THE WALK

The Laker Girls


Another month has flown by. Considering I’m neither working nor socializing as much as I used to, I still don’t have enough time in the day. But, on to the latest update…


The ALS Walk was a big success. There were about a thousand walkers and $250,000 raised. I am proud to say, “Harry’s Heartbeats” numbered about 50 and raised $24,000. I was and am truly moved by the response. There are some pictures in the gallery. Please have a look. These are the people who have been helping me around here. The majority have been my friends from the time I moved from Chicago. Even a bunch of the kids showed up. My friends, Queenie and Pete Dimas were here from Chicago. There are a lot of others from near and far who were there in spirit and I thank you all. I was asked to say a few words at the start and then we did about a mile walk through old town Pasadena. Upon returning to the park we had a little picnic and hang. Although by the end of it I was fairly exhausted, I was more uplifted by the support of the day than tired. I do want to put out an extra special thanks to my fairy god-sister, Ricki Stein, for all her efforts in organizing “Harry’s Heartbeats.” She is the reason that things went the way they did. Her help with the Walk and in my daily life is beyond the beyond and I cannot possibly thank her enough.

My general health remains good. I continue to lose strength in my legs and the hands are becoming more useless. I still have my gross control (grabbing, leaning, pressing buttons) but the fine stuff is going bit by bit. Now that I have my Disability Benefits and Medicare, I am going to Cedar-Sinai Hospital in a few weeks to see what they have to say, if anything. I will be ordering an electric wheelchair on that visit and should have more info as to where I go from here.

There is something I will ask of all. My best friend/sister Bev has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I ask for all your prayers, chants, hymns or whatever connection to a higher power you might have to help her through. She is in the middle of chemo and she seems to be responding well. She made the walk with us and is a true inspiration. She and her family have made me a part of their family for the last 28 years and I can’t ask enough to send them goodness through all this.

I thank all of you for the care and love you continue to send my way. Until later...

Help, help and more help

Boy, time flies when you’re havin’ fun. Had my friend, Bruce Dallas here. I did some music recording for Bruce on various projects starting in 1981, including one with my brother, Christ, playing bass and Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Mister Mister) playing drums. But that’s a whole other story. Anyway, Bruce and I became friends. He and his wife, Dina, now live in Nashville on a beautiful farm that I’ve spent some time at. Bruce took a break from fixing the place up to sell. He replaced my toilet with a taller one and installed my ‘Toto”. That’s a bidet toilet seat… “Look ma, no hands”. Miscellaneous other things too but, really, that was the major thing.

He left and was followed by Nancy, my girlfriend when I left Chicago. She was kind enough to come out and help with lots of stuff, including ‘chick organizing stuff’. Amazing how that stuff seems to come more naturally to some than when I try. Anyway, as with my brothers and niece, it’s good to have the help as my hands are becoming more useless weekly.

I have officially been approved for Social Security Disability and Medicare. That makes it easy to start getting in-home care and equipment as it becomes necessary. I’m being fitted for a foot orthotic to keep my left foot from dropping and tripping me up when I try to shuffle on my feet. And, I need to join the Prescription Plan….. all that and more.

I will try to post again in a more timely fashion.