reflections

2011-12-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

Marge is spending 22 hrs. aday in bed.

2011-12-19T06:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Dec. 18, Deb uncovered the start of a bed sore. I guess the
continuation of the slow down hill slide.
I'll try to keep up better here.
Bob Dodd

slow. slow going

2011-11-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

Marge and I are both facing different paths to the same ending. Marge is
sleeping up to 22 hrs a night, but can't carry on much of a conversation. My loss is mostly physical. Walking across a room is almost beyond me.
I do want to see the end results of the current political games.
As you know if you have followed my blog, I am an ardent republican, while my wonderful daughter is an equally ardent democrat.
My choice would be Romney pres, and Gingrich vp, but I can't see that happening. I'll try to clarify my thoughts soon.

progreass report

2011-11-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

It's slow, but Marge contiues to fail. I keep remembering good things from over the years, I'll try to post some shortly.

2011-09-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

88 wow !

Today, 9 14 23, is my birthday in a 4 family flat owned by my grandmother in Detroit, next door to Gar Wood.
Marge is slowly going farther downhill. Hospice is fully involved now, so that will tell you more than I can. She spends about 20 hrs a day in bed most days. While I still have a brain that mostly works, my physical strength is fast disappearing. So I spend most of the time dosing and readimg from my i-pad. Any activity, like taking a shower even, leaves me exhausted!!
However, looking back we've had a great life. I'll try to post some thoughts soon, including some political thoughts.

A scare yesterday!

2011-07-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

I got Marge to the bathroom in her wheel chair. When the trip was over, I couldnt get her back in the chair. We ended up with her on the floor. and try as I would, I could not get her off the floor and in the chair. After struggling for over an hour, I gave up and called Deb at her office. She arrived in about 10 mins., and got us squared away in nothing flat This was a thourghly frightening episdode. It made me very aware of how far we have failed physically !

same old, same old

2011-05-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Marge stays about the same. Slow downhill. In a re-evaluation,that was the result. Call us again when there's a change.
Oh yes, Sat. night I had a slight stroke, a TIA.
Spent tbe weekend in the hospital,but no permament damage.
Also known as "getting a little older"
Political thought. Maybe high testosteran levels trigger both a need for rape,
and a surge of political aims.
Witness our ex cal. governor, and France's nearly president.
Anyway, it's "same old,same old" for Marge and me.

2011-03-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

Glen Beck

Good news today! The NYTimes reported that this jerk may start his own channel, and
leave Fox News!! I hope he takes Laura Inghram with him. Now I won't have to shift to CNN whenever he comes on fox!!

2011-03-02T06:05:00.000-08:00

spring

2011-03-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

After a long winter, spring seems to be trying to make up for the long winter. The picture is a cardinal at our bird feeder. Been trying to get a picture thru the screen for a long time with no success, but finally got one. No where near my daughter's quality, but fun. Time passes on, but slowly. Can't help but reminice, but have to admit that age would prohibit a lot of my old time fun things whereever I lived. Marge is still able to get around, but very shakey.

update

2011-02-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

Since my last post,things have changed. Marge showed so much improvement Hospice bowed out, at least temporarily. But the basic problem, Alzheimers, is still with us, it never really improves. The slow downhill slide still goes on. Unfortunately,
I still get older too. Example, I can no longer walk our dog, the simple task of remaking our bed gets unbelievably harder.
I really miss South Florida, North Palm Beach, racing and tnen cruising our sailboats,The many clubs we belonged to and used a great deal. Jogging 6 miles, teaching bridge and directing duplicate games, around home and on many cruise ships.
I blame Tallahassee for losing all this. but the real cause of course is I got OLD!!
So when I get lonely for all this, I realize I'm much better off here especially for all the help I get from our daughter, Debbie (Abbie), and the fact that we live in a
wonderful retirement village.
So there!

A Miracle ?

2011-01-21T16:47:00.000-08:00

On nov.17, we called in hospice, and they accepted Marge. She couldn't walk without a walker, and hospice gave us a wheelchair, which was a godsend.
she was spending about 20-22 hours a day in bed. What possessed me I don't know (miracle?), but I took it upon myself to stop giving her one of about 9 meds
she had been taking for about 4 years, caduet. The list of side affects is voluminous! Any way, she perked right up, started walking again, and although she still spends a lot of time in bed, and still has short term memory losses, it's a world of difference, and hospice will probably bow out of the picture at least for a while!

