Visitation
HealthSouth Rehab Institute of Tucson
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Visitation HealthSouth Rehab Institute of Tucson
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We enter the assembly area a bit early. Beas goes into his "pick on the short people mode" and begins to insult the diminutive stature of both Joe and Abel. Abel tries to kick Beas in the kneecap but soon discovers that the C-Leg "kick" mode is not up to the task. Joe steps in and makes disparaging remarks about Beas' bike.
Beas takes Joe's remarks about the bike as a personal affront and challenges TLS (the little squirt) to ride his bike. Joe says that any real man would be riding a recumbent rather than a wussy road bike and that he would ride Beas' bike until he sees a pig fly past the moon in a morning sky.
Using the right foot method of mounting, Joe begins to worry when he realizes the cross bar is higher than his waist.
Joe ends up riding the rail so to speak causing unimaginable pain to a very sensitive part of his anatomy, as his feet are unable to reach the pedals.
By the light of the morning moon, if you look very closely in the upper right hand corner of the picture, you can just see the flying pig.
Beas and TLS are joined by Ed, Mary, Colten, and Clarissa who joined the group in support of their efforts. Mary's goal is to join the ride in the very near future. You go girl. Ed is seen standing between the two antagonists and using his counseling skills to keep Abel from beating the tar out of the Georgia Peach.
With peace restored, Joe finally gets to ride through the good graces of Abel who takes a bit of under the table graft and gives up his riding slot to perform the duties of photographer.
Ed and Marie confer and check the local police department wanted list. Beas, fortunately does not appear on the list of wanted as the Justice Department is loath to divulge the real identity of members of the witness protection program.
Joe and Beas work the crowd for nickels, dimes and quarters.
Beas is shown modeling his now famous line of action clothing that is part of the Beas Sports Line. He is shown here modeling a blue pair of silken shorts, lined with hip hugging satin, embroidered with a logo of the Georgia peach.
Abel, captures the attention of the group by leading them in singing old Navy limericks and telling old sea stories about his 24 years of experience, shipboard in the mountains of Albuquerque.
The women are attentive as Abel goes into his routine of playing the hornpipe and dancing a jig.
As a member of a local press gang, Abel manages to conclude a ten year enlistment of a HealthSouth patient into the Rio Grande Navy.
Beas is shown here recruiting Ken, a fellow stroke survivor, as a member of his wrestling team, the Georgia Peach Pits. Upon qualification and a cash donation to the Beas Sports Line of Clothing, Ken will be entitled to wear the team baggy blue shorts as a blue badge of courage.
Abel finally does what he does best and that is to talk to HealthSouth patients about making a deliberate choice to do whatever is necessary to regain the lives that they led before their accident and sudden illness. Melissa resonates with a determination to move past her physical challenges and to get on with living a full, active and productive life.
All of the riders of Amputees Across America appreciate all that HealthSouth in general and the Rehab Institute in particular for giving us the support and for allowing us to join them in their mission of giving patients hope and determination to embrace life. Thank you Jeff and Marie for all that you have done for us and for the community of the physical challenged.
At the tale end of our visit, prior to traveling to the Rehab Hospital of Southern Arizona, we met two remarkable women. Mary and Hazel, both new amputees, whose attitude and pure grit will serve to make them role models for others in a dramatic way. We know in future months to come, we will not have heard the last of these two ladies.
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