NOT BY CHOICE   –   by Robert Z. Hicks

 ‘The year of my 15^th birthday, 1950, was a wonderful year in my life!  I was thoroughly enjoying the new strength and abilities of my maturing body.  The physical activities of Scouting and marching in the school band filled my days and appeared to set the stage for wonderful things to come!  But, a seemingly insignificant event was about to initiate a dramatic turn of events that would reshape the rest of my life! 

 In July, I went by train with a group of Scouts from Michigan to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  Hiking through the mountains with pack burros was both a thrill and a test of my new physical strength.  One day the trail led over the top of a mountain where I could see three States and the tops of rain clouds in the valleys below.  I savored the panoramic view, and treasured the experience!  Near the ranch headquarters on the last day, I climbed a high wire fence to be safely away from a grazing buffalo, and watched a mosquito bite my arm, a trivial thing that I thought would be of no consequence and soon forgotten. 

September meant school starting again, and my wonderful life continued blossoming!  I won “First Chair” trumpet in the high school marching band, and music became the center of my activities. On my previous birthday, Daddy had proudly presented me with a shiny new Selmer cornet, the finest instrument of the day!  I won medals at State music festivals, and the Assistant Band Director at Michigan State University invited me to take lessons with him…was I flattered!  My life was all planned in my mind.  I would become a professional musician, or a band director, and play my horn the rest of my life.  Scouting and music were the center of my wonderful life!

Then one day at home, as I walked into the living room, I fell! I just lost my balance and fell!  I fell again the next day, and Mom dug out Grandpa’s old cane so I could get around.  Something was drastically wrong!  The two doctors we went to in the small towns nearby were unable to diagnose my problem, so my aunt took me to see a doctor friend in Chicago.  I believe providentially, he knew Dr. Richard Richter, head neurologist at the University of Chicago Clinics, who saw me the next day. 

 A spinal tap revealed the presence of encephalitis; a virus carried by mosquitoes that attacks the nervous system.  I was almost completely paralyzed, and could not lift my hands to feed myself.  It was not until years later I learned that encephalitis usually resulted in death or mental incapacitation.  The doctors tried the then current “miracle” drugs, and then with no other option evident, they ordered an iron lung to prolong my functioning. 

Betty Murdock, head nurse on the floor, overheard their plans.  She awakened in the night, and felt prompted to drag her roommate out of bed to pray for me.  The next morning, my condition had turned for the better, the iron lung was cancelled, and I began recovering!  Apparently, God waited for that one last obedient prayer before touching me!  Betty shared the details of the story in correspondence with my mother years later.  

My stay at the hospital stretched out to four months, and more months passed while I lay at home in a rented hospital bed.  I started school again in September, walking upright with arm cuff crutches. 

Because of neuromuscular impairment, I was unable to play my horn.  My new limitations forced me to use my brain instead of physical abilities.  Missing a year of school gave me time to mature, and to my surprise, I started getting good grades for the first time in high school.

It never occurred to me to change my goal of being a musician, so when I qualified for a scholarship to the University of Michigan, I started in Music School.  Discouraged by my inability to play the piano or my horn very well, I switched to a business track.  

Looking back, I can see how people “coincidentally” influenced my life by helping me to learn more effectively.  School became easier and I was able to complete a Bachelor of Science degree at Michigan State University, graduating with honors. By a “guided process of elimination”, I finally realized my best asset was my voice, and returned to the University of Michigan to earn a Master’s degree in Speech, with a new goal to become a speech teacher.

The fall school season was about to begin, and I had no job!  “Out of the blue”, I received a surprise phone call from the chairman of the Speech Department at Penn State University inviting me to join a new intern program as a ¾ time Instructor, and ¼ time doctoral candidate.  My three years at Penn State prepared me to be a teacher, and ended with a dramatically orchestrated answer to prayer that raised the curtain on 24 years of adventure.  

 I had been praying many months for the Lord to end my desperate loneliness, when a colleague acquaintance, who knew nothing of my prayer, used a transparent ploy to “set me up” to meet a graduate student friend of hers by returning a college bulletin.   By “coincidence”, I arranged to return the bulletin on Valentine’s Day.  When I met Betty, I knew immediately that my prayer was answered!  I proposed to her on May Day. 

The next day I received another surprise, an offer to teach speech communication at the University of Hawaii for one year, replacing an instructor on leave.  What we thought would be an exciting one-year’s honeymoon, became 24 years of wonderful adventures in Hawaii!

The residual effects of encephalitis began to creep up on me during the 1980’s, so I retired early from the University, a painful “choice”!  Consequently, we moved to Florida and began a new life.

