Re: Doing much better 20060623

Hi! To all our China friends,

Sunday was Father抯 Day in the USA. This is so we can compete with Mother抯
Day.  My daughter Carolyn was here to wish me Happy Father抯 Day.  She gave
me a nice Father抯 Day card and a gift certificate to buy whatever I wanted.
  I bought some socks and books.  I gave Carolyn a card and book for her
birthday.  My son Tom and other daughter Becky wished me Happy Father抯 Day
on the phone.  Family really makes life so much more pleasant.
Starting this week I no longer require a care giver.  I can do everything
for myself now.  And next week I will no longer have meals delivered to my
apartment as convenient as that is.  However, that gets expensive and I can
buy frozen dinners at the store for lots less money.  I抦 no cook but I can
fix my own breakfast cereal or oatmeal and warm up frozen food.  Also, last
week I started driving again so I feel like I抦 getting back to normal.
To gain my strength back on my left side I go for daily walks with my cane.
In the house I get along without my cane but outside I am safer walking with
my cane.  My physical therapist has left me with some exercises that help me
increase my sense of balance. My speech therapist puts me through some vocal
exercises to get my voice back to normal.  I want to sound like a man, not a
girl!
A nurse comes once a week to see if my medicine is keeping my blood thin
enough so I don抰 have another stroke.  I also poke my finger to check my
sugar level each day since I have some diabetes.  I take pills to control
this.  Thank goodness my physical care is covered by insurance!  When you
get to be 75 you start to fall apart.  Despite all this I feel pretty good
and I抦 thankful that I am recovering so fast.
I still continue to teach a Monday evening discussion group that makes me
feel useful.  Then on Friday mornings I meet for breakfast with some men
friends.  This and other visits keep me from feeling too lonely.  I feel
that Mary is still with me in spirit!
I hope you have taken the opportunity to honor your parents for all they
have done for you.  The Good Book says: 揅hildren, do what your parents tell
you.  This is only right.  慔onor your father and mother?is the first
commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, 憇o you will live
well and have a long life.? Fathers, don抰 exasperate your children by
coming down hard on them.  Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of
the Master.?

Your friend, Tom A.