It's Not The Cards, But How You Play Them

Pawn Star Store, Las Vegas.

In line to tour Pawn Stars store
Photo by Deidre W.

Helicopter ride.
Winter in Arizona.

These are just some of the things Neil has checked off his Bucket List thanks to the love and support of his wife Deidre, extended family, and friends.

The Pawn Store tour was crossed off in February during Neil's brother Dennis and wife Marsha's visit. They flew into Vegas from the frozen north and were met by Deidre and Neil who drove up from their temporary Arizona home for a little Sin City sightseeing, which included the must-do stop at  the iconic pawn store. In Deidre's words, the adventure "was pretty cool". Dennis and Neil checked off a mutual dream the same weekend--a helicopter ride.

Neil's helicopter ride
Photo by Deidre W.

But there is still plenty on the list, such as...


Small plane ride.
See the Grand Canyon.
Visit friends in BC and Neil's mother and siblings in Manitoba.
Large scallops wrapped in bacon.
Tour Newfoundland.



To facilitate some of these adventures, Deidre and Neil recently invested in a travel trailer:

New Travel Trailer
Photo by Leslie M.

Deidre, determined and brave soul she is, is learning the art of trailer-towing from brother-in-law Rod and other friends soaking up the sun in their winter locale, so she and Neil can head off across Canada later this spring--destination Newfoundland--with must-see people and places along the way. As exciting as all this travel and list-fulfillment seems, it's not all rainbows and pots of gold.

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy is exactly that--progressive. The disease is slowly robbing Neil of his mobility, and thus his autonomy.

In the last couple of years, for his, and others safety, Neil not only had to stop working, he had to give up his driver's license, his beloved dog Sadie, and woodworking. Thank God he has Deidre. Ask her, she'll say thank God she has Neil. I say, thank God they have each other.

Sadie
Photo by Deidre W.

None of us knows what life will throw at us, and if we love and live with someone long enough--like over thirty years as Deidre and Neil have--we will encounter rough patches and heartache to go with fun times and joyful sentiment. That is guaranteed. What is not guaranteed is how much time we each have. Life changes in an instant, and it's not what happens to you that determines your present or future--or the Luck (or lack thereof) O' the Irish--but how you choose to react to what happens.

Neil's been dealt a shit hand. But he and Deidre refuse to throw in the cards. They're not walking away from the table without a fight. Joker, Ace, Wild card...they'll see it and raise.

Grand Canyon? Coming up.
Scallops and bacon? Oh yeah.
Newfoundland? You bet.
Quit? Never.

One day, one beer, one joke, one smile, one item off the list, one lingering kiss, they're going all in, until they bring the House down.

Deborah

Enjoy yourself, drink, call the life you live today your own--but only that; the rest belongs to chance. ~Euripides