Usual January with all the birthdays and holidays. Jon and Everett were celebrated.
February: a wonderful visit to Carrabelle Fl for the whole month making new friends and visiting Harry's Bar and the Fisherman's wife. Had long walks on the beach with the dogs, saw dolphins romping. Was awakened by roosters everyday at 5am. Had a splendid time with Judy and friend Janine. Also, Katey had her 37th birthday.
March: a birthday for the old guy turning 73.
April: cannot remember anything other than trip to Kensington
May: Kids back and forth to school, now in Middle School, approaching the teenage years
June-August: usual summer stuff. Was invited to submit a questionnaire for a publication for special needs families. Ended up on the cover as the lead story. But even with all the submissions, they spelled the name wrong.
August 6th: it was a rainy soccer game for Katey. She had taken the game up again after a few years to play with ladies of a similar age (30-38). All her teammates were college players that never stopped playing the game they loved from childhood. She had pretty good wheels and good skills that were getting better. Judy was out of town visiting her family. Andrew and Stephanie were there with me at the very wet evening. The game was at the Birmingham Seaholm HS field. The artificial surface was slick with the rain. The game was going well. Her team was in the lead. She was running up the sidelines toward us. She stopped abruptly and I heard an odd sound from her direction. Something was definitely wrong. She was carried of the field by one of her teammates that was a physical therapist. The achilles tendon on the left leg was separated, torn. Her game was over.
All uf us made the trip to the VA hospital in the succeeding rain. The pain was excruciating for her. The ER docs immobilized it and we made it back to my apartment, using Shannon's wheelchair for a very long night. What followed was a surgical repair, visits to the Podiatry Dept and finally over the course of the next three months, arduous physical therapy and in November, walking without any aid and up and down stairs. All the scooters and crutches were finally put away.
Her constant companion and supporter for this ordeal was her dog, Apollo, now 14 and still strong as a bull, always thrilled to see me. He was her unwavering support during this ordeal. On the last week of November, he succumbed to a tumor that had been growing on his underside. Not wishing to put him thru anymore, he was put down. We were all there and I cried like a baby for the loss of my friend.
September: Judy joined club 73
November: Had another memorable Cape May visit at Peter Shields Inn with the group, all slightly worse from wear. I fell on my ass loading bags.
December: as is always the case, we are visited by illness in this month of the year. Andrew and his kids and his Stephanie got upper respiratory viruses. Judy started off with this and it migrated to pneumonia. She finally seems to be better. Shannon had the Narwall virus but it was short term. Christmas was simple, with little fanfare. I had the auto blues (which was resolved).
We had a wonderful visit from our little boys Paxton and Everett this morning. They love Harry and he is quite at home with them.
What will 2024 bring? not sure yet, but it will be another adventure and re invention.
I wish you all well.
all for now
stay safe
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