Update on Kellene’s Family
A Note from Fatty: Thanks to everyone who helped raise money in the fight against cancer for a chance to win a SyCip bike outfitted with Shimano and PRO components! I am now collating all the fundraising reports and will select a winner and notify her / him this morning.
Meanwhile, you know what’s really, really great? We have raised $185,117 so far this year in the fight against cancer.
Team Fatty, you are amazing. Thank you for all the work you have done, and continue to do.
Remember back in February when we cleaned out my garage in order to help my sister Kellene’s son Dallas get a new kidney?
Well, I think it’s time I give you an update on what’s going on now and what will be going on soon.
(And relax, this is a happy post with lots of good news.)
July 29: A Big Day
Pretty much everyone in my family wanted to get tested to see if they could be a good match for donating a kidney to Dallas. When the results came back, though, it turns out that Kellene herself is the best match.
So the surgery happens on July 29, in NYC.
And which means that Dallas will now have had a kidney from each of his parents. Which seems fitting, and which I find really touching for some reason.
So How’s Dallas Doing?
Once Dallas got past all of the awfulness of the kidney failure itself and got on dialysis, his life returned to normal. Not that spending hours every day hooked up to a machine that acts as a kidney substitute is what you or I would call “normal,” but the fact is, he’s adapted and is not letting this slow him down. He went back to work and the rest of his life.
In fact, he took up crit racing.
Yeah, really. Check out his ride:
He texted me this pic with the caption “My first geared and brake-installed road bike ever!”
I sent him a Fat Cyclist jersey (had to be one of my used ones; I do not have a secret stash of new ones hidden away), and he promised to send me a photo of him riding across the Brooklyn Bridge.
But things aren’t exactly easy for Dallas. All the work the doctors did on him last February pretty much totaled his immune system, and Dallas has come down with — and is currently still fighting — a nasty case of Shingles, which is “a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chicken pox.“
Dallas’ case of Shingles was bad enough that he had to go to the hospital again for a while, though he’s back out now. And looking forward to getting back on his bike, which warms my heart.
And How About Kellene?
Kellene is prepping for her surgery by . . . doing the Ride the Rockies multi-day road event. In fact, she’s doing it right now with a group of friends registered as Team Fatty. Check them out at the beginning of day 1 (Kellene’s on the far left):
And at the summit of Molas Pass:
And yesterday, at mile 300:
Kellene’s been sending out nightly text message blasts during the event, too. From the first day:
So a hail storm just about froze us to death, but all is sunny and well now. First hundred completed. Time for a Diet Coke. A great day.
And from the second day:
A wonderful 70 mile ride in the sunshine. Long and rolling. Tomorrow is the beast. Red Mountain pass at 12,000 feet plus two others. We should be mostly dead. People love our Fatty jerseys.
And her report from part way through that day?
Kill me. Just climbed two passes over 11,000 feet each. The Madone loved it and I suffered! Wind is not my friend One more to go! First a Diet Coke is in order.
And then yesterday:
A beautiful day. 87 miles. Tomorrow will be another battle: uphill and over Wolf Creek. My but and neck are done!
Kellene’s reports make me either want to do this event really badly soon, or never. I’m still not sure which.
How Not to Give Up
Lara is one of the women riding with Kellene. On a training ride a week before the event, though, she took a fall. A bad one:
She got a concussion and was otherwise seriously banged up, but apparently one of her big concerns was that she had shredded her Team Fatty jersey.
Well, as it turns out, I did in fact happen to have one women’s jersey in her size. New even. So I guess I did have a secret jersey stash after all.
And Lara’s out there. Doing the ride.
I’m not sure what it is about Team Fatty that makes all of you so bullheaded.
But I like it.
PS: Team Fatty-Seattle, go out there and kick butt at the LiveStrong Challenge this weekend. I wish I was there!
PPS: Today’s my birthday. I’m 44. Allow me to nostalgically impress you:
- I remember before there was color TV
- I remember when there were 3 TV stations, and changing between them with a dial. (I also remember being confused what the UHF / VHF switch was for.)
- I remember when rotary phones were the norm
- I remember before microwave ovens
- I remember before VCRs
- I remember before car phones (it was a while before they became small enough to be carried around by hand)
- I remember before the Internet
- I remember before personal computers
- I remember music stores stocking vinyl, 8-track, and cassette of every album.
- I remember getting a Schwinn Stingray, brand new, for my birthday
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.18.2010 | 7:01 am
Dallas, you rock. Which should not come as too much of a surprise, since Kellene is your mom, and your dad is Rocky. Wishing you all a speedy, full recovery at the end of the month.