2010-12-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

Pictures below are Marge and I getting ready for the Christmas party here at Westminster Oaks and a few shots of the party. Also our dog watching!!
It was a great party and well attended

2010-12-16T06:52:00.002-08:00

2010-12-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

2010-12-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

2010-12-16T06:49:00.001-08:00

2010-12-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

2010-12-16T06:47:00.000-08:00

2010-12-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

2010-12-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Pearl Harbor Day
69 years ago today, I was being driven back to Ann Arbor by my parents after spending the weekend at home in Detroit. I was a freshman at the Univ. of Mich. We were listening to the radio. It came on, Pearl Harbor has been bombed! I asked my Dad " where's Pearl Harbor" Neither of my parents knew, but my Dad said " this could be serious, might even be war!
One year later. I was in the air corp, beginning my training that led to becoming a first pilot on B-24s, and flying 27 sorties over Germany and other targets until the war in europe ended.

2010-11-18T05:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Nov.17, Marge was admitted to Hospice as a patient
RHD

2010-11-15T13:29:00.000-08:00

PLATEAUS

Marge has been fairly steady for the last few weeks until about a week ago.
The change has been quite rapid, and quite scary! She has been staying in bed
for up to 20 hrs. She just stays quietly sitting when she does get up. She now relies completely on her walker, and she had been scornful of it, and wouldn't
use it at all. Of course all of this has been expected, but the change has been
sudden. We, Deb and I, now know that the next step is looming. That is, getting
much more care than I am capable of, and will probably include moving her to
Parry center for good. Of course that's one of the reasons we came here to
Westminster Oaks.
RHD
PS Marge will be 86 this Sunday, Nov. 21

This n that

2010-11-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

Below are three new posts:

Debbie's dog Trixie cosying up to a fake dog!

Me with a new mustache, which I have already shaved off!

The front of our house here with a view of my rose garden

of which I'm very proud!!!

2010-11-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

2010-11-02T07:29:00.001-07:00

2010-11-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

Alzheimers disease

2010-10-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

Today the NYTimes had a feature article begging for fed funds to find a cure for
this terrible disease. I heartily applaud this effort, but grieve again about the timing. Marge was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 5 years ago. At first, we hardly thought about it. But it has gradually got worse, and now, our daughter and me, are seeing the long slow culmination that cannot be stopped, or easily slowed down. The article firmly predicts, and I believe, that it can, and probably will, see a cure by 2020. This is a time frame that prevailed for the demise of polio and the cures for aids, flu, etc. That's great, but too slow for us.
When polio was cured. I had a friend who was probably one of it's last victims. What a tragedy for him to go thru life knowing that he was last to get the disease.
We see that happening to Marge. NO CURE AVAILABLE NOW!

lifelong question

2010-10-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

In line with my lifelong passion for water, I crossed the gulf stream about 70 times. You learn to realize the awesome power of the stream. It never quits, and never varies much. Now I know it is very deep at it's axis but near the shore of Florida, it's maybe 600 or so feet deep. I have always wondered why you never hear of plans to build turbines on the bottom that could provide endless power
and would never quit. Anybody got an anawer?

woodstock

2010-10-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

The picture below is the entertainer at the Woodstock festival. Has to do with
animals, but mostly birds. Debbie, our daughter, entered some pictures, and won a first prize. The picture below is of the entertainers. Real hill billy, but quite good.
RHD

Woodstork

2010-10-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

2010-08-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on politics;

I have been a republican since I voted for Thomas Dewey. I want to see us get to a balanced budget and then to a reduced debt. We owe China too much now. I would like to see us get out of all wars and stay out unless we are actually attacked. I can't understand gays, queers to me, but I would see them have what would be a nice life to them. I favor stem cell studying. So why am I pontificating?
I abhor GLEN BECK! I find it hard to believe how many of my old friends feel he's the second coming! I feel the same way about Laura Ingrahm. I don't feel like Sara Palin would make a good president, I would favor Mitt Romney at this time.

Speaking of religion, I guess I'm an agnostic. I was raised Episcopalian, but I can't
believe in the teachings of our church. If there is a benevolent God, how can there be a holocaust. Only one of the myriad number of religions can be right, so all the others are surely wrong! The world was created somehow, and I can't begin to explain it, but it aint the bible way!
Back too Glen Beck, if any one reading this is 80 or older, remember Father Coughlin, the Catholic priest in Detroit (a suburb). He was finally shut up by the Pope, and I hope someone shows up who can shut up Beck.
I have more thoughts to add, but that's all for now
RHD

2 new shots

2010-08-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Marge and I at Riverside cafe, St. Marks, again.

