My god I can't believe it's been over 4 months or longer since I last blogged. I wish I could say a lot of positive things have come and gone but the truth is that they have mostly gone. However life goes on on waits for no one especially fools like me. But I do seem to have learned to shoot the rapids better and find myself spending less and less tim in the drink of dispare. One accomplishment is I hardly ever think about my stroke and the effects that it visited upon me. I have one female friend that has MS and in recent months seems to be sliding down hill rather more than she used to be. But her outlook and spirit are great she always has something nice to say about me or my family she worked for the family business for years between hs graduation and her first marriage. She was one beautiful lady and could have her choice over any guy she fancied. but this horrendous diaease has stolen her looks and her speech but she fighs on in a extremely courageous way that I wish I could infuse myself with.She has a Christmas Party every year and this year because I'm going to Europe for the Holidays I told her there was no way I could come because of all that I had to do to get ready. It wasn't a total lie I'll be gone from Dec. 10 until Jan. 10 and the logistics for a stroke survivor are somewhat intimidating. But when I heard the tone in her voice I felt like Scrooge Jack the Ripper and George Bush wrapped all into one. I called her back and said something had come up and that I didn't have to leave until the 13 of Dec and so could attend her party along with all our old high school and college friends. The tone in her voice made me feel so good so filled with a feeling of having actually given someone something precious and rare for Christmas. Maybe these are the tools you use to combat the demons of depression. Though the cost to change airline tickets at a late date was some what expensive I'd spend that much every day for the feelings that filled my stroke damaged brain. Well I'll try and not let so much time slip by before I blog again I'll let you know how the party goes and what it's like to spend a month in central Europe, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia. Most of the time will be spent cruising in a private river boat on the Danube and stopping at all the big cities along the way. Our hosts are from th region and it's their boat so There won't be much to do but have the haul me and my brothers butts around. They are his wifes family and are great people have always treated me like a member of their family. When I had my stroke the mother and grandmother came here to Utah to take care of me for a month. Something I'll never forget. well see ya in a couple of months. Clark