P.S. A certain award-winning blogger is one year older today. Happy Big Fat Birthday!
Comment by buckythedonkey | 06.18.2010 | 7:46 am
And that, as far as my working week goes, is that. Lovely to read this article before I head home. Have a great weekend everybody!
WIN DALLAS!!
Comment by Rob M | 06.18.2010 | 7:56 am
Kellene, good luck with the ride and with the surgery for you and Dallas. Win Dallas!
A speedy recovery to Lara.
And to you,Elden: Happy Fatty Birthday.
Comment by Mark | 06.18.2010 | 8:04 am
Great good news post! Good luck, well done, and happy birthday. I grew up skiing Wolf Creek Pass and have ridden it too, most recently last summer. She’ll have fun!
Comment by pgreen | 06.18.2010 | 8:09 am
Happy Birthday Fatty!!!
Go Dallas!!! Never quit!!
Comment by Lucas | 06.18.2010 | 8:14 am
>~haPpY BiRTHdAy FaTtY!~<
Comment by Jason Crane | rocbike.com | 06.18.2010 | 8:15 am
Great news, Fatty! Human beings never cease to amaze, do they?
And happy birthday!
Jason
Comment by zeeeter | 06.18.2010 | 8:16 am
Fatty – we’re very similar ages. You must, then, also remember the arrival of the electronic calculator (replaced the slide rule) which as you know was totally useful for writing words upside down! What about those really cool red LED watches too!
Happy thirty-fourteenth birthday Fatty!
YES! I remember my mom getting her first electronic calculator. I was totally awestruck by the LED awesomeness. I also remember my first LED watch. Batteries lasted a couple weeks and it was impossible to read in the daylight. I loved it more than life itself. – FC
Comment by chtrich | 06.18.2010 | 8:19 am
Happy Birthday!!
Comment by Rob | 06.18.2010 | 8:24 am
Great to hear the good news, while sorry about the injury. I JUST got over a case of the Shingles.. absolutely horrible/not fun thing to have.. and nothing Dr’s can do but let the body fight it..
That said, Happy Birthday!
Comment by josh | 06.18.2010 | 8:27 am
Thanks for the update.
Have a great Birthday
Comment by John | 06.18.2010 | 8:32 am
Happy birthday Eldon, hope you have a great day.
And sadly I remember all those things too.
Comment by Chris | 06.18.2010 | 8:33 am
I’d definitely recommend participating in Ride the Rockies. Organization is top notch. There’s plenty of support, and it’s great doing epic rides daily with 2000 other folks. When I did it they had a fleet of masseurs (sp?) on hand. You could sign up for work in 1/2 hour increments after your ride. I went twice, each after particularly long or hard days.
Comment by Hawkeye | 06.18.2010 | 8:33 am
The difference between UHF and VHF… UHF was the Weird Al movie. Duhhh!
Saddly the “I remember when” jokes aren’t that funny anymore… cause I remember all of them too. Well except the before color TV thing. Pretty sure you are making that one up. Happy birthday. Dallas and Lara… rock on. Both are inspirations.
It’s possible that my recollection is before WE had a color TV, rather than before color TV existed. I remember getting our first color TV, though. The Daniel Boone show was a revelation. – FC
Comment by Ken | 06.18.2010 | 8:38 am
Happy Birthday youngster!
Thanks for the good news and update.
We’re disappointed you’re not joining us in Seattle this weekend, but I hear Team Fatty won the Team Champion and Team Time Trial Awards!
Comment by NYCCarlos | 06.18.2010 | 8:44 am
Happy Birthday big guy… here’s hoping you get another schwinn!
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.18.2010 | 8:58 am
You got a brand-new Stingray!!!?? Crap, I’m (almost exactly 12 years older than you and I NEVER got a new one. Some people are just destined, I guess.
Best wishes to Dallas & Kellene!
Comment by Roses | 06.18.2010 | 8:58 am
I remember everything except before color TV. Although we had a 2nd TV that didn’t have color and we had to turn it on 5 minutes before we watched a show. Does that count?
Best Wishes to Dallas and Kellene.
Do you have an idea the INFLUENCE you have over major cities as world famous (and handsome) blogger?!?! Chicago dedicated your birth date this year as Ride Your Bike to Work Day. Well, I did it. All 26 miles of it. http://www.lisc-chicago.org/calendar.aspx?pointer=6081&view=past
Oops, I forgot to add sexy too.
Comment by Brad | 06.18.2010 | 9:00 am
Happy Birthday, Fatty!
Comment by Asher | 06.18.2010 | 9:01 am
Happy birthday, Fatty! It sounds like a good one so far. Best wishes to you and yours!
