Soooo excited!

Hello everybody,

Big news! We are finally going on vacation - to the beach! After two consecutive summers spent at the hospital, and permission from his physician we are finally leaving town and hittin' the surf. I can't tell you how excited we are. We're like children awaiting Christmas - marking off the days on the calendar. Katie and I are so worried that something will happen to Tom before we leave, and that we won't be able to go. We worry about him losing his balance and hurting himself, or winding up in the hospital for the 15th time in two years but he'll be fine. He's pretty self-sufficient these days aside from limitations due to his legs.

Things will be much different from the last time we were at the beach - before he was diagnosed with cancer. He won't be able to walk in the sand or come in contact with ocean water. He can't be in direct sunlight w/out long sleeves and a cap. However, just sitting in the shade by the pool with a good book, breathing in the salt air while sipping an ice-cold Coke, and looking out at the waves crashing on the shore will surely be a nice change of scenery for him. So much better than spending every day at home sitting in the shade provided by the living room ceiling in front of a loptop, while breathing in the stale air and looking out the window at the driveway waiting for something as exciting as the mailman to drive by.

This is going to be incredibly therapeutic for all three of us. If only you knew how trapped we have felt. I just cry when I think about it.

We owe a lot to Ralph, a friend of ours and co-worker of Tom's. He bought a condo at a beautiful new resort in Panama City Beach, and has insisted on several occasions that we spend a week there...at no charge. This is so generous of him, especially at this prime time of the year when he has no trouble finding renters. Here is the link in case you might be interested in staying there sometime in the future:

http://www.postlets.com/rts/1634333

Only 26 more days............