Onward and Upward

Mind boggling changes bring new challenges that make moving ahead more of a challenge. Yes, first there was my stroke which required  both occupational  and physical therapy. Of course I have been retired for some time so I did not have an occupation to re-learn or anything like that but I do write a lot so that's what my occupational therapy focused on, getting more control of my left hand for typing. I have improved quite a bit but am still struggling a little even though I "graduated" from that program this past week.

Physical therapy has focused on walking, first without the walker and then without a cane. I accomplished both of those goals and am now working on my balance, I can walk a little wobbly sometimes, my balance has improved but the physical therapists have continued to put me through my rigorous paces twice a week for almost a month now. I'm hoping tomorrow I will graduate from that program.

We are looking forward to our appointment, the first one, with a Neurologist in Tucson who specializes in stroke recovery to find out what our approach should be from here out regarding continued recovery and avoiding a second stroke which are fairly common. That will be helpful to me, having more information.

Hopefully we will be on our way to Washington State come September 10th to visit family. The wildfires up there in the Pacific Northwest are continuing to burn and insure smokey air so we don't know exactly what we will find but the key word is flexibility. I don't want to be in a dangerous location in terms of fire or smoke.I don't think that would be good for me, a stroke survivor or for my wonderful wife and caregiver, Katherine.

We will attempt to continue keeping everyone up to date periodically.

 Stan the Man

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I know, I haven't been posting here much lately so it's likely not too many followers have stayed tuned since there hasn't been a lot new. I continue to primarily work on my rehabilitation from the stroke I suffered on May 25th of this year. I am walking pretty good on my own without the darn walker or the cane. No falls yet. I suffered no damage to my speech or seemingly to my intellect like many do so that makes my recovery easier than many stroke survivors. I consider myself lucky and blessed.

This blog began with the idea that it would be primarily a story about my travels with Katherine.

With the stroke the travel came to a screeching halt but it's not going to stay that way. We have a two week trip planned to Washington State in September. It was intended to be a combination of visiting various family members, friends and a get-away for us. We planned on staying on Lake Chelan in a water-front AirBNB for a portion of the trip but if you are following the news, you know that area has been ravaged by wildfires as has the Spokane area where we planned on visiting as well. So some portions of our trip may need to be adjusted. I have no desire to catch fire or breathe the smoke laden air. What a shame many of the fires were set purposely by one man.

Things never seem to go the way we plan. I don't know if that's true for you but it has been for us. But we just forge on. I encourage you to do the same. I do not intend to allow a stroke to change my trajectory. I want travel, I want experience and adventure so we will venture on. It's none of my business but I encourage you to do the same. Stay tuned, there will be more.

Stan the Man