One day, I watched Betty chase a green tree toad around the living room, trying to capture it under a paper cup.  A floodgate opened of memories of animals, birds and critters I enjoyed as a child growing up on my grandfather’s farm.  I felt inspired to write a poem featuring bugs, and shared it with friends.  Their enthusiastic responses encouraged me to write more. 

There followed a period of inspiration unlike any I had experienced before, with poem after poem flowing into my thoughts.  A collection of these poems was awarded “Best Submission for Children’s Writing” at the 2005 Florida Christian Writer’s Conference. 

A new purpose, or “vision”, began to form in my mind.  My poetry could be the medium for making a difference in the lives of children.  By sharing the verbal skills that God gave me as he directed my life, I could encourage children to become skillful with words, and become all that they can be.  My life could be a testimony, that challenges and trials are gifts that God entrusts to us to make us stronger and better, and to prepare us for His good works and purposes.     

I can see the handprint of God as He ordered the steps of my life.  My lifetime journey with verbal skills was not by choice.  A process of “guided elimination “ led me to a career as a college teacher, during which I honed my verbal skills by helping students learn speech communication. 

Discovering and attending the Florida Christian Writers Conference was invaluable in learning about preparing a manuscript for publication.  I still had much to learn, and more work to do!  The award at the Conference encouraged me to continue working toward publishing for children, and I am pleased to report that “Tommie Turtle’s Secret”, one of the poems I submitted, was published.”        

 [Bio attached below]    

 A life threatening disabling disease in his teens, dramatically re-directed the life of Bob Hicks to an exciting journey, including a fulfilling 24 year academic career at the University of Hawaii.  

After retirement, Bob went on to publish 4 children’s rhyming story picture  books, before he passed away and joined Jesus in Heaven on July 25, 2021.

 ”Mr. Bob” has left a legacy of “treasured memories” with us in his writings, and the  books he published:

Tommie Turtle’s Secret,  Mouse in the Manger,  Danny the Dragon,  Ladybug Known as Lil,   &  Once I was a Kid with the Wild Things on the Farm (ebook)

Bob wrote the above article “Not By Choice”, and it is included in the book   “God’s Handprints”, published by the Florida Writers Association in 2007.

ALOHA is a Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone.

I thought what Bob wrote summarizing his life, would be a good way to end the autobiography series in this blog.

Aloha Bob, Love You,

Betty

Betty here:  Bringing you up-to-date why you haven’t had any more posts on the blog from Bob.

July 25 was Bob’s birthday, and he is celebrating it in heaven with Jesus.

A series of miracles and coincidences (I call them God incidences) has happened in the last 3 months that prepared me to be a peace with Bob’s passing.

After my accident  March 23, when the car was totaled and I survived with minor injury – the very next day we got an advertisement about a new Independent living facility – (the Watermark) that I have been sharing about in my  posts on my Facebook page – Betty Hicks –  ( if you haven’t friended me).

Being curious, I looked at Watermark’s website, and told Bob I felt prompted we should check it out.

Here is a summary of what took place the next 2 months:

1.  April 23 – we toured the Watermark facility. We liked what we saw, and in faith, we put down a deposit.

2.  April 26 – the house went on the market and SOLD the next day.

3.  May 27 – got packed and moved to Watermark.

4.  June 23 – Bob went into the hospital.

5.  July 5 – Bob is in heaven with Jesus.

I could tell Bob was having more difficulty with muscle weakness and breathing.

I was at peace knowing Bob was in God’s hand in His time table.  Twice before, when Bob was a teenager and in 2016, he was not expected to live.

I am grateful we were prompted to make the move to Watermark, and had time to get settled and make friends with the residents and staff, before God was ready to take Bob home.

I have had 56 wonderful years of memories that Bob and I shared.  I have shared a few of those treasured  memories in the Zoom  memorial service we did on my Facebook page, and in the link below.

The fact that I am now in a place surrounded with very caring and supportive people has been a blessing.

I will continue sharing my experiences in my new home, and about the wonderful people that I have met and have become part of their family, on my Facebook page.   –  (Betty Hicks)

“Celebration of Life” memorial video

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wa39ve1wdwpbaig/Bob%20Hicks%20Celebration%20of%20Life.mp4?dl=0

PS: The picture is the announcement the Watermark staff made.

Aloha and blessings,

Betty

96.  Looking Back

Betty and I lived in Hawaii twenty-four years where I taught at the University of Hawaii, first at the Hilo Campus, then two years at the main campus on Oahu, and then seventeen years at the Windward Community College in Kaneohe.  Here are some of the things we experienced that stand out in my memory.

