Happy Thanksgiving

[level_head]

It has been a difficult year for me, with no hint of what was to come when it began. From the loss of my lifemate, to the recent discovery that my inability to walk is perhaps not fixable after all, and financial impacts from all of this, it could be a time of great depression. But I don’t feel that way.

Comments

[ford_prefect42]

I hereby make an offer: You may make a call on me for either monetary goods not to exceed $1000, or labor and skilled workmanship products not to exceed same. Which may include vehicular disability reconfiguration.

Neglecting the legalistic language, message me, and tell me what you need. I will do what I can to make it happen. SRSLY

[level_head]

Thank you, sir; it is a generous and thoughtful offer. I'm okay at the moment.

And I just did get the car controls installed. It was surprisingly quick to get used to them. But it's a good thing that I've got cruise control; pulling on the gas is tedious. I've dealt with 17 hours of stop-and-go traffic in the last week; my left arm gets sore. But being stuck in traffic is so much better than being stuck at home when I need to get to a meeting. The $400 taxi ride is not practical.

As an aside, Uber will sometimes double their prices or more if they get busy; the last multiple I saw (just before being able to drive again) was 2.4 times the normal price. Ouch; a three-mile trip to the doctor's was $38+ one way.

Your post was touching, and I must thank you again. I did something like what you offered for friends years ago; I am looking forward to being able to do such things again. Friends in financial straits who were music enthusiasts got a "wreath o' Franklins" made with actual bills. ];-)

Best wishes.

===|==============/ Keith

[juliet_winters]

You are a most amazing person, sir.

[level_head]

Ah, my friend, you should have met the Lady Anne. As Adam said at the end, in Mark Twain's The Diaries of Adam and Eve:"Wheresoever she was, THERE was Eden."
===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[marycatelli]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[level_head]

Thank you. Like today's meal, it has been a lot to digest.

===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[prester_scott]

And to you -- in light of all this, your optimism is truly remarkable.

[level_head]

I had a different cause for concern when there was a Mafia contract out on me (and probably my Lady). But my postings here (and my demeanor with my staff at the time) did not reflect this; the managing of my mind has been a skill I continue to work at.

This has been my greatest challenge so far; I have decided to be grateful for the time we had together, rather than incapacitated by her loss. So, on with the show, though there are still ... moments.

===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[kharmii]

Hope your treatment plan works! We need more minds like yours fighting on the side of freedom.

[level_head]

Thank you.

I've just learned that the neurologist left on vacation ... before scheduling the treatment (which is done through an IV). Disappointing. I am losing a little function each day, and it would be better to start sooner rather than later.

===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[kharmii]

They should page him and have him give the go ahead.

[level_head]

Indeed; I am working through the bureaucracy involved, as well as what strikes me as a general decline of competence that has affected mid- to low-skilled workers across the country. Many younger persons seem to find it challenging to make change - or to make sense.

I will continue to pursue this next week.

===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[akilika]

You remind me of someone I met yesterday. Endlessly positive, with no end of interesting things to say, and a great deal of stuff to back it up.

I'm glad to hear from you, as ever but particularly today (well, yesterday), and that you're doing reasonably well. May things only improve from here. :-)

[level_head]

Thank you. I look forward to each day, minus perhaps the first minute or so of getting out of bed. ];-)

===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[level_head]

What was the context of your meeting? Will this person be a new frequent contact? I just met someone in a grocery store a couple of days ago, and that person is rapidly becoming an enjoyable new acquaintance.

===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

[akilika]

Bringing some of ford_prefect42's mom's Thanksgiving dinner to one of her neighbors. Bill's been wanting to arrange a meet for some time because the guy's an artist and Bill thought I'd think he was awesome. I did. :-) (He was also very glad for Thanksgiving leftovers--I don't think he's got family since his brother died.)

I'd like to be in frequent contact with him, and he lives just a few doors down from Bill's parents' house, so it would be easy. I just need to figure out the aspects of respectful boundaries when contacting him more-or-less means crossing his threshold. (He's hard-of-hearing enough that phone contact is hard.)

But... I think it's worth it to try to negotiate those boundaries, because he is a really awesome guy. And... while I get the impression he really does enjoy living alone, I wouldn't doubt he's also probably a little lonely.

:-) Your chance meet at the grocery store sounds awesome! If you'd like to divulge, I'd also be interested in hearing yours. New friends are always awesome!