2012-11-24 Aunt Ruth's 94th birthday

Aunt Ruth.. best chocolate cake maker in the world. When I was a kid, Uncle Dutch and Aunt Ruth would drive from Santa Monica to Reseda, CA for family BBQ's home made ice cream, and of course, chocolate cake! I got wind that Aunt Ruth's birthday was coming up soon, so I had to go and see her.  She's in Santa Barbara, about 2 hours away. After talking with Pattie, her daughter and caretaker, I knew that Pattie could no longer take care of Ruth, medically, without becoming the 'bad' and 'disciplinarian' daughter. Even more reason to go and see Aunt Ruth and Pattie. Having already been through the drill with my Pops, I felt my presence might reassure and comfort both of them.

Of course, every mission has stopping points, and I had to pee. Oh look, Los Alamos exit.. Perfect!

Los Alamos is a cool little town, I need to go back and spend a long afternoon there, soon.

Aunt Ruth was having a bad day, and I felt bad about taking pix.. She has Parkinsons, and stress brings on Parkinson seizures. And being placed in a rest home is stress. She went into a very painful seizure and there was nothing anyone can do..

Pattie and the killer dog. Yes, you had best beware, this pup will hurt you back. The gal in the background is Killer's trainer... 

Pattie bought Aunt Ruth this killer chair. It reclines, has back support, heat, and vibrates. Aunt Ruth also has disk on disk issues, causing pinched lower back nerves. Ouch.

In Patties house, I found this pix of Uncle Dutch and Aunt Ruth, back in there youth. Uncle Dutch passed of a brain tumor back in 74, maybe 75.

I'm glad I went. I saw Aunt Ruth before she started hurting, she's bright and joyful. When the pain set in, so did a bit of confusion and perhaps crankiness, then again, when you hurt that bad...

I say this again..

Should I end up dead riding my motobike due to a deer strike, crash, or whatever... well then, celebrate my life. Grab the top-shelf whiskey and party. I don't WANT to get this old...