Silver Penguin
Silver Penguin
I wish I could express my feelings a tenth as well as you SP...
Hard to do with one finger tho....
Thanks...
Sometimes, one finger can say it all.
Oreygun
- Thread starter dcarver
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Sometimes, one finger can say it all.
rushes
Well-known member
It can say a lot I reckon...I wish I could express my feelings a tenth as well as you SP...
Hard to do with one finger tho....
Thanks...
Sometimes, one finger can say it all.
I know what you're sayin.....
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I dunno John, remember the picture of BustaNut's noggin after Mrs. Bust whacked him with the frying pan? Picture was worth a thousand words... funny chit.
Don, nice pics. I agree that everybody should stay away from Oregon. Most people smoke because they are schizophrenic or nervous logging trucks will mow them down. Funny about the peddlers around bathrooms -- they don't bother me ever; must be you look like a patsy.
As for your folks. I have been in more nursing homes than I ever care to remember. The smells are bad, but the pregnant pauses as you try to think of something to say (that doesn't sound like you are being an ass) is the worst. My mother hated going blind. I feel for you. Hang in there. You visited, which is more than that woman resident can brag about her children.
My wife Kat is flying down to Texas to see her dad and step-mom next month. She is in living quarters across from the nursing home where Kat's dad lives. I went down twice with Kat. Very sad, and it was an upscale place. I rented a Shelby Cobra and took her dad for his last car ride ever two years ago. I had to wheel him out, pick him up and slide him in the car. We broke out because he wasn't supposed to leave the grounds... fook them. Hell of a ride.
Make the memories and keep them forever Don -- all of them. You will treasure them years from now. It is better than not visiting.
As for your folks. I have been in more nursing homes than I ever care to remember. The smells are bad, but the pregnant pauses as you try to think of something to say (that doesn't sound like you are being an ass) is the worst. My mother hated going blind. I feel for you. Hang in there. You visited, which is more than that woman resident can brag about her children.
My wife Kat is flying down to Texas to see her dad and step-mom next month. She is in living quarters across from the nursing home where Kat's dad lives. I went down twice with Kat. Very sad, and it was an upscale place. I rented a Shelby Cobra and took her dad for his last car ride ever two years ago. I had to wheel him out, pick him up and slide him in the car. We broke out because he wasn't supposed to leave the grounds... fook them. Hell of a ride.
Make the memories and keep them forever Don -- all of them. You will treasure them years from now. It is better than not visiting.
dcarver
Well-known member
Day 3
I'll start todays RR with some pix of an old folks home. There are 2 buildings, one for 'Independent Living' the other 'Assisted Care'. Some IL pix. Pops lives in AL, which is even smaller. Think of one room, maybe 25x30, with half walls dividing the bed/living area and a bathroom.
Time to take Pops to his Doc. He had colon cancer surgery in 2001. His friend Leon drove us to Salem Hospital.
Pops looking concerned
Time to give some blood
Then finally, home sweet home.
Everyone eats dinner in a common dining area. It's cute, everyone has their place, with names under the clear table glass so no gets confused. Four old farts at the table back of Pops are a hoot. One guy was very interested to talk bikes,. He had ridden for years and years, just stopped 4 years ago at age 84!
Here's the highlights... see you future gents and ladies.
I snuck out to ride around downtown Salem at sunset, the good color time. Found this motorbike friendly gas station!
Very interesting buildings in Salem.
Finally, sunset.
Good night fellow peeps. Thank you all for words of encouragement and support. I love you all for them.
Don
I'll start todays RR with some pix of an old folks home. There are 2 buildings, one for 'Independent Living' the other 'Assisted Care'. Some IL pix. Pops lives in AL, which is even smaller. Think of one room, maybe 25x30, with half walls dividing the bed/living area and a bathroom.
Time to take Pops to his Doc. He had colon cancer surgery in 2001. His friend Leon drove us to Salem Hospital.
