My favorite picture of Dave and the kids from our annual weekend in Chicago, July 2005.

Happy Wednesday Everyone. I'm in the basement on the laptop (so please excuse my typos...my fingers are too big for these little keys) this morning. My niece Annie (Renee & Craig's 1 1/2 year old) is over while Renee goes to aerobic class. Annie and Natalie are having a blast with the dress up; I'm guessing Annie doesn't have much of that at her house with three older brothers... Renee is at the step aerobic class we used to attend together. I haven't been in a long time, and I guess our instructor has been asking about if I will return. I'm so nervous about the idea of "organized exercise". I've been proud of my daily treadmill; I now briskly walk 10 miles a week. But the idea of physical jumping makes my scar hurt just thinking about it. May-be in 2007 I'll be ready to join Renee on these early mornings.

I have my next visit with my general cardiologist next week. I no longer use the PAM monitor and am very interested with what he is going to say about my results. Next Friday is my last scheduled day to take amiodarone (the heart medicine I've been taking since I was hospitalized back in April). That is going to be a day to celebrate; I already have my bottle of wine ready. It will feel so good to be done with that medicine, another step closer to being as "back to normal" as I'm going to get. My birthday and no more amiodarone in the same week...life doesn't get any better that this!

As I'm sure you have heard, the Tigers have clinched the Wild Card spot in the playoffs. Dave's pretty excited. The playoffs start next week, just in time for his 40th birthday on the 9th. Nice way to start your next decade. I think he is taking Dominic to at least one game of the series. I'm not sure who is more excited, Dominic - for the possibly of going to a playoff game, or Dave - for being able to take his only son to a Tiger playoff game. Either way, I'm happy for them both.

I had a strange dream the other night. I dreamt that I had to have surgery again. Only this time the incision had to be in my head. I was very worried about how my hair would look, wasn't too excited about having a bald line across my scalp. Not sure what that means.... but it got me thinking about some other more important things. There are so many other people in the world who face life's difficult challenges. My neighbor Mike is dreading the wait for his surgery date later this month, my friend Kerrianie's friend Heather had surgery this week to remove her eye (she was diagnosed with some form of cancer last month) and Dave's cousin Robyn continues her aggressive chemo treatments in Texas with hope of a reprieve. We all experience life's pain and difficulties. And without one another to lift us up, we are nothing. I received a great gift this past summer. People from all parts of my life - close and far, gave me care, comfort and compassion. I have renewed friendships, stronger bonds and greater understanding and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I feel blessed to have such special people in my life and blessed with the knowledge of how important it is to share compassion, comfort and care with one another. Have a wonderful rest of the week. God bless, Michelle