Fifty Plus (50+) - Dad!!?!

So, I've got my Dad (who is 82 & has mild Alzheimer's) in the car with me this morning. It's a beautiful day and there are quite a number of people out riding their bikes.
Up ahead are 2 guys riding side-by-side & they are not moving over, but no worries, the road is straight and there is no one coming, so I pull way over into the other lane to pass them.

But, then, as we pass my Dad gives them the finger!!! :eek: I say "DAD, what did you do that for??!!" He says "They didn't move over."

Him doing that was bad enough, but on the back window of my car is a yellow sticker that says "We are traffic! Share the road." and the local bike club sticker. :innocent:

:roflmao:

My smile for the morning. Good for dad.

That's just priceless. :)

I guess dad isnt a biker but it sounds like the Alzheimers was in clear remission for the time being.

:lol: I guess that fits into the category of "I can't believe he did that". :lol:

I am a cyclist and I drive a car. Driving the car and I respect cyclists- but I sometimes wish I didn't. DAD had the right idea- just a pity he showed it.

At least he didn't throw something...

That's good! It shows the Alzeheimers hasn't affected his dexterity.

Too funny!

My father just passed away (last weekend) at 87 - he suffered from Alzheimer's as well.

He was my dad, but as the disease progressed he got testier and more difficult. One of our last trips together, I attended his internment camp reunion with him. He refused to stay in the hotel because for some reason he thought the manager was prejudice and didn't like Japanese people. Like a kid he refused to even set foot in the room and sulked outside until we got other rooms (which weren't as nice but for some reason placated him). I had to show him "Dad, look around, everyone in the hotel this weekend is Japanese! Not just you!".

Enjoy the tame moments - they do become precious few.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao2:

Man, I can't wait 'til I get to be like your dad! I think aging must erode the filter between restraint and impulse...

I got flipped off by an old guy on the passenger side once. His driver (maybe a daughter) pulled out from a parking space in front of me and I yelled at her, then he flipped me off when they passed me. Two blocks later they were stopped at a stop light in the far lane and I was in the curb lane waiting and he tried to pretend he didn't know I was there.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao2:

Man, I can't wait 'til I get to be like your dad! I think aging must erode the filter between restraint and impulse...

Me too.

I've assigned different duties to each of my kids. One daughter gets to determine when it's time to move me into a home. My pharmacist daughter makes the medical decisions. My CPA daughter makes the financial decisions. When the home calls to complain about me groping the nurse's aids, my sons have to deal with that. I don't get mad - I get even.

I don't know about groping the nurse's aids but the nurse's aides........:D

Me too.

I've assigned different duties to each of my kids. One daughter gets to determine when it's time to move me into a home. My pharmacist daughter makes the medical decisions. My CPA daughter makes the financial decisions. When the home calls to complain about me groping the nurse's aids, my sons have to deal with that. I don't get mad - I get even.

I told my daughter when she decided to be a nurse that it was good because for several years I got to change her diapers - soon it would be her chance to return the favor.

So, I've got my Dad (who is 82 & has mild Alzheimer's) in the car with me this morning. It's a beautiful day and there are quite a number of people out riding their bikes.
Up ahead are 2 guys riding side-by-side & they are not moving over, but no worries, the road is straight and there is no one coming, so I pull way over into the other lane to pass them.

But, then, as we pass my Dad gives them the finger!!! :eek: I say "DAD, what did you do that for??!!" He says "They didn't move over."

Him doing that was bad enough, but on the back window of my car is a yellow sticker that says "We are traffic! Share the road." and the local bike club sticker. :innocent:

:lol:

And to think he probably would have grounded you if you'd done the same thing when you were younger.

Nevermind troublesome passengers, my dad (75, Alzheimer's) is still driving. Mum is trying to work out how to stop him without a confrontation (he's getting testy and difficult now). I suggested leaving his parking lights on while the car is in the garage. Flat battery, whoops! Gee, you'd better take the bus or tram!

I love the dad stories. Wish mine was still here. I remember when he taught me to drive and made my first insurance payment. I worked that summer and paid him back by buying him a ten speed. He didn't ride it much but showed much appreciation. He was a good guy.

