Sunday, August 17, 2025 – Day 369

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Good Morning, friends—thanks for being here with me today.

Yesterday was day three of the birthday weekend, with today’s lunch marking the finale. By tonight, my voice will be worn out after so many noisy gatherings. We have one more celebration to go.

Nicole and Zack flew in with Wyatt and Coco, and Alex and his fiancée Nicole joined us too—having the whole family together made the weekend especially meaningful. We spent part of the afternoon catching up on September’s wedding plans. Nicole has every detail mapped out, while Alex still has one big task—the rings. His first attempt couldn’t be salvaged, so he’s starting from scratch with the help of a local goldsmith. Time’s ticking. ⏰

Later, we met friends at Crystal Lake Brewery. We ignored the radar and got caught in a downpour—fifteen seconds outside and you were drenched. Luckily, Barb and Mark arrived early, stayed dry, and secured tables. CLB did well selling shirts and sweatshirts to the soggy crowd. Donna and Joe even broke the “no gift” rule and handed me a dry t-shirt with the perfect ALS message: Just Cure It. Thank you!

Inside, it was all about friends, family, and keeping the kids entertained. I managed a round of shuffleboard with Wyatt and Coco, but darts told another story. Wyatt had a few land in the trash can and laughed about it. My throws didn’t even clear the base of the board. Muscle loss had the final word, and I conceded quickly.

After two hours, fatigue set in and it was time to head home—just in time for another downpour. Despite Alex and Zack’s best efforts to hustle me to the car, my slow shuffle meant another soaking. Thankfully, home meant warm, dry clothes.

It was a joy to have family and close friends together for this birthday. These moments mean the world to me, and I hold them close. Thank you, Nikki and Zack, for flying in. Thank you, Alex and Nicole, for setting aside wedding planning to join us. And thank you to Barb and Mark for the pizza, snacks, and balloons. It set the party tone. To everyone who came—your presence made this birthday one I’ll remember forever.

Zack gets a shout-out for escorting me to the men’s room. Like others who’ve helped me,!he stayed back and waited before helping me back to the table. Bill B…it looks like you’ve got the corner on the “full service bathroom visits.

Have a great Sunday everybody.

Love you guys!❤️