Don Cummins Hansen's Obituary
Don C Hansen lost a long and difficult battle with Cancer at his home with his family on October 31, 2013. Preceded in death by his daughter Laurie, he is now able to be with her once again, seeing the smile he missed so much.
Don is survived by his wife Carol Hansen of Highland, Son and Daughter in Law Todd and Carla Hansen of San Bernardino, Son In Law David Stone of Costa Mesa and Three grandchildren : Erik Hansen, Whidbey Island Washington, Alexis Hansen, San Bernardino, Jake Stone of Costa Mesa and his beloved dog Archibald, otherwise known as “Archibald Hooligan Finnegan Hansen”.
Don was born in San Bernardino on February 10, 1939 to Al and Doris Hansen, and remained in the San Bernardino area his entire life.
Don did many things throughout his life and he was a very “Colorful Man”.
Don met and married Carol Paltridge in 1958, and they enjoyed 55 years of being Husband and Wife, Best friends, Parents and Grandparents. Don’s family was his first and foremost concern, and he loved all of them unconditionally.
In the recent years Don began writing “Rambles” and emailing them to all of his family and friends.
These “Rambles” were fleeting thoughts that he had and he would write a whole story. Some serious and some quite funny. You always gained a whole new perspective on random subjects that he would come up with.
As a tribute to Don the family decided to share a couple of “Rambles” the he himself wrote over the past few years, Enjoy
Thin Skin
September 13, 2012
I’m not a complainer. I usually take thing as they come. At seventy three, my skin has gotten noticeably thinner. It’s partially due to my age and it’s said that some drugs can contribute to this “thin skin” thing. If my skin continues to thin, when I’m ninety, a visual inspection of my internal parts, may be possible. It will be like looking through a zip lock baggie. If I bump my arm, a
bruise is just moments away. A scratch can lead to me looking like I got the worst of a knife fight.
I recently noticed that I can see shadows through my eye lids. I was napping, after a strenuous morning of newspaper reading. I was abruptly awakened by my dear wife, when she entered the room and walked through a stream of sunlight, coming through, a window, across the living room. Her shadow woke me up, with my eyes closed tight! I couldn’t believe it. That has never happened to me, before. I’ve found that I can now have my eyes closed and see the shadows of people as they move around, me. This has the potential of being a top notch parlor trick. I now wear dark glasses, when I nap, to avoid being startled by someone. It’s almost like having ex-ray vision.
You may be interested in what the Mayo Clinic says we should do, about thin skin bruising, from falls and such? They say “pickup the clutter around the house”, so you don’t trip over it! Hello, this is their medical advice. If you live like a pig, you deserve to fall down over the clutter. I’ve decided that I’m going to start wearing a rubber wet suit, for protection. It will be like a second outer skin. It’s sure to be a little hot and I can’t imagine it will do much for my pear shape. It does have a bit of a girdle effect, on my pot belly, it’s just: too little, too late. I’m told that I look like a giant seal.
I’ve also had some issues with my equilibrium. When I’m out and about, I use a cane that works much like an outrigger on a catamaran. It keeps me going in a fairly straight direction. Otherwise I list to one side or another and finally, I end up going off in a different direction.
I packed a bunch of foam rubber, in the butt area, of the wet suit, to cushion me, should I fall backwards. Then, I thought that I might fall forward and I should have to padding in the front. I’m already equipped with some natural padding, but, I thought some additional foam rubber, in the belly area, couldn’t hurt. After all, this is not about “style and fashion”!
Then I read an article about seniors falling and hitting their heads. That got me to thinking. I went out to the garage and began rummaging around. A couple of hours later, after finding all sorts of wonderful old keep sake items, I found my old motorcycle helmet. It’s all black with a darkened full face shield. The face shield will be perfect for my ex-ray vision, syndrome. Back in the 1980’s, my helmet looked pretty cool, now, not so much! My over all look, with the additional front and back padding, and the black helmet with the face shield, has changed, considerably. I no longer look like a seal, now. I could be easily mistaken for a large beached walrus. The wet suit is so hot, that I’m constantly sweating. In no time at all, I’m giving off an odor that is not unlike the real beached walrus, I resemble.