Comment by KK | 06.18.2010 | 9:01 am
Happy Birthday, Fatty. I remember all that stuff, too. I did love that Stingray with the gold banana seat.
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.18.2010 | 9:01 am
I remember when Eisenhower was President, & thought it was fun to watch him give speeches on B&W TV. Because he had a funny wrinkle on his mouth that facinated me.
Comment by Cyclin' Missy | 06.18.2010 | 9:01 am
Wow! Good luck to Dallas, Kellene, the doctors and the whole family!
Good luck to teams Fatty doing rides all over the place!
Happy Birthday, Fatty!
Comment by Jeremy | 06.18.2010 | 9:06 am
Happy birthday, Fatty! We’ll miss you this weekend.
Allez Dallas and Kellene! I can think of very few greater sacrifices that giving a part of yourself to another, literally.
Comment by Lisa | 06.18.2010 | 9:11 am
Happy Birthday! All the best to Dallas & Kellene. Awesome to see Kellene’s ride photos! Thanks for sharing them.
Comment by sllym | 06.18.2010 | 9:12 am
Best wishes to Dallas, Kellene and the rest of your family. My prayers will be with all of you.
And have a fantastic birthday! :-)
Comment by Anthony | 06.18.2010 | 9:14 am
Happy B-day Fatty. Great to hear the good news about Dallas.
Comment by Kyle (aka slowcyclist) | 06.18.2010 | 9:24 am
Happy Birthday fatty. That’s great news about Dallas and I hope that all goes well for him and Kellene. I to remember those things. I’m a year and a half behind you. I remember when Pong was a hit.
Comment by GJ Jackie | 06.18.2010 | 9:33 am
I too find it amazing and touching that Dallas will have a kidney from both mom and dad. Hang in there, Dallas, help is on the way! Best wishes.
And Kellene, no better way to prep for surgery than a tour of our Rockies. I rode over the Monument on Sunday too, wearing my Fat Cyclist jersey, but I didn’t run into you and your Fatty crew. Bummer. Are you loving the Madone?
Oh, and happy 44th, Fatty! Have a fun day.
Comment by BurkeInTheOzarks | 06.18.2010 | 9:37 am
Happy Birthday, Fatty! I hit 44 back in February so, welcome to the club.
Comment by Boz | 06.18.2010 | 9:41 am
I’ve got an original line, it goes something like this – Happy Birthday, Fatty!
Comment by HeidiR | 06.18.2010 | 9:52 am
Great news about Dallas! All the best to Kellene, Dallas, and the rest of the family.
Happy 44th birthday Fatty! I’m not far behind you, and I remember all those things too…
Comment by Beth B | 06.18.2010 | 9:52 am
Happy Birthday Fatty!! Thanks for the Dallas update… we’re all rooting for him and Kellene!
Comment by TVClips | 06.18.2010 | 10:04 am
Happy birthday, Fatty!
Go Dallas & Kellene!
Comment by dpinner | 06.18.2010 | 10:07 am
Thanks for the update. All this inspiring news makes me want to leave work early and ride my bike. You know what? I think I will!
P.S. Happy Birthday Fatty -enjoy the day!
Comment by Roger | 06.18.2010 | 10:08 am
Happy Birthday Fatty
Be well!!!!
Comment by Sean B | 06.18.2010 | 10:17 am
Happy Fatty B-day, Elden!!!
I rarely comment, but stalk almost daily. Love reading your posts. They make me laugh, make me cry and make me want to ride my bike more.
Comment by Adventure Nell | 06.18.2010 | 10:18 am
Happy 44th Anniversary of your birth Fatty! 44 ain’t bad and you get to be 45 next, how lucky!!! Hope Dallas has an amazing race the first time he is out, he is an inspiration :)
Comment by linteater | 06.18.2010 | 10:18 am
Happy birthday!! And I’m sending good thoughts to Dallas as well!
Strange, I took my first spill ever that same weekend…in a Fat Cyclist jersey as well! Luckily, my jersey is fine minus a couple small holes :) Hope Kellene’s friend recovers fast!
Comment by Elizabeth | 06.18.2010 | 10:18 am
Happy B-day, Fatty. And best of luck to Dallas and Kellene, it seems they have the right stuff to get through just about anything.
And I’m almost exactly 10 years OLDER than you, and you should be grateful you don’t remember the really early color tvs. I remember our neighbor getting one, and we were so excited to go watch it for the first time, only to discover that there was basically a blue streak across the top for sky, a green streak across the middle for trees, and an orange streak across the bottom for desert (it was a western). I was just as happy to go back to our B&W.
