thetripover.com

This is a comment to one of my earlier entries: "I note a desire to stay in touch with family members. We have a very large extended family in several states. Facebook has been the answer for us, and we now communicate as often as our schedules allow. It works because people can make their entries each at his/her own convenience. I now have daily access to great nieces & nephews, photos shared amongst all family on a regular basis and even contact with cousins. It is rewarding to see the strength of genetics too as certain traits run amongst all. Some people fear social networks, but if one is a reasonable person, they only put information on the network that is not a threat should the whole world read it. It is also easy to send private messages. It is delightful to share photos of kids, pets and activities."

She's absolutely right in every way. Facebook is a great way to communicate with friends and family.

Don's latest bout with shingles is a bummer.  He and Jane will keep their minds off such things with those two grandkids towing them about for a few days.  As Don spoke of Allie and Adam, Chris and Laurie's two youngest, I reflected on this rather large family of ours and the fact that this old uncle or great uncle in this case, is really out of touch with too many of this next generation of Hayen's. 

We do stay in touch with some of our neices and nephews, Jenny,  Chris and Laurie are family with whom we stay in touch on a reasonably regular basis one way or another.  We really don't know nor  have we seen their children grow up like we here in Kansas should.  Chris had some experiences on the Hayen farm back in another day, and he has mentioned that his children getting to know 'ol Unk as I am known to him and others of his generation, would be a good thing.  Several of my nephews spent some summers on the old farm.  It was quite an experience for all of us.  Some great stories!   Of course connecting with that next generation takes effort on our part here to make connections, and I must say that hasn't happened as it should have happened.  

Another example of how it does take a bit of effort for families to stay in touch.  I'm lousy at this, and don't know if it will get better.  All is well in Kansas.  Lots of rain, and it hasn't been too hot as of yet in this July, 2010.  Until next time.   Jan

We flew to Michigan on the 4th and are now visiting our son and his family. The trip was good and no unusual incidents. We left in cool, 62 degree weather and arrived here in 90 degree heat and 50% humidity. Ugh!

Went out to a driving range to hit a few golf balls at noon. We about melted. Lots of fun, though. My grand daughter-in-law can knock the cover off a golf ball and she's consistent. She's just a little shmige of a person, but she swings hard and connects with that ball and it sails 200+ yards, every time.

We'll be back in a week and are bringing our 7 year old grandson, Adam and our 11 year old granddaughter Allie.They are a delightful pair, Very different than Chris's older two. They lead each other astray.  We're looking forward to their visit.

Traveling  for the fourth. We have plans and tickets to go to Michigan on the 4th of July. Despite my pain (which, by the way,) is minimal, we are going! Going to bring back two of our youngest grandchildren to see the sites of Southern California. Should be a blast.

We are having beautiful weather. Sunny and cool. Of course, we never have really bad weather for any extended period. Rightfully, people give us a hard time when we complain.

Jane and I are going out to the theater again tonight with our friends, Joe and Angela Bear. It's the local little theater in Vista called the Broadway. We always have a good time.

Well I've got to take a shower and clean up. Jane is out picking up our car from it's 10 thousand check-up. Maybe I should go in next.

I've been having a burning pain in my left forearm for the past week or 10 days. As a dermatologist, I seriously thought it might be shingles. Well, today a typical diagnostic rash appeared. It is herpes zoster; shingles.. yuck !

I've opted not to go see my favorite dermatologist, Dr Wong. He replaced me in my practice 14 years ago when I retired. A neat guy and a good doctor. There is an antibiotic that helps but I'm going to tough is out.

Strangely, shingles is usually very localized following one nerve root. I've got isolated spots on my hand, chest and neck. They itch intently. I'm really not feeling too well. I think I'll quit this and catch you next time.

My motor is running slower and slower. I sleep 10 to 12 hours a night and still don't feel very rested. I think it's my sleep apnea.

