Monday, January 19, 2026 – Day 524

Monday, January 19, 2026

Good morning, everyone.

Tough loss for the Bears last night, but what a season—it was heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat football all year and the most excitement in Chicago since the Devin Hester days…or even the ’85 Bears. Caleb Williams is the real deal, and for the first time in a long while there’s genuine hope for the future. The overtime loss hurts, but this team never quit. They kept us watching to the very end, and that’s what sports are supposed to be: pure entertainment and a welcome distraction from life. On to next year. 🐻⬇️

So, back to life…my life anyway—and the Army behind me.

Everything I do these days takes considerable effort. Getting dressed, showering, going to the bathroom, sleeping, eating, meds, entertaining, traveling to medical appointments or just traveling. It’s an endless list. I’ve written about each of these at one point or another, and I’m always grateful for the responses from blog readers offering suggestions or ideas to make things a little easier.

Mike and Beth Havenga stopped by for an impromptu visit on Saturday. We’d been trying to get together over the holidays, but between colds and the flu, it just never lined up. It seems like someone in every family has been sick off and on this winter—except for me. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

As is often the case, Mike was looking for ways to help. Our conversation drifted to ALS and eventually landed on the beast of a power chair I use every day. It’s incredibly functional, comfortable enough for all-day use, and designed to lock into an accessible van so we can more easily leave the house. I’ve been stalling on the van part—they’re expensive, and until recently the closest dealer was over an hour away.

When Angel Peggy stopped by for Cindy’s birthday last week, she mentioned that she’d visited a new dealership in Crystal Lake called A&J Mobility—just 15 minutes from our house. That changed things. We’ve been talking about getting the ball rolling on purchasing, leasing, or possibly renting an accessible van, if that’s even an option. When we mentioned this to Mike, he offered to go learn more about the dealership for us. That kind of help goes a long way—even when it’s about a vehicle nobody ever wants to buy.

So maybe it’s time to stop talking about an accessible van and actually do something about it. This conversation has been ongoing since last June, when the power chair arrived. Looking forward to what Mike learns this week.

Have a great Monday.
Love you guys! ❤️

Photo of Andy’s Army in DC watching the Bears game. Left to right: Ann, Erin, and Nikki.