Deb took the first one, I took the second.

Deb's dog, trixie, was fresh back from grooming,

our Hobo is going Wed.

As you can see, the dogs are really theuraputic for Marge.

2010-08-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

2010-08-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

2010-05-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

We like to think of our country as the foremost peaceloving country in the history
of the world. But are we? In my lifetime (I'm 86),I have been influenced by WW I,
WW II. Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Afghanistan, Iraq, it never stops. I love my country, and indeed I flew 44 missions in WWII.
Add our passion for fire arms, compare our murder statistics with the rest of the world. I submit: we are an extremely war like nation.
I have no solution.
RHD

The years go by!

2010-05-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

When we moved to Fl. and I went to work for Merrill, I got entranced with the idea of the computer. I bought my first about 1973. DOS was about all there was!
I put my accounts and prospects on it in files, and began to shower my sec. with labels and ideas on paper! They were my entry to the computer world. I'm now on about my 11th computer, and I just bought an I-pad! What a machine!
I bought it more or less just for reading books, and for this it is fabulous. I can't read small print any more and this is just right.Finding and downloading books is a cup of tea. But I'm finding the machine will do much more. It is rigged for wi fi, and any place with wi-fi, and there are lots of them, the machine becomes a small computer. It is easy to use, but I have to learn all it's features. What a kick for an old man! It's a new life!
More later as I learn it's ins and outs!
RHD

2010-04-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

Up to date!

a picture of our little girl looking through a hole in the screen

in out first house, she's now 61 years old

After an exciting day at Westminter Oaks

2010-03-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

Note my ever vigilant guard dog asleep
on the couch, which she regards as her
own.
RHD

2010-03-31T05:24:00.000-07:00

2010-03-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Alzheimer's disease

If anyone who reads this is being faced with the job of caretaker, a few thoughts.

If it will involve someone you truly love, as I do my wife, it's better and worse than you think. Short term memory virtually disappears. You will be asked the same questions over and over. Is my mother still alive? No, she died 35 years ago, How's myDad? He died 3 years before your Mother. I have to write my friend, Marge Van?
She died 5 years ago. Has Lynn Stedman said when he's coming to visit us? We went to his funeral 20 years ago. How is my mother? It never stops

But if she, or he, was a church goer [mine was], she'll surprise you by singing all the hymns correctly. If you shared a true love,it can really get bad.
She'll tell you how much she loves you 20 times,or more, a day. But as she goes deeper and deeper there, she'll cuss you out also. The saving grace, she won't remember it 5 minutes later.

General health is an ongoing problem. My strength has virtually disappeared, and Marge's has too. This leads to falls, and you wonder which one will cause a serious break leading to death. and believe me this is how most elderly people like us cash in.

It helps a little to complain a little and now I have to leave and supervise changing the depends.
RHD

some thoughts on prejudice

2010-01-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

When I was a young teenager in Detroit in the 30s The whole city reeked of it, and we didn't realize it!My Mother,and all of her friends hired live in maids for
$10/ week, thur. and every other Sun. off.
They were referred to as Darkies when we thought about it. But casually, especially by us kids, as coons, wooly bugers,spades, and of course NIGGERS. Why not, everybody did it Jews were Hebes,Christ killers,etc. In the 30s, CentraL High was virtually
100 % Jewish. When we played football against them, We sang "Issie, Iky, aby Sam, we are the boys who eat no Ham, now we don 't care for fancy dishes, we just want Gefulta Fishes. Yay Central
Most of us didn't know about the Jim Crow laws. Father Coughlin spewed his hate every Sun. night on radio until Pope Pius 12 shut him off.
The purpose of this is to get you to realize how widespread nad pervasive it was I began to realize how awful it was when we began to learn about the Holocaust after the war.It turned me completly around on my prejudices, and also religion. See below
I think it is beyonsd understanding to the 2 generations younger than mine.
I PRAY IT IS
RHD