I have no energy and really have to force myself to keep active. Walking is a struggle, mostly because of my phony joints but I have a terrible time with my balance. I've fallen several times and now walk with a cane, which helps a little. I'm truly not very steady on my feet. I stagger like I'm drunk.

I'm  trying to get into some research studies for potential treatments for Alzheimer's. I got a packet of papers as thick as a magazine that I've got to read and sign before they let me in. It's called informed consent. I call it torture. It may help and it may not but what have I got to lose?

Well, it's been two weeks since I last ventured onto this site. It's not that I don't remember. I just ignore the responsibility, putting it off until tomorrow... again and again.

Things are going OK but Jenni is having big troubles with her back. She thinks she broke a rib and her past history of osteoporoses and broken ribs would go along with it. X-rays seem to confirm her diagnosis. Anyway, she has joined the walking wounded in our neighborhood. 

I got a Nook e-book reader for Christmas. I really like it but it has its drawbacks. To download a new book I have to select one and instruct the company to charge my account. Sounds simple but its got several hitches most of which I don't understand. Apparently when we left our credit card account numbers. we then canceled the card... or something... so now I'm trying to reach someone by phone. That is always fun. There wait time is so long they advised that I call between 5 and 8 PM, east coast time.

We're planning a new cruise. This time from the northwest to Alaska. Going to see Donnale park, big mountains and glaciers in late August and early Sept. Ought to me fun and interesting.

Well that's it. We have to dash off to the store, I'll get back to you before fall...

I've been trying to add a new program to my blog to expand it's capabilities. I bought the add-ons from the company that owns my website but when I tried to get them up and running, I couldn't. I fumbled around a while then gave up.
I'll try again tomorrow.

We've had some beautiful weather the past few days. Honestly, we never have bad weather in San Diego. Just better and best.

Jane's back is much better but she has good times and not so good times. Today has been so-so.

Jenny was going to the DMV already to get her name changed on her license so she took me along to let me turn in my license. We went yesterday at about 1 pm and surprisingly, it took less then an hour. So, now it's official... I can no longer drive.

Jan's encouraging words have forced me to set down and add my own.

After an extended period of pain and anguish, Jane's back troubles have subsided. She's just about off narcotics and is enjoying not having to slumber in bed all day. She is supposed to go back for another epidural shot next Monday. She is not looking forward to that.

Jenni's lupus is better as well. She is back to her bubbly self.

And..... I've emerged from my depression slump. Not well, entirely, but certainly better. It's a beautiful day in So. California.... cool and breezy.

Yes, we are still alive and well here in Kansas. Sorry I haven't pitched in with some words of wisdom during these last few weeks.  Don, Jane, and I had a good phone conversation in the midst of the latest health issues for both.  With Don's recent entries, it sounds as if the dust is settling a bit.  Thanks to all of  you who have sent words of comfort, encouragement, and some chastisement (when the 'ol Doc needs it!!), because it does help.  And Jenny's continuing presence and support is a vital example of how family needs to stay connected in these stages of AD.  Truly, this blog does give a day by  day accounting of how a family does continue to be together as this disease moves us all into the uncertainty of the future. 

I have mentioned before that we Hayen boys have a bit of a struggle with chronic depression without this AD demon in the mix.  So the old brother gets a double dose, and it makes it more difficult for Jane, Jenny, Chris, and all of you out there in the support network.  Being retired now, I have come to realize that I need to be doubly careful not to recluse myself.  The pit can get pretty deep if one does not keep out there and moving.  That may be especially true for all of us struggling with AD as a disease, or as caregivers of those in the midst of it.  

Kansas is really pretty right now.  But is also rife with storms, tornadoes, and other natural pestilence which comes to the Plains in the Springtime.  It is a good place to be alive.  Take care.  jan 

I've been severely chastised for my whining entry yesterday about my depression. My daughter, in particular, racked me over the coals. She has decided, since she suffers from depression as well, that we should prop each other up. So, today, she came by and picked me up and we went to buy Jane a mother's day card and went for a walk.

