Free...

Next time you pass through the mountains you will feel their strength...

I am strong...

Next time you hear the wind rustling through the trees, you will listen...

I am speaking...

Next time you look into the sunset, you will see my eyes...

I am watching...

Be not afraid - celebrate - celebrate life, for...

I am free...

Peace Love T

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours

May this day be filled with

Joy, Laughter, and Love

Peace Love T

Glory Days...

Well football is a team sport and I have many great friends who played together, but hell this isn't about them it's all about me.

One of the best moments for me was the punting game when we played our arch rival Omak.

During the game all was going as planned and during the first punt we lined up in formation and as I scanned the field I noticed that the Omak receivers were very close. Not really thinking much of it, the center snapped the ball to me and I kicked the ball and just rocked it. The receivers had to run back to recover the ball.

As the game went on the score was still tight and we punted frequently. What was really entertaining in my mind was during my punts you could actually hear the crowd stop to watch. Because during this game those punts were spiral and cruising. On another punt the receivers backed up a bit and I still kicked it over their heads.

The last punt I remember we were about the 10 yard line as usual as the huddle broke I scanned the field to see where the kick was going but this time the receivers had to be all the way back to their own 10 yard line - I still laugh at this today.

Although this story was about my punting, the friendships we still have from us all on our football team is as close as it was then.

Peace, love

T

Can We Talk...

It has been fantastic digging deeper into conversations with many. Reaching to the heart and soul of our existence. In these conversations, there has been many questions but today there are two that have come up.



1. How do we want to be remembered?



2. What is the one idea/concept I would like others to come away from my journey?



These are two profound questions that both could have a thesis written on them however they are both mutually exclusive topics.

How do we want to be remembered? The answer could be so complex and yet so simple. Just think if we all woke up and asked this question! Now, it would not change the world but just think how it would make everyday better.

For me, being remembered as a man who loved his family, was a good friend willing to lend a helping hand or listen. Always ready with a laugh and smile on his face. What you see is what you get. "Okanogan" Not perfect by no means. But loved life and lived it to it's fullest.

This is a wonderful exercise we all should do. It's a bit self serving but hey hopefully we won't call ourselves jerks. Answering this question, allows us to see where we have been, where we are today, and where we want to be tomorrow.

Peace, Love T

PS Question 2 to follow.

A Crispy Day...

Cheeks rosy from a nip in the air...

Popsicle toes...

A perfect paw print in the morning frost...

Sky Sapphire blue clear and cold...

Leaves on the ground, fall is here...

Winter is around the corner waiting it's turn...

Blanket of snow, covers the ground...

A crispy day...

Peace Love T

Thanksgiving Day...

Living and dealing with AlS has been extremely difficult but has opened up many opportunities for us to be thankful

One of the best lines inside the essay is "Terry will not let the disease (ALS) define his life," wow...what a powerful statement. How easy is it to ask the question "Why me?" If we do that then in fact the disease will win and that is not an option.

What we really need to do is be able to love ourselves, and once we do that, we will be able to move from the state of mind, "I and me," to "us and we." Doing this allows us to strip back the ugliness of this disease uncovering the beauty inside.

During this journey I have been blessed by probing deeper into conversation, touching lives, and sharing stories with so many different people, reaching a more intimate level with them then you can imagine.

Let's take these words and think about how blessed we all are, for everything big and small, let's tell those people we care about we love them and give them a hug. Always remember those moments and memories that make us smile - hoping you had a great Thanksgiving Day.

Peace Love

T

There is meaning...

