June

How were we? in  June2023.   June2022

6/30/2024. 
Bee Balm update:
I wrote about Bee Balm before. In Japan, we call it "Taimatsu bana" ta-i-ma-tsu ba-na. たいまつ　ばな. It means flaming torch flower in Japanese.  I wanted to compare the both images here.  
In Japan, たいまつ tai-matsu image looks like these (below).

And my Bee Balm looks like this. (Below). So... you like the Japanese name more now? 

6/28/2024.    
I was not an athletic kid at all when I was little. In fact, I was very awful to throw a ball. But I loved dancing and music. So I was a member of a modern ballet group. I was in an elementary choir club. I was in a brass band at middle school. I was in a choir at high school. Oh, I want to add this. I was in a Yosakoi-soran dance group after I graduated from a college. I was a Kansas State University Yosakoi-soran dance group around 2005.  
What is Yosakoi-soran? Attached a video. 

A fun fact:  In Japan, their school system is very different from the States. Especially High/Middle School sports system. Students cannot do multiple sports at all. They pick only one sport and they do it all year long. Yes, all year long. Interesting?  
So…. I was not a runner/jogger at all. That’s true. I learned about Cross Country for the first time when our son started 7th grade and joined in the Cross Country team. And I was fascinated with the beauty of teamwork and got stuck into the relationship with runners/coaches. Funny. I was not fast at all. But I enjoyed jogging and aiming to my personal best each year.  
One thing I learned from the running world is “runners’ sock tan line”. You know that? It was funny.  
And now I’m becoming a cyclist, guess what? I think cyclists get more sun tan than runners. What do you think? See a white line in my wrist? I know it's too funny.

6/26/2024.
Since I started my cycling journey with my husband (handcycle), I’ve learned a lot, something new and tricky. There are more and more things about bicycle and handcycle. I’ve been really enjoying it even though it is sometimes very challenging and frustrating to myself.
Sometimes I compare cycling-stuffs between the States and Europe, between the States and Japan.
I can compare between road cycling and moutanin biking. Between road races and track races. Between a long road cycling trip and a long gravel trail cycling trip.
Oh the newest thing, between E-bike and bicycle. (I don’t know about E-bike, yet, though.). 
Sometimes I discover something fascinating, of course. I found Japan stuff this time. I have to say that Japan is quite an interesting and technology-advanced country for this topic.

Title:  Visit INSIDE Tokyo’s futuristic underground bike parking.
You would be surprised and shocked when you watch it. You will!!! I was astonished and shocked.
It says:
The bikes are protected from weather, theft and rubbing against each other or a rack. With the help of an e-card, it even only takes an average of 13 seconds to get your bike back!  
13 seconds!!!   
More than 1,000 bikes can be stored in a completely automated way!
Japan is really interesting in many ways indeed. You love it??

6/25/2024.  
How are your garden flowers doing end of June? My most favorite “Larkspur” is almost done. So I need to harvest their seeds. My kind of ritual end of June.
I love Lantana as well. Do you have some? When I lived in Japan, when I was small, I didn’t know this plant at all. I fell in love with it immediately in the States because of their transformation of blooming. You know what I mean?
In Japan, we call it “Shichi-hen-ge” しちへんげ　七変化.  You would love this name once you know why it’s called.
Shichi = seven (七)
hen-ge = transforming (変化)
It means “seven times transformations”. I love this name.   
Here are three “kanji” characters. Each one has each meaning. Three characters formed one word. 

I want to add one more plant. Bee Balm. Do you have it? It’s my newest addition in my garden this year. My scientist-friend shared it with me from her garden. It’s very tall, 4-5 feet tall (almost my height), leaves smell like “mint”. Flower is vivid red and has interesting looking.  
Japanese name for Bee Balm is たいまつばな　tai-matsu-bana. Tai-matsu (たいまつ) means “flaming torch”. Ba-na means “flower”.  
Flaming torch flower!  
It sure looks like flaming torches.  
I smile I call their Japanese names when I look at them in my garden. Fun.