I have to admit, it was a fresh feeling afterward. I feel good and ready for another day.

I'm so lame. I sit here all day staring out my window and playing solitaire on my computer. Nothing gets done. It's not that I have a lot to do. It's just that I could die and not be missed for days. Nothing I do is relevant to anyone life or existence. Gone are the dreams of leaving a mark on the world.

I sound pretty grim, don't I? Guess I'm depressed. Jane is still in pain with her back. Her shot last week has helped but certainly not 'cured' her. She is moving very slow.

Watching the Padres baseball game on tv. They are playing the Brewers. So far, no score.  I'm a sports junky. I'll watch anything as long as it is competitive.

Jane had her spine injected this morning and it was grim. Lots of pain. She is feeling a little better this afternoon. Maybe it will take the pain away. She has to go back weekly for a total of three shots.  ugh!

 Jenni's lupus flare has subsided... finally. We all are so healthy! Aren't we?

I keep losing track of time. I lost April in the mix. I'm getting worse; no question!! Yesterday I had two doctors appointments. Jane wrote them out on a piece of paper and taped it to my bathroom mirror.  I carefully took note of them as I shaved then, when a friend came by at 11 am to pick me up, I instructed how to get to my second appointment. Once I found out my mistake, we dashed off for the second appointment but were too late. He gave me another appointment in 10 days.. Of course, I recognize this as Alzheimer's and feel awful about it. I guess I just  accept the inevitability of it and let it go.

After that fiasco I've stayed home today. Jane's back is still acting up but an MRI has finally narrowed it down to a single ruptured disc. She's going back in to get cortisone injections starting tomorrow. Maybe she can get off the narcotics.

Jane had a bad day. She has a cortisone shot in her bad back and it was an endurance test... one hour and a half. It was a prolonged and miserable affair but, I think it helped a little. She's still taking pain pills.

Jenny drove us around all day... this morning she took me to the commissary and then, when we got home, she took Jane to the doctor. What a great lady! This evening friends provided our dinner.. and last night too ... all arranged by Jenny.

I'm going to quit this. I'm tired and bored.

It's been a bad 2 weeks. I've just about recovered from my concussion and broken rib and, now, Jane has slipped a disc in her back, She is nearly immobilized with pain and taking Vicodan by the hand full. She is supposed to see a pain management doctor on Thursday and get a shot.

Our kids have been very attentive through all this. We've needed (and appreciated) the help. I don't know what we would do without them.

Old age is not for the timid.

We're getting ready to go out for dinner so I'm in a rush. I'm recovering nicely from my 'crash and burn' accident. Rib is not as painful and my head is clear .... well.... as clear as it can be. I wobble a bit when I walk but I'm in the middle of a series of physical therapy visits so, hopefully, that will get better.

I don't know why I fell in the garage. Awakening from an event like that is strange and frightening. Jane was scared to death. I think she thought I was gone.

Oh well ... just another glitch in the life of an Alzheimer's patient.  Stay tuned for more adventures.

I looked up my blog today and realized I've written only one entry in the month of February. "Out of site, out of mind." In my case it just "out of mind!"

It's not that I haven't thought about things to write. I just don't think of them at a convenient time. I could make excuses. I started writing for an on-line publisher called Demand Studios. They pay me $20/article which, with research and such, takes me about 2 hours each to write. The trouble is, they don't accept everything I write and some of the subjects just aren't suitable for a dermatologist to write; like 'How to freeze your moles off.' A dermatologist would never advise to freeze off a mole.

But there are a ton of titles to chose from and I'm free to pick them at will. So I may make a few bucks and write a little for fun. The articles are published on-line at LiveStrong and other general information sites.

I've not given up on this blog. Just a little distracted for a bit. I'm back in full swing.

We are having a heat wave in Southern California. Temp is in the mid-80's today. The rest of the country is gripped in terrible winter. Sorry about that.

Poor Jenni's lupus is acting up. She is weak, tired and physically going through all kinds of problems. There's nothing to stop it. It's pretty discouraging. She has been trying to get me out each day to exercise my legs.