Essay written by a senior in high school Emily Ross

I am a member of a large, tightly knit community. This community has been my support system from the moment I was born and has created a sort of bubble around me, in essence protecting me from all the harsher realities of life. Because of this, in my world of ups and downs, the downs have been relatively few. This shield has unfortunately allowed me to take each day as something that I was entitled to, instead of the gift that it is. One day last year, my perfect bubble was burst when I found out that a father of 2 in our community, a close friend of our family, was diagnosed with ALS, better know as Lou Gehrig's Disease. In my mind, when you get sick, you go to the doctor, you get medicine, and you get better. With ALS, there is no 'getting better'. You deal with it, your body deteriorates, and you die. No amount of praying was going to make this better.
I did not know how to react when this happened, so I looked to Terry's family to see how they were handling it. Expecting to see sadness and despair, I was shocked to see that there was no pity there. This man had decided that ALS was not going to define him. ALS would not decide how he lived out his remaining days. So he set out to 'live like he was dying'. He began to do things that he had always wanted to do, like scuba diving in Mexico, and watching the sun set on top of the Olympic Mountains. And as his body began to fail, he pared down his to-do list to experiences that required nothing more than his presence. Every single day that he wakes up is a gift. He is only 51 years old, and he has done more living in the past 17 months than most people do in their entire lives.
Here is a person who was fully alive and healthy, and in one hour his life became finite - the average live expectancy after diagnosis of ALS is 12 months. His reaction and decision to do it on his terms has inspired me to not take every day for granted and to live my life to the fullest. He had planned on a long life with his family, but that's not any of ours to decide. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone, so we have to live out today like it's our last because in all reality, it could be.
Terry has shown me that when life hands you adversity, you have a choice how to handle it. You can let the disease take over and decide how it's going to play out. You can give up and hide in your house and wait for the inevitable end. Or you can take it and run with it. He knows that he's dying, but he refuses to live the label. His eyes are earnest, intense, as if hanging on your every word to commit it to memory. He listens intently, asks pointed, serious questions, almost like he MUST know how you feel. Like he's always wondered, but now he needs answers. I honestly believe that when he is put in bed at night, he is exhausted emotionally as well, for there have been no insignificant interactions that day, only meaningful ones that are meant to help us heal when he is gone. He has given everything he has to make that day a special one. He cherishes the time, every single minute, because sadly his minutes are numbered.
This tragic illness has also benefited our community exponentially. We have learned what it is to truly give comfort to another human being and accept life's difficult times and move forward with them. We, as a community of faith, have rallied around this family, providing food, companionship, laughter, and much, much love. We have had the opportunity to experience it first hand along with him. We have learned compassion, patience, and how to deal with things out of our control with dignity and grace. It is an opportunity for us all to practice what we preach. And we are comforted to know that when his struggle is over, he will be in God's hands and free of this awful disease that has taken so much from him, yet given so much to us.
I consider myself fortunate to have had this man pass through my life. Just living life gets in the way and it's so easy to take your life for granted - your family, your friends, your time, every breath you take. I have been blessed to see first hand that it's not the amount of time you have, it's how you use that time. He has shown me to never waste a second or a chance to tell someone how much they meant to you, because well, you just never know.

To Emily,
Your words express wisdom beyond your years. In my journey there have been good days and bad days but to receive your letter allows me to solidfy my journey. In our lives we get to make decisions and if my journey can help in some small way, that allows me to understand - there is meaning...

Peace Love
T

Cookie Crumb Fairy...

It's raining outside, no it's pouring outside...
The wind is blowing it's just a mess...
Clock says it's the afternoon...
The clouds say it's dark and gray...


But wait... can it be...


Oven door opens...
Fresh smell of cookies fill all the rooms...
Warm cookie, plays with the taste buds on the tongue...
A smile, a laugh...


The cookie crumb fairy has arrived...



On a tough day, looking for a diversion, Pam makes chocolate chip cookies mmmm...

Guess we all know who the "cookie crumb fairy" is...


Peace Love T

Time goes on...

The sun rises - the sun sets...

Raindrops puddle on the ground...

Wind dances with the trees...

Snow glistens on the mountain tops...

The flower peeks his head from the dark soil...

Singing birds break the silence of the morning dew...

Hot sand on your feet as you run to the fresh water...