We stood on the rim of an erupting volcano — at midnight!  We boarded a WWII pocket submarine in Hilo Bay to give the sailors some pineapples.  The Lord’s provision for housing was free house-sitting on Halai Hill overlooking the town, and at the end, very cheap housing in a condemned building right on Hilo Bay next to the hotels on Banyan Drive.

On Oahu, we snorkeled in the warm waters of Waikiki, and above a giant manta ray bigger than I am at Hanauma Bay.  I watched a giant humpback whale breach just offshore of Sea Life Park on the south end of Oahu.  We sailed in our small boat alongside dolphins off Waikiki.  We ate lunch at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and danced to the live music of Trummy Young at the top floor nightclub at the Ala Moana Hotel.  The Lord provided us elegant free house-sitting in a mansion at the top of Tantalus Mountain, overlooking Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.

Betty and I helped found and manage Christian Vision, the music ministry of Randy and Gay Hongo.  Christian Vision has supported them to travel around the world singing and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, and making many recordings of their music.  Being connected with Randy and Gay gave us the fun of meeting Waikiki entertainers, and having breakfast with Billy Graham.

Our doctor introduced us to the industry of network marketing which opened the way for a world of adventures we never would have imagined.  Amway gave us an opportunity for personal growth, meeting uplifting positive people, and fun trips such as to a resort on Orcas Island.

Sunrider provided opportunities to travel and to earn extra perks.  We qualified for a trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong.  We climbed the Great Wall of China!  We walked where the emperors of China walked in Forbidden City.  We watched as a typhoon buffeted Hong Kong, and savored exotic cuisine aboard the Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen Harbor.

The owners of Sunrider loved cruises for leadership conferences.  We earned the requirements for five cruises.  We cruised the Caribbean aboard ships to Cozumel, Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands where we chartered a sailboat to sail and snorkel at St. John.  We had two cruises down the Mexican Riviera, from Cabo San Lucas to Puerto Vallarta.  Finally, we got to see both the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean in the same day by transiting the Panama Canal.

Everyone who does a network marketing business hopes to make a lot of money, but we learned that the real secret of network marketing is the experience:  the journey, and building relationships with positive ambitious people – not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Betty and I continue to enjoy the relationships we’ve made, and are making, with the company we are with now.  Good health is our passion, and we gravitate to companies that make nutritional products from the plants that God has provided.

God has provided, protected, and pushed us through a lifetime of amazing experiences!

Looking Back:  The last time we went back to Hawaii, we stood at the edge of the cliff looking down into Haunama Bay, our favorite snorkeling spot, enjoying the vista of the half-moon beach, and the gentle waves spilling over the reef.  We spotted the channel where we swam through the reef to visit the schools of flashing fish that hovered and fed above the coral heads outside the reef wall.

Just a few feet from our faces, a couple of Brazilian Cardinals hung tenaciously to a swaying branch in a bush buffeted by the strong ocean breeze.  As I pointed my camera, they turned their bright red heads to the sea, and their backs to me.  That picture will remind me, that to hang on, we must face the buffeting forces of life, because ahead of us is where we’ll live, not behind us.  Treasured memories are the “pictures” looking back – but life is lived to the fullest facing into the winds of today and tomorrows!

God has provided, protected, and pushed us through a lifetime of amazing experiences, and I know He will continue to do so as we face the winds of tomorrows!

95.  Panama Canal

Aboard another Carnival ship, we cruised to Panama, then north to Costa Rica, and Belize.  In Panama, we took the shore tour, transferring to a smaller ferry to transit the Panama Canal.  Did you know that ships travel 48 miles west to east to go from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean?

Most of the time is going up and down – 3 lifts up to Lake Gatun, a single flight down at Pedro Miguel, and a two-step flight down at Miraflores on the Pacific side.  Twenty-six million gallons of water have to flow by gravity into the chambers to lift a ship.

We saw a ship loaded with Hondas from Japan going the opposite direction in the parallel lock.  It was going very slow because there was only 2 ft of clearance on the sides.  An expansion project to accommodate larger ships began in 2007, and opened for commercial use in 2016.

Ahead of us, sharing the chamber, was a small sailboat, perhaps 32-35’ in length.  I imagined they were on a round-the-world cruise like I dreamed of when I was young.

Once on the Pacific side, at Miraflores, we transferred to buses for the ride back to the Caribbean side, and our ship.

There was a short cruise to Costa Rica, then on to Belize.  At both stops, we did not take shore tours.  At Belize we rode the tender ashore and sat on the dock to get a closer look at the colorful storefronts prepared to attract tourists.