Pops looking concerned
Time to give some blood
Then finally, home sweet home.
Everyone eats dinner in a common dining area. It's cute, everyone has their place, with names under the clear table glass so no gets confused. Four old farts at the table back of Pops are a hoot. One guy was very interested to talk bikes,. He had ridden for years and years, just stopped 4 years ago at age 84!
Here's the highlights... see you future gents and ladies.
I snuck out to ride around downtown Salem at sunset, the good color time. Found this motorbike friendly gas station!
Very interesting buildings in Salem.
Finally, sunset.
Good night fellow peeps. Thank you all for words of encouragement and support. I love you all for them.
Don
dcarver
Well-known member
I'll be at SP Suspension next Tuesday early (0900 IIRC) for fork/shock rebuild and linkage/swing-arm pivot grease job. If any of you retired out folks have a moment, stop on by - I'll be the guy looking bored. After they finish twisting wrenches, I'm southbound and hammer down - Thursday is work day.
RenoJohn
Well-known member
Don, nice post/pics of pops.
You're a good man -and the time spent with pops is more valuable than almost anything else. Sometimes I wish you were my son. well, not really, but your dad is lucky and vice-versa.
...and I'm going somewhere the middle of next week. Perhaps ....just perhaps we can rendezvous and molest some groovy spots on planet earth.
You're a good man -and the time spent with pops is more valuable than almost anything else. Sometimes I wish you were my son. well, not really, but your dad is lucky and vice-versa.
Hmmmm, I need to hammer on the new bike and see if I can't break some shit on it
...and I'm going somewhere the middle of next week. Perhaps ....just perhaps we can rendezvous and molest some groovy spots on planet earth.
Silver Penguin
Silver Penguin
Beautiful photos, especially the sunset and the classy buildings. The residential photos added a slightly warmer touch to the environment than previously noted. It would appear that the staff are making an effort to make their guests feel at home. It must be a great comfort for your parents to be able to spend their latter years together. I'm sure they have some significant history together. Heck - we're pretending not to be old and we've got 32 years behind us.
Jes wondering what the One-On-One with Janet was all about? They didn't post details, but I'm sure that fellow forum members will fill in the rest.
Jes wondering what the One-On-One with Janet was all about? They didn't post details, but I'm sure that fellow forum members will fill in the rest.
madmike2
Shtirrenuppenmeister
Don, my friend, one of the things I learned while visiting my Alzheimers afflicted dad was the visits weren't just for me. They were a time for me to assure him of the life changing moments and thoughts he shared with me and a time for me to guarantee him the importance his guidance and my memories of him would never fade from my mind and heart.
Good on you for the trip to see your folks. And kudos for sharing your heart with us.
Good on you for the trip to see your folks. And kudos for sharing your heart with us.
dcarver
Well-known member
Mike, the table behind where dad sits at consists of 4 guys - as different during their 'productive' years as day and night. One of the guys, John, looks EXACTLY like you, just older. I say this respectfully, and not full of my normal shit. He was in construction, wears fun shirts, has your hair color and length, an easy smile.. Tonight he was wearing dark sunglasses, not the old folks style, but modern surf glasses. The guy is a total crack up. After everyone left the the dining area, I remained and talked with him about life and love and wealth and philosophy.. much like you, a man wise beyond comprehension....
...and this my friends, is what and why one should force ones self to remain open, even when the stench of urine and imminent death is all around.. life is primordial and what you make of it. Like John exhibits every day in his life (as it is) in Assisted Living.
Having said that, my earlier post still stands. Tim had it right.
Bungie
FrostBack #2 - IBA # 44620
I just typed a PM to you about choice that I didn't send. Having lost both my parents in the last year, each of them dealt with prospect of going into a long term care differently, but in the end, it is about choice. This isn't a ride report, its a life report. its about coming to terms with our collective futures. Good on ya.
Ride on.
dcarver
Well-known member
I'd really like to have read that PM, I bet it was good.