Sweet smell of the honeysuckle permeates the air...

A picture, a moment, a memory...

Laughing, inspirational, tears...

Vibrant red, yellow, orange turn the leaves...

Time goes on...

Peace/Love

T

Story Telling...

For the past few months there has been many of our family and friends stopping by telling many "lies" no really I mean stories. What happens though is everything gets bigger, faster, or messier just doesn't matter...

"never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

Peace love T

Courage...

As we travel down our path sometimes the path is smooth and straight, sometimes the path is bumpy full of curves. During these times of bumps and curves it takes courage to move forward and take on things that make us feel uncomfortable.

During visits from family and friends you can see the pain and sorrow in their eyes but you can not take away their courage for stepping out and making the sacrifice to support me during my journey.

Not only during my journey is courage necessary but in everyday life you need to make those tough decisions, do those things that we fear, and strength to make it through those uncertain days - this is being courageous...

Peace/Love
T

Orange Juice...

Remember getting fresh, ripe, beautiful oranges in the smell was fragrant and sweet. You would take out this spherical pointed kitchen utility tool that you made orange juice with.

This really dates me, because today you just stick it in a blender and push a button.

Back to the story, when we made orange juice this way. We cut the oranges in half, grabbed them and twisted back and forth on this sphere, getting every drop of juice from this fruit.

In telling this story, it is not far from how my body is working. Everyday that we get up, I am extracting every drop of juice from this body. Some may look at this and say how poor your body has failed but for me my body has carried me much further then anyone else in the same situation.

So next time, you have a drink of O.J. just think it will be good to the last drop.

Peace Love T

Bet I...

You know when you are sitting around and just talking about stuff. Then out of the blue, you say something that you might regret...

Well last night we were sitting at the table watching the dog go in and out of her door and Jeff Ross said " Bet I can get through there"

Well, on that note, everyone jumped on and said no way! Wish I could say there were a lot of beverages but that was not the case. Guess just enough though.

At that point, with us all laughing hysterically, Jeff crawled over and through the dog door. Why who knows, but really just because he could. We had so much fun.

It is times like these that make the days better.

Peace Love T

Something New...

Since coming home from my last event, there have been many changes for me and those who are around me. We are surround by many new "things" that help with every day living. Such as, a bi-pap, cough assist, sip and puff, all designed to help in that underrated "breathing thing". These items combined to make my days much better. It is hard however, to understand that these machines will be short term and at some point will end to be effective. Now, this is not doom and gloom, but an opportunity to reflect on many things and to communicate my most inner thoughts. Again, thanks to all those who have supported me and my family through this journey - we could not have made it without you.

Peace Love T

Food For Thought...

Destiny is not a matter of chance,
it is a matter of choice.
it is not a thing to be waiting for,
but a thing to be achieved.

William Jennings Bryan

...

Who are you to think that you can

Change the World!

...

The ulimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy...

MLK Jr

...

Live for today...

Plan for tomorrow...

Reflect on the past...

TB

...

"The love you take is equal to the love you make"

The Beatles

Homeland Visit...

Who said you had to go to Okanogan to "Reokeee"... This motley crew made the trip from Okanogan to Seattle and then back home in one day, can you say road warrior. We had a wonderful visit with plenty of laughs as well as serious conversations. We have been blessed to be friends from as early as kindergarden - Thank you.

Peace Love T

Walk for a Cure...

Here's a picture at the end of the ALS "find a cure" Walk. Looks as though everyone had a great time. This small gesture of support brings life to hope, a hope for a cure. There may not be a cure discovered in my lifetime but the efforts that you displayed during this walk will continue to proceed finding a cure. In the big picture, we need to remember to continue support for finding a cure. Your thoughts and prayers are felt everyday.

Peace Love T

I Cry...

In the darkness of night, the silence broken only by raindrops drumming on the roof...

Sitting quietly in the sun with it's rays warming my body to it's soul...

