May
Entry#129. 5/30/2023.
Let me tell you a story about “how we got a used-handcycle (TOP END NRG)” because it was another adventure to myself. It seems there are several sources to look at used-handcycle for sale. However it’s not so simple since there are not so many sellers near us, it’s a bit complicated machine to “send/delivery” by FedEx/USP/USPS and it’s still expensive. My husband searched and researched for a while. He found one and thought about it deeply taking a bit longer time. It was not so easy quick decision at all. Then he finally made his mind to go for it. Our adventure has started.
We drove up to Zeeland, MI near Grand Rapids. (Yes! That far distance!!) Took almost 7 hours total to drive because we need to stop frequently for a quick break for paraplegic conditions. We took turns (even I’m not a drive-lover person). Stayed one night in Zeeland. Then next morning we met up with the seller of TOP END NRG.
It turned out it was a wonderful visit for everything. We expected to interact/communicate with this seller gentleman in person hoping to get some great information about handcycling/races/skills/tricks and more. Once we saw each other and started chatting, it was more than expected. He shared as much as information he experienced before with my husband. I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw them talking. This gentleman attended many races before. He isn’t paraplegic but he seems an all time wheelchair user. He met many paraplegic athletes through his races. He was eager to tell my husband many many things.
So back to our mission of this trip; buying a handcycle. It’s a very new-style to my husband this time. TOP END NRG. It’s a racer-style with a low-seat-setting. We needed to make sure whether he fits into the machine, if he can manage to roll it comfortably, and we needed to know about all functions and details.
Can you imagine how you transfer into the seat of this handcycle from a wheelchair without any movements waist down? It is tricky indeed. I was super excited and happy when my husband managed to get in. Then guess what happened next? This owner gentleman said to my husband “Let’s go for a ride together around my neighborhood!! Let’s go!” preparing for another his handcycle for himself. A few minutes later, off they went. I just kept laughing. Oh, you guessed what I did? I jogged after them, of course. Funny.
We had a great time with this seller gentleman indeed. We put so many information into our brain. My husband’s heart was fulfilled with tons of excitement and hopes.
Their chatting never stopped but we had to drive back home. It was a bit quicker than the day before. As you can guess, I was very exhausted from the driving. I was dead tired the next day, I was just like a zombie. It’s just a long process to myself “to buy a handcycle”, I had to think about the size of it as well because I need to carry it into our van. If it’s too long or too wide, I might need to “disassemble” some parts. It was a perfect size this time, so I was grateful.
I’ve not written about the other trip, but we also did drive to West Virginia to get another handcycle. Took about 6 hours to get there.
You might think you could do these trips on one day, maybe? However we prefer not to. Instead we would plan for one-night-stay trip just because of paraplegic life and caring for “safety”. (It’s about pressure sores.)
So I’ve learned these kind of processes and I could say I’m getting used to it, I believe.
There are tough/hard parts but there are more good/fun/meaningful parts in it.
See? My husband is loving this new handcycle and he even set up his new goal in future. We are grateful for it.
photo #3: This gentleman showed me this box. He built it by himself. It’s a box for a handcycle for traveling in airplane. All parts of a handcycle fit into a box. So this means “I need to learn about the box and traveling” in future. IF my husband would compete some races in somewhere far away and he would need to fly there. I might need to build a box by myself??! Oh
5/29/2023.
I have three kinds of peonies. I love this one. It's a bit different. Have you heard about the myth of relationships between Peony and ants? I have. But I read this article and it made me chuckle. I thought ants helped blooming peonies a little bit.
https://www.almanac.com/ants-peonies
It says;
Do Peonies Need Ants to Bloom?
The enduring myth is that peonies require ants to open their buds. You may have heard that ants need to “tickle the buds” or “lick the sugar” for the peonies to bloom.
Nope. A peony will open beautifully without the presence of ants.
5/28/2023.