Entry#274. 6/23/2024. Part5 of 5(!) The final reflection of 36 mi handcycle group ride.
I still cannot believe that it actually happened to us, my husband and myself.
This is the group picture right after we finished 36 mi cycling/handcycling in 3 hours. 3 paraplegic athletes + 6 able-bodied cyclists all together (I am not in this photo. Yes, I was taking it.)

Things I learned this time:
1. GOBA is wonderful amazing event. This year was 35th. (It started in 1989! Can you believe it?)   
2. There is a great non-profit organization called Three Blessings Disabled Adventures in Maryland. We just met (and rode with them!) the founder and his crews.  
As my understanding, their organization sounds like “The Bridge Adaptive sports and recreation” in Cincinnati that we are really involved in many events. 

https://www.threeblessingsdisabledadventures.org/who-we-are

https://www.thebridgeadaptive.org/

It was an honor to meet them and get to know about them and what they do.  
3. How the actual handcycle group ride looks like for long distance road rides. (Not races)  
This was the highlight of our experience.  
My husband has done several handcycle races with other veteran handcyclists and he had great times with them.  
However he hasn’t done handcycle group long rides yet.  
Always we need to secure our own safety first, I reassured that. Because of handcyclers’ low seating settings. Their visibility and visibility from car drivers.  
It was so much fun including tough hard difficult uphill climbing. You know? Downhill descending is unbelievably FAST!!  
He learned about DRAFTING as well(!) I will write about it later.  
4. Many more possibilities out there! + Many wonderful people (both disabled and able-bodied) out there!  
I was grateful for that. I just witnessed that proof.  
When my husband drove back home right after our long 36 mi ride, my eyes were wet feeling their kindness, effort and strength. Pure joy.  
I loved everything we did this time.  
You gotta laugh. Because, when we said goodbye to them at the trail parking lot, I yelled at them saying “Love you all!!” Yes, I shouted “Love YOU ALL!”  I was that much happy. 

Entry#273. 6/22/2024.  Part4 of 5
It happened so quick and I was just so excited. Before I made myself calm down, we were at the bike trail parking lot to re-meet 2 handcyclists + 5 able-bodied cyclists at 8:30am, 2 days after we met them for the first time.  I was simply glad that we made it to meet them again! I think I looked a bit nervous/awkward there because they told me to calm down. (You smiling?? That’s me, you know?)
I rushed to let my husband be ready for handcycling, with 1.5 liter water in camelback.
Before I know it, we were off to 36 mile cycling!! I was not sure about their pace at all. Fast or slow.   
My husband and I participated “The Great Pumpkin Roll Gran Fondo” last September. It was our long distance ride together, 30 mile.
It’s inOctober 2023 page. Scroll down to the bottom, see Entry#168. 10/15/2023
Photo here is this year’s poster.

So I know I’m okay for 30 mile (with summer training). I know this type of cycling event isn’t a race. It’s more like a family friendly “cruising/enjoying pedaling”.  I was just happy to be with them.  
They were also excited because they wanted to have extra handcyclist with them.   
They= Three Blessings Disabled Adventures. (Non-profit organization in Maryland) 

https://www.threeblessingsdisabledadventures.org/

Their “big vision” sounds like “encouraging every disabled people to be active no matter what”.  
Once we were out there pedaling, I learned something new more and more.
Their teamwork was way too amazing. Able-bodied cyclists said to me “We need to protect them- handcyclists on the roads. We will protect them.”   
They used radio-system (microphones and headphones in helmets) to communicate during their rides. Gave warnings when car came from behind. Stood at the intersection at the turning corners. So on and on. Such an incredible teamwork indeed. I was amazed tons of times.  
The wife of one of handcyclists said to me “Let our boys have fun!” smiling. Our boys = 3 handcyclists/paraplegic athletes. They zoomed faster in front of us, way ahead of us. She made me smile more and more. I told her “This is more than he expected, I can tell.” I was grateful for this opportunity they gave us.  
I think my adrenaline level kept higher for entire riding time. I couldn’t stop smiling for entire three hours. 3 hours!!  
I made it to finish pedaling 36 mile! WE MADE IT! Woooooo hoooooo.

