Well, here I have let a lot of time go by without updating, but here I am again.

Sally and I took a long vacation in July, driving to the Black Hills for Sally's mother's family reunion, then spent several days with our close friend Suzie in Boulder (Colo.), then on to Eastern Colorado for my mother's family reunion. We really enjoyed the trip. The Black Hills are one of our favorite spots to visit and it was particularly pretty this year as they have had lots of rain and everythind was very green and lots of wild flowers everywhere. And of course lots of visiting with family. Colorado was also especially pretty and green as they have also had lots of rain. We drove out to my Grandparent's old farm north east of Akron and spent half a day wandering around there. I got very tired but had time to rest up for the family picnic. And again lots of visiting and catching up with family there.

Now we are getting ready for our next great adventure. We are leaving Monday (Aug. 10) to drive down to Houston for my operation. I have appointments scheduled for all day Wednesday and beyond for a series of tests; xrays, EKG, blood panel, CT scan, PET scan, pulmonary function, and on and on. The operation is not scheduled yet, they will wait until the results of all the tests are back and then will depend on the surgeon's schedule (of course). So, at this point, we don't know how long we will be in Houston. I am expecting to have to be there at least three weeks and possibly as long as five or longer. If there is a long wait between the tests and the surgery schedule we will probably come back to Albuquerque, then drive back down for the surgery. I expect to be in the hospital for a week after the surgery, then another week staying around for out-patient follow-ups before we can come home.

Sally's son Pete will be staying in the house while we are gone and our good friend Gypsy Jane from Arizona will be staying in Albuquerque and helping out with the cats, etc., and our friend Roger has offered to come water the garden. In addition another group from the church will be coming to weed and trim, etc. Sally and I often comment how rich we are in having such good friends, and all this just reaffirms the feeling.