Living in the RV worked well except last winter when we moved indoors. We recently bought a 2017 mobile home in a "55 year old plus" paved park here in Hamilton. Both of our daughters live within walking distance. Donna is slowly adapting, although she is still very confused most of the time and asks regularly if we are "going home tomorrow." Its so heartbreaking for me to watch her fade after 50+ years of marriage. As of today, she knows who I am most of the time, which is a big relief for me. She knows who our children are and recognizes her grandkids although she can't name them if asked. 

    We found a church we both like. We attend regularly when I can get her out of bed early enough to doll up. She sleeps 13-15 hours daily, which gives me some free time every morning although I can't and won't ever leave her alone. She has a short temper and gets upset with me for trying to help but forgets she is pissed within minutes. She doesn't drive, cook, clean, do math, handle any money, etc. She doesn't know her left from right, how to deal with light switches, her phone, use much of anything electric like TV, remote controls, microwave, door locks, etc. Of course her learning days are over and none of this is her fault whatsoever. She looks at pictures in magazines lots more than reading now. She loses things regularly. She helps with laundry folding, although sorting and putting it in the right dresser drawers is very challenging. She can't put groceries away anymore although she tries. I seldom take her grocery shopping. I'm proud to say her hygiene is still pretty good. She showers daily. She struggles with earrings and eye liner. She carries her purse with her everywhere.

     She does not eat well. She is losing weight although I allow her to drink a lot of "miss a meal" chocolate shakes and lots of her favorite chocolate chip mint ice cream. I try to cook decent meals of meat, veggies, salads, etc. but she gets "full" quickly. I have to keep her hydrated. I cut way back on her caffeine.

    I don't know what I would do without friends and family to help. I attend a caregiver's support group and I see a shrink who is great with caregivers. Outside our home, we have three storage units going. Right now the biggest challenge is to sort and store things we need and don't need. Our closets are not big enough. There will be a big yard sale this spring. I'll sell a lot of what is left of my hunting clothes, valuable collectibles, my library, taxidermy, etc. when we get settled more.

   I did not hunt, fish or get into the woods much in the past year. A month ago I could not put on my right sock due to knee pain. It was painful just climbing into my pickup. I recently got cortisone shots to both knees. They felt 75% better within hours. Big relief, at least for now. 

    I've decided to give up my beloved Iowa residency, which means I will draw an Iowa deer tag every four years, not the best news since I am 75 now and quickly running out of deer seasons. With the help of my kids and close friends, I was able to go to Iowa for two weeks of bowhunting this November. That didn't turn out quite as well as I hoped. The first few days I saw half a dozen or so bucks daily but almost all were 2.5 year old deer. One big 4x4 that I would have shot got past me from behind the stand with no shot opportunity. I built a ground blind on a fence crossing the first day in Iowa. The very next day at 12:29 pm I had a great non-typical, blind in his right eye, hop the fence and walk right past my vacant blind.

       I sat indoors for four days of high winds and (way below zero) wicked chill factors. Then I realized I got out of breath walking 100 feet or so and knew my atrial fibrillation had kicked in again. I checked into the hospital. Spent five days in two hospitals before they gave me a third cardioversion to re-boot my ticker. I feel pretty good now but my 2019 season is over. I made it home with no incidents and feel pretty good for now. I'm scheduled for a new appointment with my cardiologist soon. I expect he will do an ablation next if/when I go into a-fib again. I'm not sleeping well, waking at 3am almost nightly. Other than that, I realize things could be lots worse.

    Anyway, this should bring most of you up to date. I apologize for the mass email blast but I have too much on my plate to cover everyone individually. Speaking for both of us, I want to thank each of you for all your support, help, thoughts and prayers. Let me know if I can answer any questions or concerns. God bless each of you. Thank you so much for being there for us. We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

   Gene