Comment by MattC | 06.18.2010 | 10:18 am
I have a few years on you Fatty (will hit the BIG FIVE O in less than 3 months…YIKES!)…so I recall all those things PLUS…the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing w/ Walter Kronkite narrating (in B&W, even though TV’s were color). The Munich Olympics terror tragedy…and my older brother getting a reel to reel PORTABLE recorder…(the precursor to the cassette recorder)..it was pretty big…had tiny little reels…and how about this: we had a party line in our rural Wyoming home.
Happy Birthday Fatty! And hang in there Dallas! And Kellene, be safe out there and enjoy the EPIC ride!
Comment by Kqadams | 06.18.2010 | 10:22 am
Thanks for sharing the good news about Kellene & Dallas.
And Happy Birthday!
Comment by VaLene Hulme | 06.18.2010 | 10:32 am
Happy Birthday Fatty! We are about the same age. Remember doing research reports using the card catalogue at the library? And I remember the first calculator that my dad brought home from a trip. Best wishes to your sister and her son.
I love my Fat Cyclist jersey!
Comment by Geo | 06.18.2010 | 10:32 am
Happy Birthday. You are just a couple years older than me and I too remember having to get up and turn a dial to change the channel — and if the knob was broken we used pliers to change it!
Comment by Heidi | 06.18.2010 | 10:37 am
Oh Linteater, that looks HORRIBLE!
I have (hmmhmm) years on you Fatty, but I remember being swept home from elementary school by my crush, my arms wrapped around him while seated on the banana seat on his apple green Stingray bike. Kinda ironic that I won’t get on my honey’s Harley…
Happy birthday, Elden.
Comment by NurseBetsy | 06.18.2010 | 10:48 am
Best wishes to Dallas and Kellene, I will keep you in my prayers.
Happy Birthday Elden. I’m a bit older then you and we didn’t have a TV when I was little….parents couldn’t afford one. I do remember listening to the Shirley Temple hour on the radio on Sunday mornings. I remember when your phone number started with two letters then numbers. Okay, maybe I’m more then a bit older. Damn it!
Have a fab day and eat some really good cake.
Comment by Philly Jen | 06.18.2010 | 10:49 am
Hmmm, I think I need to hire linteater to work as my action stunt double!
Okay, my fellow oldsters, here’s one for ya: The smell of “ditto” machine fluid wafting off a piece of freshly purple-inked paper…
I LOVED that smell. – FC
Comment by Jack | 06.18.2010 | 10:55 am
Diet Coke? After riding over a few mountains, Kellene should probably drink a regular coke.
Comment by NurseBetsy | 06.18.2010 | 11:00 am
Philly Jen, I remember that smell. We lived to smell it in school. Oh Man!!!!
Comment by Tracy | 06.18.2010 | 11:16 am
Happy Birthday from Canada Fatty! Okay, so maybe NOT the ENTIRE country, but pretty darn close…
Do you have t-shirts one could wear while running? or even better, since you are now married to THE RUNNER, you should design a whole line of RUNNING clothes…
Comment by Jarrod | 06.18.2010 | 11:18 am
I’ve been hoping for an update on how Dallas was doing. It is awesome to hear the good news. It definately says something for his character that he lives with what he lives with and refuses to let it slow him down.
I guess strength of character is a huge character trait in your family.
Happy Birthday, Elden!
I get to finally christen my Fat Cyclist jersey tomorrow. I’ve had it for a while, but decided to keep from wearing it until something other than one of my normal rides. It wasn’t at all that I was waiting to lose a few pounds so the jersey wasn’t busting at the seems. Wasn’t that at all.
Here’s hoping my jersey (and me too I guess) come home from that ride in the same condition that we leave the house in.
Comment by Scott M | 06.18.2010 | 11:22 am
I’m still confused by UHF / VHF
and I remember party lines (not much older but grew up in a small town)
Happy BDay.
Comment by Meredith | 06.18.2010 | 11:26 am
Happy birthday! I too sported my Fat Cyclist jersey (which is my first real cycling jersey that was my Christmas present from my husband by the way) in Crested Butte last weekend and was well recognized You’re fame now proceeds you in many places. I am still fairly new to the sport, but I think your jersey must have given me some of your awesome super powers or something. It was the first mountain biking weekend I didn’t shed a single tear or want to throw my bike. My husband thanks you.
Comment by asmathews (Alex) | 06.18.2010 | 11:33 am
Happy Birthday Fatty!
At first I thought linteater’s pic was of Philly Jen.
