HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
2017.
Who knew?I don’t
really do resolutions…if there is something that I want to do, need to do, I
usually just go ahead and do it.If I
can do something without harming someone else, if I can afford it, I see no
abiding reason not to do it.
It sounds maudlin to say it, but I have tried to live my
life so that if I died tomorrow, I would have no regrets for anything that I
had done, nor for anything that I hadn’t done.For the most part, I feel that I have succeeded.For the most part.I know that I have done things, said things,
failed to do or say things, that could have made a difference for the
better.I fully admit that, but I am not
going to beat myself up over it, either.No need.
So, 2016 was a year! (Not to put too fine a point on it…) I turned 76, Mary and I celebrated our 53rd
anniversary, and Wendy put up with us for 4 months last summer.It is so cool to have a daughter who is doing
so well, who is such a healer, such a good friend to us, who has the ability to
help others heal, to make it through their days.She has wonderful friends, she is a wonderful
friend, and she is in a mutually supportive, loving relationship.
During the last year, we did a lot of writing for various
lung disease support groups.We traveled
to Bethesda, MD to participate in the formation of a COPD strategic plan mandated
by Congress.We also flew to Newark, NJ
to head a focus group and present at the Pulmonary Horizons Annual
Conference.Fun few days exploring New
York City and reconnecting with good friends and making some new ones!There are some really wonderful, dedicated
people involved in the battle for lung disease awareness, and we are proud to
call many of them good friends.
By far the highlight of our year was the chance to meet many
members of our donor family!Cristina
and Wes and the kids, David’s Mom and Dad, Jimae and Bruce, and all of the rest
of the wonderful family were so incredibly welcoming to us!Many hugs, some tears, and a lot of
memories.We feel that we have a brand
new family…
The lung disease community has suffered some losses during
the year, we have had too many who received their first diagnosis, and we have
had so many who have continued their struggle to maintain a decent quality of
life.I strongly suspect that those who
resolved a year ago to exercise, to be compliant with their medicine and diets,
will have held their own better than those who blew it off, those who simply
gave up and sat down.
If I were pressed, I would resolve to exercise most days, to
help others through my writing and speaking, to take care of my new lungs and
the rest of my aging body, and to have some fun along the way.However, there is little need to make any
such promises, ‘cause I will be doing those things anyway, as long as I am
able.Mary, in my humble opinion, is the
world’s greatest caregiver, Hospice Volunteer, and my fellow writer/speaker, so
her only resolution will likely revolve around somehow maintaining the patience
to put up with me.
Happy New Year!!We
love you.
Uncle Jim & Aunt Mary