I've been glued to the t.v. watching the Olympics. I watch even the boring stuff like cross country skiing. I admire the challenges these people overcome. My sweet wife got me a huge Sony HD TV. It's like being there without the wet and cold. I love it.

Jenni and John added comments to my last entry. They are such sweethearts and we love them so much.

Tonight we are going to live theater. We've had season tickets for several years and enjoy it very much. Of course, you all know that if it weren't for Jane, I'd never step out of the house. She keeps me going.

We sold my car. It was a struggle but after several false starts we advertised on line and a young woman from San Diego bought it. So I'm officially wheeless now. Have to turn my license into the DMV soon. Poor Jane has to provide my transportation everywhere now.

It's been nine days since I made an entry in this blog. It's not because I'm busy. I just don't think of it when I've got the time to be creative. I imagine most of you don't see my ramblings as creations anyway. They are more like footprints in mud.

I do have something very important to tell you all. Jenni and John got married last week. We went to the courthouse with them and acted as witnesses. They are happy and content and feel they've made a good decision. We do too. John is really a fine person.

This is his first marriage but Jenni's forth. We're thankful she found him. He is a real stable figure in her life and she needs that. Now, I don't have to worry about her future.

The first real rains in many months have struck the Southern California coast line and it's not over. It is our form of winter. Rain tapping against the window, wind bending the trees and water running down the streets. How nice.

I've stayed in all day but now am getting ready to go out to a dinner with friends from church. No big deal... just an outing.

I have tried to imagine what it would be like if all this rain came down in the form of snow. We'd be digging out for weeks.

Reminds me ... the horrible events in Haiti. Could I survive such horrible circumstances? I suppose I could but it is hard to imagine.

We've been at the time share for 3 days now. It's in Capistrano or Dana Point; it's hard to tell which. Anyway, we're across the street from the beach, so it's really nice. Magnificent sunsets.

We've been very lazy. Set around all day reading and go to movies and watching lots of tv. Eating too much as well. You know how it is.

We have to come home ... temporarily ... on Thursday for choir practice and then we'll come back for 2 more days to finish our week. Vacation, interrupted.

Supposed to rain tomorrow. That will be different.

I received a 'Nook', an e-book handled by Barnes and Noble bookstores, as a gift for Christmas. It took us a while to get it all set up, with my son's help. Now I have to get some books loaded into the thing. So, I guess I'll have to go to the bookstore to do that.

It's really small and handy. The print is clear and readable. I'm going to look forward to using it. This may be the end of publishing, as we know it. Even Newspapers are using this media. Magazines, too.

Wouldn't it be interesting to live in a world where you could download your reading material into a portable reader and not have to stagger through a store?

It's a sunny warm day in Southern California. I want to say that to 'rub it in' to all you folks in the east and north.

Nothing much is happening since we got home. I've got calendars hanging all over my desk; Kansas Alumni Assoc., Alzheimer's Association, local stores, you name it. I won't lose track of the day this year.

Jane and I are going to go to a near by Time-Share next week. Don't have any plans for big activities but it should be fun and relaxing. Hope the weather holds out.

Happy New Year from Kansas.  Glad Don and Jane made it home to sunny CA.  We all could feel Don's pain facing the wiles of a Michigan winter!  We here in Kansas are having a time with snow, 12" on the ground at this writing.  And bitter cold, -3 this morning and worse is coming down the pike, the weather people say. 

Hope all of you have the best 2010 and may we all see and end to the shouting which has consumed our thinking for the past year. Take care.  From Kansas

Happy New Year!

We're going to be on the road to the airport in about 2 hours. We have to get there very early because of the bomb alert on Christmas day. The flight is 5 hours and we gain 3 hours.

Looking forward to getting home but will miss our Michigan family. They are dear to us.

It has snowed a least a bit in every 24 hour interval we have been here. It's supposed to be 2" tonight and more tomorrow.