I visited a local high school graduation for Class of 2023. It happens at the Millett Hall of Miami University every year. I love the atmosphere very much. Since I left the middle school library job, my real connection with senior students wasn’t strong. The things are changed and the things are moving forward. To be honest, I thought this event was not for me anymore. Then I realized I have a reason to visit. Funny. I wanted to celebrate this awesome student, celebrate his great achievements! So I went. It was more enjoyable and joyful to myself than I expected. On the way home, I kept yelling “Happy Graduation! Congratulations!” hoping my cheers can reach to Class of 2023. photos: yes, I played with flowers before I went. I brought flowers to the graduation. As you guess, I kept 2 tiny ones in my house for remembering whole graduation night.
5/28/2023.
It's always good to be in the summer break. Our son brought his all handmade ceramic pots into our house. Many of them. It's fun to hear about several different projects. One of them is "creating something related with some characters from stories, with practical uses". His creations wear hats=bowls. Yes, we can use these "hats" as "bowls/cups" in our daily life. I love them so much. I want to explain more about the characters but it's a bit tough because it's from a Japanese picture book (but the theme is biology "telomere"). I put a video instead. If you are curious, please check the last half. It's played in English!
5/26/2023.
My husband sometimes has shared some news/articles about SCI with me. We talk about it and share some thoughts each other. It's good to me because I can learn more and know what he thinks. He showed me the latest technology and our discussion went to Christopher Reeve's son. I really love his talk on the YouTube. I put it here just in case.
5/23/2023.
The high school graduation in Japan is so different from US traditional graduation. To be honest, I love US graduation more. As long as I remember, there wasn’t scholarship recognition ceremony or Summa Cum Laude scholars reception at my era. I’m always impressed by these young scholars accomplishments and I’ve been enjoying to know these news in my town. It’s graduation time, Talawanda graduation will happen this Fri. Yes, I’m planning to attend because I have one student who was the varsity track-team captain that I wanted to celebrate. It might sound odd but I love being at the graduation ceremony @Millett Hall just to watch. I think back now, my son was class of 2020. They had a remote-graduation because of Covid-time. Here are some photos from the past. The first two were in 2018.
These two were post-Covid (May 2021). They did an outside graduation.
And I never forget about 2022 Miami U graduation. Graduations are always wonderful (just like any Weddings).
5/23/2023.
My first peoney of the season. I asked my son to hold it, too. It's the beginning of the summer. Smells sooo good, you know?
I'd love to write more about "Handcycle". Maybe later. Here is the video I'm watching now to learn it for myself. You might like it to know.
5/19/2023.
AT LAST! My hummingbird showed up today in my backyard. I was super happy! Now I wanna wear my new bike shirt more often. My husband found this for me. Love it.
5/18/2023.
My husband's professor-friend found a cup at the international grocery store for him. He showed it to me today. The cup has a quote inside, too. I understood right away why she picked this cup for him. You are nodding as well, aren't you? Made me smile a lot. BE BOLD, BE BRAVE, BE YOU! Love it!
5/17/2023.
I've been a secret fan of Talawanda Tribune.
http://talawandatribune.org/
I have several paper copies with me. The oldest I have is May 2013 (it says Vol.8, Issue2). They have been making "Changing Perspectives" themed magazines each year. To be honest, I have no idea about "newspaper crews works" "interviewing, writing, editing, formatting stuffs" and especially "how to write newspaper-quality-essays". But I'm still loving reading young writers/editors' writings. From my perspective(!), it has to be a PRINT issue, Print version is the BEST.
This year's issue is fabulous. I love it very much. You'd like it, too.
Bonus: When you found your name in the magazine, your eyes twinkled a lot. Love these phenomenal writers and the fabulous advisor!!
5/16/2023.
I love my backyard where many creatures show up especially in spring/summer. Oh, I'm still waiting for my hummingbird comes. Young buck is a problem though. Because he drinks up hummingbird nectar from 3 jars everyday. Big sigh. I guess I need to guard hummingbird feeders from him.
photos: That young buck. I put my phone next to my bird feeder. I use my applewatch to take a shot from inside house remotely. Well, it worked! My goal is capturing "woodpeckers". Fun!
