lost and found in retirement
February 21 is a significant date for me. My father passed away on this date in 1970. My mother passed away on this date forty years later in 2010. I wanted to share something about my mother and father other than the Facebook post on how much I miss my parents. I miss them as does every child who lost a parent or both parents….
February is American Heart Month. Every year I post about my heart health during February. I have shared my experiences as a heart attack survivor. I was given a second chance at life that 10% of heart attack patients are not given. This year I share the story of my dad’s death. It’s a story of a person who did not care for his body…
Yesterday I gave a talk on bicycle touring on the Ohio to Erie Trail. Over fifty people came out to Blimp City in Akron on a cold rainy day. The people facing me were diverse but united in enjoying life on a bike. Most were day cyclists exploring their local trails from behind their handlebars. They wanted to know more about bicycle touring and curious…
My world takes on a new focus at midnight on Christmas Day. Overnight, the after-effects of the monthlong orgy of parties and family gatherings become real, very real. My habit of diet and exercise were tossed aside, and good times and good food moved front and center. December 26 is judgment day; a day when my focus returns to health and wellness. My mind turns…
This year I am reminiscing and sharing more Christmas memories of my youth in Alliance, Ohio. Last year, I shared my first installment of this trip down memory lane. I hope you enjoy and share your personal memories of Christmas past. Christmas lights Every December, my mother bundled my brother, sister, and I up like Ralphie and Randy from A Christmas Story. She loaded us…
December 15, 1975 was a cold Ohio winter day in Alliance. I was spending the morning getting my car serviced before heading out later in the day with my sister Cindy to finish our Christmas shopping. WFAH on the Sears waiting room radio announced that there had been a fatal car-train accident east of the city. I had a strange feeling hearing that news. My…
I recently read Half the World Away by Ian Lacey. This book was an excellent read of a mostly solo bicycle tour from the northernmost to southernmost points of the Americas. Ian shared more than the typical bicycle tourist does of where I cycled today and how many miles I cycled. He told the following story well into his tour. Cycling the spine of the…
November the ‘tween month; in between autumn colors and Halloween and the bright lights and Christmas. November is Movember, a no-shave month for men that focuses on men’s health, specifically cancer. November is Thanksgiving. How could I forget the turkey, pumpkin pie, football, and an all-day food coma! Thanksgiving is more than turkey and football. We all know the story of the Pilgrims and Indians…