It's been 3 years to the day that I last posted on this site.  Our lives have been a roller coaster of challenges, relapses, losses, and successes. Too many to share.

Suffice it to say, we are where we are today...and gaining on it every day, because God has blessed with the most wonderful therapists, who are now incredible friends. These amazing dedicate people have supported, encouraged, retrained, and helped us step-by-step to put the pieces of our lives back together again.  Now, mind you, we're not quite ready to take the 30 day trip to Europe that we had planned for March 2020. But, we have gone down with the kids to Disney World and taken trips to see family in Ohio and Mississippi. And I, for one, am so ready to do more!

While we wait for that, we're busy trying fix up and update our 27 year old house after the past 3 years of neglect. YIKES! Handymen and painters are hard to find and are so expensive.  Never knew! Carl did most of the work around here... from fixing and installing this or that, and from electric and plumbing to all our electronics and computers. Never had to hire anyone before. So, I really miss his help. (Never quite sure he isn't just pretending to get out of doing work????)

Life for many of you has not been the same since 2020 either. We know many of you have lost loved ones and faced medical challenges of your own. Some of your families have grown, and some of you have grandkids are growing up so fast we wouldn't recognize them. With everything that has been going on, we haven't heard much news over the past three years.  But just know that we think of all of you, and pray for you always.  Our lives have been pretty empty with out you. Christmas Eve has really not been the same. We'll have to do that again!!

Carl is continually asking what everyone is up to. I can't answer him. I do check in from time to time with some of you. But, he so very much wants to get back out on the golf course, on the driving range, or just keep up with all of you.  

He has come so very far toward the goal of playing golf again. Last year, he got out with Franzman and Stuckey. And, he went fishing and goes to the PGA superstore with his Recreation Therapist.  She says people come up to him and ask him for advice...like he works there or something, and is helping her.

He is almost walking normally. He still walks slowly, sometimes a little wobbly... but always carefully. His gait is improving weekly. He is still in speech therapy and is speaking really well. The therapist is amazing, and has him working on reading as well. " I am amazed" is her usual parting comment. But, he is not quite ready for War and Peace yet.  He may get lost in his words when you ask him about what happened, and tell you he has had his heart taken out. But, in general, he has regained his conversational ability. He's getting botox in the right arm and it's responding nicely. He's using it more.

On the brainiac side, he is as sharp as ever, and doesn't miss a trick.  He won't always say something or interject when he thinks you are wrong or FOS. However, one look at his face, and I know he is paying attention and thinks I am wrong. And...he is now correcting me when I back out of the driveway, and when he doesn't like me tailgating, etc. He's often more aware of things than I am. Nothing new about that.

There is concern that he may not ever drive again.  The Optometrist says he doesn't think the right side of his eyes will recover. Let me see, I think it was the neural guys who once said that Carl wouldn't recover enough to get out of the nursing home.  So, we'll see. We took Carl to a prism specialist in April to see if he could help. He gave him a new prescription. Since he has been wearing the new glasses, Carl often says he can see better, but that it's still not perfect.  So what is???

As you probably know, he has never lost his quick wit, even when he was initially in the hospital.  He get's into trouble at the therapy center from time to time, with therapists who are hypersensitive. But, most of his therapists LOOOVE his one liners. There's usually laughter going on when I pick him up. I know he just threw someone under the bus.

We still don't get out to do much, mostly because we are exhausted by therapy for 2-3 hours every day and the related driving. But, we still play trivia at Guston's with Barnes' and Osgood on Monday nights.  And... of course our beautiful family is keeping us very busy.  But, that doesn't mean we aren't up for dinner dates.

Carl so misses the "guys".  I can see it on his face every day. He is totally bored. He thrives on male bonding. I mean frankly, some of you spent more time with him over the past 15 years than I have. LOL.  He's sick of me being a drill sargeant. Can't blame him, I'd be sick of me too.  But after all, food and water ARE necessities. He just doesn't think he needs to do that.

His phone is on again. But, he probably won't be calling anyone just yet. He would love to hear from you and have you tell him all of your golf stories and tall tales.  He is always up for a driveway summit.  If he doesn't answer, leave a voice mail and a good time to call you back.

And... an outing would be in order about now.  He does still have some challenges, but they can be worked around. FYI, his short game is still just as good. So the betting is on.

Drop us a line on this site or call Carl at 770 315 7124 or 770 814 1489 when you think of him.

Thank all you for your prayers, and good wishes. They are working. We continue to think of you and your families and alwayshope good things for you.

There's a wonderful place called tomorrowland
And it's only a dream away
And the moment you get to tomorrowland
You'll forget about today.

You'll be walking on clouds,
You'll forget every care,
And your troubles, like bubbles, will vanish in air
Ask me how do you get to tomorrowland
Close you eyes, make a wish and you're there.

Love,
Gretchen