Progress of sorts!

Good afternoon!

First, a brief update on Robert. He passed a good night, and when I got there this morning, he had been totally disconnected from any and all tubes and bits that they tend to go in for in hospitals. His doctor came in around 9:30 a.m. and said he is very pleased with R's progress. If all goes well with the incision (no bleeding) and pain (at a minimum) the plan is to release Robert on Wednesday, which would be terrific!

After the doctor left, Robert was finally able to get out of bed and into a chair. He is not able to put any weight at all yet on his right leg; that will take time, but he reports that sitting causes absolutely no pain or problems, so we're encouraged!! Because it is a Sunday, the folks from rehab have not yet been around, but are scheduled to visit him tomorrow. I believe that this will be the crutches lesson; hope so, at any rate!

He is now absolutely and totally bored, and just wants to go home. I'm with him there! Fortunately, we still have some reading material for him (difficult finding things in English here!) and he knows that being patient and following the doctor's guidelines are the most important things.

My mission for today was to do laundry, as R desperately wanted out of that hospital gown and into a T-shirt. Unfortunately, all his t-shirts were dirty...hence, my mission. Started out early, to find the closest laundromat -- no luck -- it had been closed down...BUT, try the Carrefour! So, got directions to the Carrefour, and made it over there -- VERY big shopping center -- but guess what?! Ferme on Sunday!! (That means CLOSED!) -- ALL day!!

Back to the hotel, and finally to an address in the yellow pages. Turns out to be a combination gas station/laundromat!! And the most popular place in town! Seems that today must be the requisite day for EVERYONE in Nimes to wash their duvets!! And only one large machine! Fortunately, I didn't need a large machine -- and not too many people here ever use dryers. So, got the laundry washed, and into dryers -- and then it really got exciting! One of the washing machines wasn't working, and as everything is controlled from a central coin-operated location -- put the coins in, then press the machine you want -- the lady trying to use the non-working machine started POUNDING on the controller to get her money back! And that screwed things up for the entire place!! (All of 6 washers and 4 dryers...) Could have KILLED her!! However, after stopping everything for a few minutes (and of course no one around to help...) things seemed to reset, which meant that I threw the half-dried mostly still-wet clothes back into the dryer...grrrr....and, eventually, voila -- clean and mostly dry clothes!

Also, found the local McDonald's on the way back from the laundromat, and had my first hot meal since Thursday--can always use a Big Mac & Fries, especially when FAR away from home!!

High-tailed it back to the hotel and assembled a kit for Robert -- and now that he has some clothes on of his own, he says he's feeling more and more like his usual self. ALWAYS a good thing!

Am back at the hotel now, for a brief nap, then I'll head back up to the hospital again for my evening visit!

He does have his phone on, and his number is 001-520-204-6655 if anyone is interested!

Take care; much love!!
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