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Below is a copy of an email that I sent out to all as an update of what's been happening over the past three months...

Hi All--
Thank you, Fay and Lyle (and others), for the prompt to let people know what's up with me... As noted below, it's been a relatively short but busy period... If you happen to be on several email lists you may get a duplicate of this update...

Here's wishing all of you a happy holiday season and great new year, 2014... Love and blessings to all...

*****

Well, it's almost three months since I moved from the Bay Area to the hills and dales of Sacramento County. It's been a busy time as I settled into many new routines with family members, medical resources, support groups, exercise classes, and life-related issues (places to shop, eat, nearest Starbucks, and more).

I located three PD support groups near where I live in Fair Oaks. Each group meets once a month. One group, in Roseville, has a regular contingent of 40+ attendees. There is a lot of information sharing, occasional speakers, special events, and support. I also located an excellent health spa just ten minutes away. They are a fully equipped health facility with all manner of training equipment, classes, and assistance. The many amenities they offer include pools, a climbing wall, and a host of free classes. In a short time, I was doing two Pilates classes per week, a yoga class, and starting to do resistance work again. I was looking into starting to attend their Tai Chi class and some of their other offerings. I also signed up for a CW line dance class at the local community center (which also offers a range of health-related classes).

Alas, I encountered some obstacles! As I drove back from my first CW line dance class (which was at night), I noticed that my vision was quite blurry and that I was seeing a firework display of lights from oncoming traffic and business signs. I went to an eye clinic (one that would accept my insurance plan) and determined that I needed a cataract removed in my right eye. I had the surgery one week ago and, happy to report, all is well. My night vision (and overall vision) has been restored. It was a painless, out-patient, procedure with what seems to be miraculous results. The sad news is that I cannot do any intense exercising, lifting, bending over, or much of anything until the New Year. I look forward to getting started once again.

I had a rude awakening when I started looking for a neurologist! In a 30-mile radius of my Fair Oaks location, I found only seven neurologists who would accept my insurance plan. Of this number, six were rated "below average" in patient reviews--only one, the one that was 30 miles away, was given an "average" rating. In the support groups, I got the names of several highly recommended specialists. Of course, none of these doctors/clinics accept my insurance plan. My plan is a PPO and I can circumvent the issue by paying for services when they occur, and billing my carrier directly--it's a pain but the only solution if I want a good practitioner. Another downside: the doctor I want to use is so good he is heavily booked. My first appointment with him was confirmed for early March, 2014!

Good News: I'm getting to spend time with my really sharp (no bias, of course) granddaughter. She will be 5 in February--going on her teens! She exhibits what I call an "eidetic aural" skill. If I read her a kid's book (like a Dr. Seuss) that she's not seen/heard before, when I finish reading, she says, "Now, I'll read it!" She then proceeds to "read" the book, page by page, saying nearly the exact words of the story and following the story line of the images. I've also introduced her to playing concentration using a deck of Go Fish cards. We start off by putting the cards face up in a grid and saying their names as each card is placed. We then turn the cards over. She can nearly "run the board" by recalling where the card pairs are located.