A ride on the lake

So, recently Judy and I went to Kensington Metropark for a boat ride supposedly with Shannon's group at New Gateways.  It was a stunning sunny day and we arrived a little early at Kent Lake and were shocked at the size of it and that we had never seen the place before; These are some of the shots as we arrived and were wandering around.

As it turns out, Shannon's team was not there today and since we made the trip, (quickly because I-96 was without construction). The staff invited us to stay and go on the boat ride

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anyway.  We did, with the lovely day.  This group has a variety of disabilities, mental and physical.  They are all adults most of which were happy to be there enjoying the day.  Judy got on and was seated on one of the bench seats next to Chris, a man with physical and cognitive challenges.  He was a big, slim guy about 5'11". I sat on the other side.  We shoved off and he had my hands in a death grip,  but seemed happy to be there.  At times his face was so close to mine and he was starring at me putting me ill at ease.

But as the trip wore on, he calmed and I got to listen to the guide talk about the park a the lake and the names of the small islands in the middle.  It was a lovely ride and I grew to appreciate how challenging it would be to care for a man such as this.  He is always moving and strong, doing his best to figure out the world.  While Shannon's mobility is limited, her personality is easy to communicate

with and always cheerful. Anyway, it was a good day.

Later that day, I spent some time with Frank (my dog buddy) on the back patio at Katy's house.  He is always thrilled to see me and despite his size and level of energy, we are best buds.

I won't be writing for a while.  My little guys from Middleville will be visiting from today thru Thursday.  Looking forward to seeing them and finding out what their summer has been thus far.

It breaks my heart that Stephen was canceled.  We have been watching him since the beginning for 10 years and before on the Colbert Report. He will land somewhere and we will be there to greet him warmly.

thats it

Frank

So Frank the tank came to visit yesterday.  He clunked his way down the stairs and ran around sniffing the place out.  He is a people dog, ie. he loves people.  Full of energy and very strong, he can push you over with his 70 pounds.  He really had little interest in the little dogs the live here or the cat that is skulking around.  When he came up to give me a lick, the chair moved.  He needs a bed and some large, durable toys for chewing.  One cannot be too nice to him. lest you get trampled. When he sit with you on the couch, its like having a 12 year old child sitting on top of you.  But, I love him.  we could be best buds.

thats it

A friend

I lost one of my oldest friends yesterday, we had known each other since I was ten and he was eleven.  His name was Allan Wyckhuys and we knew each other thru church.  He and his pal Tom Bernisconi served the first mass at St. Cletus Catholic Church in summer of 1960.  We got to know each other soon afterward. Al lived on Merideth street on the next block from Kelsey where we lived.  Warren was being split up in this period because of the tremendous growth and multiple schools being built.  The mass was celebrated at the South School gym with folding chairs for the attendees.  My dad was not yet a Catholic but would soon convert based on a faith learned at this church.  

In later years after high school, we worked together at United Shirt, a seller of casual mens wear.  I learned to smoke cigarettes there with Al and all the other employees.  It was a minimum wage job but that was ok since all I needed was a few bucks to spend.  

Al was a voracious saver,  having money from the paper route and on into this employment.  He was the only guy I ever knew that paid cash for his new car, a 1967 green Dodge Dart.  He marched into the dealership with is father, decided on the vehicle and brought with him 20 neatly folded $100 bills.  The salesman did not want the deal to go through.  But Al's dad, looking at a showroom with no customers,  convinced him to make the deal for $2000.  

He graduated from Warren High School a year before me.  I finished up at Charles Stewart Mott the following year,1968.  That summer, Al and old friend Tom took me on a road trip to Washington DC with a final destination of Ft. Lauderdale FL.  These were both really good, trustworthy guys and my parents knew they would look out for me.  We took a guided tour of our nations capital and got rained out,  then drove to our final destination in the Sunshine State.  We found a place to stay for 7 dollars a night with coffee and donuts for free and had a splendid time.

