The last two months have been horrendous. One of our closest friends was in the hospital and then rehab for 6 weeks. A missed diagnosis led to a burst appendix and she almost died. Fortunately, thanks to modern medicine she is home and her physical and occupational therapy is slowly bringing her around. At the same time, Jeff, who many of you know was my dental partner for 37 years, was in the same hospital for dehydration and kidney failure and too, almost died. His multiple myeloma (blood cancer) which he has had for 8 1/2 years, is winning the battle. Watching him fade away, is such a terrible thing to see. He can now hardly walk, is in terrible pain and is basically confined to his easy chair, except for doctor visits. Has anyone ever mentioned that CANCER SUCKS"?

During all of this time, since early May, we have been preparing to move. It sure was a lot easier 32 years ago when we moved into our present home. Being much younger and having accumulated much less junk accounts for it having been easier.

In 2 days the movers are coming. We were supposed to have the new house a week before moving out of the old one, but due to a major screw-up, we won't be moving in until possibly the 11th. Our possesions will go into storage now and we will be "sleeping around". It's kind of sick, but I'm actually looking forward to my laproscopic knee surgery on the 17th, so I can get a little rest.

I feel very guilty having dropped out of sight for so long and will be out of touch for a few more weeks, as we try to get things unpacked. I thought retirement was supposed to be a time to relax!