2013: An exceptional year.

It began with the carryover of activities from last year, including Spanish classes for JoAnn, and snowshoe day trips with Malley Rec. Center, plus weekly yoga classes at Scheitler Rec. Center for me.

January, my birth month, would be celebrated more for my ability to fight off the progression of Parkinsons one more year.  The coming year will add more challenges for sure.



Colorado in winter is wonderful providing one takes advantage of the opportunities.  Snowshoeing is the outdoor exercise of choice.  It provides a full body workout with emphasis on cardio, while enjoying pristine backcountry landscapes.  There are many fond memories last winter from snowshoe trips to Frisco, Keystone, Jim Creek, Devils Thumb Ranch, Gold Run, Breckenridge, and Echo Lake.

Snowshoeing on the loop trail outside Breckenridge.

It has been another year of busy weekends.  Our two grandsons play sports year round.  In winter it's hockey, wrestling, and an intense off season skills development program for spring baseball.

When spring arrives, baseball takes over the family schedule, in addition to Lacrosse.  We are one of a number of grandparents who are privileged to enjoy their grandchildren all year.

Connor takes the puck across the blue line.

In terms of personal health, and as one who lives with PD, I participated in a study conducted by the Physical Therapy Department of Regis University.  The six-week program involved dozens of men and women with PD at different stages.  The focus of the study was to determine how walking on a treadmill affected ones symptoms.

Dylan is two seconds away from a pin.

Soonafter moving to Colorado six years ago, my wife and I attended a seminar led by Dr. Rajeev Kumar.  Impressed with his presentation, I did research on various neurologists in the Denver Metro area and found Dr. Kumar to be the one for me.  I have been under the care of Dr. Kumar from that point on.  Dr. Kumar is the Medical Director of the Rocky Mountain Disorder Center, located at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood.  He is regarded as one of the worlds foremost experts on movement disorders.

Bigger, older competitors can be beat.

On the recommendation of Dr. Kumar, I participated in a two-part driving evaluation, earlier this year.  Conducted by Spalding Rehab Hospital in Denver, the two-part program is designed to evaluate a persons cognitive skills, memory retention, reaction time, and general understanding of the rules of driving.  One day was spent inside at a computer screen testing my ability to retain what I read, and what I saw on the screen.  Next, I was tested for reaction time.  While watching a mock traffic light set to green, the test was, when the light turned to red, the time it took my foot to react to move it from the throttle to the break peddle was recorded.  After the test, the person giving the test said, "Well, Mr. Alleman, your reaction time is as good as a teenager."  It was all good.

The final part was to follow random blinking lights on a large wall-mounted electronic board.  I had to physically tap the light when it lit up before it went out in order to score a point.  If I was late, that was recorded as well, but I was given partial credit.  Once the test started it would continue for close to 100 random lights. My score was a 74 out of 100 solid hits and 12 more partial hits and 6 misses.  

After shedding numerous opponents, #22 scores for the warthogs.

Before retirement, there was little time for cultural events in our lives.  Now, we have season tickets to the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra.  It is touted by many as a golden nugget among the numerous orchestras in the Denver metro area.  The groups' home is Alma Temple, KPOF Hall, on Sherman Street, one block from the state capitol building.  In addition, JoAnn attends performances of the Denver Symphony Orchestra at Boettecher Hall with former co-workers.

Daily scene from the beach at Cancun, Mexico

As for contributing to my community, I have been privileged to have served as a member of the Aurora Center for Active Adults Advisory Council.  A two-year term came to a close in December.  The year in which I served as committee chairman.

The week before Thanksgiving, we volunteered our time to support of the Thanksgiving Share Basket Project.  Over a two-day span, volunteers load wash baskets with nonperishable food items that will be donated to needy families throughout the Denver Metro area.  The project started in 1988, has helped thousands of families.  All food items are donated by area food merchants.

Hiking the Weminuche Wilderness on the Continental Divide Trail.

The Denver Photography Club held one of its monthly meetings at The Wildlife Experience (TWE), where I volunteer occasionally to support outdoor programs, i.e. hiking, snowshoeing.  TWE volunteers were invited to attend free of charge.  John Fielder, a world class nature and landscape photographer was the special guest.  Before the program began, those in attendance had an opportunity to purchase books by Mr. Fielder.  My selection made, I approached Fielder asking if he would sign my book.  "Sure", he said, come over to the table where we can talk.  Ten minutes later, as I walked into the IMAX Theater, I was in shock at what had just happened.

Mr. Fielder spent most of the evening evaluating images submitted by photography club members.  My jaw dropped, as did many others, when his response to the first image up on the big screen was, "Jesus Christ, what is that?" he exclaimed, in a loud gruff voice.  The audience went dead quiet while he waited for the photographer who captured the image acknowledged him/herself.  Fortunately, for the photographer he/she was not present to take Mr. Fielder's wrath. It would be an indication of the critical review those would-be photographers who did attend would face that night.

