I can’t believe it is exactly eight weeks since I took my last steps in Gainesville GA. The world has literally changed in those eight weeks including my little cosmos. COVID was THE issue then with masks required everywhere and some/most(?) of us hustling for a vaccine. Today it feels like we are on the other side of the storm. Healing up was the easy part - well also getting out of shape and getting fat! Doctor Shapiro at Mayo and PT Rob Coltman have released me to gradually build back up fitness.

Lucky is undergoing his chemo weekly and it seems to be working to the point where he is also ramping up the mileage with me - I ran/walked 9 miles this weekend. We have the plan in place to visit oncology vets along the route weekly to administer the drugs with the knowledge that inevitably he will succumb to cancer and we will need to put him down way too early in his life.

The RV is not fixed because of supply chain issues in the system so I instructed General RV to ship the parts - awning & collision damage - to Salt Lake City where they have a service center. We better make it there…

Chris is on his flight heading south - my friend joked with me earlier about Chris and I never meeting and committing to 3 months together…I think of it like landing in a freshmen dormitory before you could pick your roommates and having a life changing opportunity to get to work and know someone by the end of it. And, we both love food and looking for adventure - what could go wrong?!

Monica rented an apartment in Mill Valley for a year starting May 1st so she has been there setting up. She will arrive on Wednesday and I leave Tuesday - two ships passing in the night. I will miss seeing her, giving her a hug and saying goodbye but that is the point for her, the goodbye to Lucky and I is too much. I don’t know when we will see each other again but I do know we will end up together in Mill Valley for a spell when we are done.

My 104 year old grandmother is out of the hospital and now on the move in Eskaton - she has gone back to dining room meals, puzzles, walks and looking forward to living. The community awards badges for each decade of life - she has what I call the sheriffs badge because that is what it looks like if you make it to 100. I’ve petitioned the committee that they should figure out what comes at 105…I am looking forward to meeting her, my mother Jean & friend Dick and, Aunt Jan and all the other great folks I met at Eskaton in a few months…

Tonight I will celebrate the last night with friends and as we typically do, everyone brings something; we will eat well, drink well and enjoy each other’s company before tomorrow launches a new chapter in life.

Cheers,

David.