Entry#272. 6/22/2024.  Part3 of 5
We introduced each other at the gym (Miami U Rec center). We = 2 handcyclists (paraplegics), 5 able-bodied cyclists and my husband+myself. They are members of Three Blessings disabled adventures. They were eager to explain about GOBA systems, Three Blessings organization, their handcycles and more. I asked them about “how to spend nights during the cycling tour” “how to manage for peeing for long hours cycling (8 hours) for paraplegic body” and more.
I was amazed about everything they explained literally.
As my understanding, in GOBA 2024 cycling tour, they cycle through three counties in southwestern Ohio- Darke, Preble and Butler. Their route crossed into Indiana additionally. They stay in four host communities- Eaton, Oxford, Hamilton and Arcanum.
I was impressed that two paraplegic athletes were traveling and handcycling just like able-bodied cyclists were doing. I admire them a lot.  
I told the wife of one of handcyclists like this.
“I wish we could send off you all tomorrow morning when you start to pedal to next town, Hamilton. I wish we could. However, sorry, we cannot because we have morning routine and cannot come to see you before 7:00am.”  
At that moment, I was just so satisfied with our meeting and conversation. I was about to say thank you, goodbye and good-luck.
Next moment, that wife-lady said “Why don’t you come to ride with us the day after tomorrow in Hamilton???” She added “We can start cycling a bit later for you. Say 8:30am?”
In my mind, in my brain, “What? What did you say?”
I didn’t expect that offer, not at all. Wait, is this possible for my husband and myself?? Is it?  
Then you know? You can guess easily how my brain’s switch turned on?
What exactly she offered us was about 36mi cycling(!) It’s not a casual 30 minutes ride, no, not at all. My brain worked hard thinking; What time we should get up. All gears, water, handcycle/bicycle should be ready tomorrow. How long will it take? Over 3 hours? How my husband does catheterization on his handcycle? And so on and on.
My biggest “fear” was “Can I complete 36mi cycling with them, can I???”  Because this was gonna be our longest ride ever. Yes, it was the longest distance ever.

Photos: They showed and explained about handcycle settings. Using lacrosse nets (!) How they load equipment on a back of handcycle. Great useful information. 

Entry#271. 6/21/2024. Part2 of 5
After we learned about the event “GOBA”, also we learned about the nonprofit organization named “Three Blessings disabled adventurers” in Maryland.

https://www.threeblessingsdisabledadventures.org/

We are so curious about it as well because the founder is the handcyclist visiting Oxford who attended GOBA 8-days cycling tour.  
I watched the video of GOBA 2023 (last year). You see how they travel and do cycling each day everyday for 8 days. They can pick staying outdoor campsites or indoor facilities.  Look at the campsite view, setting up many many tents there. Amazing view.  And this time, we saw these many tents in one of our town’s park. It was fascinating. Their indoor camping place was Miami Rec center gym.  
It was a really rare coincidence that our son was working there and saw them!! If he didn’t work on that day, we never knew existence of them and this event. 

We were so excited to visit them at the gym where they stayed in for two night. We were just happy to meet them there. Can you guess what happened next when we were chatting about each others?

Entry#270. 6/21/2024.  Part1 of 5
I was super excited (yesterday and the day before yesterday) and I am extremely exhausted and dead tired right now. I have tons of tons of things I want to tell.
First, there are some facts you need to know.
Our town, Oxford OH is a part of route for RAAM Ride Across America every year. In this race week, we, Oxford people will see race-riders in town. I haven’t visit their checking-in tent. But it’s always fun to see race-cyclists in town.
However in this week, our town looks a bit different. I noticed some cyclists with numbers cruising around the town. It didn’t seem they were RAAM riders. I wondered a lot.

