Sunday, July 29, 2007

A Tough July for Many

Hello, Blog, it has been a long time away. Actually, only 4 weeks, but when it's a tough 4 weeks, it seems like forever. It happens that way. When you are fully engaged in a positive paradigm, time is meaningless and endless. And, when your Mom and Dad are slowly slipping away with each and every day, well, it's personally a very tough challenge. A quick update is to say, Mom is both mentally and physically leaving us in a slow and painful manner. The stress of providing care and seeing your life partner's health deteriorate daily has taken a harsh toll on my Father. I admire his resilliancy though. Each day he attacks with an enthusiasm and Love that I believe is endless. He has really provided a beacon of hope to give my parents many good days in the last few years. I love my Father with all my heart.
His commitment to Christianity has markedly impacted his life in a positive way. I know he is at peace with his present plight and unknown future. Unfortunately, he fights these battles alone. His Pastor is leaving for the month of August and Willoughby, his social circle for the last several years is totally deserted in the summer. All of his friends, and I do mean every last one of them, is 'up North' at their summer homes with families and cooler weather. My father has endured a tough sense of being deserted at life's most critical times. Thank the Lord for Pearl, she is one solid lifeline my Dad can cling to and count on.

Speaking of Pearl, my challenge is whether or not we are able to take our Colorado vacation together. For over six months we have had a home rented in Breckenridge and I have assembled about 12 people to join us for some mountain hiking. It's six days until departure but 'touch and go' as to whether or not it will happen. It would be a well-deserved break for Pearl and my only vacation planned for 2007. One could say I'm already on vacation every day but is sure doesn't seem like it. My health care and financial issues are creating too much stress right now. I have gained over 20 pounds since 2004 and it is not helping me. I MUST do something to change or my health will continue it's spiral in the wrong direction. When I say July has been tough, only I really know what that means. I'm fighting depression I know, but my friends and my running help me the most to maintain sanity. And you, my friend the Blog, help me much as well.

Two personal highlights of the month included finally picking up my fourth old Mercedes Benz. I found a 1994 E320 wagon in Wilmette and gained possession of it last Wednesday. It's not bad for the $3850.00 I paid for it. I'm sure there will be $1000-$1500 worth of immediate maintenance but it should give me another 100,000 miles or so. My plan is to eventually sell the Range Rover, but that is proving quite difficult emotionally and practically. Not much of a market for a 1995 Range Rover with 202,000 miles.

The other highlight of the month was visiting the EAA Air Show in Oshkosh, something I have wanted to attend for twenty years or more. It was really fun. But, the magnitude of the event demands at least two days next year to really see it all.
I enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of my long-time buddy Mike, and his beautiful bride Pam, and the comfort of their 40 foot Monaco Windsor motor-coach. Wow, what a great way to travel and live for that matter. My intuition says I'm going to sample this kind of lifestyle at some point in the future. In 1986 I enjoyed seven days in a 40' Bluebird with Cheryl and Lauren, and ever since I have wanted to try it again.

Well, on another topic, July was a really tough month for Cub opponents. The Cubbies are playing the best baseball in many years and are really getting my hopes up high that this could be a playoff year at least. But we will just have to wait and see if history repeats and the curse of the billy-goat emerges once again.

That's all folks. May God bless you and keep you and make to shine his face upon you now and forever. Amen. Over, and Out, Ricky.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

A Summer's Wind Brings Many Thoughts

Hello, again. It's been a month since the last post, so it's time to unload some mental baggage in a positive manner. Wow, am I discouraged. I have stopped running to allow my hernia surgery to heal. My son is still taking the lazy, I don't give a damn, way of life. He is still not working and, worst of all, is not looking. It's causing me to think twice about continuing my open-ended bank-rolling of his daily activities. We almost exploded today as I found out my I-tunes account lost over two years of music. Just gone and no explanation. I challenged Patrick to whether or not he had made a mistake on the hard drive and erased everything. He, of course, declined any involvement at all. And, due to his disrespectful manner, I almost lost it. But, patience won out. I found a way to rebuild the music file. And Patrick found a way to lose his driving privelage for an evening. Next subject, my health. Wow, surgery went smoothly but recovery is a pain.:) My incision is only an inch or so, but am I sore through my core. It's getting better day by day, so I'm getting back to my old habits again. Thank the Lord. Running is my Prozac, and without it, well, let's just say I hate to miss my medicine. Lauren came by today. She seemed pleased with the photo-book I made for her. She's working hard for Sprint-Nextel in Racine. I think she's living a life of moderation, but I'm still not sure. It's been a crazy month, June has. It went by so very quickly but with several great memeories. Father's Day with the family...I mean the old family.
Laverne, Don and Babe, Cheryl. It was a nice dinner together. Wes DeLeurere's Surprise 60th Birthday party, another nice gathering. A great, home-cooked meal with Mike and Pam at their motorcoach at the Empress Casino RV campground. The Cubs, winning more than losing for a change. Many good things. These were offset by the continuing decline of my Mother and the worry of my Step-Dad's declining health resulting from a serious fall while walking outside. I just hate this stage of life. It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it's getting real personal. Sometimes I can see the benefits to high-risk hobbies, like climbing Everest, jumping out of airplanes, racing motorcycles. Maybe that's why there is a little credence to the saying, Have Fun or Die Trying! I really identify with some of my friends who are now really stretched financially. Having two in college at the same time is really scary. It's killing a thing called cash flow. I know I'll make it somehow, but wow, there is major accompanying worry. One nice thing about June is summer-league basketball. I was able to follow the Hilltoppers again and I have been asked to help out with team next year. Either video or statistics, but I'm sure I'll try to do it. Also, I've offered to do some personal coaching and I'm curious to see if that develops. I love basketball. I love my kids. I love my friends. Thank you, Lord, for your many Blessings.
I feel better, thank you Blogging. Peace. Over and Out, Ricky.