hursday, October 30, 2025 – Day 443

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Good morning, everyone.

I’ve been in a bit of a funk since the marathon. That weekend felt like the big climactic event of the year — or maybe the marathon was the dessert and Alex and Nicole’s wedding was the main course. Either way, both moments were huge for me, and when I look at photos and videos, the emotions still wash over me 🥲. Beautiful, overwhelming, and memorable!

Lately, I feel like I’m canceling more opportunities than I’m saying yes to. Yesterday was a perfect example. I got up, got ready for the ALS Symposium, and then played the whole day out in my head. And once I saw the storyline…“technical difficulties” (love that term)…I convinced myself to take a pass. As this disease progresses, managing my bladder discreetly and effectively away from home is getting harder. I have some solutions, but they aren’t foolproof, so staying within a short radius of home feels safer right now. Work in progress.

Barb must have gotten wind of my internal tug-of-war, because she suggested an outing close to home — dinner at RedTail, the public golf club less than five minutes away. Truly, on a nice day, you can walk there. So at 4:00 pm, off we went in our car. It was too windy and chilly to walk.

The food was classic bar fare — hot, hearty, tasty, big portions, friendly service, and easy on the budget. We sat in the bar overlooking the course, watching the final stretch of fall color and the die-hard golfers before the season comes to an end in a few days. To finish the evening, the sun put on a closing performance show for us: soft light, warm hues, a peaceful close to the day. And we left with leftovers. In our book, that’s a win-win.

Thank you, Barb, for the nudge. It felt good to get out. I’m going to keep aiming for these little wins — one day at a time. No major events ahead, and that’s perfectly fine. We’ll enjoy the holidays, spend time with family and friends, and soak up the moments in between. Plenty good for me as I wrestle with my ongoing “technical difficulties” and work to tame them.

Everyone have a great Thursday. If you’re in the Chicago area, get outside and enjoy these last bursts of fall color while they’re still hanging on.

Love you guys! ❤️