Retired-Kayaker

Retired and loving life. Cancer Fighter and Father of three.

[retired-kayaker]

When it's too hot to do anything.

I have lived here all my life, and you would think by now I would have become accustomed to this heat. Apparently, my body never got the memo. Even with my anemia, it has gotten too warm for me. Every day this week, I’ve either had a doctor’s appointment, a physical therapy appointment, or I’ve had to drive my wife to one of hers. That means I’ve had to be outside at least twice a day, every day…

[retired-kayaker]

The Never-Ending Battle of the Yard

I have a love/hate relationship with yardwork. When we first bought this house back in 1991, we had one of the prettiest yards on the block. The house was brand new—no one had ever lived in it—and the front yard had fresh Bermuda sod. I did my best to keep it looking good. Back then, I actually enjoyed working in the yard. Then life happened. After my son was born, I found it increasingly…

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[retired-kayaker]

Progress Isn't Always a Straight Line (Especially with My Back)

Twice a week for the past five weeks, I’ve been going to physical therapy for my back. I’ll admit that when I first started, I didn’t think therapy would do much good for fused vertebrae and a bulging disc. I figured it was something I would just have to live with. Much to my surprise, though, therapy has been more beneficial than I ever expected. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been a few…

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[retired-kayaker]

When the Climb Feels Steeper

There are days when I feel like I’m stuck in a rut. It seems like nothing I do matters anymore. Lately, nothing really excites me. All I want to do is sit and do absolutely nothing. The television doesn’t interest me, so I turn it off. I tried reading, but after a sentence or two, I put the book back down. I’m going through my daily routines simply because they’re expected of me, but I’m not…

[retired-kayaker]

My Mouth Has Declared a Revolt

I believe I’ve mentioned this a couple of times before, but I have a love/hate relationship with doctors. When it comes to dentists, though, it’s a little different—I absolutely despise dentistry. Don’t get me wrong, I love my dentist, but I hate everything about going to see him. I know how important it is to take care of my teeth. I’ve also been told—although I’m not sure how much truth there…

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[retired-kayaker]

When Good Days Take Unexpected Turns

Tuesday was spent at the doctor’s office with my dad, following up on his broken nose. After examining him, the doctor decided not to do anything since he could still breathe through it without any difficulty. Dad actually broke his nose when he was a kid, so it was already a little crooked. I guess he’s had decades to get used to a nose that doesn’t point due north. My plans to go fishing on…

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[retired-kayaker]

Benadryl, Broken Noses, and a Busy Day

Today started out busy, and judging by my calendar, it’s only the beginning. I had two doctor appointments today—one at 10:00 a.m. and another at 3:00 p.m. My first stop was my oncologist’s office for an iron infusion. They usually take about two hours, so I figured I’d have plenty of time to get home, eat lunch, and make it to my physical therapy appointment. Well… that was the plan. The…

[retired-kayaker]

When Did Getting Older Become a Banking Fee?

I’m 62 years old, and until now, I’ve never really felt like I’d been discriminated against because of my age. I’ve been with the same banking institution for more than twenty years and have never had to pay a monthly service fee. The fees have always existed—I just never found myself in a situation where they applied to me. When I started working for my last employer back in 1986, the bank was…

[retired-kayaker]

When Plans Change in an Instant

It doesn’t matter how carefully you make your plans—one phone call from one of your parents can change everything in the blink of an eye. I had planned on going fishing today. It had already been a challenge just getting ready. I had a meeting Thursday night, so I wasn’t able to load my kayak until I got home late. I loaded everything else beforehand, leaving only the kayak for when I…

[retired-kayaker]

A Calendar Full of Red

My cat Sophia must have decided I needed the extra rest because she let me sleep until 6:30 this morning—an hour later than my usual wake-up call. I don’t know what got into her, but I’m not about to question a miracle. My wife had a physical therapy appointment today, so I didn’t get much accomplished before it was time to chauffeur her to the appointment at 11:00. While she was with her…

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[retired-kayaker]

If the Shoe Doesn't Fit... Send It Back!

Going to the shoe store has become one of my worst nightmares. Not everyone sells the shoes in the width that I need. In fact, there are only two stores in the Birmingham metro area that sell shoes in my size. For those who are new here, I have Charcot. Charcot is a condition that makes my bones brittle. Two years ago, I unknowingly broke my right foot. It couldn’t be a normal break; it had to…

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[retired-kayaker]

One Day at a Time with Mom and Dad

Yesterday I got off to a later start than I had planned. I rolled up to my parents’ house a few minutes before 9:00 a.m. My goal had been to get there by 8:00, but I just couldn’t get moving. By the time I had eaten breakfast and made my second round of coffee, I was already running behind. When I arrived, I didn’t see my parents’ car. Sometimes they park inside the garage, but most of the time…

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[retired-kayaker]

Rolling With the Punches

It’s been a few days since my last post, and it’s been a busy few days. You never realize how much you depend on something until you suddenly don’t have it. Since my wife’s car is still with my daughter, we’re down to just one vehicle. That means choices have to be made, schedules have to be adjusted, and everything takes a little more planning. My daughter is still looking for another car, but…

[retired-kayaker]

A Morning on the Water and an Evening Under the Fireworks

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I took advantage of the few hours I had available to go fishing Saturday morning. I didn’t invite my friend Rick on this trip because I wasn’t sure how long my back would hold up. Since the ablation, I haven’t been able to sit in my kayak for very long before the pain starts bothering me. I launched on the river around 5:30 a.m., and by 10:30 I was ready…

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[retired-kayaker]

Celebrating 35 Years Together

Today is our 35th wedding anniversary. Time has really flown by. It doesn’t seem possible that we’ve been married that long. We spent the afternoon watching Toy Story 5. That’s what my wife wanted to see, and I’m glad we did. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s well worth it. It has a great message for parents. I won’t give away any spoilers, so you’ll just have to see it for yourself to understand…

[retired-kayaker]

When Your Body Says, "Enough"

It’s been a few days since my last entry. Between other family matters and life’s daily responsibilities, I’ve been too busy to sit down and write. I did get the opportunity to go fishing for a couple of hours last Thursday, but I didn’t have much luck. I only caught two fish before my back started hurting, forcing me to cut my trip short. Before heading out to fish, I had taken the time on…

[retired-kayaker]

Homeownership: Where Projects Never End

One of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is taking care of your yard. When we first moved into this neighborhood, our house had never been lived in. We were the first owners, and everything was brand new. The landscapers had just laid the sod and planted bushes along the side of the house. For years, we had one of the best-looking yards on the street. I took a lot of pride in it, and it…

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