RenoJohn
Well-known member
Panman
Well-known member
Nice read Don, I'm seeing some of this right now with my father in-law. He told me once that getting old wasn't for sissy's. He can still beat me in a game of crib!
I also like a lot of the collective's thoughts.
I think Niehart had this quote from Will Rogers on his signature for awhile.
"Lord, let me live until I Die".
I also like a lot of the collective's thoughts.
I think Niehart had this quote from Will Rogers on his signature for awhile.
"Lord, let me live until I Die".
Silver Penguin
Silver Penguin
I never thought of my Nana as a particularly wise person. There were lots of other adjectives that might apply but wise wasn't one of them.
When looking around our first house, at eighty years old she turned to me and said 'Don't ever get old, kid. I'm still sixteen inside'. It seemed like an odd thing to say to an eighteen year old but now I understand what she meant.
Nana went terrorizing the neighborhood for almost twenty years after that before having to move into a facility.
When looking around our first house, at eighty years old she turned to me and said 'Don't ever get old, kid. I'm still sixteen inside'. It seemed like an odd thing to say to an eighteen year old but now I understand what she meant.
Nana went terrorizing the neighborhood for almost twenty years after that before having to move into a facility.
Bungie
FrostBack #2 - IBA # 44620
Someday over some wobbly pops or a good single malt I'll tell you about it. But I will say this, I have a deep respect for doctors, and especially nurses, who deal with question of choice on a daily basis.
dcarver
Well-known member
I think I see where you're going with this, and yes, I agree, there are things worse than living.
Hudson
Well-known member
Don, this is probably one of the better posts I've read. Yeah, as much of a downer as this is, a great reminder to live out as much of your life as you can while you can.
I remember watching my Gramps struggle as he cared for my gramms, as she slid into Alzheimer's soul-less grip. Phi Beta Kappa, top of her class at USC, a teacher for 35 years, traveled the country giving lectures on child development. And her last three years were incredibly difficult to watch, both for the loss of dignity she endured, as well as the heartache of her husband witnessing the decline of his wife of 55 years. She had witnessed some of what you saw, watching her parents in their nursing homes, and she always told us not to put her in home. So despite all of our pleading, Gramps refused to put her in a home, and mostly refused to let us help. He finally agreed to accept a maid, and towards the end, a live-in nurse.
A few years later, after his sadness had subsided, my then 88 year old gramps went and got hisself a new girlfriend. And a spring in his step. And last month when I visited, I had to hold my gut when he (now age 90) started to describe the hassles he was having when using Viagra.
THAT'S MAH DAWG!!!!!
[Did you hear about the old man who went streaking throught the Flower Show? He won first prize for his dried arrangement! Buddaboom]
You are the master of your own destiny, Don.
(and from what I hear, of your own domain too).
I remember watching my Gramps struggle as he cared for my gramms, as she slid into Alzheimer's soul-less grip. Phi Beta Kappa, top of her class at USC, a teacher for 35 years, traveled the country giving lectures on child development. And her last three years were incredibly difficult to watch, both for the loss of dignity she endured, as well as the heartache of her husband witnessing the decline of his wife of 55 years. She had witnessed some of what you saw, watching her parents in their nursing homes, and she always told us not to put her in home. So despite all of our pleading, Gramps refused to put her in a home, and mostly refused to let us help. He finally agreed to accept a maid, and towards the end, a live-in nurse.
A few years later, after his sadness had subsided, my then 88 year old gramps went and got hisself a new girlfriend. And a spring in his step. And last month when I visited, I had to hold my gut when he (now age 90) started to describe the hassles he was having when using Viagra.
THAT'S MAH DAWG!!!!!
[Did you hear about the old man who went streaking throught the Flower Show? He won first prize for his dried arrangement! Buddaboom]
You are the master of your own destiny, Don.
(and from what I hear, of your own domain too).
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rogdeb
Scouser
dcarver
Well-known member
I'm at GP Suspension having magic done, front and rear!
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