Joe and Tracy's children, including little Alayna

Workin' those arms

Third day of good progress, then disaster

So here's Mom's schedule for today: occupational therapy at 8:45. Physical therapy at 11 and again at 3:15. So far so good.

I arrived to take this photo just before occupational therapy.

Then I followed the therapist and Mom down to the therapy room. First thing on the docket: bowflex! If I were smarter, I'd rotate the film, but I'm not.

Mom was happy and working hard. The therapist talked with me about Mom's bathroom at home and showed me various kinds of support bars. We'll have to think more about that later.

I went to teach a class. When I came back at 3, there was trouble. Mom had suddenly had intense pain in her broken leg when a nurse was helping her get off her bed. She said she screamed and screamed. The woman in the next bed, Marsha, there with a stroke, held her hand while she screamed. The nurse finally, while I was there, and while Carol called (sorry to put you off, Carol, hope you called back) gave Mom a strong pain killer of the . . . CONTIN family. We read together, worked on a crossword puzzle, Mom dozed.

Then three friends from her neighborhood came and I went home for the evening. I called at about 8 and Mom's friend Joan was there. Mom had lunch and dinner in bed -- a big setback.

And then I remembered (see the sign at the top): Friday the 13th!

Eightieth Birthday!

Blue's Choice

Paul is moving to Oregon!

Hey everyone, just to let you know, I accepted a job with the Crater Lake Council, Boy Scouts of America and we will be living in Bend, Oregon. I start November 1st. My family is hoping to move up at Christmas time. It is a beautiful community with Ponderosa Pine trees, 300 miles of trails, a ski resort 20 minutes away and a river that runs through the town. Everyone has kayaks, skies, snowmobiles and bikes! Just my kind of town. It has an REI store and a Columbia outlet store! Everyone is welcome to come visit.

From Tom's Wedding: Greenwich, Connecticut