First Ride in 50+ years: 2023 Update

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Re: First Ride in 50+ years: My Mother In Law has passed on

Sorry to hear of this, Steve. You and your family will be in my prayers tonight.
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: My Mother In Law has passed on

Our prayers are with you buddy!
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: My Mother In Law has passed on

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Ed
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: My Mother In Law has passed on

Read through all the thread this weekend. I'm sorry for your family's loss this past week. My sons' grandpa passed this past week, as well, a man that was like a father-in-law to me. I know his wife is hurting, and it has to be harder when the memory keeps making the loss new again.
My thoughts and prayers are also with you all. Keep up the riding, I think it will continue to help him stay sharper. You are a good SIL.
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Catching Up

Thanks so much you guys (and spouses).
It helped through some tough times
I'm sorry for your loss Garrysr, they live on in our memories

FIL is still trying to adapt to the new reality and needs lots of assurances
One of his new "standard lines" is now "My wife is in heaven now"
and that's okay because it helps him get confirmation in a kind way


I'll backtrack a few weeks ago before things changed
We went to DQ now that it's open and he was very happy to get a Medium cone
IMG_9582.jpg

Then we took off to try and find the new Sunrise Cyclery location
Which I talked about a bit in my fresh find thread
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=70094

I wanted to start digging so I had him sit down but he looked a bit uncomfortable
IMG_9585.jpg

It must of shown because the really nice mechanic asked if he wanted to sit on the couch
And that's when I saw the Shelby...
IMG_9586.jpg


FIL sat here looking around so he must have been entertained enough
Then we packed up the new to me bike and headed home.

My Mother In Law passed away the next night so there was a lot of things going on that he didn't understand but he was sad because he knew his wife was not there any more

My wife had started taking him out with here because she was able to now
And she said he liked getting out of the house even if it was shopping
She also started taking him to DQ during the week after supper

So I took him the next Sunday for a drive and he seemed rather non-responsive
That's okay and I hope it wasn't making things worse
We took a drive along the river and ended up at Harriet Island in St. Paul
IMG_9659.jpg



We went to Bridgeman's Ice Cream and had burgers and shake
Hear comes the waitress with FIL's big shake (which we split)
IMG_9660.jpg


He has been doing better with being alone more and I think he likes having his house (with Poppy, his dog) without people always coming and going and him not sure why
He calls to check in and ask questions which helps everyone
My wife still feeds him dinner ad my step son still stops in during the day
He seems to be doing pretty good alone, in fact he kinda "escorted" us out last night LOL

Last week my wife had already fed FIL so we went to DQ directly
Too bad FIL doesn't like Blizzards because they were buy one, get 2nd for $.99
Anyway he got a strawberry Sundae and I got 2 mini blizzards (on for my wife, originally)
IMG_9749.jpg


This time when we got done, he asked if we could take a drive downtown
I was pleasantly surprised and felt good that he wanted to hang out some more
IMG_9750.jpg


He has been asking about bikes lately to my wife
so we are "just" waiting for the weather to get warmer and the snow to leave for good
Lots of sand on the roads so we'll have to do some test rides initially

So that catches us up, we celebrated Easter yesterday
so no DQ but home made cookies and treats

My wife is also getting used to the new reality and I can tell is more health and less sad to see her mother in that state. She accomplish the enormous task of caring for her mother for the last ~12 years with the last 3 with her bed ridden
I glad that that weight is now lifted off her shoulders
and she was able to keep her mother at home through the whole time

Thanks again for all the kind words, thoughts and prayers
I definitely kept riding (just took a posting break for a while)
And thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Catching Up

Wow 12 years, thats a great comittment on her part along with everyone else. I know her mom appreciated every bit of it. Nothing like family helping family.
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Catching Up

Yes, thank you for that, it really gets us all "up to speed." It's funny, when I read what you write, in my mind, it is in your voice, even though I've never heard your voice. You say just enough and not too much, I really enjoy reading what you write.

