Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Equanimity


 Equanimity…

 It's hard to believe that it's been over a year since my last blog.   I don't know why other than to say, I'm just trying to live a normal Life under very abnormal circumstances.  I guess it's just important to compartmentalize and creating this blog forces a merger of the two realities.  That being said, a lot has taken place since we last talked.

 As it concerns the ALS, both arms are now are significantly impacted. I would estimate that the strength and dexterity are down to about 20% of full use.  Try to put on clothes, brush your teeth, get off the floor, get out of bed, wipe your ass or or operate a fork on 20%.  It's a good thing that I'm such a gifted athlete and maintained my six pack abs :-). My legs are now both impacted but I am still walking albeit slower and with increasing limits on duration. Breathing is becoming more difficult because of all the muscular atrophy that is occurring in the muscles that support breathing. My speech is still good but we are beginning to see some impact on the smooth delivery that I have become famous for all these years!  Eating and drinking have not been impacted supported by the fact that I mmaintaining my portly sexy bod. All in all, not bad for a guy that first started noticing symptoms four years ago this June.

 Over the past year or so, I've been keepingbusy spending time with family and friends wrapping up my career.  I traveled across the country for eight weeks with my brother Greg in a 38 foot fifth wheeler starting in Maine and ended up in the grand Tetons of Wyoming.  We were joined by my daughter Megan and friends from New Jersey, Doug and Rich.  White water rafting and seeing the wildlife skydiving  in Yellowstone was a gift of a lifetime.  I travelled the state of Florida with my daughter and son ending up in Key West Florida enjoying a 10,000 foot skydive.  Staci and I spent time in Nantucket Massachusetts,  Stowe Vermont, and Popham Beach, Maine.  We also enjoyed family time on Lake Winnepesaukee cruising around on our boat most weekends. Unfortunately, we had to sell the boat due to my increasing limitations.  I was able to work through October and officially retired on November 1, 2016. I'm lucky to have friends and family who have been willing to stay in touch, move closer, Travel to visit, and to just  pick up the phone to say hi. I can't tell you how much it means to me. Oh, and by the way, I seem to remember Tommy terrific winning another Super Bowl during the course of last year! :-) go patriots!  Finally, my favorite moments come when friends come together and relish in the memories of who we were and who we have become!

Be well my friends!

Jamey


  New Hampshire reunion!





































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