative. LOL But I have found it can be as addictive as tracing horse pedigrees. LOL