Glad FIL is coping, even though his understanding may seem to be behind, it seems like his spirit is happy knowing his wife is at rest.

Kudos to your wife, 12 years... wow. Now I hope she can learn to focus some on herself if she has been lacking personal time. Caring for someone is great, but sometimes the caregivers deprive themselves to different extents. I see it a lot with aging couples in church, one taking care of the other meanwhile that person is falling apart selflessly.

I love the "balance" I read about your family.
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Catching Up

You and your wife are doing a good thing.
Anyone with a situation even close to yours should do the best that they can to help take care of family.
***** (5 stars!)
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Catching Up

Steve, my condolences to you and yours brother. Just found this today and sat here captivated to see what happens next. Almost like a mini documentary, wow man! I had to send a link to my wife who's not a member, but rides a little bit with me. I'm sure it'll make her smile and cry, but a great story to add to her heart. I'm looking forward to following this post!
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Catching Up

This story put huge smile on my face. I admire what your wife and you did. Great job.
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Bikes, Bridgemans, and Brother

Thanks Kevin, I think here Mom appreciated it too
Good to be back again Luke, thanks!

I'm the voice in your head :lol: But seriously thanks for the critique
Maybe someday we'll meet up and actually talk a storm :D
Yeah, FIL is doing just fine lately

yoothgeye said:
Kudos to your wife, 12 years... wow. Now I hope she can learn to focus some on herself if she has been lacking personal time. Caring for someone is great, but sometimes the caregivers deprive themselves to different extents. I see it a lot with aging couples in church, one taking care of the other meanwhile that person is falling apart selflessly.

I love the "balance" I read about your family.

Yeah, I'm amazed at the dedication my wife has. I was very worried at some points that it was too much for her but she made it through. Lately she has started hanging out with friends more and we are planning our first real week (since we've started dating 7 years ago) of vacation to see here sister in Oregon, that will be very nice :D

We are not always so balanced, believe me, but we try like everybody else...

Thanks Jerry, Randy and Skipton!! :D
Thanks Diablo67! I like your tagline a lot: "You can't help but get on a bike and smile." :D

So last Sunday (7Apr13) we went to a bike shop Now Sports, to check out the new stock
FIL was a bit overwhelmed with all the bikes there


Overheard him a couple of times say "Where are your Harleys?" and then laugh to the sales people, I'm glad they laughed back
Checked out the Fat Bikes. FIL says "they have snow tires on them", Yes the do


Saw an interesting bike there (but bad pic so...) It was a SE Racing Draft
The one at the shop had Deep Vee rims and coaster brake so pretty cool
http://www.sebikes.com/bike.php?name=draft2

FIL was rather quiet as I took a quick shot as we passed over the Mississippi


At Bridgemand's, FIL seemed in better mood once the food (and more importantly) ours shakes were on their way


FIL had his same ole cheeseburger (with the fries that went home for my wife), I switched it up with a Reuben
FIL went directly for his shake then I said he had to eat his burger too so he thought he better stop for a while :lol:



So today (14Apr13) I wanted to maybe start riding with FIL but the weather has been bad
Snow, sleet, rain, sleet, snow and then repeated over and over most the week

So instead we went to have supper with FIL's Brother FILB
Went through the bad weather again today on the way over to see him


Made one of my meatloafs that FIL and me like, FILB made a really good kinda whip cream "salad"


FIL went crazy with the cookies :roll: but only had one big bowl of Ice cream
It was good to hear some more of the old stories, FIL even remembered a couple more things so that was great!
FIL kind of tunes out though if he can't hear what we were talking about (refuses hearing aids)
Tried to make and effort to talk loudly be he wasn't focusing much
Still think they both enjoyed seeing each other, so it was a good day

Hopefully the weather will get more springlike and we can go riding soon...
Thanks for looking
Steve
 
Re: First Ride in 50+ years: Bikes, Bridgemans, and Brother

Neat stuff. Wish my dad was still around or my boys lived closer for some comaraderie like this.
 

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