Then it started like this.
Our son called my husband from his work place (Miami U rec center) and talked to him on the phone.
“Dad, a handcyclist is in town right now. I saw his handcycle here at the Rec. He seems to stay in tonight inside gym. I will try to find him, talk to him and find out what’s happening. Stay tuned.”   
We found out the event named GOBA: The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. And attendees of this event stopped by our town!  In fact two of them are handcyclists!!  
Thanks to our son’s action, my husband and I visited to meet them! Yes, we met them and their teammates. 

Entry#269. 6/18/2024.  
Adaptive Kayaking PART 2
My husband attended the pilot-program of adaptive kayaking provided by The Bridge Adaptive sports. As my understanding, they are willing to set up the official program for adaptive kayaking and beforehand they want to make sure about the protocol and settings for both trainers/therapists and disabled athletes. They asked my husband whether he is interested in joining this training group. And of course, he said “yes”.
When we say “trying adaptive sports”, there are two ways to think about (at least to myself).
One: The goal would be “trying it and having fun”. It doesn’t matter “how you manage whole process by yourself”. From preparation to finishing/cleaning up.
Two: The goal would be to master whole process by yourself independently. From preparation to finishing/cleaning up.  
My husband’s handcycling and mono-skiing are category Two. In future, he wants to do it all by himself. (Yes, all by himself.). 
Adaptive kayaking is still “unknown” category. He is still seeking and figuring out how much his body condition could handle “basic kayak paddle strokes” with a paddle.  
Basically he has great arm strength, he is strong enough to “paddle”. That’s yes. However “being on a kayak on the water” makes his situation complicated.
You never know how much he has to keep concentrating (focusing on) balancing on the water. His priority thinking is ONLY balancing. Because if his mind is off from thinking about balancing even in 2-3 seconds, he would be capsized. That’s what he learned last year. From that experience, he still wants to know if he can practice it and can get better on balancing part.
Because of his paraplegic body, he can get improvement from upper body strength (arm muscles). But no matter how hard he practices, he cannot get any improvement if the movement is related with uncontrollable-body-part.  
When we (able bodied people) do kayaking, the important movement is “paddling”. When you paddle correctly and efficiently, you can go faster and you can even compete in the races.  
At this point, my husband is wondering whether there is a specific “shape/type” of kayak for him to do kayaking without outriggers.  
Yes, there are outriggers (two of them) for adaptive athletes, of course. Those outriggers make kayak stable without any worry about capsizing.
My husband’s mind goes like this, though. “If I use outriggers, it might be less challenging = not so much excitement, maybe?”  
Like he picked mono-ski instead of dual-ski. He seeks more “fun” parts.  
So he started kayaking without outriggers at first. He did good on keeping himself stable on the water. But his concentration (his focus) was at the maximum level. He couldn’t paddle hard. To me, he looked so serious, not so relaxing/enjoying. Nobody noticed that, you know? He said to the therapists “This is great. It’s good to be on the water. It’s a great day for kayaking.”  
Well, at the midpoint, the head leader asked him and offered to put the outriggers on his kayak. So they managed to attach the outriggers on a kayak on the water. It looked so tricky though.
After it’s attached, my husband was able to paddle stronger and faster. He moved/paddled zooming. It was quite different.   
After the whole process, we both, therapists/naturalists (great parks) and disabled athletes learned something new. My husband had a good time with them after all. It’s still in the middle of learning for adaptive kayaking. But it was fun anyway.   
From now on, my husband has a “kayaking list”.
1: He wants to try to ride on a wider type of kayak. He needs to find out where and who can provide it for him.
2: He will try attending to “Paddle Fest” on Ohio river in August with this group.  In this case, he might need outriggers.
3: He might be able to try to use “Accessible transfer system: EZ Launch” in future if the fitted kayak is available for him.   
I need to write about the huge event “Paddle Fest” late on.
Photo: The whole awesome kayaking crews. 

