life as we know it: Happy Birthday Tata Albert

Every year for my Tata's birthday we hike Picket Post, the mountain that shadows the small mining town known as Superior. He turned 81 this year, and after having heart surgery just a few years ago, he hasn't been able to make it up the mountain since his 76th birthday I believe... (don't quote me on it!) Pretty awesome huh? My Tata Albert is awesome. He has always been so kind, I've never seen him upset (except when he talks about doctors and medicine, or as he calls them "chemicals").

Sidenote: He is very much into natural healing and vitamins and "things of the earth". I asked him to write down things he takes and why, and what he would recommend for me to take to help my body out, and he knows so much about it all. He has his own "pharmacy" of natural remedies. He refuses to take any "chemical" the doctors recommend because he knows it does more harm than good. And, even coming from a nursing student- I would have to agree to a certain extent. I see how medications can effect people, and have found it odd that in learning about medications, there are SO many adverse side effects to just ONE pill. When you come across a patient taking 10-30 per day, its no wonder they are in the hospital. I believe much could be done with proper education and care of our bodies; exercise, diet, NOT smoking or drinking, etc... However, that is one whole different topic altogether. The fact is, my Tata knows what he is talking about. His doctor was baffled that he has been doing SO well that he even asked for a list of what he is taking to learn more about it. Cool, right?

Back to Picket Post... Its a tough hike. The first mountain to help me cope with my fear of heights. I haven't conquered that fear quite yet, just able to deal with it. Sometimes. Enjoy the pictures!