Update 1/19/10 Day 72

Dear friends,

Before the crash, Stephen had gotten himself into good shape. I mean 6am and the exercise bike was humming in the basement. Everyday. Forty five minutes per day. So it was kind of a happy moment at Sunnyview this morning when the man used that titanium laced arm and rode the "arm bike". He rode hard for 10 minutes and worked up a sweat like in the "old days". (Strange how everything prior to November 8 feels like the old days). At least I'm not saying "in real life" anymore, when referring to the world before the crash. I guess I've finally accepted that this is "real life", as peculiar as it is. Steve's getting some new exercises to do to get some range of motion in that right shoulder and elbow. Still not much that can be done with his legs, except strengthening with leg lifts and bending for joint flexibility. I'm sure you are all waiting with us for that go ahead to bear weight on the right side. About another month or so to go, and believe me you'll hear about it as soon as the proclamation is made.

Miss Hannah went to Dr. Falk again today to have an emerging piece of glass removed from her cheek. The good doctor said we may see more of this over the next year, as foreign objects may have become embedded in her skin during the accident. Eventually the body begins pushing them out. She is handling all these little humiliations with an excellent attitude. She doesn't like the discomfort of course, but she doesn't complain. The Great One has given her, indeed all of us, a great grace to cope with all the small annoyances that arise daily as fallout from the wreck. It still messes with my head when I think about the consequences of one poor decision. I don't typically think too much about that part of it, but once in a while the thought floats to the front of my consciousness. No matter, this is not "Back to the Future". I don't have a Delorean to travel through time with, and what's done is done. Now onward to how the Great One will redeem it all. No question on that one. He's doing it already. I need "just enough strength to live for today". Any more than that and I'm out in an unknown future. The present has plenty of balls to keep in the air.

Kindhearted Al and Rosanne the Sweet brought us a Lebanese dinner tonite, and stayed to eat with us! What a blessing, an absolute joy. I scarfed up that homemade hummus, and Hannah Rejoice tasted her first pecan pie. She was stunned. I mean, her taste buds stood up and took notice. She made us keep the whole pie! I didn't send any home with these dear folks, because Hannah wanted it all. So she'll be eating lots of pecan pie over the next few days. The best part of the whole thing was the pleasant banter with these precious fellow travellers. I love to talk. (Bet you knew that!) I also love to listen to others talk. Communication is my passion. That's why I continue to be encouraged by the generous feedback I'm getting on this blog. I hear from some via email, some via comments, and many as I go about my business. I know I risk talking too much. Forgive me if I do. I want to hear. Especially from the One who speaks what is good, true and right.

Lots of whining around here tonite about homework. The Y chromosomes in my family don't want it, don't like it, and let me know it. Around the time of the accident we had to let some things slide around here. Grades suffered for a while, and grace was widely distributed because of the traumatic nature of the circumstances. But now is the time to adapt and move ahead. Now is the time for the young men on Meadow Lane to wield their pencils and calculators and get a move on. The whining must cease! The persevering must commence! (I'm thinking the Great One says the same thing to me from time to time. How about you?...)

My friends, I'm cooking up an idea that someday we should all get together and have cake! Maybe at the one year mark. What do you think? How cool would it be to stop along the pilgrim highway so I can personally thank you for all you mean to me? I don't know, maybe the mystery of the cyber world makes the whole thing more fun. But who knows? This whole crazy thing has been a wild ride. One day at a time. Just like the Great One says, "Give no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow will give thought to the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil therein..." I know I've quoted that one before, but that's ok because it's absolutely true!

Just for today, my dear ones. But maybe cake too, someday...

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann