Bruce

Hello to all of you in Bruce's blog land.

My name is Bob Young, I'm a friend of Bruce and live in Bellingham WA

It was 2 years ago on Super Bowl Sunday when I got a call from Bruce and he sounded a bit funny. I was at friend's watching the game and asked him to go to my house and watch the game and I would be home after.

Bruce had spent some time with me and helped me out with work around my property in the months previous. I thought that he had left town the week or two previous but apparently he had stayed in town longer to work for a disabled woman with a large and maintenance deficient house.

When I got home and sat down to talk with him, within 30 seconds I knew he had had a stroke and Off we went to the hospital. He had aphasia and could not get anything out that made sense. There were no physical indications and other than the aphasia he was healthy as a h orse.

I spent a few hours in the hospital Bruce and his nephew Carl going through his phone and calling his relatives. The next day he was still not making much sense but seemed to be getting better at pushing his thoughts past the damage. The second day I brought him a notepad and asked him to start writing in it. As we all know Bruce has a lot to say and I was afraid he might get backed up. His first day writing was total gibberish, the next words started showing and within a week of me haranguing him daily about it, he started writing and speaking normally. Well, nearly so.

Bruce was doing pretty well in just a few weeks and was on the road again soon thereafter. His goal was to write a book about his adventures and if you have started reading this blog from the beginning you know it could be a good one.

He was gone from Bellingham for a few months and I can't recount what he was up to but he had to come back when he found out that his doctor had had his drivers license suspended. After doctor visits and retesting at the DMV Bruce had his license back in hand and once again prepared to travel. I know that he cleared out and gave up his storage locker and was getting ready to go to his eye doctor on the east coast.

As the readers may have noticed, he never really was able to fully recover his writing skills. He struggled getting logged in and writing but did amazingly well considering where he was when he had the stroke.

This brings us up to around super Bowl last when Carl called and told me that Bruce had had another stroke. This one was much more serious, one side of his body, as I understand it, is permanently paralyzed and as before he has aphasia, which I hear is improving to the point that he can communicate fairly well.

He now lives in assisted living near his son Ron.

I think that Bruce would love to hear from his friends. Please send him a postcard to the following address. Do not reply to his blog. I am also going to remove his donate button.

Thanks to all of you that helped Bruce realize some of his dreams.

Life Care Center of Federal Way

1045 S. 308th St., Federal Way, WA 98003

I will provide an update in a few weeks when Bruce's friend Wendell and I go Dow to visit him.

Thank you,
Bob

January 02, 2017; Bellingham, Washington

Bitter cold  has settled over the Pacific Northwest.  My new Sleeping bag has made the inside of SPIA tolerable.

Many hours have been spent in front of the GEEK Squad Table to relearn how to use my new computer.  Seems much of the knowledge I took for granted the many prior years has eroded and been lost.    To create this simple sentence is taking many minutes of intense concentration.  The Geek Squad has invested some 15 hours over the past week or so at $70.00 (value) per hour and still I struggle.

Even so, SAM and SPIA are prepared to leave BELLINGHAM this week.   I plan to push SAM in short spurts of ten miles or so, before returning to SPIA ..... thence driving forward some 20 miles before parking for the night.  In this way our Walk and Roll will progress some 140 miles forward each week.

In keeping with my desire to help others as we cross America, we will always stop as we encounter the needs or opportunities to help others.

As a measure of my progress to create / update this blog, it has taken two hours so far.  I certainly look forward to do much better as we go forward.



 
  

December 31, 2016; Bellingham, Washington

HAPPY NEW YEAR ..... 2016 - 2017

      from Bellingham, Washington

March 20, 2010 began Day One of the my Walk Across America.    It was my desire to divest myself of nearly all assets as I stepped into the unknown .... to discover what it would be like to start old age with a clean slate.

