Spirit of Independence

In Spite of His Challenges
 
This has been a long, long, winter up here in the PNW, and Bob has come down with a serious case of cabin fever. Every day that the sun would shine he would ask me if it was cold outside.

Translation: Can I go out???

But since those clear days are usually cold (8 degrees and below) the answer was - no. Bob is very sensitive to temperature and if he gets cold his muscles get tight, rigid and painful.Finally we began to hit the 50's and he has petitioned to go out every day he can.

At first I was a little apprehensive, because he is so vulnerable. Ever since he got the first scooter he has booked it to any place he can get to in 20 mins or less. Even down to the local Mall. He was always loaded down with technology (after all this is Bob). his last scooter had lights all over it, including a strobe light, a flag, a GPS and his cell phone.
 
But now he has a new wheelchair and we haven't figured out how to install all of that on it yet. Also last year we had an incident very nearby that resulted in the death of an older gentleman. So at first I confined him to the property Where I could monitor him with the cameras scattered around the place. It was kind of funny seeing him out the with his chair tilted back so he could catch the warmth of the Sun. Then he offered to go across the street to get a much needed item from the drug store. The following day he managed to convince me to let him go to Costco (again just across the street) where he ate his way through the Warehouse.
 
And so it goes, his wandering spirit can not be kept down.
 
Always a Wanderer
 
Bob has always been a wanderer.
 
If we were on our way to  social event and we came to an intersection he would usually turn the opposite direction from where our destination lay. Used to drive me nuts.
 
When we sailed our boat thru the San Juan Islands he would get into the kayak and disappear for HOURS. I finally got him a hand held marine radio, so what does he do??? I am relaxing on our boat, reading a book and thinking about getting ready to start dinner when I hear over the radio:
"Luck O' The Irish,
 Luck O' The Irish,
 Luck O' The Irish,
This is Serious Business, do you copy?"
We were anchored in a bay on Shaw Island and he was calling me from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, the Island across the San Juan Channel, the Island that is on a major Washington Ferry route. He says he needed some foot powder.
 
The first time we ever boarded one of those ferries to go to Victoria BC he disappeared for 2 hours. He had been invited down into the engine room.
 
Finally we agreed he could go and explore with a three hour time limit. When he returned I would accompany him and he could show me the highlights (I'm more destination oriented)
 
May His Spirits Never Be Crushed
 
As long as I can, no matter how hard, I will always try to support his desire to be independent and adventurous. That doesn't mean I won't have some restrictions for safety reasons. He wanted to go to Home Depot, so last Sunday we got out the scooter and with him in his chair, me on the scooter and the doglette on a leash (and later in my lap) we "motored" to Home Depot. Along the way we were saluted by three bikers, waved at by folks we knew and the dog grinned back when they pointed at her and laughed.
 
If we can, next Fourth of July we are going to do the Hiawatha Trail all the way to the end as last time we started too late in the day and only made it part way before going back up. It's good to have goals, things to look forward to.  Bob reminds me of the song from "Paint Your Wagon"
 
"When I get to Heaven tie me to a tree
'cause if I get to wanderin you know where I will be"

 Bob and our Kayak "Serious Business"


 


Canoeing on the Hood Canal

On his way to the Mall



On the Hiawatha Trail