I went to the market, with Carol, the other day. I was wearing my “walrus outfit”. I got some of the strangest looks, from the other shoppers. They probably thought Carol brought her trained walrus, to the grocery store. Unfortunately, as I was pushing our cart along, I slipped in some Wesson oil, that was knocked from a shelf, by a playful youngster. I took a big fall and slid down the aisle. In my walrus suit, it’s also difficult to get up, especially, when I smeared with Wesson oil. Instead of helping me, the crowd, that gathered, just stood there and laughed. You can imagine my embarrassment. I now take my chances and wear typical old men’s clothing.
I hope this will answer some of your questions about thing skin of seniors.
Big ‘D’
A long overdue, heartfelt Ramble
June 14, 2012
Today is the most beautiful day, imaginable. The sun is high in the sky and the view, over the valley, it is clear and sparkling bright. Its days like this that make us so grateful for our mountain high view lot. I never thought we could be so content and at peace, in such a lovely location, in our senior years. Many of us spend a lifetime searching for something, someplace or someone. We seek the knowledge that experience provides. We take in the sights and sounds of far off worlds. We indulge in food and drink that are unique to an area and culture. Often, we find amazing new tastes and textures, in foods that are completely foreign to our experience and upbringing. It must be like the feelings that many explorers felt, as they climbed up over a mountain crest to gaze down upon a new and uncharted territory.
On a clear summer’s evening, we often sit out on our patio to enjoy the cool evening breezes. The city lights, far below, sparkle intensely. The street noises are muffled beyond recognition. The calm is welcomed after a day of activity. This is a time when a little soul searching finds a deep contentment and even a bit of satisfaction for a life, well done. Some goals may never be realized, but, life is really about a partner and lifelong love, it’s about reflection, it’s about our children, living their lives with honest values, It’s about family and friends, with whom, to share life’s bounty. It just might be that simple. Could it be that what we seek is standing right there, next to us? We have stood side by side, as we moved through life in a relationship filled with twists and turns. Such a relationship, just might be the treasure, we hoped to find at the end of a rainbow. A relationship that may have always been there, but, grossly overlooked and underappreciated. I wonder why it takes so many years, to come to the realization of where we are and where we’re going. A realization of what’s really important and what should be valued or even cherished.
A life well lived, may be shortened by circumstance, but, it was still well lived. A onetime relationship, that was “the ideal relationship”, will last a lifetime, in the hearts and minds of those of us, who continue on, alone. In a relationship, a perfect fit, is just that, a perfect fit. I doubt that such a unique relationship, can be replicated, but, it may be possible to enjoy a relationship that is good on many levels, but, just a little different or a little less. We all have needs that must be addressed, in our search for happiness. Close friends can help create a full and complete life. If a new relationship is in order, it should begin with compatibility. A good pal can be so much more, over time. A friendly relationship just might grow and evolve in to something totally unexpected. The definition of “love”, changes as we age and experience life. A truly wonderful relationship would be defined differently, as we age and mature. Being in love at twenty five, is not at all, the same as being in love at fifty or seventy. Which is best? Each is different and each is best. A deep, caring relationship will rise to its own level. Meaning, it will be what it can be. We are at our very best, when we are hard at work, making the life of our partner, the best it can be. In doing so, we make our life, even better. For some of us, reflection of a memorable life long relationship, is all that we need to have happiness and joy fill our hearts. If you’re young at heart and mind and you wish to reach out and find that special someone, once again, go for it! Build a relationship, where there was just a friendship. No matter your age or the years left to be lived, a life with a special person, weather a friend or more, will be a life of joy and happiness.
I was long overdue for a heartfelt Ramble. I hope some small part of this Ramble, will be thought provoking. As a senior, I have all sorts of hurdles to overcome and yet, I’m consumed with happiness and contentment.
Big ‘D’
Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society
What’s your fondest memory of Don?
What’s a lesson you learned from Don?
Share a story where Don's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Don you’ll never forget.
How did Don make you smile?
