Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html
On the day of my accident, I'd planned to launch this video from our departure back to Europe, on February 23, 1989
But on the 21st of February when I got T–boned by that woman, there was no chance for managing that...
Planned to bake my Amaretti cookies and had already zested 2 large Costco lemons, they're the best for zesting as well as for taste and juice.
I needed eggs, so Pieter said, I ride my bike to Walmart...
NO, I said WE ride our bike to Walmart, the sun is shining it was warm and I felt so happy for having caught up entirely with laundry and my housekeeper Nasha had just cleaned the house—perfect!
Feeling so grateful, for her starting on February 1st.
My life was getting more routine and relaxed with time for biking available.
But it didn't work that way...
I ended up in the ambulance after being thrown off my bike onto the highway—this happened all in front of Pieter's eyes!
My Roam Road Bike Helmet (from Amazon.com) bounced so nicely when I hit the asphalt—felt so grateful for always wearing itand in a soft neon green color for safety, just as my jacket.
Did not wear the magnetic goggles... only the adjustable visor...
Wearing my black biker shorts and Asos shoes.
X–rays showed two leg fractures, right knee cap and top of left Proxima fibula and cuts and bruises...
Landed on my right shoulder and right thigh where I got a huge hematoma.
Shoulder hurt like hell... Had an MRI done on Wednesday at Ortho Georgia in Macon and my Big Sis drove us.
Her lawyer husband graciously insisted she take his brand new Cadillac as it would be more convenient for me. Forever grateful for his gracious offer to give me this royal ride in the utmost comfort!
After my MRI and some check up due to my extremely swollen left leg, painfully red and almost ready to burst...
The NP at Ortho Georgia sent me to our local ER for having ultrasounds done, in order to rule out any deep vein thrombosis.
So they checked my left leg's vein and artery and no problem!
Our own car that we used yesterday, for a follow up with my primary care doctor after those ultrasounds, was rather hard to get into.
Long legs and having to wear that stupid knee immobilizer does not allow you much flexibility.
Getting into our Infinity QX50 I sat sideways on the passenger seat, left leg in and right leg straight up to get it past the door, then down in the open pivoting area...
My primary care doctor noticed my rather shallow breathing and some sore spots that he found when touching my ribs. I told him that by breathing normal—it hurt like hell.
So, he sent us to the Imaging Center for having lots of x–rays taken of my chest to rule out any problems or risks for pneumonia.
I was on my walker and got so exhausted for being on my wounded legs for the entire session!
Collapsed in bed with legs up by 5:30 PM but slept sound.
This morning my doctor called, no fractures and nowhere any trapped air!
So it must bejust painful superficial bruises...
Oh, he prescribed me some over the counter meds for getting rid of that nasty, itchy rash I got as a side affect of the Medrol Dosepak to reduce the swelling in my body.
That are by now, 11 days in excruciating pain and otherwise. Due to my CKD stage with only 25% kidney function (at least that was December!) I cannot take painkillers.
On March 22nd I will hear the results from my MRI for the right shoulder, on which I landed...
Just have been praying for strength!
Got another sweet lady from our Church helping me out with ordening things and doing laundry.
ANGELS and I must accept this as I'm really floored—literally!
And now this video and our Exodus from Pennsylvania, USA to Italy
Don't forget to click on closed caption...
One of Pieter's Campbell colleagues was so gracious for taking us into his home for a couple of weeks while our furniture and cars were on the Ocean, headed for the Port of Genua, Italy.
See post below about: Dog Shit and POLICE
We also flew to Miami, using our Delta Airlines miles and visiting sweet friend Natacha.
You can read about that adventure below from a previous post.
We also returned our rental car and flew via Chicago to San Diego on United Airlines frequent flyer miles. Visiting another sweet friend who is born in Vietnam.
Pieter was flying most of the time for Campbell and he then took the shuttle to the airport, no rental car needed.
On February 17, we had a farewell dinner from Campbell's with the staff.
On the 22nd we went together to the Italian Consulate.
On February 23, 1989 Aron took this photo as we were about to depart for the airport...
Pieter took this from our host couple with me...
~
And on the 23rd our Exodus from the USA.
Sadly the REASON that we HAD to move—or else—to be closer to the Division Office was a farce.
In all of four months, Pieter went 26 times to the Division Office either from our home in Shillington, Pennsylvania or from Wilmington Delaware—didn't make ANY sense.
But here comes the most INCREDIBLE PART:
Boscov's Business Travel arranged our tickets—round trip! As that is far cheaper than one–way.
With TWA from Philadelphia to New York City
But see MY INCREDIBLE ROUNDTRIP TICKET FROM NYC/KENNEDY TO BRUSSELS FOR $ 17.85
From New York City with Sabena Airlines to Brussels in Belgium which was only a good hour away from my Parents'
So there we left, checking in 5 pieces of luggage.
Mom & Dad would have their 40th Wedding Anniversary on the 25th and that was our reason—nobody knew we'd already shipped everything across the ocean for starting a job in Italy...
Little did we know that the containers would be stuck in the Port of Genua, Italy—due to strike!
Read that story here below—our life never has been boring...