Comment by Carl | 06.18.2010 | 11:34 am
Happy Birthday Fatty!!! Thanks for the update on your sister’s family. I wore my 2010 Team Fatty kit for the first time in the 2010 Ohio Police & Fire Games in Toledo, OH. 4 cycling events – 4 gold medals in my age group and good finishes overall. Plus I may have recruited a new team member for Philly!!!
Comment by Annie | 06.18.2010 | 11:41 am
Happy Birthday!! I hope that it is a special one. I love all the positive news about Dallas. Just fantastic.
Comment by leroy | 06.18.2010 | 11:42 am
Happy Birthday FC!
But honestly, you don’t have to prove you’re not old by showing folks you still remember stuff.
Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 06.18.2010 | 11:45 am
Happy Birthday Fatty!!!
@Jack – I was thinking the same thing. At the very least a regular coke was more than earned!
Comment by Roses | 06.18.2010 | 11:46 am
Just this morning I was smelling copies, hoping, just hoping, I would get a whif of purple ditto copies. Yes, you need a line of running clothes designed by the Runner. Then you could do a line of Iron Fatty…
Comment by Janneke | 06.18.2010 | 11:53 am
Happy B-day Elden. I’m only a month and 2 days older than you are, so I remember the same things. I even remember my family getting our 1st tv-set!! A tiny 37cm black and white thing with antennae on top… We here on the other side of the pond used to have only one channel… Go Dallas, Kellene and Lara. You guys rock!!
Comment by Darth Vader | 06.18.2010 | 11:54 am
@Daniel Boone I loved that show as well. Did you say Sting Ray? I can’t remember which one I loved more, the Sting Ray or the Death Star….both make me weep. May the force be with you Dallas!
Comment by axel in texas | 06.18.2010 | 12:10 pm
happy birthday fatty.
it is hard to nostalgically impress a 45 year old though. all the best to dallas
Comment by Anne | 06.18.2010 | 12:11 pm
Thanks for sharing news on Dallas.
Happy B-day Fatty.
PS. Proud to be a part of Team Fatty and raise money for LiveSTRONG. Wish I could be in Seattle for the challenge.
Comment by Moe | 06.18.2010 | 12:20 pm
Happy Birthday Fatty!
Comment by Den | 06.18.2010 | 12:22 pm
Happy Birthday Elden!
Comment by thomas bagby | 06.18.2010 | 12:38 pm
Happy Birthday Elden. I wish you a great birthday. Get your butt to Seattle for the ride sunday. Just kidding. I will be doing the 100 mile ride sunday. Weather forecast isn’t looking the greatest. I will also be at the dinner saturday night. Great job Team Fatty, 2 years running on raising the most money for a great cause. Ride Hard LIVESTRONG everyone. See some of you there sat and sunday.
Thomas
Comment by Slowtrain | 06.18.2010 | 12:38 pm
Happy Birthday, Fatty! I had a blue Stingray, which I remember well because it was my last single speed bike! Did you have the 5-speed with the stick shift or were you SS Fatty even as a kid? Check this out for a bit of Schwinn nostalgia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Box5-tboiY4
Great news about Dallas! Chief of Transplant at Cornell is a close friend and colleague—Dallas is literally in the best possible hands. See you in Philly.
Comment by Colin | 06.18.2010 | 12:46 pm
I’m honored to share my birthday with an amazing award winning blogger such as yourself. Happy Birthday.
Colin
Comment by MattC | 06.18.2010 | 12:55 pm
Slowtrain…I had the red 5-spd stick Stingray…weighed a TON but what a bike! (though even as a young lad I quickly realized that stickshift was not necessarily in such a great location…we were doing dirt trails WAY before BMX bikes came along). Also, In the 70’s I was 60 miles from Butte Mt…the home of Evil Knievel, and he was a hero…every time he jumped something bigger we’d move our ramps a bit farther apart on the street…ahhh..the days of riding in tennis shoes, shorts & tank tops, NO SUCH THING as a helmet or protective gear of any sort…thou that might explain why I can’t seem to remember anything these days.
Comment by VT_Rob | 06.18.2010 | 2:41 pm
Glad Dallas is doing well. Good luck with surgery.
Good luck to Kellene & Friends.
And Happy Birthday!
Comment by MattC | 06.18.2010 | 2:41 pm
@ Linteater..good thing you had on the black Fatty jersey…the white 2010 one would show the blood for life. Glad you are ok, & excellent pic w/the pouty-lip n all…every scar has a story.
Comment by rokrider | 06.18.2010 | 2:45 pm
Happy Birthday Fatty. I turn a decade older than you on Sunday. Just wait until you start having trouble remembering all those things you remember… Wait, is that right?… Oh just forget it.
