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<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 info</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">r</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">mation to share, so am writing you all</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">this</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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 t</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">he 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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">. 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,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">emergency surgery</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">had</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">failed and I was in worse peril than ever.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">What followed was:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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 n</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">in</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">e months. Mostly, lessons have focused on gratitude</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">--</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">gratitude for life itself and for simple kindnesses from others</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">What</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">have I been doing all this time in the su</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">nshine 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,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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 do</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ne 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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">pep talk fro</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">m</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> a longtime Chicago</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">Federationist,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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 Barb</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ara 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 af</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ter this that my medical situation was declining. This could not be further from reality. I am, essentially, a super</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">, but the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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 Ci</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ncinnati chapter members have</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">been in my thoughts.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">.</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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> and will move in in Septe</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">mber.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I am actually coming this week</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> in order to attend a baby shower for</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">my daughter, Ca</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">i</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">tlyn,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">who</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">is currently in the area, working the Renaissance Fair north of Cincinnati</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">. My apar</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">t</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">ment will not be ready for me to move in until September 15</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">.</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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">not</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">and presiding at our next chapter meeting September 29, at the Washington Platform.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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 hav</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">e put loads of time and treasure into branding. We have</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">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"> </SPAN></P>
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