Betty Jean you've got to celebrate the small successes. Getting Jim into the garden and out into the fresh air is good. There is healing in that. And the vitamin D in sunlight lifts your mood.

When Ray had stroke no 4 our doctor said to go somewhere every day to stop depression, so if Ray doesn't want to go out I say : "Sorry, doctor's orders." And mostly he just likes being out where people are as long as there are not big crowds.

Plan little outings if you can with the nicer weather coming, maybe to some of the places with happy memories attached to them for both of you. Good luck with your re-acclimatising Jim to being outdoors.

Sue.

Dear Betty Jean--Congratulations in getting Jim outside. If your weather is anything like ours was today, it was a great day to be outside. Hopefully, now that he got out on a nice day, he will be more willing to do it again. Good LucK! Keep persevering!

BTW--I heard on I think "Today" show that Aspertame, used in diet sodas, actually breaks down Serotonin in the brain and in doing so makes depression worse. Take Care. LK

That is great news Betty Jean. How are the tomatoes coming along?

Hopefully you can convince Jim to come to the St. Patrick's Party for the AZ gang. And when you do come, I need you to help me figure out where to put tomatoes in my yard!