Comment by Kathy | 06.18.2010 | 3:14 pm
I am 7 years older than you and I remember all that stuff too!!
Shingles suck – my Mom spent all winter dealing with them – worked out OK in a way since we had the worst winter since forever and she wasn’t going to get out much anyway : (
I didn’t have a stingray but I did put the first dings in my sister’s new one, well there was a ding in me too since I laid it down in the street to avoid being hit by a car and I apparently was not too familiar with the brakes – remember when you just pedaled backwards to break?
Comment by Velobis | 06.18.2010 | 3:18 pm
So Fatty I have a money raising idea but it needs refining and a way of logging how much mileage people have done. How many Garmins are there out there do you think? Tried Googling but couldn’t get a clear idea. I don’t mean total Garmin sales but cycle ones if you get my drift.
Velobis
Comment by Velobis | 06.18.2010 | 3:36 pm
Respect for Laura throwing her leg over again. Takes guts to fall and get back up!
Comment by Velobis | 06.18.2010 | 3:44 pm
Sorry: Lara!
Comment by Velobis | 06.18.2010 | 3:45 pm
I remember all that 44 year old stuff save a year or so. Different world.
Comment by Jenni | 06.18.2010 | 3:50 pm
Happy Happy Birthday! (Is that what justified your new bike?)
Great news, I’m happy for Dallas. Your family is awesome- will the surgery be at Columbia Pres?
Now, T6, can you please notice that all the women’s jerseys are so short they’re all wearing undershirts sticking out the bottom?! Please please cut them longer?
Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 06.18.2010 | 4:21 pm
Wow that’s a lot of news! Glad Dallas is healing though shingles totally suck. Happy Bday Fatty!
Comment by Barbara | 06.18.2010 | 5:08 pm
Thanks for all the good and inspiring news, Fatty. And Happy Birthday! I am 11 years older than you and I do remember when color TV first came out – and almost all parents held out “till they perfected it”. I remember in 4th grade watching the Disney Cinderella on TV and the next day we all bombarded the one girl in the class who had color, asking her what color every dress in every scene was. I had to watch the movie at a friend’s house because we didn’t have a TV at all. I’m the only person my age who has never seen a single episode of Leave it to Beaver. We got a TV in time for the Smothers Brothers and Star Trek.
Comment by Lesley Jacobs | 06.18.2010 | 5:46 pm
Hey Fatty Happy Birthday!
I hope you have a big fat cake and a lot of icecream and a big celebration. We’ll miss you in Seattle this weekend.
I turned 50 this year and one of my fondest memories of getting a color tv finally was discovering that the Wizard of OZ was in color! WOW.
Just to be nostaligic a few years ago I bought myself an antique rotary phone. It even has a little stylus to use on the rotary part… I guess for ladies so they wouldn’t mess up their polished fingernails.
I also remember when some bands would put out an album on colored or multicolored vinyl. How hip was that!!!
Comment by geckonia | 06.18.2010 | 6:19 pm
Happy B Day FattyFly!
From Stingray to Superfly our paths are one!!
Good news about Dallas.
Cheers to all of you from hippy dippy Marin County CA.
Comment by Marla Gnarla | 06.18.2010 | 6:40 pm
Happy Birthday Fatty!
I,too, remember all those things at the end of your post…including the purple ink from the ditto machine! Everyone waited in anticipation to get a copy and sniff the heck out of it!
Comment by roan | 06.18.2010 | 6:45 pm
Fatty, Happy B’day, I just turn 44 too, DoB 10/20/48.
I refuse to slow down !
Dallas, Kellene, Rocky…thinking of you…been there too !
Tail fins & rocket ships on hoods of (secret)new car models.
Checking the newspaper for times when Sputnik would pass overhead.
Radio tuning late at night for long distance stations and falling asleep to dots & dashes or a mystery.
TV with big magnifying lens on the front to make the screen bigger. Sugarfoot, My Friend Flicka, On the Waterfront, Adventures in Paradise & so many more !
An of course never having to lock up my bike !!!
Comment by roan | 06.18.2010 | 6:53 pm
OH yes I forgot…Philly jen, how in the world did you pick up the handle “linteater” ? Tie dying to know.
Just luv dopplegangers…most of mine are more famous, sort of like Fatty.
Comment by Zed | 06.18.2010 | 6:59 pm
A Schwinn what????
Just kidding, Fatty. Happy birthday.
Comment by Franky | 06.18.2010 | 8:52 pm
Happy Birthday, Elden. My girlfriend’s birthday is tomorrow. I guess all awesome people were born at around the same time.
Comment by naru | 06.18.2010 | 9:27 pm
Happy Birthday!
