July 5, 2010 11:10 PM

101!

That's what the temperature reading was in the car today as we headed home from a family gathering at the lake for the July 4th holiday. I apologize for not having any entries the past few days. I left my notebook at home and had no way to do so.

Family, great weather, and a superb lakeside spot all made for a great weekend.

Tonight after coming back, we took my grandson to the movie, "The Karate Kid". It should be named the Kung Fu kid but that's for another day. Anyway, twice during the movie the phrase, "When life knocks you down, you can choose to get up" was used. Choosing to get up doesn't mean that you won't be knocked down again or that, ultimately, you'll be knocked "down for the count" as they say. Obviously, I can certainly relate to that and I've seen it exist with many others as well. We know that life isn't always fair but it's how you handle those situations that help to define you as a person. Giving up just shouldn't be the option chosen when something so precious as life is involved. And yet, I've heard stories of people who have done exactly that and it makes me wonder how anyone could act that way.

This disease has brought me into contact with so many people who are or were worse off that myself, and yet, they are still here fighting the battle because their life means that much to them and to those around them.

I've been exposed to something that I never would have seen otherwise.

It has been one of the many blessings that I've experienced during my journey...

Bob