Nevermind troublesome passengers, my dad (75, Alzheimer's) is still driving. Mum is trying to work out how to stop him without a confrontation (he's getting testy and difficult now). I suggested leaving his parking lights on while the car is in the garage. Flat battery, whoops! Gee, you'd better take the bus or tram!

Seems to me you have some responsibility here - someone is going to get killed. Is there some reason you can't intervene with taking those car keys or demanding your mom take them?

Nevermind troublesome passengers, my dad (75, Alzheimer's) is still driving. Mum is trying to work out how to stop him without a confrontation (he's getting testy and difficult now). I suggested leaving his parking lights on while the car is in the garage. Flat battery, whoops! Gee, you'd better take the bus or tram!

My Dad (who passed away this past March from Alzheimers) took the distributor cap off of my Grandmother's car to prevent her from driving once her Alzheimers set in.

P2

The old your number 1 salute,ha ha

Seems to me you have some responsibility here - someone is going to get killed. Is there some reason you can't intervene with taking those car keys or demanding your mom take them?

I'm living in another country at the moment, so direct action is hard.

Dad is still physically able, so Mum is not willing to risk a serious confrontation. There is also no simple legal way to do it. You can lose your licence for being blind or having epilepsy, but just going a bit ga-ga isn't covered until you are a long way gone (ie so far that he won't notice or fight it).

So stealth it has to be!

Problem is that Dad is pretty mechanical, so he'll work it out reasonably quickly if a part like a distributor is deliberately taken. Small innocent errors - like the lights draining a battery - might get a couple of tries before he works it out. Maybe a flat tyre or two. How about a loose wire here or there. I'm thinking that Mum isn't up to siphoning the fuel from his tank!

Whilst Dad is getting lost, I think his motor-skills (pardon the pun) are still fine enough for driving around the neighbourhood. Alzheimers or not, he's probably no worse than most men his age.

However, I do admit that I'd avoid being a passenger in his car.

my dad (sensibly) gave up driving at 85. Before he died at 89, he was getting more and more belligerent about getting a drivers license. I don't think he could have actually made it to the car, but he wanted to be able to drive.

I sympathize with the OP, my dad did a lot of things that I would rather he not do. Totally out of character too. Things he would have been angry about if he had seen someone else do them only a decade earlier.

So, I've got my Dad (who is 82 & has mild Alzheimer's) in the car with me this morning. It's a beautiful day and there are quite a number of people out riding their bikes.
Up ahead are 2 guys riding side-by-side & they are not moving over, but no worries, the road is straight and there is no one coming, so I pull way over into the other lane to pass them.

But, then, as we pass my Dad gives them the finger!!! :eek: I say "DAD, what did you do that for??!!" He says "They didn't move over."

Him doing that was bad enough, but on the back window of my car is a yellow sticker that says "We are traffic! Share the road." and the local bike club sticker. :innocent:

Aren't there states where it is illegal for bicyclists to ride side-by-side? I believe Illinois is one of them, but I wouldn't know. I always ride alone. Maybe your dad was right?
Sounds like those bikers could have been impeding the flow of traffic.

(625 ILCS 5/11‑1505) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑1505)
Sec. 11‑1505. Position of bicycles and motorized pedal cycles on roadways ‑ Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.
(a) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable and safe to the right‑hand curb or edge of the roadway except under the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle,
motorized pedal cycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or

2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection
or into a private road or driveway; or

3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions
including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, motorized pedal cycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right‑hand curb or edge. For purposes of this subsection, a "substandard width lane" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

4. When approaching a place where a right turn is
authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle upon a one‑way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left‑hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
(Source: P.A. 95‑231, eff. 1‑1‑08.)


(625 ILCS 5/11‑1505.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑1505.1)
Sec. 11‑1505.1. Persons riding bicycles or motorized pedal cycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than 2 abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for their exclusive use. Persons riding 2 abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane subject to the provisions of Section 11‑1505.
(Source: P.A. 83‑549.)

Hey, he's 82 -- at that age you have earned the right to call it as you see it. God bless him.

:lol:

And to think he probably would have grounded you if you'd done the same thing when you were younger.

That makes it even more hilarious.

Nevermind troublesome passengers, my dad (75, Alzheimer's) is still driving. Mum is trying to work out how to stop him without a confrontation (he's getting testy and difficult now). I suggested leaving his parking lights on while the car is in the garage. Flat battery, whoops! Gee, you'd better take the bus or tram!