A special song that plays allowing you to reflect deeply inside...


Not for me, not for sympathy...

For all those who watch, those who care, those who sacrifice their time and lives to make a better day for me, I cry...

Peace Love T

Wow...

Respiratory Failure...would not recommend this for anyone. On Thursday, this is just what happened and it was like drowning but not being in water. There were times, that resembled all the ambulance scenes you've ever seen. It got bad enough if someone would have asked do you want to end it all here, I would have said yes. Fortunately, they were able to stabilize me and get my breathing under control - to live another day. Today I am back home working on getting my strength back. For all those who have sent their thoughts and prayers, we have felt them and they have helped tremendously.

Peace Love T

Hurricane Ridge

Wanting to make it to the mountains, we went for an adventure to Hurricane Ridge. Crossing the sound on the ferry was very peaceful and calm. The day was beautiful, a record setting temperature. On the way up the road was windy and steep if you made the wrong turn. Once arriving at the summit, the sun was warm and the view incredible. We ate lunch and I took my chair "six wheeling" on trails throughout the area. It was a wonderful time with family, and we headed down to have dinner at Port Townsend. A fantastic time for all.

Ice Caves

We made a great day out of going to the Ice Caves just past Granite Falls. The trail was well traveled and I made it almost to the caves but had to stop just short. Mitchell and Bradley made it to the caves and got a cool shower inside of melting ice water.

That's So Okanogan...

We did our "re-okee" over the Omak Stampede Weekend. There was a great group who attended this year. The activities included swimming, hiking, golfing, rodeo with the famous suicide race, plenty of outstanding food and wonderful conversation. The weather was perfect, we were able to stay outside all day and night in a comfortable temp. At one point during the weekend there was a cute fawn across the river for everyone's enjoyment.

Double Day Bike Ride...

On our journey down this path we have encountered many great moments and cherish the time we have together...

Last weekend to raise awareness for ALS there was a bike ride in the Skagit Valley - there were over 300 riders and my team was 6 strong...

The day was beautiful and we celebrated life and the enjoyment of each other looking forward to many more memories together...

It helps me make another day with friends and family willing to make these types of sacrifices and commitments during this journey. For that I thank one and all...

Peace/Love

T

You could....

As the morning sun rises, its warmth reflects off the leaves on the tree...

You can hear the deep sound of the foghorn warning you of the unseen obstacles...

Vibrant colors from the flowers penetrate deep in your mind...

You could fade into the distance of the clouds in silence...

Laughing everyday bringing smiles and good fortune for all those around us...

A warm breeze flowing through the trees creates music to sooth our souls...

Breaking the silence, the big black crow greets you with his cry...

You could float away in the evening breeze...

You could wake up everyday and make it the best day...

Peace/Love T.

Mariners...

On the 70th Anniversary on Lou Gehring, the Mariners treated others with this illness to a night of baseball. We were able to spend wonderful time together with family and friends.

Birch Bay...

During our van search, we had a great lunch on a beautiful day at Birch Bay. We are so thankful everyday that our family is loving and caring without each other our days would be empty. The food was awesome, conversations were great. What a wonderful day...

Peace/Love T

Ch - Ch - Changes...

During our journey everyday holds a new beginning. As time moves on we have adapted to the changes in our lives. This is just not changes for me but we all have changes and opportunities to handle everyday. Most recently, we finished the deck, ramp, and patio for access outside to the new van - Well not new but most definitely utilitarian. We have achieved much in the past couple of months with the help of family and friends. We are blessed...

Peace/Love T

TEXAS...

They say that things from Texas are bigger. With that the stories and experiences that my very good friend Tom and I had were certainty larger than life. Well - maybe not large than life but we sure could embellish them. Tom made a trip from San Antonio visiting during Pam's Bday.

Photos - H by H productions...

Peace Love, T

Poem from a friend...

