I know it�s been awhile. I apologize for being so remiss about an update this week but Gayle and I were at the District Convention of Jehovah�s Witnesses: �Zealous Proclaimers� at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. (Curious about happens at our District Conventions: Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship and Conventions

The conventions are always a special time for us each year and we were sincerely worried that we would not be able to go this year but Gayle was determined to try. So we ended up getting a room at the Embassy Suites in South San Francisco so as not to deal with the hour drive from our home in Concord everyday. It worked out great. Other than the last hour of the Saturday session she was able to sit through all three days of the convention. Sometimes Gayle would sit in her lawn chair in the handicapped section or we would go to the car and listen to the program on the local FM band on the radio. But either way we greatly enjoyed the program. I won�t talk too much about it as I know many of you still have your conventions coming up and I wouldn�t want to ruin it for you.

Anyway Gayle is doing really well. Her hair is growing back very quickly, which I am sure she is very happy about. She is getting more and more mobile. Every week she brags about being able to move her head left to right more and more. I think she can move her neck about 55° vs. the normal 90°. While at the hotel she realized that she now has the stamina to shower standing up so we took the stool out of the shower. We are also very close to returning the wheelchair, as we aren�t really using it anymore. I think I will miss the wheelchair more than Gayle will. It is tons of fun cruising around on that thing. Ah, well maybe we�ll keep it, for my use.

Myself, well, I have returned to work. The folks here at Gap Inc. have been fabulous. Last week, during the quarterly meeting of the division, I was given a very large card, created and designed by the web designers of Gap Inc. Direct (to see more of their handiwork check out gap.com oldnavy.com and bananarepublic.com) with many signatures. In addition to that my co-workers took up a collection and handed me an envelope with a significant sum of money in it. I must admit that I was left a little verklempt by the entire incident. It is absolutely shocking the amount individuals contributed to the collection. I did have the opportunity to stand up an express my gratitude to the division (about 280 people) and give them a brief update on Gayle�s continually improving condition but I will figure out a way to thank everyone individually very soon.

Later that day I received a visit from Jennifer Fair, a good friend of ours who happens to work for BabyGap Merchandising with Gayle. They had taken up a collection as well and showered us with gift certificates for Safeway, Target, Home Depot, Blockbuster, and well practically every store that Gayle and I frequent daily. Just so we would have all the practical matters taken care of. Even included a gift certificate to our favorite bistro, Pasta Primavera In addition to the cards and well wishes and phone calls and e-mails, Dottie Mattson and Tara Poseley sent a cook over to our place with enough meals to keep us going for more than a week. (Marcus thanks for the excellent food especially the chicken dumplings. My mouth still waters thinking about it.)

The corporate world can be rather detached and unemotional but I am continually surprised to find that Gap Inc. tries to be more than just another profit seeking entity but actually a community that supports one another. Instead of being a heartless company it is indeed an organization of people who care.

It is actually quite amazing how many people have cared enough to give more than just lip service to the words �if you need help call me.� The folks from the Pleasant Oaks and Contra Costa Spanish congregations have made themselves available at a moments notice for anything we could possibly need. Not to mention the calls and personal interest they have shown has let us know that no matter what the problem we are never alone. Everyday they define what brotherhood really means. Each and every one of our friends in both halls has truly treated Gayle and myself as members of their family. Their words of encouragement, financial support, personal attention that they have showered us with has made this so much easier to bear. I am sure Jehovah looks down from heaven and smiles. Me on the other hand I look up to them.

Anyway I am gushing now. So I will stop before I get verklempt again and end up looking like a blubbering fool. Thanks for everything folks. And I will update soon, I promise.