My goodness, I'm ashamed, and it is clear that I should be! I have been very busy, but not to write on my blog for this long? Just inexcusable. Well, let me give you some idea how things have been with me since my last writing. About three years ago, I had my first (and fortunately, my only, so far) experience with sciatica. I can assure you, it is not a pleasant experience for a man, 72 years old to be on his hands and knees on the kitchen floor, crying and unable to get up. My primary care physician discussed various treatment options with me, and all had some significant drawbacks, along with less than encouraging prospects for long term relief. Finally he suggested I might want to consult with a chiropractor as he had known of some success using methods he did not really understand. I did, and fortunately, after three or four visits and some stretching exercises done twice a day, my symptoms nearly disappeared. I won't bore you with the details of my situation, but I had excellent results.

That caused me to discuss with my wife the wisdom of moving to a more temperate climate. Barbara had been suggesting such an idea for some time, but I had been putting off such an idea. In Maine, the weather is very unpredictable (this is March 31 and we have a forecast for up to a foot of snow tonight) and it was unlikely I could continue to shovel, plow, and keep up with the maintenance of our home much longer. So, we have been considering where we might live in a more hospitable climate and find a community we were comfortable and a considerably smaller house in which to live. We have spent a couple of years doing research, and making a few visits to locations we felt might be desireable. At this time, we think we have found the right place and will try to move there soon and rent a place to live to be sure it is right.

Of course, all of this was not without it's interruptions. In May of 2009, I had a heart attack, and lathough mild, it was a good warning that I needed to take better care of my health. I have been doing so, and I continue to do well. More seriously, just two days before Thanksgiving that year, my wife, Barbara, had a serious automobile accident. For several years we have owned a 2003 Audi TT roadster. It was a glorious car to drive and just a ball! She was on her way to work and encountered a Dodge Ram truck, serverely damaging the driver's side front of the TT. All systems worked and the air bags deployed. Unfortunately, she suffered a broken sternum, and contusions of both lungs. Those injuries were very difficult to completely recover from, as continual and recurring infections of her lungs recurred while they were compromised. 2010 was a very difficult year as she battled continuing problems. She suffered with recurring infections to her lungs and had numerous doctors visits to allergists, pulmonologists, and other specialists. In the past three months, she seems to have turned the corner and is making very good progress. Could 2011 prove to be better?

As I write this, we are sufficiently optimistic that we are about to list our home for sale, and try to successfully sell, and move further south.