6/17/2024.  
Do you remember that I found a crochet "monster" on a public pole at the parking in uptown? 

Guess what? I found another crochet "monster" today. 

This time, my husband pointed out the mystery of "how this person put it on a pole". See the back side? (Below). This person did crochet to close up the back right there outside in public. Is it possible? Is this real? Please someone tell me what this monster thing is and his purpose? 

Entry#268. 6/16/2024.  Adaptive kayaking PART 1:
These are (photos below) how it's done for adaptive kayaking. You never know they took more than one hour to "set up". Only setting up. 

P.S. The final product. My Christmas cactus. Are we laughing??  Yup, blooming in JUNE.

Entry#267. 6/14/2024.    
When you get a photo from your husband’s niece who lives in Japan, you notice something very “Japanese”. It’s a “peace sign” in a photo. Have you noticed it? It is really one of Japanese things.  
When I see my husband’s niece’s soft-tennis team  group photo (she is a high schooler), every single one of them posed with peace signs. Every single one. It’s quite a view, I’d say.  
There are even many articles about it. For example;  
Title: Understanding the Peace Sign in Japanese Culture 

https://japan-dev.com/blog/japan-peace-sign

Title: The peace sign in Japan. Why’s it so popular? 

https://gogonihon.com/en/blog/v-sign-in-japan/

This is only in Japanese. Maybe you can see photos in this page. 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240320/k10014391921000.html

From the article, it seems all started from the Camera company poster in 1972. Then it got popular and popular. The most impressive part of this phenomenon I feel is “It is still a thing people do without any thinking in Japan”! Since 1972!  
Yes, it was one of my generation things. I did it when I was in Japan. Now? I don’t.  
I think Japanese people are “interesting” especially about this “peace sign culture”. What do you think? 

The photo below is the poster in 1972! It seems this was the start!!

6/13/2024.  
Our good-close friends are visiting Japan right now. Before they went, they asked us about the places they should visit. I felt a bit guilty about it because I’ve lived in the States since 2001. I don’t have much latest updates about Japan. My memories are getting old.  
Then they shared photos with us from my hometown! I was surprised and kind of shocked. They were at the place called “Micro-pig Cafe”! I had no idea there was such a thing in my hometown. 
Here is an article on January 2024. Is it really a trend in Japan? even in the world??https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/animalkind/2024/01/31/inside-pig-cafe-harajuku-japan/72423645007/
Here, tell me how you like about this video (place). 

Entry#266. 6/12/2024.  
Our son was lucky that he was asked for dog-sitting about 2 weeks long for his (our) close-friend-family. And it was a grooming day for 2 sweet dogs, which means he had to take them to the groomer (grooming place), drop them off and pick them up after it’s done.  
I was willing to give him extra hands for this mission. Because (you know?) I am grateful for having any chance to meet/touch dogs. Dogs are great. I still do miss our dog, Ranger. I do.  
As you can guess, I took many photos of them. Dogs are always great. 

Then, after grooming photos, here.

Entry#265. 6/11/2024.  
How's your summer going? Summer is in full swing here. Well, I don't have much time for sitting-writing. But I gotta say this. Coming up is "Adaptive kayaking session 1 in 2024."  Are you curious? I am. 
We went to check this system beforehand when we went for cycling in Miami Whitewater in Harrison area.

If you want to "review" my husband's kayaking experience last year, go tohere (just scroll down to the very end/down. See Entry#143 and #144.). 
If he is going to use the launcher system (just like these photos) this time, it's gonna be very first time ever for him!

6/09/2024. 
The time has come. This week is the week I've been waiting for. I am going to watch the musical show in Middletown. "Oklahoma!"  (This exclamation mark is the point.) I am so excited. On the other hand, I am very curious about Oklahoma accent/dialect. Let's see how much I can get it right at the show. 
I found a video: 50 People Show Us Their States' Accents. I love watching this. How many accents you are familiar with?

