I'm on the bike again!

Ah me... there was Dolly Parton with me on my walk. Gently singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" Pacifism seems to make so much sense. I recall a colleague many years ago who told me that each war set up the conditions for the next war. Looking back, he was right. And continues to be right now that we are in a state of continual war. To myself I quote the renowned jurist, Antonin Scalia, "Get over it!"
Yesterday was the day to get back on the bike so I put the bike rack on the car and then hoisted the bike onto the rack. It's heavier than I remembered. I decided not to ride my previous 10 miles so I parked in much closer to the beach bike path. The whole ride was only 2-3 miles. I had a little balance problem which was not fun on a public thoroughfare. My limited flexibility (of my neck) was reason for caution. Once I reached the bike path it was more relaxed. No cars and not too many people. Venice Beach is always a hoot, nothing ever changes but the changes. That ride in public was probably premature so for the next few rides, I'll ride around the neighborhood.
It may be by bicycle but we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Brilliance shows at the oddest times.

Brilliance shows at the oddest times..At the rehab center I was taught the mantra, "Good foot goes to Heaven and Bad foot goes to Hell" Meaning that when going up or down a stairway, you step up with the good foot (leg) and step down with the weak foot (leg). I tell you that to tell you this. While on my daily walk I repeat the mantra to myself at each curb to keep things straight. About a quarter of the way through my walk, it was as if a light bulb went off! What a great phrase to build a country song around. It works literally and metaphorically. And think of all the words that rhyme with Hell. Well, shell, Annabelle, tell and so on.
Or maybe it was just the medication talking.
Golly gee, we're all on this flight together

Dick

Another goal!

Well, It's been a few days since I've been at the computer long enough to think about the blog.
Wednesday brother Bob and volounteer Sheriff Dennis stopped by after their (nearly) weekly visit from Fallbrook. Thursday was not a good day for flying so I cooled it and slogged around my course at a snails pace. Friday I was feeling strong again so I extended the route of my walk by one long block. That's about 10%. Then on Saturday I did a 'power shuffle' around the extended course in 44 minutes. Bless the iPod for keeping the pace. Sunday was Gospel day for my walk but couldn't get the rhythm until the home stretch and Jerry Garcia singing 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus". And the weather seems to determine my shuffle rate. I'm beginning to understand the 'zen' of walking. Once I hit the stride it's almost meditational.
The goal for next week is to get back on the bike along the beach bike path if the weather cooperates.
Theoretically we're all on this flight together.
Dick

Another shift.

Thinking about the Scouts' Pace caused me to consider jogging instead of just walking this morning on my daily constitutional. So I tried it. It was an interesting experience. Normally when one starts to run, one leans forward and then steps out. At that point the runner pushes forward with the ball of his (or her) foot. That was when the fun started. My foot wouldn't move and I almost ended up on my face. My ankle didn't flex. So now I do push ups with my feet.
Yesterday was the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle contest at the historic Paramount Ranch. It was my first major outing. The previous furthest outing was to Flabob airport which was mostly driving and sitting. Topanga is a walk about kind of place. I got there for the opening at 9am and settled into my fold-a-chair at the main stage. I listened to some pretty fine music for a couple of hours in the 90 degree heat. Even listened to a digereedoo player! Then I wandered around listening to some impromptu groups playing. Once again, good music. By noon I had run out of gas ( that metaphor is getting old) so I packed up and headed for Fullerton. All in all a good time.
The walk today was done in a record 38 minutes, the pace set by Reverend Gary Davis fingerpicking his music.
Supposedly: we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Another milestone!

I drove the car around my walking route to measure the distance. It's 1.1 miles. I can walk it slowly in 47 minutes and at a faster pace in 39 minutes. But the milestone has to do with using the cane. Up to now I have used the cane whenever I go more than 10 yards or so. Not at all around the house and certainly on the daily walk. I found I can quite comfortably walk 20 paces without the cane so I carry the cane for the 20 paces and go back to the cane for a while on my daily walk. My plan is to do a 'Scouts Pace" with the cane. For those not familiar with the Scouts Pace it is used to cover long distances at a rapid pace. One walks 50 paces and then runs 50 paces and repeats it over and over. Very efficient. I plan to transition to not using the cane through a modification of this device. It will be more like shuffle 50 with and shuffle 50 without the cane.
The plan for the week end was to go to the Chino air show on Saturday and the Topanga Festival on Sunday. After reviewing the schedule for the air show I decided to pass on it and only go to the Festival. A minimum of walking and a maximum of music!
It's a beautiful day for flying so remember... we're all on this flight together.
Dick

A visit from David.