Limited to my Social Security $ as received from the U. S. government as my only support, I walked from the Canadian border the first 250 miles to the state of Oregon ...  on foot, pushing SAM, my home built Solar-Powered three-wheel Cart.  SAM proved to be helpful for short periods of time due to limited battery efficiency ... but performed flawlessly otherwise.

Over the next 5-plus years, SAM and ME crossed and recrossed AMERICA some 30,000 miles, with generous use of  our vehicle for logistical support.

One SAM and ME solo USA crossing was completed from COLUMBIA, NORTH CAROLINA to BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON.   A 80% solo crossing was completed on our return to COLUMBIA.
 
By way of explanation, our vehicle, when used while walking, was accomplished as follows.  We moved only in daytime for safety reasons.  Each morning, our vehicle remained parked while SAM and ME walked some twelve miles before returning to our vehicle.   We then moved our vehicle the 24 miles walked during the day.  The next day, SAM and ME repeated the process. 

New input:

My recent stroke continues to limit my typing as I press forward to improve.

POST 1531; JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS; SEPT 20, 2016

Recent Blogs have alluded to a number of confusing events and aimless travel  back and forth across America ... travels with no apparent purpose ... laced with costly expenditures designed to keep our back to the wall.

Not about to cry WOLF or look for excuses, I will admit only to having lost faith in some principles central to our WALK, including investments and expenditures made in and on behalf of individuals.

To be sure, plenty mistakes rest on my doorstep.  Curiously, most hurtful have been errors not of omission, but rather of commission; i.e., taking on too much ... not realizing when enough is enough.

Fraught with recent illnesses coupled with desire to excel no matter what ... or who ... might suggest otherwise, has caught up with me.   Yes, anything CAN be possible.  But at what cost.

I look around this morning from an unfamiliar place.  Expecting to find OZ,  I find instead lots of unfinished involvements.   I must polarize my energies and accept one reality .... I can no longer do this alone.

...nor must I !

... and I look around once again.  I have a full belly; I am of sound mind and spirit, I have a plan to  complete repairs to SPIA; reinstatement on my Washington Drivers License is imminent;  illnesses are under control ....

... AND I wish to share a magical reality:  I am not alone.








  

POST 1530; STRIVING REACH WASHINGTON STATE; SEPT 10, 2016

Update for our drive to Washington State from Kansas City, Missouri (via DENVER, Colorado)

Distance to travel is 1,500 circa miles.

We have some $60.00 available until October 03, 2016.

Obviously, we must selectively delay our arrival pending receipt of $$ from Social Security $$.

Weather conditions may become a factor as we must cross the 5,000 foot High Plains AND the higher Rocky Mountains.

A new factor is our need to replace all four tires to remain safe.

"Shame on me" might be the obvious retort.  I plead GUILTY.

2016 has not been kind to us.

Going "to ground" soon is necessary to stay safe.  We therefor plan to find a suitable resting spot within NEBRASKA - more than one if necessary - .  We could divert via I-29 and I-90 into South Dakota, but that gains us little and possibly looses to increased inclement weather.

Our decision was made for us when DALLAS withdrew his invitation to move into his apartment ... well, probably much sooner than that.  I keep coming back to his comment to me nearly one year ago when he pleaded:

....." ... forgive me, Bruce, but I'm just trying to stay alive ..."

No offense, DALLAS ... I'm on your side !!!

POST 1529; Driving To Washington State; Sept 09, 2016

Seems to be no end to surprises and to disappointments.  I have been one who looks to my own failures ... a single shortcoming is now and again expected ... but events since arriving at the home of DALLAS have been a bit much.

Our arrival - at the personal invitation of DALLAS and his new wife - has been over ruled by THE GARDNER.  Yes, DALLAS' 15 - year Gardner has taken exception to my arrival and presence.

Some time ago, while pushing SAM across the State of Texas, DALLAS contacted us through our Blog.  DALLAS was frantic, explaining that his ill Wife had just died, further explaining that he was now alone and asked if SAM and ME could quickly come to his CULLODEN home to help him.

He was, he explained, unable to care for himself and was facing amputation of his foot.

