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<TITLE>FW: Read this version please == News about me and news about you</TITLE>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">Hello Again,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">This message sent before</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri"> I had finished with it! Long funny technical story that I’ll happily tell anyone bored enough to ask!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">At any rate, this version actually has closure!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">Deborah</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">_____________________________________________<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">From:</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> Deborah Kendrick [<A HREF="mailto:dkkendrick@earthlink.net">mailto:dkkendrick@earthlink.net</A>]<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Sent:</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> Saturday, September 02, 2017 2:03 PM<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">To:</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> cinci-nfb@nfbnet.org<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Subject:</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> News about me and news about you</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Hello Cincinnati NFB,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">First, I regret not being with you at the bake sale today, which I feel confident is succeeding brilliantly.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Secondly, I have several updates and bits of information to share, so am writing you all this letter!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Nine months ago today, my world turned upside down. I was standing in my bathroom when a sudden blow to my left thigh threw me instantly to the floor. Not sure if I’d had an electric shock or a blow from a ten-pound boulder, I dragged myself to the next room to call 911.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">After three weeks in hospital, I flew to Florida. My intention was to spend Christmas with family, help my daughter with her newborn twins, and come back to Ohio in January.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">As it turned out, I was in no shape to help her, her babies, or even myself.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Soon after Christmas, I developed a terrible case of bronchitis and pneumonia. The pain in my leg was horrific, but I thought maybe it was caused by fever or maybe it was just what was to be expected after the surgery I had had.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">It turned out that my emergency surgery had failed and I was in worse peril than ever. What followed was: More surgery. More hospitals. Tons of therapy and seven months in a wheelchair. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I have learned much in these nine months. Mostly, lessons have focused on gratitude -- gratitude for life itself and for simple kindnesses from others.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">What have I been doing all this time in the sunshine state?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Well, besides having surgeries, rehabilitation, learning to use a wheelchair, then a walker, then a support cane, and to teach muscles that weren’t allowed to move for seven months how to fire up again, it has seemed that I have been very busy.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I have continued to work. My work for NLS Tech Support was never interrupted, not even while in hospital. With a laptop and a phone, much work can be done from anywhere – even a hospital bed!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">The same is true of writing, although I did very little of that from December through April, and picked up again with improved energy in May. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">In July, because of the friendship and pep talk from a longtime Chicago Federationist, I wound up going, at the last minute, to the NFB convention in Orlando. I was only there for two days, but while there, I spent treasured moments with Barbara and Bob Pierce, Eric and Lucas Duffy, and others. An hour in the xhibit hall was like coming home!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">My understanding is that an inaccurate report circulated after this that my medical situation was declining. This could not be further from reality. I am, essentially, a super healthy person with a very compromised leg and hip. I will continue to be in physical therapy for some time and still walk very slowly and carefully, but the convention was my last week of using the wheelchair. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Throughout my time here, many Cincinnati chapter members have been in my thoughts..</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Lisa Hall carried forward, conducting most meetings from January through August.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Judy Rudig called me on a frequent and regular basis, calls I came to treasure more than I can say. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Christopher Sabine kept in touch on a regular basis, not only with chapter business and getting approval of minutes, but also with personal concerns such as helping me look for a new apartment and offering to reach out to NFB members in Florida. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Paul Dressell continues to be my favorite computer student!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I am writing this today because I am finally returning to Cincinnati in the very near future. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I have found an apartment in Hyde Park and will move in in September.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I am actually coming this week, in order to attend a baby shower for my daughter, Caitlyn, who is currently in the area, working the Renaissance Fair north of Cincinnati. My apartment will not be ready for me to move in until September 15.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I will need tons of help getting sorted out and settled!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">So, that is a summary of what is going on with me. Now, here are some comments regarding upcoming chapter events.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">First, I am thrilled to learn that Sheri and Walter are moving forward with our White Cane Walk. As you know, the project has been “my baby” so to speak for a decade now, and I am truly happy that it is going to happen. My hope is that, after ten years, it will be easy to reproduce. I will not be able to attend, but will be pouring all positive thought into visions of sunshine and scores of walkers!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Next, I will, however, be in attendance and presiding at our next chapter meeting September 29, at the Washington Platform. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Finally, I have seen a few comments and received some information about a t-shirt that is under consideration to represent eh chapter. I know I am pointing out the obvious here, but feel it my duty to say that such a project absolutely cannot occur without the image being sanctioned by NFB leadership. Our national staff have put loads of time and treasure into branding. We have words and images designed to represent us across the nation and we cannot develop our own without approval.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">We can talk about all of the above at the September meeting. Let me remind you that, as a very few of you have recognized, I have been only a phone call or text message away whether in a hospital, rehabilitation facility, or my Florida home. I know you all have busy lives</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">, and appreciate time and energy you give to NFB.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">Looking</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">very much forward to seeing all of you soon.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">Peace,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">Deborah</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
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