I don't understand why anyone would voluntarily live in this part of the world. You have to be crazy or a true masochist.

We have 2 1/2 more days ... and counting. Having a ball with the grandkids. Andria, the oldest still living at home, played in the finals of a high school basketball game tonight. Her team won!

We'll be back in LA on Saturday. Can't wait.

Why would anyone want to live here? It was cold and raining when we arrived on Christmas day. Then it started snowing and has piled up periodically each day since. It is now about 5 inches and growing. ugh!

We had an uneventful trip but found out after we got to Chris and Laurie's house that there had been a bomb threat on a plane that arrived in Detroit just after we arrived. Some nut was going to blow up the plane.

We are getting ready to go to my teenage granddaughter's basketball game. She is tall and athletic and is good in any sport she tries. I must cut this short.

It's going on 5 years since I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I still function pretty well but I know things are not right and I'm beginning to drift a bit. Jane can really see it and would probably reject the 'a bit' part of that statement.

I've nearly stopped writing. I have no creative juices left and set around a great deal, staring at the wall. My head feels like it is stuffed with wadded-up paper.

I suppose I've been fortunate to have done so well for this long. I haven't given up yet. For all you old timers who have followed me along, hang in there. I still have a story to tell. It may be badly told, but be patient with me.

I can't believe how quickly time flies. Christmas is 4 days away! Wow!

Jenni took me shopping for Jane today. We had coffee and wondered around a store or two. I can't say here what I got her 'cause she will read it, but I think she'll like it.

Sweet Jenni and her 'sig. other', John, had an interesting thing happen. They were working a Wayne Foster show at a big home in Carona del Mar Saturday night and the singer lost her voice. John jumped in, and though it was not his style of music, he sang well and for 3 hours, held up the show. He's pretty remarkable.

Got to run. Lunch with friends.

Jane and Laurie, our daughter-in-law in Detroit, are plotting on the phone for Christmas. We are leaving Christmas day to visit them for a week. They are making plans for gifts and activities.

We may get to see snow. It usually does when we are back there. They often have deer in there back yard as well.

My thoughtful daughter-in-law is arranging tickets for the 'Little Caesars Pizza Bowl' game on the 26th between Ohio and Marshall. She knows how to get to her father-in-law.

I can't seem to get myself 'into' the Christmas mood. To my chagrin, Jane has bought me a Christmas gift which means I will need to buy one for her. ugh!

I can't buy clothes for her... I don't know what size and color and style are beyond me. Jewelry is a real risk for the same reason. Perfumes and cosmetics is like advanced chemistry...

I suspect, looking back over our 54 years of marriage that I've hit the mark less then 10% of the time when I bought a gift I thought she might like. With a record like that, birthdays and Christmas are not my favorite time of the year. I'd rather have a tooth pulled.

69 years ago today, I was 8 years old and visiting my neighbor, Dicky Dale Miller. We were lying on  the rug, playing when the phone rang. Dicky's mother answered it in the kitchen. The conversation was brief. She walked in to and announced, "The Japanese have just attacked Pearl Harbor. We are at war."

Not knowing what to expect, I looked out the window, imagining I would see bombs dropping on the empty lot next door. An icy hand gripped my gut. I had two brothers already in the military and my folks had been talking about the possibility of war.

I can't remember what happened next but I suspect I went home. My world had suddenly changed, permanently.

For all of you born since that time, you will never really understand what happened. I don't understand most of it. It was a time of immeasurable heroics, insurmountable evil, horrible danger, and sacrifice beyond anyone's imagination.

We continue to look at war as the solution. Let us hope and pray that we can overcome this fixation that war is the answer to any problem.

It's been well over a week since I've written a blog. I just can't keep up. It has been a busy week, though. Thanksgiving and all got in the way. We had Jenni and her family, including Justin and Travis, over for a traditional dinner. We all ate too much, as usual.