2010-01-19T04:48:00.000-08:00

My thoughts on religion:
I was raised inthe Episcopalion religion. I was an accolyte at about 11 or 12 years of age.I carried the cross with the choir. I went to an Episocpal camp for 3 summers' I was confirmed at age 13. Then why am I now an agnostic? I believed in an all powerful and benevolent God.
I began to doubt when I realized how terrible the holocaust was. How could a benevolent, and all powerful God allow this. Then I began to have other doubts. The bible seems to portray our history as one of a few thousand years. But science shows us a history of unimaginable duration. The mumber of Stars, and Planets is beyond count. How could one God supervise this vast kingdom.
If all relogions on our earth believe their right, then all the rest must be wrong.
But the vast numbers are the hardest for me to equate to "our faith" As I write this, another tragrdy involving completely innocent children among others,is happening in Haiti. Why would God as we portray him allow this?
One more thought that somehow belongs in this treatis. We believe our country to be peace loving. But almost all of my 86 years, we've been involved in one kind or aother WAR,
But yes, there has to be a start somehow, I just don't believe we have it right!!

2010-01-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

It slowly gets a little worse. Marge cannot do much for herself now except to go to bed! We have been so lucky to have met the Davissons, Cas and Marilyn.
they play bridge with us every Thur. It's a real chore now. MARGE can't sort her hands, revokes, and the dummy has to correct the errors. Her bidding is impossible to
read. These are the reasoins why the duplicate club asked us to quit. it was a real blow to Marge when this happened, but now she hardly remembers about it. Deb has been a real God send, and takes her with her on most Sat. and Sun. Because of this, I have been able to play Duplicut with Cas at least every other sun. with quite a lot of success!
There, I've unloaded some, and it feels good.
RHD

2009-12-19T06:18:00.000-08:00

Westminster again proved to us how good they are!
The pictures below are from The Residents Only
Christmas party
There were two on successive nights for those of
us living in houses, and held in the new Mcguire
center. There were 140 people at each night's party.
Reinforces the good fortune we had to pick this
for our retirement!
Bob Dodd

2009-12-19T06:17:00.000-08:00

2009-12-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

Below are a few recent pics.
first is one of Marge and Hobo
lounging the morning out !

Next are a couple fron St. Marks again,
one of our fabprite watering holes.

Then one of Marge and Mariline Davison
at the birthday party given once a month
to Westminster residents when their
birthday is during the breakfast month,
one a month.

A lively pose by Marge and Hobo

2009-12-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T08:28:00.001-08:00

2009-12-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

2009-12-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I blogged. Seems like I'm busier all the time.
That.'s the life of a caregiver! It's slow, but inevitable. Marge is basically healthy,
which almost makes it worse.
Oh well, the picture is of Trixie, Deb's dog, a plaster door stop! , and Klondike,
the dog we had to get rid of when she started in to nipping Marge. If you look back in the blog, you'll see pics of Hobo, our wonderful dog.
I'll put some more stuff soon.
RHD

2009-08-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

Marge and Deb, and I drove over to St.. Augustine for the
weekend. The ;ictures below are from the weekend. I felt
that th e Alligator Farm was the highlight.
A great weekend!!
RHD

2009-08-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

The fort.

2009-08-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

The trolley, the best way to see the city

2009-08-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

A 600 year old live oak. Of course you can't see it, but it's there

2009-08-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

The famous fountain of youth that drew Ponce de Leon to florida and
led to the founding of St. Augustine.

SPELLING!!

2009-08-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

A view of part of the anchorage in the intracoastal.

2009-08-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

One of the bars on the trolley route. Saturday night had already started!

2009-08-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Flagler memmorial church.

2009-08-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

One of the buildings ercted by Henry Flagler. His influence is powerful
in St Agustine. It's here he strted his railway that eventually reeached
Key West. It was washed out in a hurricane in the 1930s, and never rebuilt.

2009-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

This sign is in front of the oldest houuse in St. Augstine.

2009-08-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

The fort at St. Augustine. Unfortunately, I found the steps too steep,
and the rail too low for me to climb to the top where I wanted to
take a few shots of the harbor. Oh well, in another life!

2009-08-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

Marge and I in front of the fort.

2009-08-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

The lighthouse at St. Auguustine.

2009-08-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

Look carefully, and you'll see a flock of Ibis birds in the tree top.
They flock here because the alligaotrs scare off the bird's
enemies, so they stay here even though they aren't penned.

2009-08-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

Feeding time for the large storks

2009-08-31T07:59:00.000-07:00

A picture of the biggest stork specie. The sac hanging
down means she is in mating season, and says "DON'T
MESS WITH ME!

2009-08-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

Another bird!

2009-08-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

One of the bird specimans. They have seceral species.