New Star
by Jeff McKenzie

“There’s my new star in heaven tonite…
It’s when I’m gone I’ll shine bright for you.
There’s my new star in heaven tonite.”
-Woody Guthrie

There’s a new star in heaven
Tonight.
From earth, it seems to have
Just now come into existence. To have come
From nowhere. Appeared.
But you could ask some old, old Okanogan woman
If you could find one,
And she would laugh and tell you
“Hoot-a-who!”
Which means this:
Oh, that star has been here all along,
My young one. Yes, yes. What seems new is old.
What can we name that has not happened before?
Our world is full of tiny sounds made in powerful places:
One drop of water from a spring-flooding
River, spit high from the foaming surface
To mingle with the warming pine-scented breeze,
Travels in a graceful arc and lands on
The smooth, white rock, dry in the center of the
Torrent. What sound does it make
amid the rush to the sea? No one has
Ever heard the sound. So delicate and perfect
And beautiful; it floats upward like a soul,
And nestles into the cool darkness of night.
And becomes a star.
“Hoot-a-who!”
A snowflake, silent as it falls among
One million of its brothers and sisters,
indistinguishable
Until you inspect it closely,
Touches down on the tip of
The Douglas-fir needle on
The fourth bough from the top
Of the tree which stands high
on Grandfather Mountain. It is no
Surprise to the tree or to the snowflake,
Both have known for ages that winter is coming,
Have been waiting, have done nothing to stop it,
Could do nothing,
But each receives the other in the beauty of fulfillment.
A promise kept, and a sound so sweet
Emanates from the kiss of the
Snowflake upon the branch –
Ah, there you are!
“Hoot-a-who!”
It is a gift, this sound that becomes a star
And swishes and swirls its way up the mountain
Skirting the trees, just above the untracked snow
Back from whence it came
Into the sky to join
One million million more brothers and sisters
“Hoot-a-who!” the old, old Okanogan woman would say,
What seems new is old.
What seems far is close.
What seems gone is reaching out to us.
"Hoot-a-who!"
They teach you in schools that the stars
Are unimaginably far from us
But that is not true
They are unimaginably close.
In fact if you were to stand atop
Grandfather mountain
On a clear night
In the dead of winter
With no moon to blind your vision
You would say that the stars
Are very close. Maybe a ladder would get
You there. Or a simple stepstool. But of course
They are just a little farther than that.
So it has been, so it shall always be.
The stars beyond our understanding,
winking at us, close by,
outsparkling a sea of diamonds, and each more beautiful
being out of reach. And each calls
to you: “Here I am!”
“Hoot-a-who!”
“Here I am!”
“Hoot-a-who!”
“Hoot-a-who! Hoot-a-who! Hoot-a-who!”

A Great Message From a Friend

Peace Love T

Pam's B-Day...

What a great birthday party! The weather was perfect, the food was fabulous, and a wonderful time was had by all. Can't say enough of the support from our family and friends with you it makes our lives so much better.

Thank you,

Peace/Love T

Decked out...

As things change, we adapt. Expecting a new power chair soon that will allow better mobility.

However, with this mobility comes the need for a new deck and ramp. With friends, this is becoming reality...

We have been having lots of fun putting this project together. As you can see in some photos, we have plenty of supervisors.

The finished product will be soon.

P/L T

Dictation by Bradley

My mountain...

we watched a ski movie last night (go figure) it talked about the mountains and how they are alive, how we are inspired by them.

The question "how do you handle it"? comes up often which made me think "how do i handle it"?...

it would be easy to make a play on words like "its not a challenge - its an opportunity", after some thought we have great laughs, we appreciate what we have, we adjust.

being in the mountains i have had great journeys and adventures, which are cheerished moments.

today my journey and adventure is still just as satisfying, still contains beautiful moments - the only change is "my mountain"...

peace/love t

Re-Okeeee...

over the years a friend and i had joked about visiting Okanogan - my homeland... we would meet at a function and he would ask when was the next "Re-Okeeee"? which meant my next visit to the OK valley.

we have had many great adventures in the valley and i have many great friends who live there - guess you can take the boy out of the valley but not the valley out of the boy...

over memorial weekend we "Re-Okeeed" Brian and Mary had a bbq - it was wonderful. other friends stopped by telling many great stories with 67 in my graduating class we have excellent friendships.

the picture subject (courtesy Ed and Connie) - my initials are on Jackass Butte, what a great name, in sight and just above town.