A year later, we had our last cruise, going to Montego Bay at Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel.   Well, we hope it will not be our last cruise; only a pause to get ready for another.  Cruises are too much fun!  Betty enjoys not having to cook or do laundry, and I enjoy eating.  Maybe we can justify going on another cruise so I can gain weight!

Next week is Halloween, so for a change of pace, I’m planning a surprise!

94. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Our 3rd, and last shore tour on our Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean “Visions of the Sea,” was at Puerto Vallarta, a still picturesque fishing village.  Tourism began in 1964 after Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton made the movie, “Night of the Iguana,” there, and bought homes.

When the young woman who was our tour guide got on the bus, she announced, in Spanish, “This tour is conducted in Spanish.  Is that a problem?”  A man behind me replied, “Es un problema grande!”  (That’s a big problem!)  Then the gal said, “Well, then I guess I will try doing it in English.” (In perfect english.)  There was laughter and a sigh of relief!

Puerto Vallarta had a grand promenade along the wide beach, with bronze statues punctuating the view along the walk.  The last statue was of a boy on a seahorse, a landmark signature point of the city.  Across the cobblestone street, two-story restaurants and gift shops with balconies, presented a picturesque glimpse of days gone by.

Betty went with the group for a walking tour to the local cathedral.  When they got off the bus, Betty stopped to take pictures of traditionally dressed dancers performing on the beach walk.

Because I did not leave the bus with the group, I was treated to a private ride around back streets and over the river to “Gringo Gulch,” where affluent Americans, including Liz Taylor & Richard Burton, had purchased homes.

After the town tour, the bus took us down the coast to a lookout point above Banderas Bay for a photo stop.  The foliage and vistas were reminiscent of Hawaii.  It was another fun day on our cruise.

Then back to the ship for good times at sea as we went back to San Diego.

93.  Mazatlan Mexico Ole’

South of Cabo San Lucas on the west coast of Mexico, we went ashore for a bus tour at Mazatlan.  Mazatlan is a large resort community, which became of note when the mountains rising behind were the inspiration for the movie, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” which became a classic Humphrey Bogart movie.

Mazatlan is a famous place for sport fishermen, boasting year around fishing for marlin and sailfish.

First we visited the 19th century Imaculada Concepcion Cathedral.  The cathedral is the main religious building in the city of Mazatlan, and is located in the historical center.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1856, by order of the then bishop Pedro Loza.  Construction was interrupted, and a parish priest Miguel Lacarra took over and concluded the cathedral in 1899.  The church had amazing architecture with a facade of carved volcanic rock, and a breath taking interior sanctuary.

Our last stop was a folklore show at an outdoor theater.  We saw the famous Mexican Hat Dance, and songs and dances from ancient and colonial Mexico. The performers were dressed in their colorful traditional costumes.

The high point of the show, (no pun intended) was the Papantlan Flyers, a ceremony passed down for generations. Five men who were the “flyers” climbed a very tall pole.  Four of them tied ropes to their waist and ankles, and then descended upside down swinging in widening circles as the ropes unwound from the pole.  The older man played a flute and danced on the small platform at the top of the pole.  It was an impressive and daring ceremony from ancient Mexican traditions.

 91.  The Gala Buffet

I’d bet that most of us think of food as something we eat for nutrition, that pleases the palate, and is best when it also pleases the tummy.  Food on board cruise ships gave us another perspective — food prepared to have visual impact, and not just the presentation on the plate.  I think the chefs liked an opportunity to show off their culinary skills!

Take a look at the Gala Buffet!  We were told that the midnight Gala Buffet would be prepared for photographing at 11:00 pm.  Bring your camera, BUT DO NOT EAT ANYTHING until seating begins at midnight!

We were first given a tour of the galley, and watched the sculptor chef starting on an ice carving.  The ice carving turned out to be a large sea monster, the first thing we saw at the buffet, along with the good ship melon.

Yes, I think the bowsprit on the melon boat is a potato.

Further down the buffet was a seafood fish, with scallops as scales, and shrimp fins on top.  The orange fruit cups are, in fact, oranges.

At the end of the line, if one is not impossibly full — dessert! Whew!

The master chef who spearheaded the amazing displays, also gave demonstrations to teach vegetable carving.

I think it would take great skill, and a lot of time, to make such beautiful fruit and vegetable displays!  It was fun to see, and marvel at their creative skills.

90.   Aboard the Royal Caribbean Visions of the Sea

Life aboard Visions of the Sea, a 900 ft+ Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing the “Love Boat Route” from San Diego California to Puerto Vallarta Mexico, seems like a week-long fantasy!

