It has been four months since my last post, so I know you are wondering what in the world is going on with old Bob.
As some of you may or not know, I was diagnosed early this year with pulmonary fibrosis. Not good, but not necessarily bad. There is no cure, but the prognosis is that I still have hopes of staying on the top side of the sod for a few more years. How many more depends on how slow, or fast, it progresses.
I am not worried, nor am I going to dwell on it. I have just turned 85 and am still going strong, at least in my own estimation. However, I have slowed down. I tire easily and get short-winded. To that end, I am taking a twelve week session of pulmonary lung rehab. Three times a week, I go in for an hour of workouts that are designed to mak my breathing easier.
The workouts are going quite well, and I haven’t fallen off of any of the machines yet. 🙂 The staff that is working with me at Shannon Medical Center are very friendly and professional. They know what they are doing. I am actually having fun and I look forward to each workout. I twist, jump, skip, and roll……. and that is just getting into my workout clothes. 🙂
As you can see, I still have my sense of humor and that is a big help. I think they say, “a laugh a day, keeps the doctor away”, or something like that. 🙂
The point of this is that this will probably be my last post. Time will tell. I intend to keep up with my photography as best as I can. I now photograph from my car exclusively. Drive-by shooting, you might say. 🙂 (credit my friend, John English for providing that bit of humor). The camera is starting to get a bit heavier. Anyway, I will be still posting the results to my gallery, that you can access by clicking that little button at the top of this page.
I want to thank you, all of my readers for your support through all the years.
I will close with this photograph that I captured just this morning. A Great Blue Heron photographed here in San Angelo near Lake Nasworthy.
Great Blue Heron
Bob Zeller
October 9, 2019
“HAPPY BIRDING”
Wishing you the best, Bob! And a laugh a day keeps all of life’s problems at bay for a while at least. Laugh in the face of adversity. It’s the best power we humans have! Great heron, too!
Thank you for those kind words, Parker. They are much appreciated. 🙂
All the best to you, Mr Zeller! Thank you for sharing your gifts. For years I have enjoyed looking at your photographs, but equally your writing has been a source of entertainment and inspiration.
Thank you Scott, for those very kind words. They are really appreciated. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your beautiful images with all of us over the years, Bob. Wishing you the best. Take care of yourself. You are in the thoughts and prayers of a large group of grateful readers.
Thank you, Bob for all the wonderful bird images over the many years. Best of luck with your health challenges. Laughter is great medicine and may you have much of it.
Sheila, so nice to hear from you again. I am so glad that you continued to follow me. Thank you for those very kind words.
Bob, Anne and I wish you the best in your ongoing treatment. You were one of my first real bird photographer influences when I started after retirement. I learned a lot by just observing you in the field and you showed me that I always have a good mobile bird blind. Thanks to you and Ann for being such great Ambasadors for the birding community. I hope to bump into you out there on a backroad in my blind sometime soon. Thanks again, Bob.
Thank you, Bob, for that nice comment. Happy to know that I was such an influence on you. You are doing a wonderful job with your photos. I have been telling you for a couple of years that we might venture down there. The fact is, we haven’t traveled anywhere. I am hoping that I will be able to go somewhere this winter, after I finish this regimen of rehab sessions. I need to make one last trip to Big Bend to photo the canyons there. Winter would be a good for that.. Them maybe in the spring………..? I can make no promises. It would be nice to see you again, and prowl around the backroads with you. Time will tell.
Bob… I do know you say you are slowing down but, you sure weren’t slow when we birded together two weeks ago… 😂. You have been a great inspiration and mentor to me and have taught me quite a bit about photographing birds. I always enjoy your pics and your blogs and am so glad that we were able to spend time with you and Ann… thank you 😊
Thank you for that, Claudia. I have my good days, and they were many when you were here. Actually, I have more good days the bad. I should have said that I want to slow down. If I was a mentor, I appreciate it. The results are showing up in your own great photographs. Looking forward when you can visit again. Thanks again.:-)
Bob, I want to echo what Marianne said above. Best wishes, my friend.
Thank you so very much, Dave. 🙂
Many blessings to you and your wife, Bob. You are doing the right thing with the exercises and I am glad you are capturing those images.
Thank you so much, Jane. It is much appreciated.
sending prayers your way..
Thank you very much, Syl.
I have loved your photos, so thank you for all your hard work! I appreciate your updates, no matter how rare they might become. Don’t put yourself on a schedule… whatever you decide is great! Thank you once more!
Thank you so very much, Mandala, for those very kind words. You are much appreciated.
It has been a real tree to see your photos and reading your posts. I wish you all the best with our therapy and may you continue living with the gusto as you have always show us on your blog.
Thank you very much, Mike. I am glad you have enjoyed my posts. Your very kind words are much appreciated.