My 44th will be in couple of months.
I remember Star Wars and how we were all blown away!
I remember digital watch.
I remember live via sattelite was a big deal.
Comment by ComedyTragedy | 06.18.2010 | 9:39 pm
Hey Fatty,
Ten extra years means I also remember:
- Alan Shepard first in space from USA – (He spells his name right too!)
- John Glenn first to orbit from USA
- Ed Sullivan saying “The Beatles”
- Both Kennedy assassinations
- Martin Luther King Jr. too
- Everything but Country or Classical on one radio station
- Beany & Cecil
- Folk rock
- Life before Sesame Street
- Jimmy Hendrix & Jim Morrison
Way to many more to mention in such limited space…
Comment by chris | 06.18.2010 | 9:55 pm
happy birthday fatty! it’s been a pleasure to read every one of your posts.
and dallas, if you happen to read this and want company on your inaugural ride across the Brooklyn bridge, I’ll bet a number of blog readers (myself included) would be honored to join! there’s some pretty good ice cream awaiting on the Brooklyn side of the bridge ;)
Comment by dwb | 06.18.2010 | 10:07 pm
In less than a month, I will be 49. I don’t remember any of that stuff. Happy birthday, Elden.
Comment by MVSC | 06.19.2010 | 12:50 am
Happy b-day Fatty!
Comment by Anonymous | 06.19.2010 | 1:28 am
Well congrats to everyone for remembering stuff – I’m in my 50’s can’t remember a thing!
Comment by Born 4 Lycra | 06.19.2010 | 1:29 am
Even forgot to add my name for the comment.
Comment by Mark | 06.19.2010 | 1:30 am
Glad to hear Dallas is doing well.
Happy Birthday! I’m a year plus older than you, and am humbled by how much you have done for others. You inspire me to do the same.
And no matter what life throws at you, you still find the time to entertain us.
Thanks and never quit.
Comment by Aaron | 06.19.2010 | 3:17 am
Happy Birthday fatty. I remember when you were fat! Hope the next year is fabulous!
Comment by BamaJim | 06.19.2010 | 4:52 am
Glad to see the update on Dallas, and happy birthday! I’m a decade older, so all of that rings true plus more. My “stingray like” bike was purple metalflake, with the 3 speed stick shift. Rode that thing everywhere.
Comment by Anonymous | 06.19.2010 | 6:05 am
Happy Birthday Fatty.
Thanks for all the stories and the inspiration they provide. After breast cancer (stage 1) at 37 I realized health is everything. Your blog inspired me to try cycling and got me to try distances I never thought I could do. I turn 40 in November and will have been riding a year.
I too remember all those things, including the ditto smell. First part of every test was “sniffing” the paper :)
Comment by Kristi in Ohio | 06.19.2010 | 6:28 am
Happy Happy Birthday!
Comment by Greg @ Greg Rides Trails | 06.19.2010 | 8:48 am
Happy birthday!
Comment by Weezie | 06.19.2010 | 3:33 pm
I’m five years older than you. My best friend Lisa was all annoyed that because we were girls we got these dippy bikes, so she saved up all her money from doing chores and babysitting and bought herself a yellow Stingray. She looked so awesome and I was empowered to think that girls could have cool bikes, too! Things are so much better these days…
Comment by MrDaveyGie | 06.19.2010 | 4:47 pm
Awwww, heartwarming post, cept for the crash. Oh and I am still going to order a Team Fatty jersey.
Dave
Comment by class cycling | 06.19.2010 | 6:08 pm
Hey FC!
I just started reading your blog not too long ago – and then as I am reading this post today being impressed by how much you’ve done for other people, when I read that you and I and Paul McCartney all share the same birthday…that’s awesome my friend! Now I just need a team fatty jersey!
Comment by Kate | 06.19.2010 | 6:44 pm
Happy (belated) Birthday Fatty!! I think all the really cool people were born on June 18th. I just happen to be one of those people as well. 31 years young, and I celebrated it by starting off with a morning ride. Hope you had a great birthday and that your kids don’t skimp on Father’s Day just because it’s close to your birthday.
Comment by Richard | 06.20.2010 | 8:36 am
Goodluck Dallas and Kell.
Happy Birthday.
Just think, in a couple of years you’ll still be able to remember all that stuff but not what you had for lunch or where you put your glasses.
Comment by Michael | 06.20.2010 | 6:21 pm
Fatty, you’re a year older than I am & I remember all those things as well. Hope you had a great day and an outstanding Father’s Day!