Now, Christmas season is rushing up to smack us in the face. We have all kinds of music things to prepare for at the church. Then, on Christmas Day, we leave for Michigan for a week with Chris and his family. We will be back on January 2.

I'm sorry I failed to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, but I'll do that now. In addition, let's make this holiday season one that will be memorial... Peace, love, understanding, forgiveness, giving and temperance.

It's been a busy week. We've seen several theater productions and went to see the movie, "The Men Who Stares at Goats." What an odd movie. Funny but, in the end, ran out of gas. Can only push an improbable premise so far.

We saw a musical at the Coronado Play House last weekend. It was a segment of Handles life when he wrote the Messiah. Beautiful voices; beautiful music; wonderful story.

Had a doctor appointment this afternoon. I have an inherited blood disorder ... hemochromotosis. I store too much iron which can damage my organs. I get a pint of blood taken out every three months. Lot's of fun.

Anyhow, that's a little of what is happening on the left coast.

Don sees his lack of blog entries as failure.  My excuse is plain old procrastination!!

Add to that my ongoing war with a new laptop and not much comes from Kansas.  But the older has spoken.  Don, I will begin to send you those memories to which you can respond.  Somehow we need to figure out how to get these on a site for all to see.  Such will be the glory of our rememberings!  I am sure.  Jan in Kansas.

I'm a failure. I keep forgetting I've got to write a blog. Days pass and the reality hits me in the face.

I'm trying to watch Sunday night football while I write this so, if I don't make sense, you'll know why.

Jan, I said I'm ready to write but I didn't say I was going to write it. I think we should both write incidents from a biographical point of view then read each other and see, how it fits.

I have some stuff in long hand. I'll type it into a e-mail and send it soon.

Sorry it's been a while since an entry came from Kansas.  Don suggests that it is time we get to writing something, and I agree.  So 'ol Bro, let's work out a strategy and get on with it while the proverbial iron is hot!  I've got all kinds of images stuck in my brain picturing those days in Marion when you were the big brother and spent some energy keeping me in line.  This should be a fun project.  Your the experienced writer, so let me know what is next.  You have to remember my creative products for 29 years were no more than 20 minutes in length, two pages double spaced type, with a lot of extemporizing going on between lines.  Maybe such a form is what we need?  We'll talk.  That's it for now.  Weather here is great Fall type temps and beautiful leaves.  Winter is just around the corner.  Until next time.  Jan in Kansas.

Jane admonished me today for being a couch potatoe. I have to agree, I don't do much but read, watch tv, sleep and eat. I try to reve my motor once in a while, but not very successfully. She points out that, if I'm bored, it's all my fault. And she is right!

Soooo.... I started writing again. Nothing too daring, just doodling with a memoir. That's not too surprising since most of my published writing, so far, is autobiographical, even the stuff I pass off as fiction. (See Moonshine Harvest)

[Jan, this is our chance. Let's combine notes and see if we can get this thing started. What do you say?]

My memory is still pretty sharp for things in the distant past. My first page of scribbles was kind of fun. Of course, I know full well what it's like writing a complete manuscript. Not just writing but re-writing and re-writing, over and over again. ugh!

The fund raising walk for Alzheimer's was Saturday and we had a great time. I had a team of 5 and we raised about $400. The crowd was huge... they guessed over 3000. The weather was fine; a typical So. Calif. day... sunny and warm.

Jane insisted I not walk because of my knee and hip. I worked at the sign up desk for Advocates. Advocates for Alzheimer's Disease receive notices of legislation, etc and reminders to contact legislators on matters important to our cause.

I've let this blog set for a whole day and haven't found a way to end it. So, this is it!

Jane, Jenni and I are going down to Balboa Park in San Diego for the annual Alzheimer's Memory Walk. My team is "thetripover" and we have over $400 pledged. I've done this every year for the past 6, although we missed last year because of the big wild fires.

I think we have only 4 walkers this year, which is kind of disappointing, but we'll still make an appearance. I'm going to work at the Alzheimer's Association desk instead of walking. My knees and hip are too gimpy to keep up.