5/15/2023.
My parents shared photos with me. These made me happy and heartwarming very much. I was thinking of my mother on the Mother’s Day. One is my parents with a blue bowl on the table that is my son’s handmade ceramic bowl. The other photo is my uncle with a brown (Shino glaze) bowl that’s also my son’s handmade one. These bowls made it to “travel” safely from Ohio to Hokkaido island, Japan. As you know, my son is really into throwing bowls/pots with a potter’s wheel. It really looks like “his passion”. Long long ago, he visited my uncle’s house and had a fun experience with my uncle’s potter’s wheel. Yes, my uncle is a real professional potter (he retired from his work now). Somehow my son remembers that moment and he often thinks back about it. I imagine that he would love to chat and discuss everything about pottery/throwing pots/mixing glaze and more, with my uncle in person. I believe that he’d love to learn about my uncle’s pottery style, his own kiln, his philosophy and his techniques since my son has gotten some knowledge and skills from college courses. It’s fun to watch sometimes my son shows his respect/honor to my uncle: the real potter even though he met him just only ONCE. It’d be wonderful if my son keeps carrying these memories (connection with my uncle) inside of him forever.
5/12/2023.
I made separate pages here. Part 1 and 2. I might add some more later on.
We got a big support/cheer from these wonderful two. I cannot say thank you enough to them.
5/11/2023.
This is my husband's crews of spring semester 2023. I love their interactions and connections. I love their each characters very much. I think I'd like to make a collage of lab group pictures from the past, with all of them. It'd be a great fun project for myself.
5/10/2023.
My first Iris of the season. Yippee. I'm still waiting for my hummingbird shows up here in my backyard.
5/09/2023.
I keep thinking back on my husband's handcycle race again and again. It feels like a week ago. I have many things I want to write about. But I had another mission today, a big one. My husband's Lab gathering at our house. Our tradition. The end of semester celebration! I really enjoyed the whole party with gorgeous weather. I was happier also because my husband was able to get back to "play Jenga" and "play frisbee/ disc golf" after the injury. Wheeew what a eventful week.
5/07/2023.
Yes, he did it!!! My husband finished 10k handcycle race stronger! He added extra stories to his experience. I will write more later. I am a happy proud wife!!! I didn't take photos much this time. I didn't take group photos neither. Funny, this doesn't sound like me at all. But I had a great time of chasing around and cheering on by myself as well. Ohhhhh but I have to add the special photo here. Photo credit to JT (my forever legend: running Queen!) at the starting line. She captured a very special memorable moment into this photo. (Thanks for sharing.) Super wonderful.
5/06/2023.
It's the race day for my husband. I will be observing on the sidewalks as one big fan of him.
5/05/2023.
Tomorrow is the Day! Wahoooo!
photo: my latest favorite item is "wall decal".
Entry#128. 5/03/2023.
I think I am the one who is more nervous about the Flying Pig 10K race this Saturday in Cincinnati. After today, there are only 2 days left. I can tell my husband is ready for handcycling 10K, I’m pretty sure. The actual practice part on the roads is/was pretty good and fun. You know, hillworks are always tough, hard and difficult. But most of the time, we felt pretty good and felt the wind.
However (yes, again, there is however part) there was a tougher part for the preparation of the race. As an able-bodied person, 7:00am race isn’t any problem at all. It’s early, usually we are told to be at starting line around 6:00am. You could adjust your “inner-body-time” (body cycle system) easily. Yes? In my husband’s case, in paraplegic condition, it’s not that easy/simple at all. Since he has no sensation from the waist down (paralyzed from the waist down), he has no control of both peeing and pooping (forgive me about using these terms. I’m not sure of scientific terms about this conversation.) He has been controlling the time of pooping and his body remembers the cycle. It works. It’s around 7:00am and it always takes about one hour to finish (for all processes).