Consistent with cruising lore, food and the dining ambiance was a major element.  The food was gourmet, and elegantly presented.  Buffets had “floral” displays made with fruit and vegetables.

Our cabin was a short elevator ride right below the “Windjammer Cafe”, the ship’s alternative smorgasbord.  For breakfast, Betty just rode up the elevator and returned to our cabin in minutes with fruit, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pancakes and a Belgian waffle.  The Windjammer was a circular restaurant with a grand view over the bow of the ship.  Large beautiful models of classic windjammer sailing ships graced the entrance.

For dinner, we sat near the spiral staircase in the two-story main dining room, the Aquarius.  Many, if not most of the waiters appeared to be from the Middle East or India.  Our waiter was Ismael from Turkey.  The live dinner music close to our table alternated between a string trio and David, the piano player who caught our attention with old favorites of our time — romantic music by Mancini.

Imagine sitting down in a 5 star hotel restaurant with a menu of International cuisine.  Gourmet appetizers of fruit, salads, soups both hot and cold, topped by entrees that were both unusually elegant, and elegantly served.  You can order anything, as much as you want.  Betty asked our waiter if they had papaya — “yes,” he could get it.  He brought a saucer with two long slices of papaya; obviously from a “watermelon” papaya, from its appearance and taste.  We ended up with a saucer of 4 slices of papaya waiting at our places for a pre-appetizer every night.

I read the exotic entrees, and then spotted the Ala Carte “always available” section — broiled Norwegian salmon, baked or mashed potatoes, and Caesar salad.  That’s what I had most nights except the night I had a Burrito as well, and the trout almandine.  The meals were always delicious! Macadamia nut and butter pecan ice cream were impossible to resist!

One of the fun things we enjoyed doing that enhanced our cruise experiences was to get acquainted with crew members. We met some interesting people.  A lady playing piano bar was a retired music teacher, “playing” her way around the world by playing on cruise ships.  Our cabin housekeeper was from San Salvador.  He said he could work two years, and then be able to take care of his family.  The executive chef was from Croatia, and was a career cruise crewman.  We actually saw him on another cruise where he was promoted to Maitre ‘de.  His plan was to work on board for twenty years, and then he and his family would get a sailboat and cruise on their own.

89. Puerto Rico

Bienvenido a Puerto Rico! (Welcome to Puerto Rico!)

Betty and I stepped off our cruise ship, the Paradise, just to look around.   A taxi driver saw us and came over and said he would give us an hour tour of Old San Juan for $30.  There was time, so off we went.

San Juan is the capital and largest city in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States.  “Old San Juan,” was the original colonial settlement with narrow, blue cobblestone streets.  The cobblestones were furnace slag used by the Spanish as ballast on their ships.

We had no idea that Old San Juan contained so many museums and historical sites.  San Juan was founded by Spanish colonists led by Ponce de León in 1521, who called it Ciudad de Puerto Rico (“Rich Port City”).  Ponce de Leon was appointed the first governor of Puerto Rico.  One historical site is the Casa Blanca, (White house).  Built in 1521, it served as the first fortification of the San Juan islet, and was the residence for Ponce de León and his family.

In 1493, during his second voyage to The New World, Christopher Columbus landed in Puerto Rico.  He named the island “San Juan Bautista” in honor of John the Baptist.(Saint John)  One of the museums in San Juan is the Casa del Libro (House of the Book).  It is an 18th-century house that is now a book museum holding a rare collection of early manuscripts and books (nearly 5,000 works), dating back to the 15th-century.  Among the museum’s most precious possessions are two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1493 for provisioning Columbus’ fleet for his second voyage.

What I enjoyed most was seeing the old forts.

The imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or el Morro, a 6-story-tall complex with 65-foot-high, 18-foot-thick walls rising 150 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, protected the harbor.  San Cristobal, another immense fortress, built to protect the city from attacks on land, is a prime example of Spanish colonial military architecture.  The forts did the job and repulsed numerous attacks.

We were able to see el Morro from a distance from the taxi, but we drove up to the entrance ramp of San Cristobal.

Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States at the end of the Spanish American War in 1898.  Because Spain was able to maintain control of Puerto Rico so long, the population is mainly hispanic, and the country has two official languages of Spanish and English.

Our driver ended our tour by driving down the very narrow, colorful main street of Old San Juan.  The street was jammed bumper-to-bumper with slow moving cars carrying tourists leaning out windows to take pictures.
Whenever I rolled down the window to take a picture, the driver turned off the air conditioning and moaned about the heat, because it was a hot day!

After that slow ride through town, I was glad we got back to the ship before departure time.