It's April 2022 and Maybe, Just Maybe Things Are Sort of Normal

 Dear Joanie,

    You will be two years old in about two months, and Dougie and I continue to watch with such pleasure the pictures and videos you mom and dad post almost daily. As I've said before, in less than a year, you've turned into a little girl, dancing, walking, traveling to see your Grandpa John, singing. Such personality, especially in your facial expressions, and such a delight to see. You are embracing the world head on!

    Since it's the beginning of April--today being actually what we call April Fool's Day (But no one is quite in the mood these days to play jokes, since we're tiptoeing back to normal), I have decided to write something everyday this month, so that I can order Volume 2 of Letters to Joanie in time for your birthday May 23. I'll bring you up to date on what's happening in our world, but then I think it's time that you also got to know a bit more about me. So the month of April will give you some insights into my life story, which has been a journey with many rough spots and wild turns, but has also been a journey of many peaks and great joy.

    For today, I'll bring you up to date on what has been happening in our lives.

    Dougie continues to get better from his bout with COVID, but he is really frustrated because he can't remember words. He is still doing speech therapy and physical therapy. He's in a pretty good mood, and the staff at the Carillon are encouraging him to get into more activities so that he doesn't sit and read all day long, which is his favorite thing to do. 

    I didn't get to go to Mexico, and I was heartbroken.  I thought I had everything covered with a walker for Shelby Poodle and people checking in on Doug: his cousins, my friends, the staff at the Carillon, But your grandmother, your great aunt Julie, and Beth,the nurse at the Carillon all agreed that Dougie should not be left alone, so at the last minute I canceled my trip. I have to say that I felt it was a lifeline for me, since the changes have been so great this past year.  What can I say? I canceled my flight, my ride to the airport, and the retreat I was so much wanting to go to.  I will try again next year.

    Shelby Poodle and I continue our work at the Summit Middle School, and next week, she begins meeting with students who have ties to Ukraine, which is now being brutally invaded by Russian soldiers to the shock and dismay of the rest of the world. Here is a picture of Shelby and me as a therapy team:

She is much loved at the Summit Middle School as the students sit on the floor with her and pet her. Now, when we go to the school, we can hear the kids saying, "Hi, Shelby!" as we walk down the hall.  They don't know my name at all!

    To be continued tomorrow, when I begin to tell you about my childhood, when I moved from place to place to place...

Love,

GGT Katie