Dad has always been so healthy and fit.. He took good care of himself, ate well, watched his weight, and was very active... It was hard for me to acknowledge that he was becoming afflicted with that horrid disease of Alzheimer's when be was hospitalized for that... Around May 09 he was hospitalized for pneumonia. The saga of that is still wearing on my soul and spirit. It is a bittersweet ordeal.. And I will deviate a bit to the past to shed some understanding on my thoughts...
Dad was so healthy and a health nut of sorts. He started riding bikes when he was my age.. [60+] mom also go going on the bikes.. He became associated with the American Youth Hostel association. He started a little bike group, they would meet every Sunday am in front of the County Administration Building on Pacific Highway. The group grew, mom took over the beginners group and dad went ahead with the macho and fast group.. They would ride at the beginning to La Jolla and back. They would ride by my house in OB and yell my name.. I was in the beginning of my Rheumatiod Arthritis and was hardly able to walk let alone ride a bike..He then began to do long distance riding, riding to Oceanside, CA.. Baja CA and more.
He build a trailor that held more than twenty bikes... so he could take his group to other places of the county that the beginners could not get to.. This lead to his involvement in the Tecate to Ensenada bike race. He organized this along with my mother for about 10 years.. Many fond memories of this period.. I have been trying to find some of the folks that can add to this blog. I was hoping they could share their own stories related to my father. The search continues...
He used to ride to TJ each Wednesday to go to the pandareia, and bring back goodies.
He would also bring me remedies to cure my arthritis, and wanted to help me...
I of course was not to receptive of these cures..
I have so many photos of these activities with so many fun filled memories.. My fathers' sister [Boogie, Noralund ] my brother, husband, and many of my cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends were involved in this riding bikes stuff... It was such a healthy thing to do... Dad even got Carlos Ramirez and his wife, Rosie riding... I will make a list and post later..
It was this zeal and enthuasiam for life, activities, people and fun that made dad the creative and productive person he is.. I speak of him in the past because of this writing and my memories. He is still with us and very much alive and this is the "bittersweet" I spoke of earlier.. I am not a writer so forgive my ramblings..
Despite all the things that happened to him last year he is still kicking and very strong.. He looks good, handsome, especially when he smiles, his skin is pink and healthy, he has a twinkle in his eye when you talk with him.. The only thing is .. He is in his own world now.. When I listen to him he is talking about building something, he moves his hands about as if he is twisting a tool and making pounding like motions.. He talks about the truck, and moving the car, he is trying to move things and wants to go somewhere. We cannot figure out where he wants to go.. He is willing to go with us where ever we go but then loses interest and is on to another subject..
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