Final week in Madison

Thank you and thanks again for continued card delivery! Cards from all over the country have included old pictures, long letters and even stickers for the kids (thanks, Tina!). Dad's always loved cards -- getting them and receiving them. So it's a special time of day when the mail comes and he sits down to open his letters. Reminiscing and laughing, he tucks each card away so he can look at it again later.

Yesterday Dad got a letter, card and pictures from his friend Laura. They were neighbors in Lorain on 2oth Street, where Dad was born and lived for about 20 years. The pictures showed Dad as a fat baby, tall adolescent on a bike and then a handsome young man taking Laura to the prom (and a few other dances!). He always wore his signature Bill smile. Laura, thanks for sending Dad some good memories.

Aside from opening mail, we've tried to keep things pretty low-key around here. No big field trips (although we're thinking of one for this weekend ...) Dad's been doing exercises that the docs gave him and practicing his speech. We take walks and he gets on his computer to check e-mail. He calls Linda and his friends and sometimes just sits outside on the Adirondacks, enjoying the nice weather we've been having. He watches the kids play and asks them 20 questions about the upcoming school year. We take our time during every meal. I got him a 500-piece puzzle that features a scene from Madison, so he's enjoyed working on that. Scott took yesterday and this afternoon off to help so I can do some school prep (we find out the kids' teachers today!). So Dad even spent time fixing a few things with Scott, and two nights ago they watched Gran Torino, featuring Clint Eastwood. Bill loves that movie and said, "That guy reminds me of me!"

I've spent time organizing and just thinking about logistics for Dad's departure on the 27th -- making sure he has enough prescriptions, figuring out plane logistics with Heather and Linda, taking him to get final labs in Madison and talking with docs before his final appointment here on the 25th.

I know Linda misses Bill, and I'm glad for both of them that he'll be home soon.