There is a smell in the air. This smell has triggered something in my brain. Every part of my being says it’s vacation time. But a vacation won’t come for awhile.

Hwy 80, aka the Bankhead Hwy
The last 6 months have been weird ones, with my Daughter’s engagement and Father-In-Law medical emergency that had him in the hospital for 2 months.
My Father-In-Law’s stay at the hospital required my Husband to spend most of his days and nights, by his father’s side. At first my husband would try to leave for short periods to come home and shower, but every time he left something bad would happen to his father. He decided to not leave his father side. I am very greatful that my husband’s employer allowed him time to keep this bedside vigil. Once the vigil started the “accidents” stopped happening, medication was given at the right times and he improved.

Months before the family crises, I had started noticing unusual things about my body. First, were leg tremors, very much like the tremors I’d get after climbing 10 miles down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. And, I assure you that I have been no where near the canyon for quite some time. Then, about the time when my niece came to stay with me I noticed that my arms started to do the same thing. And added to this where heart palpitations and exhaustion.
I quickly diagnosed myself through the Internet, so when I went to see my doctor, had a ton of tests done and the diagnosis came back the same one that I had come up with, I gave myself a high-five.
I have Graves disease. Well, that’s what I call it when I’m looking for sympathy. The less scary term for it is Hyperthyroidism. I, in fact, have a rather mild case. I’m on meds, but still have symptoms. It should take another 4 weeks before I should feel the symptoms start to leave. Until then I have a annoying case of the jitters, can’t go on hard hikes and lifting groceries out of the car if a major pain.

Quartz found on Hwy 80
As for a vacation, it will have to wait. I plan to hike the Grand Canyon this fall, but I’ll have to see. My Doctors think that there is enough time for the medicine to do it’s job. But I still have to lose a bit more weight and get some long, hard (that’s what she said) hikes under my belt.

Fence border between the US and Mexico.
So, my husband and I have to be content to take mini vacations, or basically, taking a drive. When I feel vacation-y I often think of the Southwest (Various canyons, Four Corners and Route 66). The closest thing like that we have near us in Hwy 80, also called the Bankhead Hwy. It’s a cool old cement highway with old worn out towns and some ruins. It’s also right on the border with Mexico so you can see the huge border fence and see the Border Patrol everywhere.

Jacumba, CA
Hwy 80 in the San Diego area is in the southeastern part of the county. The communities out here are the kind of areas where you start thinking, ” What in the heck do people do for a living out here?”. There are large ranches, indian reservations and the ruins of attempts to make something work out in this desert.

McCain Valley
It is one of those locations that make people say things like, “Well at least it’s not L.A.”