BECKER AND NICOTINE GUM

I'M LIVING BETTER.  NOT SMOKING IS NO LONGER A BIG DEAL.  AFTER WATCHING THE 1999 SECOND SEASON SECOND DISC I REALIZED ABOUT THE TIME OF DAD'S DEATH.

1998 THE FIRST YEAR OF BECKER WHEN DAD FRACTURED HIS SPINE.  THE CHARACTER IS A COMPLAINING RANTING KNOW IT ALL LIKE DAD.

IN AUGUST '89 I MOVED HOME TO ATTEND TO DAD'S PROSTATE CANCER.  HE FORCED MOM TO GIVE UP HER CAR AND DRIVING PRIVILEGES WHICH SHE WAS HAPPY TO DO AFTER HE INSISTED SHE RETIRE THE YEAR AFTER HE DID 1985-86.  MOM NEVER DID ANYTHING SHE DIDN'T WANT.  SHE WANTED A VEGETABLE GARDEN WHICH DAD DIDN'T APPROVE OF BUT MOM DID HERSELF AFTER I MOVED HOME.  DAD HORNED IN AFTER COMPLAINING SO HE COULD TAKE CREDIT.

THEY INSISTED ON 7 AM APPOINTMENTS.

'90 COLON CANCER.  DIABETES INSULIN SHOTS TWICE A DAY LED TO CIRCULATION PROBLEMS AND WOUND CARE 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR A GASH ON HIS SHIN THAT TOOK FOUR MONTHS.  THEN THERE WAS THE NOSE BLEED FROM LONG TIME USE OF CUMADIN FOR A THICK BLOOD CONDITION BECAUSE DAD REFUSED TO DRINK WATER.  COFFEE TEA SODA.  HE HAD A BRAIN BLEED SO BACK TO EMERGENCY.  I WAS AFRAID IT WAS A STROKE.  UP TO REDWOOD CITY KAISER FOR BRAIN SURGERY.

HE STARTED EATING FRESH VEGETABLES FROM THE GARDEN AND WENT BACK ON ORAL MEDS.  DOCTOR SAID ONLY 3 PATIENTS EVER IN HIS EXPERIENCE.  MOM TRIED TO GET HIM TO GO TO MY HEALTH CLUB TO EXERCISE.  SHE JOINED THE FIRST TIME I TOOK HER.  HE SAT IN THE CAR WAITING FOR HER.

HE STARTED FALLING SO HE STARTED EXERCISING AND GOING GAMBLING AGAIN WITH SENIOR OVERNIGHT TRIPS.  THEY'D BEEN GOING 3-4 TIMES A MONTH WHEN I FIRST MOVED HOME AND STOPPED DAD'S SECOND CANCER SCARE.  ALL FOUR GRANDPARENTS HAD IT.  DAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STUFF MOM TOOK SO MITZI GOT THEM SMALLER MATCHING DUFFEL BAGS SO MOM COULD CARRY HER OWN STUFF.   DAD STILL CARRIED ONE HUGE BAG FOR THE FREE GAMBLING KEY RINGS, DECKS OF CARDS, PENS AND DOZENS OF BOTTLES OF WATER HE DIDN'T EVEN DRINK.  THEY SAVED ALL THIS JUNK.

1998 DESPITE THE WARNINGS HE PUT THE BAG ON THE ESCALATOR HANDRAIL AND FELL BACKWARDS AT THE TOP NOT COMPENSATING FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN SPEED WITH THE STEPS.  HE FRACTURED HIS SPINE REFUSED TO DO ANY OF THE THINGS KAISER RECOMMENDED AND ONLY LISTENED TO AILEEN.  SHE SNEAKED MOM TO TAHOE FOR A WEEKEND LEAVING ME TO DEAL WITH DAD.  AILEEN TALKED HIM INTO GOING TO ACUPUNCTURE AND HER CHIROPRACTOR SOUTH SAN JOSE.  AFTER ONE WEEK HE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN HE DIED AT KAISER SUNDAY MORNING 8 AM.

DURING ALL THOSE YEARS I NEVER GOT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAYS HOLIDAYS I HAD NO LIFE.  I GAVE UP MY LIFE FOR THEM.

I BAKED CORNBREAD AND BACON.  I'M LIVING AGAIN.  FOR BREAKFAST I MADE SALMON.