If your mom also drives you might help her remove all car keys from the house except for a well hidden pair. If she doesn't drive you might help her remove the car for permanent "servicing."

Was at the market about a week ago when I stopped in the parking lot to make a phone call before getting on the street. Where I stopped, there were no cars for at least 75 feet on all sides of my car, so I was impeding no one at all. I look into the rear view mirror to be sure I am bothering no one when a car comes up behind me. Now, he has more than enough room on all sides of me to get past with out any problem, but I roll down my window and wave him to come around me, thought I was doing something nice to let him know I saw him and acknowledging his being behind me. To my complete disbelief, as the obviously over 80 year old driver went by me, he rolls down his window and yells out at me " A$$hole". Now you could have driven a caravan of humvies on either side of me, so I just could not understand his displeasure with my stopping where I did. As I think back on it now, I still am in shock of his reaction. LOL Hope I never get that way (or that old), but more than likely will. :50:

Hope I never get that way (or that old), but more than likely will.


Confused. Why would you not want to be over 80 - IF you were active and healthy?

One of our singers in my (3rd from left in this picture of my gospel singing group (http://www.xyzingers.info)) is now over 80. He has a wonderful voice, participates in many choirs, does solos. He is a retired preacher, and still preaches. One would never know he is 80+ because of his attitude and outlook on life. You would rather die?

Confused. Why would you not want to be over 80 - IF you were active and healthy?

One of our singers in my (3rd from left in this picture of my gospel singing group (http://www.xyzingers.info)) is now over 80. He has a wonderful voice, participates in many choirs, does solos. He is a retired preacher, and still preaches. One would never know he is 80+ because of his attitude and outlook on life. You would rather die?

Ok, maybe you got me on the the "that old" part. My dad turns 90 in 4 months and is still pretty active, but my mom will not let him drive anymore. I think that may have been the issue with the driver in my situation, as having or causing confrontations with others is usually an indication of something going amiss. A friend of mine also has a father the same age as mine, and he hates going out in public with him as he always causes a scene, no matter where they go. Mine on the other hand is fine to be around at all times, except when he wants to talk politics. LOL You are correct in saying age in its self is not the issue, but age with issues can be one. I have nothing against older people, I just don't like being accosted by them in public. But seeing how it doesn't happen that often, I will try to be as understanding as possible, knowing like I said before, that someday I may end up like that. :50:

Ok, maybe you got me on the the "that old" part. My dad turns 90 in 4 months and is still pretty active, but my mom will not let him drive anymore. I think that may have been the issue with the driver in my situation, as having or causing confrontations with others is usually an indication of something going amiss. A friend of mine also has a father the same age as mine, and he hates going out in public with him as he always causes a scene, no matter where they go. Mine on the other hand is fine to be around at all times, except when he wants to talk politics. LOL You are correct in saying age in its self is not the issue, but age with issues can be one. I have nothing against older people, I just don't like being accosted by them in public. But seeing how it doesn't happen that often, I will try to be as understanding as possible, knowing like I said before, that someday I may end up like that. :50:

FYI, we have folks in this forum approaching 80, one over 80. I'm only a few years away.

Some people, as they go through life, manage to be a PITA. At some point they may reach an advanced age. Is there any reason to think such people would not continue to be a PITA. On the other hand, when we arrive at out older years I've heard we achieve patience and understanding. My own experience is, in my older years I'm losing patience with the idiots of the world.

My own experience is, in my older years I'm losing patience with the idiots of the world.

Very well put, and I have similar feelings. And as everyone knows, there are idiots of all ages out there, no one age group has a lock on that. :50:

Your Dad is right... The cyclists should have yielded the right of way. At least thats the way it is in Texas. I own a Driver's Ed school and the law simply states that bicyclist can ride two abreast in the lanes as long as they are not blocking traffic. In the event where traffic is being slowed, the cyclist must give safe passage to the vehicles. +1 for your Dad! :)

If your mom also drives you might help her remove all car keys from the house except for a well hidden pair. If she doesn't drive you might help her remove the car for permanent "servicing."

She drives a Toyota Prius - I'm not sure Dad would work out how to start it!