SAM and ME immediately changed our plans to walk to The Outer Banks.  Instead, we drove directly to DALLAS, finding him usable to walk or fend for himself.  In his own words, DALLAS announced to mutual friends that I "... saved his life."

During the many following months, DALLAS pleaded for me to stay in his home, where I assisted him on a daily basis with his doctor's directed treatment, including accompanying him to and from his medical appointments;

I prepared nearly all his meals - including purchasing most of the food;

I daily cleaned ... our home;

,,, and daily, I mowed his lawn - including his deceased wife's next door property -, even purchased a new powered lawn mower;

... and each Friday and Saturday night, accompanied DALLAS to the local dance.

One could easily say that I alone supported DALLAS and care of his property during the many months of his treatment and care ... all at his request.

During this entire time, I asked for NO $$ from DALLAS.  Neither, did I request or did I receive any $$ from DALLAS for my own costs expended on his behalf.

My continued assistance to DALLAS came to an end when DALLAS met and married his "new"  bride;  but, not until after she and DALLAS directed me as to how and where to move her furniture and belongings into her new home.

It came, therefore as a great pleasure that DALLAS and Mrs. DALLAS, jointly telephoned me a few days ago to return to their home and accept that I - at no charge - to move into the upstairs Apartment.

It came as a greater surprise that the "used to be Gardner" called the SHERIFF accusing me to be trespassing.  I was not allowed to plead my position, but was ordered to vacate the property by morning.

The SHERIFF also threatened me about my "Washington State License"  which he said was no longer valid...giving no explanation.

DALLAS, in the mean time retorted to me that he would do nothing about this turn of events, refused to speak to me, being replaced by the Mrs, who began yelling at me   ....

My (deceased) Mother once told me to avoid those did not want me.  I considered Mother's feelings for an few hours, but as darkness fell, I opted to heed good advice,

As of this moment I am enroute to The State of Washington to satisfy the question raised about my license.

POST 1528; HURRICANE' WV; SEPT 05, 2016

Good Afternoon from HURRICANE, West Virginia.

Traveling for over two months after leaving ISLANDO's ART QUARRY, SAM, SPIA and ME have strived to recover from the severe lack of funds ... coupled with a series of failures to properly repair SPIA ...

We experienced three weekly periods during the past two months when we ran out of $$ for food and gas to move forward on our continuing journey to reach DALLAS' home in CULLODEN.

We have now arrived at our destination.  Our first day has been filled with the pleasure to be again with our many friends.

Along the way, many old and new friends have come forward to encourage and assist us.  We parked for two weeks in LOVE'S Truck Stop in POST FALLS (COEUR d'ALENE), Idaho.  We again stopped for a week ... this time at WALMART parking lot in COLVILLE, Washington; followed by another week delay in the mountain community of REPUBLIC, Washington.

These "Rest Stops" were forced on us as available funds ran out.

Two times, $$ funds reached us from our Social Security U.S Government monthly checks.  Because  car repairs previously charged were due, not much was available for gas and food.  So, we halted again and again ... getting somewhat proficient at learning hunger restraint 

Reaching the beautiful city of BELLEVUE, Iowa on the banks of the MISSISSIPPI River, we again parked one week awaiting funds to catch up.   
  
Two weeks ago, we arrived at Sister Carol's.  Busy with medical appointments, Carol was to spend our visit pretty much alone as we again parked at WALMART.

On September 02, 2016, Uncle Sam's $$ again arrived.

We immediately drove the 500 final miles to West Virginia.   YES. we do have enough $$ to pay the final debt still owed.  Next month we can eat and drink.

 ......

5 years ago SAM, SPIA and ME embarked on our trek to meet and help SENIORS as we crossed and recrossed America.  We did this with intent to find our own limits.  Until our recent foolish effort to reach beyond our ability to help SENIORS, we did very well.  We had no business not sticking with our objective to limit our efforts to SENIORS.

* * * * *

And, with these words I move on ...