Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Day 442

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Good morning, everyone!

Happy belated birthday, Lynn M. 🎉

Lynn is a friend we met through Camp Osoha in Boulder Junction, WI — an all-girls camp our daughters attended for many summers. Each summer session was six weeks long, and the camp was truly something special. Sadly, it closed years ago after a tragic accident, but while it was running it shaped generations of young girls into strong, confident women.

It still makes me sad that it’s gone. Camp Osoha was one of those rare places that built character, independence, and self-confidence…one of the many reasons, I believe, that Nikki has been so successful in life. (Of course, her parents may have helped a little 😉.) She still keeps in close touch with many camp friends, which always makes me smile. Money well spent.

I continue to receive books, cards, texts, and blog comments from so many of you. I love hearing that my posts have become part of your morning routine — that first cup of coffee or tea as you wait for the blog to “drop.” That’s why I’m determined to post by 7 a.m. CST every day (though subscribers may see about a 30-minute delay).

Your feedback means the world to me. I’ve smiled, laughed, and cried reading your messages, and I’m deeply grateful that you’ve joined me on this roller-coaster ride. You help me see the joys of life and distract me from the daily grind of this disease. Thank you. ❤️

One card arrived yesterday referencing Ordinary Grace, which I finished last week. The sender called it one of their “all-time favorites” and suggested I read Peace Like a River by Leif Enger…looking forward to reading it. It should arrive in a few days. I truly appreciate these suggestions; they stretch my mind and heart and remind me to mix in more reflective reads with my usual thrillers and historical fiction.

That same note also commented on my ALS progression and referred to my challenges as “technical difficulties.” I thought that was the perfect description — and I’m officially adopting it! From now on, when I mention “technical difficulties,” you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Yesterday’s “technical difficulty” happened while I was on my laptop. Cindy and I still manage our HOA, and with a board meeting coming up, I was handling the financials — my kind of task. But as I typed, I realized my fingers no longer hit the keys with enough strength or accuracy. Before long, I’d switched to index-finger typing. That doesn’t work too well with Excel, where you need both hands dancing across the keyboard. If you’re an Excel user, you understand what I’m talking about. What should have taken an hour stretched into two plus. I was happy to get it done… just frustrated at the snail’s pace.

Today we’re heading to the ALS United Symposium in Wheaton, IL. It’s going to be a long one, but I’ll fill you in tomorrow on how it goes.

Have a great Wednesday. Love you guys! ❤️

Today’s photo gives you a perspective of how my hands are changing. Not pretty…sorry.