This was a wonderful ending to the first chapter from the first book of Mike! I wish you could hear me laughing, crying and yelling at you (walking through the airports?!?!?). You are learning the difference between strategic exercise, and just blowin’ yer wad! It takes experience, and a certain amount of humility.

I have learned to conserve my leg joints. In your case, it’s not about joints so much, although it may come to that in the future. My reference is meant to be analogous to your experience as far as conserving resources, which in your case is more about energy. When you use your energy, you want to make sure it is for doing something that will enhance your abilities.

When I have to navigate through places like airports, shopping malls, Meijer etc., I always use the chair. I save my joints for walking on surfaces that are not concrete, which does not absorb shock well. Better for me to spend an hour on the elliptical trainer, or walking with my ski poles on a snowy path of nice soft pine needles!

I’m hoping that this “shotgun” approach works out for you, too. Hopefully, a few of the stems found a place in your body to park and plant…be good if it was in your cerebellum. As you say, time will tell. But for now, you have had a wonderful experience with people who have brought you love, hope, resolve, inspiration, and peace of mind.

I am not at all surprised that you have been so well cared for, and have so many people to thank here in your blog. I have no doubt that they were drawn to you with just one flash of your big dimpled-smile! I’m sure they will never forget YOU either, Mike. You are someone they will think of when they need inspiration to work hard, or just a little lift remembering the way you made them smile!

Maya Angelou said it best,
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
and people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”