I'm blessed to have such caring friends...

peace/love t

Hoot-a-who?...

is there a meaning to this? is it a person, place or thing? a birds cry! or a Sasquatch scream!...

for those who have been in the mountains with me - you know this sound...

a trade mark if you will, a distinctive noise that was me...

skiing in the trees, getting separated, you could hear others yelling but in my group all you needed to listen for was "hoot-a-who" and you knew i was near...

this is a high pitched, fast burst yell that spells individuality and made it easier to find friends...

i bring this up because the other night as Pam was putting me to bed, with a tear running down her cheek, asked me if i remembered yelling "hoot-a-who" - creating a beautiful moment...

here are these moments again - even in times of challenge we are making memories...

so create new moments, remember old moments and next time you are walking in the mountains listen closely you may just hear "hoot-a-who"...

peace/love t

Lunch with T bbq...

we had a great time at the bbq with many from my work (coldwell banker bain). they stopped by having lunch and helped - over the past 7 weeks. it has been a blessing - thanks to all.

p/l - t

Stars...

We have been fortunate spending quality time together as a family. Camping has always been a favorite particularly boat camping on Lake Chelan.

On this adventure we stopped at Safety Harbour to pitch our tent. The beauty of boat camping, during the week, nobody else is around.

The boys were young 5 and 7 but with a fire and marsh mellows everyone is entertained. As the sun set, the darkness surrounded us - we put out the fire and crawled into the tent going fast to sleep from a big day.

Sometime during the night nature was calling - unzipping the tent stepping out into the darkness there was this illumination that grabbed my curiosity.

I will always remember that moment... looking up - the stars were so bright, so clear it felt as if you could reach up, pick the one you wanted and put it in your pocket.

For me its these moments that define us, make us who we are if you will.

The night nature called allowing me to cherish forever the moment - with the stars...

Peace/Love T

Smile...

When the wind blows through the trees making a rustling noise...

As the sun sets over the mountains exploding with vibrant colors...

The solitude you gain while hearing the silence of a fresh snow ...

Waking up to a sunrise taking a minute to enjoy the beauty...

Any mountain peak, as you drive by, in awe of its power and strength...

I will always be there watching, playing, you will feel - you will smile...

Peace/Love T

Outside...

weather has turned great, sun feels wonderful... used powerchair getting some straight vitamin d!! saw a great play last night and had dinner at the melting pot with mike and nancy - excellent. keeping busy with the help of many, boys are home from college today they will get a dose of change. pictures courtesy of tony - luv the bike handle bars... p/l t

Relentless...

one of the great things that has happened is getting together with many friends and family. on the flip side my body is changing and entries are on the verge impossible. with that everyday there is something to deal with not only for me but for everyone involved... this disease defines relentless... peace/love t

21 years...

How can I put into words the love for my wife, my lover, the mother of my children, my best friend - Pamela...

We celebrated 21 years, at Rays Boat House for dinner, with Greg and Gail on this glorious day ordered the sunset - beautiful!!!

During this time of challenge we have found time to laugh and to realize how blessed we are. Reflecting on all the wonderful times we have had and even a few tough times that grew us even closer.

Through this it has become clear how blessed we are/have been while traveling down our relationship road for the past 21 years...

Love - Terry

Lunch with T cont...

What a wonderful way to spend the day!! Great conversations and good laughs. Everyone pitches in and does something around the house - a huge help.

Thanks to all... Peace/Love T