Correctional note: Pretty Lady spells her name Erika, not Erica.
Last week I had a nice visit with David White. For those interested in lineage, David is the nephew of my second wife, Leslie. I can't believe how long ago that was! Here's this little kid all grown up and an international traveler.
My daily walk has been extended again so it take nearly 45 minutes to traverse at a reasonable pace. I'll try a 'speed' run later in the week. The mental picture of me shuffling along at warp speed causes a chuckle.
Hopefully, We're all on this flight together.

Dick

Me and Gospel music

I've always enjoyed Gospel music. Every bluegrass set includes at least one gospel song. Not being a particular fan of organized religion my love of the music has always interested me. Having the occasion to meditate on this once a day on my walk. The music is intentionally simple so everyone can play it, and the same reason accrues to singing. And on a well done Gospel song, as with any other, every element works together (another reason for simplicity). Sometime listen to a well done gospel song and hear how the sound of each instrument is an artistic masterpiece on its' own and at the same time adds to the whole. From a secular point of view, even the words are irrelevant if you listen to how the words fit into the cadence in the most ideal place.
Yesterday I found a package waiting by the mailbox, It was from someone whose name I didn't recognize right away. When I opened it I found it was from Erica ( Official title: Pretty Lady) whose mother shared the ICU at Kaiser with me. She sent me the coffee she had promised me when it was forbidden to me in the ICU. But forgot that I was expecting her to keep quiet while I took a planned leave from the hospital to attend an EAA meeting. The nurses found me before I had all the hookups out. But that was the time they put back the tube through my nose. No fun! But I remember Erica coming around after I got out of ICU to check on me. Thank you, Erica
I have a drawing made by Patti White when she was about six. It has been affixed to my refrigerator ever since. As I get older, I am getting maudlin so in that spirit I intend to return it to the senior Whites to keep. I'll send it back with David who is due here for lunch.
Remember: We're all on this flight together
D

I was strolling along on my morning walk this am listening to a Hawaiian version of "The Wind Beneath My Wings". When he got to the line "A beautiful smile to ease my pain" I broke down crying in the middle of the street. The picture burned into my mind of Deb's smiling face peeking around the corner when I first woke up still evokes a strong emotion in me. Thanks again Deb!
I made the long walk today in 29 minutes. Although I didn't feel particularly strong I set a new record. To satisfy my spiritual needs I marched for a while to "Farther Along" although "Wind Beneath My Wings" evokes a sense of the spiritual for me. Thanks again to all those who came together to 'ease my pain'.
The weather is overcast and changing and I felt it in my knees. Even after my medicate..meditate routine. No pain No gain. Now I know why they call PT "Pain and Torture". I can walk farther now than I could before the incident, that's progress!
I've found that when I concentrate on my breathing I can quiet the Parkinson's shakes for nearly the entire twenty minutes. It's working!

I'm very aware that: We're all on this flight together.

Dick

Not much to report

I've been concentrating on increasing my speed on my daily walk. This morning with Joan Baez singing "Freight Train" I walked right past the turn off for the long walk so I unwittingly walked only the extended walk this morning. But the pace was good.
This week end is the Claremont Folk Festival and an air show at Chino and visit Russ at his Sonex a-building.
Next week end is the Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Contest. It's a one and a half hour drive there but I'll bring my chair for sitting and my cane for moving. I'd like to go to the Huck Finn Festival in June but won't be up to camping for 3 nights and it wouldn't be worth it for fewer days. Oh well......
In the meantime I'll continue what I'm doing. Whatever it is it seems to be working quite well.
Don't forget: We're all on this flight together.

Dick