Dear Bob I’m so sorry to hear this but your health must come first. I came late to following you and I absolutely love you photos they are so uplifting. I live in the UK so we don’t see some of the more exotic birds you photograph, they are such a treat. My sister lived in Portland Maine for a while and used to tell me about the birds in her garden. Then that bird would appear on your tweet and I could see it! I am confined to a wheelchair so am unable to go bird-watching any more, one of my favourite hobbies. You have helped me so much with your pictures. You take it easy and live peacefully. I will think of you often. With love xx
Oh, Belinda. I so much enjoyed your kind words. I am glad to be such an inspiration to you. Thank you for thinking of me. 🙂
Wishing you all the very best, Bob, and keep enjoying the birding and photography. You’ve got the right attitude and I agree with everyone else on here – your posts are always a delight.
Thank you, Jo. I think I will be around a long time. I just can’t go out as often as I used to. Thank you for the kind words of encouragement.
I was just thinking about you and your amazing photos this evening. Thank you for sharing your passion with us over the years – every shot has its own unique beauty! I look forward to the view from your vehicle, when you’re up to it! Love and peace, Mr Bob.
Thank you, Bambi, for those very kind words. They are really appreciated. 🙂
Bless you, Bob!
Sorry to hear about your lung trouble. Just so you know, I have stage 4 COPD. Can’t walk to mailbox without getting winded. You will like your exercise classes I did them too and still do some at home now. Good luck. Live long and prosper.
Thank you, Duane. I have thought of you often. Sorry to hear about your COPD. My pulmonary fibrosis is similar. I have to carry my cane everywhere I go. I do enjoy the excerise classes. I am in a group of six, and the rest of them have COPD. I still have six more weeks to go, and I intend to continue at home, too.
Donnette and I send you our best wishes for success in your breathing therapy. Keep posting shots like that GBH, a bird we see plenty of here in Southern Louisiana.
Thank you, Dwynn, for those kind words. I hope you are enjoying the bird migration.
Alex and I will always enjoy your beautiful photos. We wish you all the best with your therapy. Who knows, you may be back out chasing birds. In the meantime just take care of yourself and get better.
We’ll be watching for more beautiful photos whenever you feel up to posting them.
I will still be chasing bird, just not as often. 🙂 Thanks, Syl,for your nice comments. 🙂
Oh Bob, how I will miss that dose of Zeller dry humor and the puns in many of your posts. The extensive knowledge and joy of birding and photography is top notch and will be greatly missed. I am glad you are getting some lung rehab and it is helping. Keep the joy going my friend, as you and Ann drive around looking for birds. Thank you for years of beautiful birds, amazing photos and friendship. I will miss you but will check regularly for new photos. HUGS
Beth, I certainly appreciate you loyalty these years. I think you were one of the few that really ‘got’ my humor. It was fun. Thank you for the kind words. 🙂
Bob, I have truly enjoyed and been amazed with your posts for many years. Each time they provided absolutely stunning captures as well as a touch of humor. You gave me years of inspiration with my passion for birding. And yes, laughter does keep the doctor away! 🙂 We all do need to laugh, it truly is good for our heart and soul. I wish you the best, and I will always cherish my copy of your “Birds, Beasts, and Buttes”, I know it and all my other bird books will eventually pass down to one of my grandchildren (now 8, 3, & 2) that ‘follows’ me in my passion for birds (working on the 8 yo now lol). Cheers to you, my favorite Texas photographer!
BTW, I am so happy to say once again…..WOW, gorgeous capture of the Great Blue Heron, Bob!
Donna, it was a delight reading your comment. You have been one of my original fans, and it is greatly appreciated. I loved your very kind words. 🙂
It’s been a pleasure following you and good luck with the treatments. Be well.
Thank you, anonymous. I appreciate all of your kind words.
Bless you, Bob. Hope the therapy continues to work for you. I will miss your wry posts. Happy birding to you as well!
Well great to hear from you! Stay on the top side !! You have a great outlook so that is part of the journey!! Looking forward to a lot more photos!!
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It’s always been a pleasure to see your wonderful photographs. I’m sure that we’ll see many more pictures ahead. Take care, my friend. 🙂
Hoping you continue to do what you do best my friend! You are such an inspiration to all those who have got the pleasure of knowing you and your beautiful photography. Hoping your humor, treatments and all that hard work keeps you going! Always moved by all you do! 🥰
“So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit -It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.”
Thank you for your very kind words, my dear friend. You always have of way of warming heart. So thankful for your friendship. I do hope to continue getting out and doing what I love best; being with nature. 🙂
And thank you, H.J. for all of the loyalty that you have shown me for all of those years. 🙂
With age we surely have a lot of difficulties. But, like the active Clint Eastwood says “don’t let the old man in”. Wishing you recovery, many great years, and prayer for you that God will grant you peace and enjoyment. Oh how I have enjoyed your posts and pictures.
Carl, I appreciate all of those kind words. Yes, I am trying to keep the old man out. 🙂
I hope the breathing therapy continues to help! I suspect we’ll still see you here now and again. Take care!
Thank you, As they sometimes say, “never say never”. 🙂
I am sending good thoughts and prayers your way and hope you will still be able to post a picture or two in the future.
Thank you, Marianne. I am sure I will be doing that. 🙂