Looking so forward for having this Bed–Backrest for use on the bed, delivered tomorrow...
On Monday, January 9, I would make my rounds to Atlanta and to Marietta also for having my Rado watch's battery replaced.
BUT on Sunday evening when brushing my hair and removing the Chanel barrette I noticed that its spring got half broken away...
So, we made another stop at Neiman Marcus at their Chanel Boutique for having it repaired.
Will be so happy when it will be ready with a new spring.
It was right there at the store on the counter, that I noticed some earrings, longer model and with a pearl...
SO... Pieter bought those for me as an early Birthday gift—and I did NOT object 😉
They got nicely gift wrapped with the famous white Chanel Camélia...
Our white hyacinths from Trader Joe's were blooming nicely in our bay window area.
Lovely white Camélia and ribbon...
A card with embossed white camélia and gift box...
Inside the gift box...
Tada...!
Nice Strass Crystals and the CC logo with pearls.
Photo taken outside in bright sunlight on Sunday, February 5.
Metal & Strass
Gold, Pink & Iridescent Crystals and Pearl
I'm very happy with those earrings as a gift from my Pieter—even though they're not of gold...
Chanel manages to make very elegant costume jewelry as well!
Wearing my Escada silk and cashmere twinset and when looking back, this is what I wore to Mom & Dad's 55th Wedding Anniversary 19 years ago...
Now you also can see my Escada jeans and our Japanese magnolias that are almost open.
Pieter's shade as the sun was really strong with a temperature of 19°C or 66°F.
Both of us are grateful that the –2°C or 28°F last week did not make them turn brown!
Usually these would bloom on Mom's Birthday—February 12, but now she's in heaven, they seem to bloom earlier on my Birthday.
You can see the white vinyl picket fence in the background...
And the green tree on the left is the Southern Magnolia.
Here I wear the very same Escada twinset on February 15, 2004 when I am happy to see and greet my 2nd brother Piet at the restaurant where we all met for Mom & Dad's 55th Wedding Anniversary.
Wearing also the same Escada jeans...
Piet's kids and wife in the background.
Of course having phone calls on my Birthday and then late breakfast while observing our birds from our bay window.
Here the Eastern Phoebe on the bird bath.
Pieter just added meal worms inside the feeder for them and the Carolina wrens to snack on...
On November 10, 1983 we both signed our Contract for Life...
May God grant us some more time together!
So happy with this photo that we received just recently...
It was in Mom & Dad's Estate and we never had it.
This one also came from Mom & Dad's Estate...
So happy with them since it is Mom congratulating me.
Peet Kleeven from Happy Hair did my hair.
This is also a new treasure.
We had it in the negatives that I've recently scanned.
My dear Mother-in-law!
This one I also just recently scanned from a negative.
Mother and her youngest son Pieter...
Guess we gave them to our Mother-in-law and with all the hectic travel and scheduling we forgot.
We had only immigrated 2.5 months earlier, together with our Dachshund Mauzie girl. So we all three had to fly back to The Netherlands for our Civil Marriage at my hometown's City Hall.
Pieter's ex did NOT sign papers before we immigrated... that complicated matters for us, also in regard to the green card application!
But we managed, arriving two days prior to our wedding.
On November 11, just being one day married, we attended the 25th wedding anniversary of Pieter's oldest brother Thé, who is to my left.
Wearing one of two wool skirt suits that we'd found in October in San Francisco at Macy's.
Lots of young people that stay there for the sunrise (3:00 departure from Whiz Capsule Hotel Grand Bromo...) at Mount Bromo sleep in such an ultra modern capsule!
We always stayed in their Deluxe room with balcony...
In 1997 on August 9 when we arrived there from Central Java, at check in by 14:00, they told us that my brother Jan Van den Munckhof and his wife Wilma were in our adjacent room; they had arrived there!
WHAT a surprise that was.
Made them coffee with bread (that we bought in Jakarta at the Hyatt Aryaduta hotel) cheese, corned beef (made from mushrooms and 20% beef!), marmelade and Dutch Evergreens that I'd purchased at Amsterdam Airport... They ate like wolves; they had been up at 3:00 for the sunrise at Mount Bromo and also to walk to the crater...
Pieter treated all of us on a Nasi Bromo for supper!
We spent the weekend together and I also did escort them with our personal driver to Surabaya where they stayed one night before departure to Brunei.
Seen from above...
We loved to walk in their beautiful tropical garden.
This was on our 13th Wedding Anniversary and luckily that was a Sunday!
Such a beautiful area for walking...
A happy Pieter as he always loved Indonesia so much! So do I...
Pieter's two older brothers were stationed here, while in the Military and in the Marine and Pieter was not allowed to go there; not more than 2 at a time from one family!
Happily married... a blissful relationship in paradise!
A relaxed lunch together after walking the area...
Our 13th Wedding Anniversary lunch, with Tuberose again.
On our balcony...
Crocheting on a fine curtain with peacocks for a friend...
Using the final daylight!
Before 5:00 the day starts and ends early too.
View of the mountains just before the evening...
Next day we will rise early for going up the mountains to the mushroom project.