2009-08-31T07:52:00.000-07:00

Climbing out of he pond, they have several HUNDRED gators.

2009-08-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

This one is 13 feet long!

2009-08-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

A job opening if you are interested, feeding
the Gators.

2009-08-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

A rare white alligator, only a few hudred are left!

2009-08-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

Up to our ass in alligators!

2009-08-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

Marge and I at Lunch, see below
RHD

2009-08-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we went to St.Marks again, to one of our
favorite watering holes, Riverside cafe.
RHD

2009-08-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

Looking thru my blog, and decided to put a picture of Sandy,
our wonderful Lab. She loved sailing, and when we scared up
Dolphins, she would talk to them from the stern, and I had to restrain her from jumping in!
REFLECTIONS!
RHD
PS, this picture goes back about 25 years

2009-07-22T13:23:00.001-07:00

2009-07-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

If you read the blog below this, You might catch the same mistake my daughter
caught. I POSTED THE WRONG PICTURE!!!
This is the boat we sailed to Florida. It was a Bounty. The first fiberglass
racing sailboat of any size, designed by Rhodes.
I would have just deleted the picture, and edited it
but I couldn't figure out how to delete the picture, and
Put this one in.
Oh well whatever!
RHD

2009-07-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

Today, july 20, is the 40th anniversary of the moon landing.
The picture is of the boat we took from Detroit to Riviera beach,
Fl. to start our new life. This day, we were in the Erie barge canal,
about 1/2 way to it's end. Radio communication was still
dicey, and we had no up-to-date news. We were docked at a marina
in the canal, I don't, remember what town. Bobby, my son. now 53, was at a rec center. When he came back to the boat, he informed us That we had landed on the moon. What a memory!. In my lifetime, the advances are beyond
belief! Anyway, we got to Florida and started the last great
part of our life here in Florida. Of course this revolved
around Merrill Lynch, sailing, bridge, and so on.
Now we live a very quiet life, but it is very satisfying.
RHD

bombs away!!

2009-07-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

2009-07-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Following are a few pictures from our recent trip to Detroit, Marge, Debbie and I.
We were the guests of Don and Helen Baker. They are super, super hosts, and it was a marvelous weekend Their house is over 100 years old, and right on Lake St. Clair.
We had dinner, and Lunch at Bayview Yacht Club on the Detroit river. and dinner at the Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle. Also, we had dinner at Dylan's, which was Tom's Oyster bar until our friend John Montgomery Jr. bought it.
John is the son of John and Joy Montgomery. They were two of our best Detroit friends, but are
deceased now. I may add to this post later.
RHD

2009-07-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Penobscot building and surrounding buildings

2009-07-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

A view of the Ren Center as you come out of the tuunnel
under Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit.
Ren center id the nick nname for the Renacancs ceter
I'll correct the spelling later

2009-07-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

view of he Grosse Pointe Yacht club. as we were driving by.
The club rightly claims to be one of the worlds prettiest clubs.

2009-07-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Don tending bar in the kitchen.

2009-07-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Helen and her sister-in-law Lindy in their leisure room!!

2009-07-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

Don and his dog Bella in Don's house on Lake St. Clair.

2009-07-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Brian and his very pretty lady friend. He's the Baker's
youngest. He has sailed all over the world as Brian Detwiler's
foredeck guy. The boats they race in and against are world
class racing sailboats of about 75 feet, and larger now!!

2009-07-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Deb, Helen, and Lindy at Bayview Yacht Club.

2009-07-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Our house that we bought from the builder
abot 1953.

2009-07-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

The tree is one I planted at our house when we
bought it about 1953.

2009-07-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

M Father's plaque at the Grosse Pointe Church.

2009-07-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

My mother's plaque in the Grosse Pointe church
columbarium

2009-07-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Christ Church, Grosse Pointe, Mich.
This is the church we attended while living in the
Grosse Pointes.I actually taught Sunday school there until they found out I am an agnostic!

2009-07-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

Brian Baker, Don and Helen's youngest, in front
of a back dock dock box. One for all the large boar slips.

2009-07-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Bridget Baker's boat in her slip at the DYC back dock
Bridget is Dona and Helen's daughter.

2009-07-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Marge, Deb, and I on the back doc where only
sailboats stay. There abot 80 slips, and the
overflow is on the front docks.
Slips are allocated by a simple formula
I developed while on the board. There
is a waiting list for slips!!
Incidentally, slips are called wells all
through this area.