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.”

Congratulations on completing your mission!

xoxox

May the Lord bless you and give you strength.
Your 2nd cousin,
Lin

When you went, it seemed as if you were going to be gone for a long time, and there seemed to be so much that was unknown.

Maybe your experience of getting used to your routine over there filtered out what someone would have expected to make it tortuous, because your blog reads, well, it reads comfortably (if that’s possible) as opposed to scary.

Glad you’re coming home.

You did it!!! It’s FINALLY over, huh? Congrats!!! I sincerely hope it was all worth it. I hope your trip home is uneventful. I’m sure I’ll talk to you once you get home. Thanks for all of the wonderful blogs…

Jeff

I’ve been reading with much interest about all your adventures, and ups and down, and details and impressions. Thanks for sharing all of it. Congratulations on making it, and surviving all the tortures and indignities. I can’t imagine the scene you will arrive to at the airport, but I am sure it will be great. I hope someone will bring a camera! I am so curious to hear how it goes after you get home, what your family thinks and if they can see any of the changes, what things stay, and what things change with time. Anyway, it must be so exciting to actually be facing your homeward journey, and I wish you lots of luck and stamina to make it home in one, relatively limber, piece.
Lots of love from your cousins in Colorado,
-p
xoxo

Even though I havent commented, I have been reading this blog as you went along. I have been really impressed by all of your experiences and your courage to push forward. I’m sure that home is something you cannot wait to see, and I hope that this experience was all you hoped it would/will be.
Anyway, sadly, the Mets still stink, and the Islanders ain’t much better… Take care of yourself, have a good trip, best to the family and see you soon… Why do I get the feeling you wont be ordering from Jade Garden on Larkfield anytime soon….