6/08/2024.  
Every so often, this happens in my yard. And it hurts my feelings a lot, you know?  I love shopping for annual plants in the local nursery store. I plant them carefully and water them. Next morning, I check them even telling them "hello". 
If you see this next day after you plant it, you would cry?

Who is the suspect? Deer? Rabbit? Raccoon? 
Marygolds are never eaten. I just want to know who ate it. 

6/07/2024.  
Would you like to come see my Larkspur (my very favorite) in my front yard? Oh and Christmas cactus, too?

P.S. When you found something "oddball" on a public pole, what would you feel about? Wait. Do you know what this is? Do you know why it's there?

Entry#264. 6/06/2024.  
Before the Christmas break 2023, our son was on a mission for the entomology class assignment: collecting insects + pinning them. One day he brought home a caterpillar. He brought leaves with it which were supposed to be its food. It’s always interesting and fun to watch interaction between my husband and our son, looking at it and discussing about it together. I’m always an observer (because, you know, I am not a scientist at all. I am a science lover.)
After some discussion, they said “It does not look so hungry anymore. That means it might be ready for getting under ground to be a pupa.”
And they left a caterpillar on a table. What would you do seeing it on a table?
Yes, I found a good enough size of a container and dirt. I put a caterpillar on top of dirt surface and cover it (with air-vents).
I was curious how it would work. Are you curious? In several days, I was surprised informing our son “It’s gone!! It’s gone!” Yes, the caterpillar dug and put itself under the dirt/ground!  Just like they said.  Of course, it made me so excited.   
Well, it was before the Christmas break. Guess what, now???  
We just let it be and just left it on top of a mantle since then. My husband told me “We should check under the dirt to see a pupa.” several times.  
Then one evening, I heard a slight rustling sound from a mantle. When I looked at it, I had to shout out “It CAME OUT! It CAME OUT!!!!”  
Yes, that pupa somehow managed to climb up to the surface and emerge from a pupa into an adult. Do you believe it????  Only my tiny mistake was the space of container (between dirt surface and top cover). It was too narrow, not much plenty space for spreading wings. Poor little guy. So it was a miracle that it made it to transform itself. Yes, it was.  Let me introduce you here “Imperial Moth” the miracle!!  It is a male.  Are you smiling? 
If fact, it stayed under the ground over 6 months!!!

P.S. Christmas cactus today!!

6/04/2024.  
I saw a male Oriole this morning in my backyard! My eyes were wide open because of his bright vivid color of ORANGE! Have you seen it before? He is a Baltimore Oriole, I believe. He caught my eyes because he was drinking from hummingbird feeders! 
It was my very first experience ever to watch how he drinks from hummingbird feeders. He looked almost upside down, he was good at managing balancing very well. He made me smile and happier. 
I am falling in love with him. I hope he visits my yard, again. Hopefully often. 

6/03/2024.  
My CHRISTMAS Cactus UPDATES!!  
See? It's about to "bloom" again (x3!). Well, this is its new record blooming in June. It never happened before. This June is maybe special, maybe.  Yes, as you can imagine, I am smiling every day because of this cactus. 

Also these roses below. As I wrote before, I bring some flower bouquets to any shows/events/concerts. It's a kind of my ritual and I love it every single time. At the same time, I kept 2-3 stems of them in my house for myself to remember and rethink about my favorite people related the shows.  
Orange roses: Talawanda class of 2024. 
Yellow roses with red-edge: My dear music teacher friend who invited to the show "Pollyanna".  Roses are magical. Each day, it opens up more and more. Increasing gorgeousness. You like it?  
Yes, they keep making me smile every day.

6/03/2024.  
My home country is Japan. Both my family and my husband's family live in Japan. I do send something to Japan by airmail once a while. It takes a bit longer time arriving there than U.S. domestic deliveries. It is interesting though. Once a year (like that probability), there is a kind of mistake happening. 
One time, my envelope went to Jakarta. Then it flew to Japan after that to reach the destination. It took forever. But it was delivered at the end. 
I sent a small parcel/box to my husband's parents this time. Our son gave them "DIY making a pottery with potter's wheel" when they visited us from Japan. That bowls were baked/fired. They look so wonderful. That's why I packed them and went to the post office. Guess where it went this time? 
Frankflurt, Germany!!!! I sent it on 5/22. It's still transferring. At least it's in Japan right now. 
Hopefully it will reach out to my husband's parents' house in this week.  
When this stuff happens, I cannot do anything but wait. I'm not mad, just curious. 

