Thank you.

I was just looking through the ALS Forums message board. There were a couple of very sad posts, one from someone who has become a really good friend as her husband has the same FTD variation that Glen has. Both of these ladies were musing about the fact that friends.. sometimes close ones.. don't call because they don't know what to say. Don't ask "How are you" because they fear the answers. It pointed out to me just how blessed I am to have you all! Because, not only have I not lost friends, we have reestablished contact with people that maybe we'd lost touch with over the years. Or maybe if we have lost friends over this.. they weren't really friends anyway and thus aren't really missed?

People have gone out of there way to come help with a project, or just hang out with Glen for a while. I'm not always good about asking for help, even when I want to... seems like just making the plans can be another "job." But to have Steve take time out from a visit with his grandson to take Glen to get a haircut, or John & Barb arrange their family visit time so that they can spend time here too is just amazing. A day doesn't pass without someone checking in to see if we're ok... and of course there's still that weird mind meld where Don (not my brother) somehow KNOWS when he needs to call me at 11:30 at night just to say "Are you ok?" [the answer that night was.. no. But he already knew that] That means so much... all of the literature begins with the statement "ALS is a family disease." It is so true, and that card or phone call or Facebook contact means the world. Kev's friends have also been amazing.. especially his "big brother" Ben who's been a confidant and shoulder to cry on when Kev feels he shouldn't be leaning on me (he can but I understand.)

Having now received some funding from my mom's estate.. we are excited about doing some much needed repairs around here. Maybe this will be followed by a thank-you party. In the meantime.. anyone who thinks those little (and sometimes BIG) acts of kindness may go unnoticed.. they do not. You are a very special, very appreciated group of people!