From Uncle Bob

On Saturday my daughter Marilyn, who lives in Vista, met me at the Oceanside station for the early (7:55) Amtrak to LA. Diane had a scheduled softball practice and was unable to join us for the trip to see Dick. On our arrival at Union Station we switched to the LA Subway system and took the Red Line to Universal City where Debbie met us for the dive to Dick's new digs. This was my first experience with LA's rapid transit and I was very impressed, but that's another story. Suffice it to say that the $1.25 Red Line was much better than my previous $20 cab rides. Dick had been moved earlier in the week to a skilled nursing facility and also had had his trach removed. If you have been to a skilled nursing facility you know what they are like, if you haven't you don't have to know. It's enough to realize that he will get the care there he needs now before he can be released to Debbie's home for the next phase of his recovery/rehab.

We arrived at the facility about 11:30 and Dick was regaling one of his attendants with his flying/crashing/hospital experiences complete with photo's which he has pasted on the wall along side his bed. Each time Dick is moved to a new place he gets to relive 15 minutes of fame with each new person he comes in contact with. He looks much better with that trach gone and no connecting wires and tubes, and speaks and acts much more like Dick, although he is still in his stabilizing neck brace. He was quite happy to see us all.

After I unloaded my “goody bag” which consisted of a couple of books, a bag of York peppermint patties, a container of frozen home grown orange juice and a New York Crumb Cake, we had a brief conversation rehashing his experience (nothing new) and what his plan for the Sonex were (no decision yet) although he reiterated his “I'll never fly again” position. He wanted to talk (argue) politics (George Bush) with me but I opted out on that one.

Debbie scouted up a wheel chair and Dick, on his own, got from the bed into it. He has also, I told, been able to walk about 15 feet in his walker but is still short on endurance. The PT folks are working on that with him. Anyway, he was able to scoot himself down the hall to an outside patio where we continued our visit. It was a beautiful, clear but cold day in LA and this was his first opportunity to be outside since his accident, although Dick now seems to bring a little of his own sunshine with him now wherever he goes. While we were chatting on the patio they brought him his lunch. He is now able to take liquids and semisolid (chopped foods) and soon will be on a regular diet. All in all his rehab is progressing well and Debbie is expecting to him to her home in Studio City within 3-4 days.

After his patio lunch Dick was cold so we all moved back to his room - he again scooted himself in the wheel chair - and parked him back in bed. Then we wacked up the New York Crumb Cake each of us enjoying a piece and enjoying the look on Dick's face as he ate his share.

We left about 1 o'clock and Debbie drove us to lunch at a nice Grille near Burbank Airport and then was kind enough to drive us back to Union Station. Even though we really hustled we just missed the 3 o'clock train for Oceanside, but that was OK. Marilyn discovered a “fair” across from the station on Olivera Street and was able to purchase a neat, motorcycle friendly, pocketbook type thing she had been looking for while I waited in the station. Then we made the 4:10 to Oceanside arriving there about 6 PM. A long day but a good one for everyone.

Dick is well on the way to complete recovery. Everything considered he is one lucky guy. The consensus seems to be a several more days at the SNF and then on to Debbie's for some indefinite time before he will be able to go home to Fullerton, maybe mid-February?

Uncle Bob, Bob Hein, or Dad - depending.