Entry#263. 6/02/2024.  Part2 (from a story on 5/27/2024)
Two paraplegic men reunited and talked about handcycle. That moment was joyful to myself. Then my husband invited him to come over our house because he wanted to show his machines (two types of handcycle) to introduce “handcycle world” to him.
This para friend lives in Hamilton where is very nearby to our town. That made my husband excited more because there might be some possibilities of handcycling together!
So we all were excited. Showing two handcycles and explained some details.
This para friend is younger than my husband and he showed his big interests of handcycle and enthusiasm for trying new sport to us.
“You wanna try to get on it?”
“Sure.”
He is a more experienced paraplegic guy, I’d say. His floor transfer movement looks so smooth and quick. He can be on the ground from his wheelchair in the blink of an eye. Amazing.
However he hadn’t experienced “Try-it handcycle” events before. So my husband was really willing to share any information about it.
Then next moment, I realized something different and mumbled “oh no”.
I was very confident (again) about helping out for him to situate his body on a handcycle. Yes, I was positive almost 100%. I got the feeling “I’ve been doing this for my husband quite a while.”
However it would not be so simple if you don’t know the person’s actual height (length of legs). I even didn't think about it beforehand.
I knew I could adjust footplates to shorten, I didn’t know if I could make it longer settings.
In fact this para friend is taller than my husband. But you know? The image of him on wheelchair (seeing him) didn’t give me the idea of longer legs.
Then I noticed that my husband’s handcycle’s leg-setting was almost maximum lengths. I couldn’t set up for the para friend with enough comfortable spacing. I mumbled “oh no”. See?
Under this condition, he tried to pedal anyway. We managed to put his legs on the plates. He was able to feel the difference between a racer type and an upright type.
We had a good time together. We were glad that he seemed satisfied with trying it.

And guess what happened in several days later?
My husband sent him an info of a sale of a handcycle from social media. This para friend bought it right away and drove for 5 hours by himself with his dog to get it (and drove home alone). We were amazed his quick action.
We visited his house to see his “new” machine and discuss about handcycle settings.
It was, again, a joyful moment to witness two paraplegic handcyclists chatting together. One is a newbie and one is one-year-experienced handcycler.
I think my husband felt a bit satisfied that he was able to share some knowledge about handcycle to others. That’s one of his future goals, I believe. It’s so much fun, as well, to both of us.
Now in these two’s minds, they are thinking about similar ideas. “Let’s pedal together whenever there’re chances!” Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Entry#262. 6/01/2024
My son had worked as a rock climbing gym route-setter at Miami Rec Climbing wall (part of OPC: Outdoor Pursuit Center) for 4 years. He showed me something interesting recently. It seems they have a kind of “Tradition” called “Passdowns”. I couldn’t get details about it, but I just imagined.
They have several climbing-related items that graduate-workers pass them to younger workers. Each items has a meaning like below.
Passdowns
Stripped bolt for Strongest and/or most experienced setter
Drinking helmet & ping pong ball for Biggest party animal
Bat of loyalty for Someone who is loyal to the OPC
So on.
My son got one item from his best climbing friend co-worker last year when he graduated in 2023.
This is so cool (to myself). The ping pong ball has 6 names on it. At least 6 years ago, it started passing along.
Guess what? Yes, I tried to put it on!!! See?
Now it’s my son’s turn. He needs to find someone who is fit for this item as a biggest party animal(?). He says he already has someone in his mind. So their tradition continues! Awesome!  
P.S. You wonder what GBD stands for? Green Beer Day.