I hope the weather holds up. It's been nice since we got home from our Kansas trip.

To say our trip to Kansas was a success would be an understatement. We had a ball!! Visited with people we hadn't seen in years and dashed around Kansas City and the eastern edge of the state with abandon. Though white knuckled most of the time, Jane did all the driving and she was great.

Jenny took us to the airport and came to pick us up. She's a wonderful help. I think we'll keep her.

We are pooped... too much activity for old folks. I fell off a ladder again the day before we left, pounding my head and knees. Then, in Dallas, as we were changing planes, I fell again in an elevator and banged my head. Probably a good thing. It's the least important part of my body.

I've got to get rested up. We have the Memory walk this Saturday.

I know some of you are interested in Don's trip back to Kansas City for his 50 year reunion at KU Medical School.,  They had a great time and on this Monday are trekking down to see family in Southeast Kansas.  They will be flying back to CA on Wednesday.  Don's AD is progressing.  We will keep the blog going as time goes on,.  For you care givers who read this, I hope I can encourage Jane to contribute some of her experiences and thoughts as the days continue on.  She is a great resource in this journey over for many of you.  All of you take care in the days ahead.  Jan in Kansas

When you live in a place where the weather almost never changes, you begin to whine whenever there is a cloud in the sky. We may get a few showers today. Of course, the day is nearly over and nothing has happened yet sooo....

Of course, any rain would be a miracle, given that we've been in the worst drought ever. The water situation is getting so bad that it makes you feel guilty just to take a shower.

Jane and I are hustling around getting last things done before we leave on Thursday for Kansas City and my 50th Medical School Reunion. But the Gods are against us. Jane drove out to the base hospital to get last minute prescription refills and the pharmacy was closed. And, my doctor has failed to call in a last minute refill on a new prescription he gave me the last time I was in.

I was sitting here watching the baseball play off games and decided to check my blog. I was surprised to see I hadn't made an entry for 6 days. Wow!

My days without wheels have been OK. My friend Knox Williams came over Monday and took me out for lunch. He had a few errands to run and by the time we were through it was 5 o'clock. We had a great time visiting and I think he enjoyed it. I sure did.

The sports events on TV are my crutch. With the new football season starting, I'm in heaven. Jane forces me to go to the gym regularly, so I don't get moldy.

Looking forward to our trip to Kansas City next week.

Our two days in Palm Springs went well. Rode the tram up to the top of the mountain. Spent a lot of time visiting with our friends, Hal and Elizabeth Forney. It was a nice two days.

I can't quite grasp what attracts people to Palm Springs. I can understand if you are from Kansas, but a Californian?

Jenni and my talk at the 'Because I Care' conference yesterday went very well. There was a pretty good crowd and we were well received.

Jane and I are about to leave for a two day stint at a friends time share in Desert Springs. Sounds HOT but we'll spend a lot of time by the pool.

My sweet grandson, Travis, wrote me a 3 page letter lamenting my loss of driving privileges. It was truly beautifully written and I appreciated it so much. How could we live life on earth without loved ones near by to support and cheer us on?

I went to play my usual round of golf this morning and, on the 9 hole, I became ill. Two doctors playing with me fluttered around and made sure I wasn't in extreme danger and one of them drove me home.

It was terribly hot and I had probably failed to keep up my hydration. I became very faint and nearly passed out.

Anyway, I survived. A little rest and food and lots of water really helped. I think I'll be OK and plan to go back to play next week. (but not if it's so hot!)

My first week of not driving is behind me and, I must say, it's been rather boring. But it is all for the best, I know. Many of you have written encouraging comments and I appreciate them. When I get to feeling blue about it, all I need to do is think of those incidents when some elderly man or woman hit the accelerator and plowed into a crowd of people. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Jenny has mentioned several times that she and I are going to talk this Saturday, the 26th, at the 'Because I care community health fair' at the San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave., San Marcos, CA at 10:30 AM. Come and meet us there.