WOW, Nancy that was so great you all got together and traveled all over on top of that!!! Who says it can't be done?? I look at myself I don't see handicap, I see a man that can do so much myself and what I can't or don't do I really do not miss that part of life!!!

No matter what survivors have our day/night or moments that just don't agree with how we think at that moment but like Dan did, it passes after a little time!!

It's so good to hear all went well over the miles you traveled for this member meeting member outing along with the cruise!! I often wish all of us could plan a meeting to see and observe how each survivor is taking life and what matters the most which is our care givers, family and friends!!!

Well Nancy, hopefully next summer you and Dan can park the motor home at my house, stay awhile, and we can go catch some fish on the pier at the military base!!!

I visited Ruth and William in Houston last year and that was a great trip too and I'm looking forward to them coming to Fort Hood and see the military post, the Troops and how they live when not at war!!! Lot's of stuff and things to see and do for everybody!!

You'll see many of the wounded Warriors living their lives with their families but with missing limbs and using scooters and power chairs to get around any where they wish to go!!!

Nancy, when Ray had his bad strokes in 1999 I thought life was over but in the good years 2001-2006 Ray and I did two coach trips a year 8-10 days seeing parts of eastern Australia we had been planning to see as part of our retirement . Our friends used to ask if I had had a good time and I always said yes but like you I was paddling as hard as I could to keep upright! Was it worth it? Yes it was, it helped to "normailise" our situation and I did have someone else cook the meals and drive the coach, so I did have time to sit back and relax while we were sight-seeing.

Do what you can to fill in those gaps in your life whether it is travelling or dancing or whatever it is you're missing out on. There is freedom within the limits and we all need that.

Sue.

Nancy, thanks for sharing your trip adventures. I don't know if I could handle everything as well as you, but I note you are younger and must have a lot of energy. The one thing I feared about traveling are those dreaded airline delays. I would be sooo stressed out. I'm surprised the airline did not give you the required time to make your connection. I don't blame Dan as I would be crabby too.

As you mentioned, the best part was gettting together and having your spouses meet and bond with each other. It is so neat that you and Colleen made the connection with each other.

Larry and I loved traveling and I intend to get back to it one way or the other.

Julie

Nancy,

Thank you for sharing your trip experience.

I can only imagine some of the hardships. But, all in all it was doable and very worthwhile to learn that you could do it.

I am still afraid to do a trip like that. Bathroom issues. I could not stand the delays in an airport. Wm is so unreasonable about waits..

Good for you. I am so proud of you and Dan.

Ruth

Dan is also unreasonable about waits--- but cognitivley he cant really tell if he has been somewhere a hour or four... i know as i type this how sad that is but unfortunatley true.. soo although he gets upset he has learned to let it go-- but persephony ( locked in on emotion) is reality for us..the speach therapist described the condition so well to me that no i can identify when it is happening and capatilize on the "mood breaker" like when he seen FARGO on the screen.. and fred how far are you from MESA -- AZ ???? Ruth I am so sure you could make it happen - and i know you will when the time is right.no doubt.......Julie it can be done -- lots of senerios played out some did not ( i am thank full for the good and the bad, as i need both to learn and plan for) cause i and dan will live ,darn it... energy-- i dont have enough sure wish i had more but--- it will be interesting to get my blood work done and see how my anemia is-- i slip so slow i dont know it is happening--- and since my back is hurting ( a sign of it) i might be dwindeling... oh well only choice is forward cause aint hardly anything behind me... LOL nancyl

I had it a lot easier than Dan and Nancy, since we got to visit with them while being home for the week before and after the cruise. No airplanes to add to the drama. To top it off, we escaped the hurricane by a day (barely, the ship did drive through it full steam ahead going south) that was a blessing, despite some seasickness by half of our group. By the time we got back from the cruise, everything in my neighborhood was cleaned up, except for MY lawn of course! We had lost power for three days while gone, much better than the rest of Long Island....Dan and Nancy got to see the gas shortage lines and the mess in other neighborhoods, and our local river at lowest tide ever. There was never a dull moment, we barely stopped to rest. Ray and I got off the ship at Cocoa Beach FL and in the Bahamas, and just wandered til we found local places to hang out, it's really the same the world over. Now that we have passports, I'm seriously thinking of getting back to Europe someday although on a handicapped tour. It might tire Ray out a bit, but that's a small price to pay.

Nancy somehow knew Dan and Ray would hit it off, I was just along for the ride. I'm not one to doubt, but the way they bonded instantly just blew my mind. Ray was always watching out that Dan had what he needed, and instructing us on how to fix it, and their extended conversations were a riot! The three weeks just flew by, every day a new miracle with those two. Ray was so inspired by Dan's walking and talking, and Nancy spent plenty of time giving Ray the pep talks he so desperately needs. He made some major advances overall.

Locally, we did several day long trips and the guys were great. Our last day, we took a high speed ferry over to Connecticut (so disappointed that Debbie had car issues) and spent the day at one of the casinos, just being normal. The feeling of going somewhere with my husband, not an "invalid" despite the wheelchair, was something that has jump started me, and made me stop feeling so sorry for myself. Yes it was some stress and a lot of work, but there were so many new facets of Ray I never glimpsed before that I have more hope than ever that we will get by. This was the best therapy ever! Oh and the ultralite wheelchair.... I now have one too, thanks to Nancy, it is the best!!

Ha! I was the one sitting home, angsting about the four of you cruising through a hurricane and knowing that Long Island was hit so hard and you all had little info about what you were cruising home to. I had visions of the four of you stuck in some high school gym! Fortunately Colleen had great contact with people at home.

You all had a wonderful time and yes, the cruise was a major event, post stroke. And I certainly hope someone had an umbrella drink for me.

What I love the most is the bonding, connecting. Dan and Ray becoming so comfortable with each other, so quickly. You just never know. You make the leap and just hope the landing is soft - LOL. Good for you all and I know there are some ideas for future

Any outing, post stroke, is an undertaking. It is funny, because Mary Beth said that just last week when I was mentioning the prep and organization. She said "Yes, but you are used to it now." Yes, there are days I just don't want to deal with the hooplah! But at the end of the day, I am always glad I took the extra steps. I am so glad you both confirmed that on such a larger scale. Debbie