Our getaway this year was to Cancun Mexico, for 6 days of relaxation and fun.  Aventura Palace Spa and Resort provided all the comforts and services one could want.  Although most days were spent enjoying the 24/7 top shelf food and drink, we also booked day trips to the Myan ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza.  One evening was spent on the beach where a local rock band performed familiar hits including our favorite group, the Eagles.

Those who have been to Cancun know once you are off resort property, the land is desolate, the cities are poor, and the countryside is barren. We did see much of that side of the country as well.

View from trail at Crested Butte, Colorado.

March was a busy month due to the start of hiking classes at ACAA.  My buddy Ed and I collaborated for the second year to provide men/women over 50 a series of seven classes on "The Basics of Hiking."  Six  students registered and paid a fee to attend.  Topics included first aid, clothing, footwear, gear, safety, leave no trace principles, and dos and dont's.  After the final class, we took students on a day hike to provide them an opportunity to implement the skills learned in class.

Savoring a cup of hot chocolate on a hike in Castlewood Canyon.

About the same time, I began a series of meetings with Linda Kelly.  A fellow hiking friend recommended I consider Linda for the next installment in a series of articles titled "Inspiring Profiles" on this blog.  It would be the third such article on the life of a person with a story to tell.  Her profile is posted ................... The other two profiles are in ...........................

One of the items on my annual Life List was to attend an NBA game at the Pepsi Center.  We got tickets to see the Denver Nuggets host the New York Nicks.  It will be the first and last NBA game for both of us.

April began the official ACAA hiking season.  First scheduled hike was to Lake Ladora in the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, north of Aurora.  I was fortunate to be a member of 44 day hikes completed from April through October, with over 280 total miles hiked.

A day in the back county outside Crested Butte.

In terms of our grandsons, we thoroughly enjoyed watching Dylan play lacrosse.  In our opinion, it is his best sport.  Both grandsons play baseball as well.  Connor, the oldest, played on a team that was fortunate to win the Colorado District 5 state championship.  That qualified the team to represent the district in the Colorado state tournament held in Grand Junction.

It was gratifying to follow the team through the various activities available to tournament teams at that level.  It was fun capturing images of players both on and off the field.

In June, the family participated in the annual PAR (Parkinson's Association of the Rockies) walk in Washington Park.  The event is held to raise awareness of the services PAR provides those of us who live with PD in the Denver Metro area.  It is also the one event that raises a major amount of funds to support the many programs PAR has.

With my buds backpacking the Weminuche Wilderness.

Midway through the hiking season, I reached a milestone that has been on my 'To Do List' for many years.  That of completing 2000 miles while hiking/backacking.  It stems from a career beginning in 1965 with a 5 mile hike in Colonel Denning State Park in South Central Pennsylvania..

In July, JoAnn and I flew to Harrisburg, PA., to attend a surprise birthday party for our youngest daughter Amy.  Dozens of her friends and career associates were there to wish her well.  It was a total surprise.  We had a wonderful time.

Connor throws a strike.

July also included the annual multi-day backpack trip with three friends.  This time we drove to the mountain town of Creede where we bunked the night before and after the 7-day backcountry trek.  It would be in the remote and utterly beautiful Weminche Wilderness.  I had been there in 2010, on a week long trip with my daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons.

The week after arriving home from that trip, our daughter Amy flew in for a much needed 9 day vacation.

October is the end of the official hiking season.  Planning for the annual High Country Hiker group Gathering was all but completed by then.  The annual event is an opportunity for members to meet one last time over lunch while enjoying images captured on trail throughout the year. 

Thanksgiving week was special this year.
for the first time in at least six years,  eleven members of the family met in Aurora for a week of fun.  Beyond a terrific holiday meal, we visited RMNP, some went skiing and snowboarding, we visited Lookout Mountain and Red Rocks, plus had an ample amount of quality family time.  The hit of the week was a fun-filled yet competitive flag football game at a local park.  The game ended in a tie, which means there will be a future game to determine a true winner. 

Many hours of research resulted in documenting five generations of my mothers family, beginning with a Hessian soldier from Hesse Castle Germany.  He was paid by the British to sail to America to fight the rag tag volunteer army of General George Washington.  He was captured by Washingtons' men after they crossed the Delaware on that bitter cold December night in 1776.  As a POW at Reading, he worked for a local farmer and upon his release, took the oath of allegiance and became a citizen.

Finally, I owe much of the past years success and feeling of accomplishment to this blog.  By allowing me to compose dozens of articles, it has served to cultivate both my mental and physical capability.

The wide range of activities, experiences and memories the family had last year was exceptional.  I trust 2014 will be equally as exciting.