November 23, 2010 12:45 AM

Glad to be still trucking along...

I can remember all too well this time two years ago as I sat in the hospital with Thanksgiving approaching and knowing that I would still be there on that day. But the doctors put it all in perspective when they said that their goal was not to have me be available for Thanksgiving 2008 but for many more Thanksgivings after that. So far I have added two more to the list(if I can be presumpuous enough to assume that I will still be with you all on Thursday).

Yes, I can take life one day at a time, but it's nice to step back once in a while and truly think about the future as well. Spending time at family gatherings celebrating the good things in life, socializing with friends, doing things with the grandchildren, etc. Those are all activities and milestones that tend to keep us going for the long haul.

In two weeks it will be my mother-in-law's 93rd birthday. Later in December it will be my mother's 88th. It's nice to be able to be around for these events. And we all feel that there is something unfair about a child passing away before the parent does. Thank God for the advances of modern medicine such that I am fully able to participate in all that life has to offer.

As for my day to day activities, I just finished my lighting project of putting four recessed lights into our den ceiling. These are the kinds of jobs that I like the best bcause they add functionality where none existed before. The additional light is such a big plus in the room.

Next on the list is replacing all the kitchen cabinet doors. The doors arrived Saturday - nicely delivered to the wrong address by Fed-Ex. In any case, they are here and in the ensuing weeks I'll pick up and start that going. I have to drill all the holes for the hinges and the door knobs but it was quite a savings not to have the door manufacturer do it.

It's time for a little rest between now and Thursday as I have spent so much time over the past few days going up and down a ladder to my attic and climbing up and down a stool to mount the lights that I almost feel like a human yo-yo.

As for the only issue that I have(my eyes). Unfortunately, I see(a very poor pun at best) very little progress(if any) with the cornea situation in my right eye. The vision remains blurry. So I view my next visit to Mass Eye And Ear as being a very telling one as to what the future holds for me in that regard.

But, Thursday is a day to give thanks and I have so much to be thankful for. Any mild inconvenience is nothing when compared to the alternative.

I am here...

Bob