My View Keeps Changing

The construction at 15 Craigside is progressing at a fast pace.  I put together a slideshow over the last year...  It's kind of fun to see how the building and construction has progressed.  It's also sad to see how the beautiful views of the mountains and valley have disappeared.

The Crane Is Gone!

The construction at 15 Craigside has been going on for over a year now, and yesterday they reached a milestone.  They removed the huge yellow Crane...  Now I can see the building in its complete footprint.  Fortunately I can still see the top of the mountains from my window and some sky.  Check out my website for more pictures of the construction from beginning to end.

How Are You Doing?

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail and asked me "how are you doing?" - this was my reply.

Hello friend, so you ask how am I doing?  I'm doing fairly well these days.  My health seems to be rather stable.  September 11 was the four-year anniversary since my diagnosis and the life expectancy I was told is 3 to 5 years.  So, I figure things will go really downhill over the next year or two and I will gracefully exit this world, or I will remain stable and live forever being a burden on my wife and family.  On a daily basis I usually feel pretty good.  I remained in my bed most of the time, but I have television and my computer here to help me with diversions.  Writing my memoirs has been very therapeutic and enjoyable.  It keeps me busy a couple hours a day and distracts me from the boredom of be in bed all the time.  Would you be willing to read what I wrote and give me a frank opinion about it?  I don't want to send it off to any publishers or unlessI feel or get some feedback that it is worthwhile to read.  I have no grand illusions of becoming a famous writer or anything like that.  But I would publish it if I thought it was of some value.  Some days I'm very positive and then others I get quite depressed.  It usually seems to coincide with my constant battle with constipation.  If I had a good --- that day, then I'm in a good mood, feel energetic and in general good health.  If no elimination occurs for sometimes three or four days, then I began to feel crappy (pardon the pun) ...  Then it can sometimes get a little depressing.  please don't offer advice about fiber, prune juice and stuff.  I've tried it all..

I do get into my wheelchair two or three times a week, and outside into the neighborhood sometimes.  That's enjoyable.  Mineko and Christopher of course are the center of my universe these days.  I love them both so dearly and treasure the time I have with them.  Christopher makes me proud, he works hard at Starbucks still and continues to plug away at college.  I worry that one day soon, he will want to move out on his own.  That's inevitable, I guess I'll deal with it then in my own way.  Mineko is my hero.  She works full-time and takes care of me full-time, doing things for me that no woman should naturally have to do for her husband.  But most of the time she does these things gladly and out of love.  I'm lucky to have her.  I have many friends like you who I keep in touch with both electronically and sometimes visiting physically.  That's important to me as well and keeps me active and interested in the activities in the world.  Unfortunately my parents are not doing well with their health.  I'm afraid that my father has had some difficulty with blood clots and my mother is just exhausted from all the stress.  They both have had very full and wonderful lives, it's just sad to see them having such a difficult time.  I get frustrated that I cannot go to Arizona and help them. If you have time send your positive thoughts or prayers our way.  Keep in touch.

I read a great Quote today...  It goes like this: "do your best and then relax. let things go on in a natural way, rather than force them."  This was from a great Hindu teacher over 100 years ago... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda

Well, you asked me how I was doing??  There you go.  How are you?

Four Years Later

This week will mark four years since my diagnosis of ALS.  I have mixed feelings when I think about this...  Four years ago I was still walking, playing golf, working, feeding myself and enjoying my life with a lovely family and satisfying job.  I'm angry and depressed at times that most of this has been taken away from me over the last four years, but I am still alive and I still have a lovely family, wonderful friends and fantastic caregivers.  I do still try to enjoy as much of my life as I can with the limited physical abilities I still have.  I can still talk and communicate with people, use the computer and change the channel on the television. I have a lot to be thankful for, so thank you, and especially thank you all of my friends and caregivers who give me a reason to be happy each day.

Family Friends

Some friends from Japan came by to see us last week.  When I lived in Japan one of my best friends had two children, a girl "Mami" nine years old and a boy "Daisuke" five years old.  They are now all grown up and came to visit us.  Mami now has two children, a girl and a boy, exactly the same age as when I first met them many years ago.  It was a strange coincidence, but also a wonderful time to remember and a very good visit.  The children were so animated and fun!  Daisuke and his wife are moving to Hawaii, they have received green cards through the lottery system.  I hope they will be able to settle safely and comfortably here in Hawaii.  It will be like having some of my Japanese family living close by.

a lovely feline Visitor

Last Saturday Guy and Tommy brought their kitty cat "Khloe" over for a visit.  She was a little bit shy, but so soft, calm and beautiful.  I just love having visitors, with two legs and four legs!  It was great to see Tommy also, last time I saw him she was probably six or seven years old.  Growing into a fine young man!

Digitizing old photographs

I have been taking all of my old slides from years and years ago, some from when I was in my early 20s, to Costco to be digitized.  It's a little bit expensive at $.26 per slide, but well worth it for me to be able to see all those photographs that brings back lots of memories.  I wanted to share with you one of my favorite pictures that I came across.  This is a picture of me when I was probably 17 years old and grandma Raker in Hawaii at the Polynesian cultural Center.  Circa 1974?  Yes, that's me on the right!