Here's a link to some pictures of Hanford's knives from the past five years or so, his dog Bingo, Hanford and my son Robert (after I drove Hanford's ATV into the river!), Hanford and past ABS chairmen with Bill Moran and BR Hughes, some scenery around Hanford's home and tools he made for his big Cinquedea project that was featured in BLADE Magazine a while back. I hope to add more images soon. I also hope to visit Hanford soon, with pictures and such that may help trigger some memories and help him put some pieces of the puzzle back together.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/FFECA64F971C48E

Thank you Buddy!

Hey, I actually went to visit Hanford today. The facility is very nice and he seems pretty comfortable there. He's got a nice room with many personal items including photos, knife magazines and lots of stuff that is obviously meant to provide context and stimulate thought and memory. There's even a nice visual time-line from birth to the present day with notes and arrows etc. Hanford is somewhat perplexed and intermittently amused by all the changes he's gone through lately. He looks good and speaks normally. His personality is the same as it ever was - sort of a devilish kid in a grown man's body (in a good way). He reminded me he was 86 years old which is nowhere near the truth.

I didn't give him a chance to not recognize me - just approached him and introduced myself. He responded appropriately but soon used my name in conversation as if he didn't, at that moment, really connect the name with me. I brought him a notebook with the cinquedea article, pictures of him working on it in his shop and of the finished project and he was absolutely delighted. He poured over every page and made numerous clear and accurate observations. Stuff that is in the past is less of a problem than stuff that just happened yesterday.

It was fun to watch Hanford fend off a gentleman out in the TV room who kept insisting we were on a ship, the ship was filled with flammable chocolate and the US government had ordered us to make the ship safe. Hanford thought the guy was saying that his shop with the forge, power hammers etc. was not safe. After the man mentioned the US government Hanford looked like he might fire up one of his rants but instead he just gently told the guy to "go take a walk" which I thought was very appropriate on Hanford's part.

None of the residents seem to know where their rooms are and Hanford was not an exception. So we ambled around the 2nd floor till we found it. He showed me several photos of his mother and father and one of him as a lad of 10 or so with a nice fish he'd just caught. He looked around the room at the several piles of stuff here and there and said, "You know, I've just got to get to the bottom of this (mystery), but it takes time - more time than you might think."

I'm not privy to any medical info and I can't say whether he's improving or not and I don't know what, if any, plans are in the works. But one thing I found comforting is that he isn't suffering. He's, as I said, perplexed but doesn't seem to have a worried mind or heart. He can read letters and enjoys doing so. He really enjoyed my visit and would love to have more visitors. There are no visiting hours per se - any time during normal waking hours is OK.

Update:

I was called by one of Hanford Miller’s sons and he had good news. Hanford’s condition has improved and he will be leaving the Memory Care facility in a week and returning to his home in Cowdry, Colorado. The home telephone will be re-connected soon. Send me an email or PM and I will give you the new number.

 

I thought that everyone would want to hear the good news.

The mind is an amazing thing when one applies the spirit of determination. I wish Mr. Miller well in his recovery.

Glad to hear that. While I have never met Mr. Miller, I wish him well in his recovery.