my story revisited #212 -why we walk

MY STORY REVISTED #212-WHY WE WALK

this is a picture of my first walk team for the walk to end alzheimers in austin in 2011
it was the first walk after i was diagnosed
i will have done 13 years of these walks this month

the flowers we carry at these walks have the same names on them 
there thank goodness have not been any additions 
well maybe my name could be added

i wrote this to ms b to tell her about my younger brother who died with alzheimers
plus my mother who died with it and my father who probably had it when he died

this year we will do the local walk here in santa barbara
this year i will not be talking at the open ceremonies like i have done for years
i look forward to it 
just savoring the moment with my family
i promise to cry
__________
10-12-2015

DEAR MS B-YOUDVE LIKED HIM


ok ms b this will be the last sad blog i write to you
well i hope it is

you have two ancestors named joe
both are not with us now
both taken down by two different diseases
one taken by an als like disease
the other taken by alzheimers disease
one your other grandpa
the other your great uncle

now your grandpa joe i only met once
even though he was ill you could tell he
was a powerful man
powerful in the way he carried himself
but
compassionate

i wish i could have got to know him better


the other joe
your uncle joe
was also compassionate
had a great smile
worked for years as a fireman then later a deputy sheriff
loved his family like the other joe did
loved life like the other joe did
loved hunting and outdoor stuff the other joe loved the outdoors

ms b he had two daughters and two granddaughters
so he knew about raising girls

now this weekend ms b
we will be honoring uncle joe
at a walk to end alzheimers in little rock
walking with his familys team
#joe nash

we will be walking to raise money for the
alzheimers association to use for research and education
on alzheimers disease

you see ms b
we are getting close real close to finding a true treatment
and a cure
real close

when we walk this weekend these are the four folks we
will be walking for

nell-your great grandmother a nurse
charles-your great grandfather a minister
joe-your great uncle joe taken like your grandpa joe much too
soon before their lives were complete

ms b uncle joes wife 2 daughters 1 grandson 2 granddaughters
will all shed tears this weekend as they walk
as will his friends and siblings that are walking
and
those who cant be there will be thinking of him and his
family saturday morning

yes ms b
your gma and i still cry every time we do this
walk for uncle joe and our other family members
affected by this terrible disease

ms b
if you met your uncle joe
you would have liked him
his smile
his laugh
yes he would probably pinch your cheeks
maybe give you a kiss

yes ms b

youdve liked him
_________
ms b you would have liked him
all kids did
yes
like me 
he would tease you a lot
and
make your smile

this is why we do the walks
to honor these relatives affected by this horrible disease

yes
we are getting closer to a treatment for this disease
lucky for me i was able to receive treatments that may slow things down
which means i may be around a little longer to tease you

if you are in the santa barbara area join us for our walk to end alzheimers at the link below
or
join a walk where you live
here is the link to our team organicgreendoctor to join or donate 
see you on saturday november 16th at chase palm park 

the organicgreen doctor