Comment by Lindsay | 06.20.2010 | 11:45 pm
Happy Birthday!!! I am just getting into cycling and have really enjoyed reading your blog and getting a feel of life as a “real” cyclist. Have a GREAT week :)
Comment by Saso | 06.21.2010 | 3:14 am
Happy birthday Elden!
Comment by Matt Langridge | 06.21.2010 | 9:48 am
Fatty,
Happy Birthday for the 18th!
I remember all those things you remember PLUS I alos remember being 3 years 10 months 24 days old. I guess that makes you a Young Whippersnapper!
Luv ‘n Stuff
Fuzzy from the UK
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.21.2010 | 1:05 pm
I remember yesterday in Seattle like it was ..yesterday.
It was raining as I recall.
1st Century on my metal knee. Yay!
Comment by Diane | 06.21.2010 | 1:21 pm
Lara’s mom is eternally grateful to Kellene and Marge (and husbands), Angie, Peggy and great doctors for taking such good care of Lara. Living 250 miles away was made easier knowing such good friends and fellow riders were there for her. Ride the Rockies was Lara’s goal and she, Kellene, Tracy, and Angie completed the longest and hardest RTR in its 25 year history. Way to go, ladies!!! And thanks, Fatty, for the Team Fatty jersey — Lara was thrilled with your gift! Happy belated B-day and all the best to Dallas and Kellene — they will be in my prayers.
Comment by Big Mike in Oz | 06.21.2010 | 2:56 pm
Did anyone else get the impression Kellene was channelling Les Grossman.
DIET COKE !
Comment by MattC | 06.21.2010 | 3:56 pm
So, uhnm…hey Fatty…not to be pushy or anything…but where’s the pics n stuff from Seattle LIVESTRONG??? Been DYING for some scoop!
Clydesteve…glad ur new knee held out…is it stainless? Hope u don’t rust! I heard u had some rain…ugh…that’s tough. We don’t see much of that…I’ll trade you some wind for some rain…how about that??
Comment by Nurse Betsy | 06.21.2010 | 4:47 pm
Who won the bike? And do they want to give it to me? heeheehheeeee
Comment by lara | 06.21.2010 | 5:38 pm
happy birthday to you, fatty! and the crash…i think the picture makes it look worse than it really was, but rad nonetheless, right?
i’m doing great and every day of rtr i was grateful to be on my bike…even when on the three-pass beast/insanity day.
thanks again for the jersey…i wear it with pride and am so thrilled to tell people about it every time they ask (which is a lot).
your sister is an animal, and i’m lucky to know her. and rockstar of course, who i have titled the “rtr curmudgeon” (you’ll have to ask him about that one!)
that dallas is one lucky kid to have those two as his parents!
you rock, fatty!
Comment by gumoore | 06.21.2010 | 6:02 pm
Thank you for the update on Dallas and Kellene ~ much appreciated.
And a very belated Happy Birthday to you.
Comment by Marlys | 06.21.2010 | 6:49 pm
HAPPY B DAY FATTY! You are as young as you feel-you just keep getting better with each post. Keep riding forward and many blessings to your family.
Comment by Andy | 06.21.2010 | 7:41 pm
You may remember the time before the majority of people had color TV (1972) but you don’t remember the time before color TV. You aren’t THAT old. The first network broadcast in color (Kukla, Fran & Ollie) was in 1953 and you could get color TV’s in the 1950’s if you had the money.
Happy Birthday from the San Antonio Public Library!
Comment by Tracie | 06.21.2010 | 8:20 pm
I’m a transplant nurse. I take care of donors and recipients ALL THE TIME. If you or your fam have any questions and want the inside scoop, let me know. Dallas is lucky to have parents who a) love him and b) match.
Comment by Carla Ungerecht | 06.21.2010 | 9:49 pm
Dallas – I am a cancer survivor/chemo that destroyed my system – I had shingles – they hurt/it stinks/will life get better? Yes. My heart breaks for you, I know what you are going through. Stay are strong as you can – cry/scream/yell if you have to – they do go away.
Comment by leon | 06.22.2010 | 7:26 am
Happy Birthday Fatty! Here’s hoping Kellene and Dallas
get through the operation without a hitch.
Comment by Jeff L. | 06.22.2010 | 10:49 am
Fatty? Are you okay? Was your birthday that tough? I’m going through Fatty withdrawals. It’s been four days and there has been a bike give away and a Livestrong Challenge. I’m dying to hear from the world-famous-super-blogger. Where for art thou Fatty?
Comment by Cheryl K. | 06.24.2010 | 5:46 pm
Wow. So, I’ve got nothing about which to complain! Healing vibes to both Dallas and Kellene!
BTW, we share a birthday (I’m 37).