I got reacquainted with my buddy when we were at Oxford Towers.  He started reading my blog and started one up for himself.  He had a long career in education and a very strong Lutheran faith,  a lovely wife, Joanne with 3 daughters and numerous grandchildren.  His was a life well lived. 

the Yoke of Aging

As I travel on the road of life and with time to think, I contemplate the concept of aging.  It is largely ignored by the media aside from the drug companies constant ads.  We become a more invisible population striding thru existence.  Seniors don't discuss the topic flipping to grandchildren or the weather or what was good at the restaurant last night.  The big elephant in the room is not brought up.  Relationships, while no longer physical, can be meaningful Patience can be fostered.  Kindness can be demonstrated.  

It is easy to become lost and lonely, even with loved ones present,  If kindness is a purpose, those feelings can dissipate.  

Son Jon is starting a new position this morning. I wish him every success in this new endeavor in heating and cooling industry.  Very proud of him for lots of reasons and I miss him due to the distance between us.  

this is todays breakfast, a cheese omelette with sautéed onions.  You have to cook the onions before adding the egg to take the edge off them. I have abandoned Franks Red Hot sauce for mild salsa whose flavor lends itself to the egg mixture.

Judy is off taking Marie to her track practice and I am getting ready to cut the grass.  My children tomatoes are loving the spot their in and I am looking forward to their consumption 

thats it

Shipped to Haiti

It's another new day, quiet thus far.  We are going to Shannon's program this morning for a "Camp Day".  It will have lots of outdoor activities and the weather looks like it will cooperate.  Made a pasta salad to bring last night.  Sitting here eating my granola and raspberries.  We went to a virtual meeting last night with Lynn at New Gateways.  She presented information on funding, activities and staff increases in the program.  

There is an agency called Angels (something) that staffs group homes in our county.  These folks work hard to care for individuals that are both cognitively and physically disabled.  They cook, clean and care for these folks that cannot care for themselves.  This is hard, demanding work that goes on 24 hours a day.  Parents and guardians trust that their loved ones will be given the love and respect they deserve.  That being said, this organization employs Haitian workers that are here on legal work visas and have been here for some time, probably 7-9 workers. 

With the advent of crackdown on immigrants, the government is shipping these folks back to Haiti, their country of origin.  Bear in mind that these are not law breakers, but workers that provide important and vital services to a vulnerable population.  The agency will be left extremely short staffed.  It is difficult to fill these positions because they are low paying by our standards and conditions are sometimes not pleasant.  

I am outraged by this.  Not only is it unjust for the workers, but is puts vulnerable citizens (yes they are citizens) potentially in harms way.

thats it.

 

Weight

I am obsessed with weight, my own, not others  I step on the little scale every morning with restless anticipation of the results, even if there is even a 1 pound difference from the day before.  I have tomatoes on my plants, small but growing.  In all my tries previously, I failed to get actual fruit from the plants, despite all the efforts at feeding, watering and nurturing.  These guys are still green but I have high hopes for s lovely salad. 

The president's on again, off again romance with tariffs and his similar bromance with Putin tell similar tales.  This guy seems to wake up each morning and say, "what am I going to do today? I read this morning that he wants to be included with Manny, Moe and Jack on the Pep Boys logo.

He is supposed to be leading our republic. How stupid is that?

Riverfront

Have you ever noticed that there are drivers that are compelled to back in to parking spots? It generally takes at least two moves to accomplish this.  it takes up more time and a yet at little more to straighten out the vehicle.   Also have noticed that I relish in the pause afforded by "No Turn on Red" signs in right lanes.  You can take your hands off the wheel and pause because you cannot proceed with no one else bitching at your choices and look around you with and generally say fuck it to yourself.

(My grave look.)

I have always been a fan of humor in a sentence.  There is a comic that is a senior citizen, Andy Hudgens,  An old graying guy, bent over, hanging onto the mike stand for support, sitting on a stool.   He opens his set with "I just paid off my student loans".  It's the perfect, poignant line that captures a laugh.  The viewer can't help but smile.  

Judy and I took Eli and Marie to the Detroit Riverfront yesterday afternoon.  It was sunny and lovely.  We stopped at Panera, had a snack and moved on .  I have learn to force myself to tell my walking partners to slow down or pause.  My ego is fueling my compulsion to keep up, even though I am leaning forward and heading for a fall.  I could always tell them to go ahead and stop for a minute, which would be a smart idea.  Need to be seen as smarter, not lesser.

thats it