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About this time last week I was being informed that my mother had had a heart attack. She broke her hip at age 84 and I've been her caregiver since then. Suffice to say, as she aged my life outside the house became to be lived in tiny chunks of time while she was napping. About a month ago she was hospitalized then went into a nursing home. It became obvious I would no longer be able to care for her at home. So I had to think about what my life would be like after she passed. Geocaching looked interesting, especially since I haven't had much opportunity to get out and explore.

My mother passed peacefully in her sleep early Tuesday morning. My son flew in Sunday and she was alert enough then to say "good-bye" and tell us she'd had a good life. She was a couple weeks shy of her 92nd birthday.

This morning I gathered up my GPS, packed my hiking pack, and called Sargeant, my Miniature Pinscher, to "walk". Sophie, my Bulldog, also wanted to go, but Bulldogs don't do well in the heat. We headed out to Team Scotti's "Long Ball" cache. I could walk to the coordinates (and have in the past) but took the car. Unlike some searchers, I knew where to park (smile).

Finding the coordinates was easier than I expected. But where was the cache? It was described as "micro" but I had no clue how small or what it looked like. There were what I can best describe as plastic "ribbons" in the area. I have no clue what they might mean but I haven't read anything about ribbons being a cache sign so I kept looking. And thinking ... where would I hide a cache?

What I found was a duffle bag, a couple jugs of water and a notepad with blank pages. I wrote something like "If this is it, I found it. -- WingRider" but I didn't disturb the duffle as there are many homeless who camp in this area. Indeed, as I was photographing what I had found I was approached by someone who looked like he might be homeless. I said I was taking photos and Sargeant gave a protective growl. The guy left and I continued taking photos.

I've written Team Scotti privately to find out if I really did find the cache. If this wasn't it, I'll return and search some more.

I had a great time, Sargeant was in doggie heaven exploring the area, and I can't wait to go out and look for more! The search was just what I needed this morning.