Now back to the preparation of the race. The race will start at 7:00am. We are going to stay in a hotel in the downtown Cincinnati the day before. We were told that we needed to be at the starting line at 6:15am. After calculating our necessary morning routine, we have to get up at 4:15am. Additionally we needed to “train” his body cycles to shift to 4:15am from 7:00am gradually. Shifted 30 minutes earlier each day. We started to change the wake-up time one week before. And it seems to set at 4:15am for now today. Sounds pretty crazy, doesn't it?? Can you imagine?
If you know me, I’m always loving any “process” time for any occasion/event. But this time, this “process” was tougher than you think. I’m glad we reached to this point for the preparation. I’m already proud of my husband. I know he will be great on the race day. I’m pretty sure I will cry. You know me well, yes?
Photos: it was his very last practice run before the race. It was pretty awesome, relaxing and fun! Oh, you see? Both of us got NEW helmets! Feeling awesome, too.
5/03/2023.
This! The world should know about him. My wonderful teacher-friend shared this with me, it's about her oldest son!! I know him!! I'm yelling here just like seeing the movie star whom I know very much from the past. It's really a great article of him. Wow.
title: Finding his calling on the field, on the court, and in the arena.
https://miamioh.edu/news/2023/04/finding-his-calling-on-the-field-on-the-court-and-in-the-arena.html
Entry#127. 5/03/2023.
More I understand about SPI (spinal cord injury), it makes me think more and more that body system is really complicated and deep. Each individual is so different also. Did I tell about “complete or incomplete” topic? This is also deep topic to me to know SPI.
According to one website;
Complete vs. incomplete
One of the terms you will hear often in reference to your spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete. An incomplete injury means that the ability of the spinal cord to convey messages to or from the brain is not completely lost. Additionally, some sensation (even if it’s faint) and movement is possible below the level of injury. A complete injury is indicated by a total lack of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. The absence of motor and sensory function below the injury area does not necessarily mean there are no remaining intact axons or nerves crossing the injury site, just that they are not functioning appropriately as a result of the trauma.
——————.
My husband’s case, he is T10 complete paraplegia. Without the latest newest expensive technology (or clinical trials), he is a full time manual wheelchair user for the rest of his life. And we accepted that fact, as you know. Sometimes we greet some incomplete paraplegic people and we could see them starting standing/walking gradually later on. I cannot deny the fact I feel a bit jealous about their progress. But we are going forward and my husband has been doing strong for everything around him. A while ago, I greeted my wonderful friend’s son who is a college freshman (used to play hockey/soccer/baseball pitcher!! He has a sports broadcaster-brother.). It was a really nice catching up time with him. When we talked about my husband, he asked me “improving??” Then I posed, that made me think a bit longer. Literally his condition isn’t improving however I wanted to say “his quality of life IS improving” in these days. That’s more important to us and I’m grateful about that. I was glad that this wonderful man asked me this term “improving”.
Then I realized something on the website of The Bridge Adaptive Sports and Recreation. This nonprofit organization has given many many opportunities to my husband and we cannot thank them enough. They are super awesome and thoughtful.
https://www.thebridgeadaptive.org/
You see their mission?
OUR MISSION.
Our mission is to increase awareness and promote opportunities for individuals to participate in adaptive sports and recreation in order to improve their quality of life.
I nodded strongly to agree their mission/motto. “In order to improve our quality of life!”
photo2; my son's "tiny" ceramic piece.
5/03/2023.
I forgot to tell "Happy May Day!" on the first day of May. Usually I do harvest my Lily of the valley from my front yard because Lily of the valley is the official May Day flower.
https://herebydesign.net/lily-of-the-valley-the-official-may-day-flower/amp/
I love the idea very much. It was too cold this year to harvest them, but I did cut some later. Do you have yours in your yard?
My husband surprised our son to purchase this one! Now we all can play disc golf in our yard. Yes, my husband tried throwing a disc and it worked. It made us smile a lot.
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