Hello?  Is anybody there??

Weathertracker14:

Yo!  Whassup?  Who is this?

Tyman:

It's me, your buddy!  Tyler Pinkerington!  From MDA camp a few years back!  Remember me?

Weathertracker14:

TYLER!!  How are you??  You're still here??

Tyman:

Yeah, still kickin' ... well, you know what I mean.  How are you?

Weathertracker14:

I am great!  Married now; got married last October, on the 16th.  Married my long-time girlfriend, Rebekka Cohen, only she's now Mrs. Johnathan Sandusky.

Tyman:

You got MARRIED??  How come I wasn't invited??  

Weathertracker14:

I thought I sent you an invitation in the mail.

Tyman:

No, didn't get it.  

Weathertracker14:

Sorry about that; I could have SWORN I had sent you an invitation!  

Tyman:

Nope.  Nada.  Zilcho.  

Weathertracker14:

I am so sorry!  

Anyway, still so good to hear from you, Tyler!  It's been at least five years or more!  I was wondering if you had passed on, but it's obvious you didn't.  Well, I'm alive and kickin' ... well, barely kickin', but I'm surviving, and I owe all that to God.  He's the one who gets all the credit for my still being here!

Tyman:

Are you still on that severe weather kick?  I know you want to be a storm chaser or something to do with Meteorology.

Weathertracker14:

Still interested in storms; in fact, I'm now going to college to get my degree in Meteorology.  I'd like to be an on-camera meteorologist.  I'm in my second year.  Sophomore year, rather.

Tyman:

WOW!

Weathertracker14:

Yeah, WOW is more like it!  Considering that I wasn't supposed to be alive after I got to the age of five, yeah, it's nothing short of a miracle!  

Tyman:

How are you getting around these days?

Weathertracker14:

I still use my electric wheelchair, which I control with my hand.  I also breathe with a vent, but I can still talk, sing, and make my opinions known to others.  I have always been rather outspoken, especially since I got all that extra help in school, thanks to Sylvan.

Tyman:

That is so cool!  I am now bedridden.  Can't get out of bed to save my life.  My MD has worsened considerably; in fact, they're thinking of putting me on Hospice.  I can talk, but that's just about it.  I need help with everything else; it's really been hard these past several years.

Weathertracker14:

I'm so sorry!  That stinks!

Tyman:

Tell ME about it!  Say, on to happier things, how is your family doing?  Are your parents still alive?

Weathertracker14:

Yeah, my fam's great!  I don't know what I would do without 'em.  I love them all so much!  Yeah, my mom and dad are still alive.  They are getting ready to adopt two more kids: a little boy from Japan and an older girl from Haiti.  Their names are Akihiko and Camille; they are three and six.  We will probably get to meet them during Easter break; they will be coming in just a few weeks.

Tyman:

WOW!  That's INSANE!!  Are your parents CRAZY or something??

Weathertracker14:

I guess, but if it weren't for them, I would have never had a family myself; I mean, Bill and Louisiana Sandusky are the only parents I have ever known, or at least, reemmber knowing!  I was adopted when I was a baby, y'know.

Tyman:

That's awesome!  The world could use more families like yours!

Weathertracker14:

Yeah, I guess.  

Tyman:

How's your sister?

Weathertracker14:

Which one?  I have over 30, y'know.  [Laughs}

Tyman:

Ronee'.  The cute one with all that black hair.

Weathertracker14:

Oh, she's great!  She's going to school in Louisiana, at Louisiana State Universisty-Lafayette, in Lafayette.  She's started her sophomore year as well and she loves it!  And she's engaged: she's going to get married later this  year!

Tyman:

WOW!!  Who's the lucky fellow?  Or should I say UNLUCKY fellow, knowing Ronee' 's exhuberant personality?  {Laughs}

Weathertracker14:

You don't know him.  His name is Michael Stinkowitz.  He's Jewish, just like my wife.  They met when they were 13 and it's been a steady uphill climb ever since.  It was love at first sight.

Tyman:

Is he nice?  Is he good to Ronee'?

Weathertracker14:

He is very good to my sister.  He treats her like a queen.

Tyman:

That's good!  I have always liked your sister.  Say, is she still singing and/or performing?

Weathertracker14:

Yeah, Ronee' is still at it.  Except she doesn't perform as much because school and homework keeps her grounded, as does working.  She works five days a week after classes at the campus bookstore; she loves it.  She does perform at several local Cajun venues and festivals like the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, which is coming up in May.  She performs there every year.

Tyman:

I always thought Ronee' was good.  And she IS.  I figured by now she'd be a superstar or soemthing.

Weathertracker14:

Nope, not yet, anyway, but she still loves to perform.  It's always been in her blood, ever since she was little.

Tyman: 

I remember.  She was so cute then!  Still is, I bet, except she's probably even prettier, if that's even possible!  {Laughs}

Tyman:

Do you still sing?  I remember you had the performing bug!

Weathertracker14:

Sometimes, but it's hard to sing when on a vent.  Have to pace myself just right (my breathing, I mean), or it can really catch me off guard!   LOL  I'm happier doing sign language for my church or talking to people about my life or my testimony or leading them to Jesus.

Weathertracker14 continues:

If I wasn't going into Meteorology, I would want to be an evangelist, like perhaps, Billy Graham or Charles Swindoll or Max Lucado or something.  Nothing makes me happier than sharing "The Good News" about Christ!

Tyman:

I miss that.  Going to church.  I can't even do that now.  My MD has totally whacked me out and now I'm staring at the possibility of my grave in less than a year.  I tell you, we both got robbed when we got this stupid muscular dystrophy!  I don't know how you can be happy when one has something like Duchenne's!

Weathertracker14:

It all depends on attitude.  As for me, I choose to be happy and think back on all that I have accomplished in my 19 years upon this earth.  And if God allows it, I will see my twentieth birthday in nine months, in December.  And even if I don't, I will die happy, knowing that I have fulfilled my mission on this earth, which is to bring hope and encouragement to people.

And besides, the worst thing that can happen to me is I wake up and see the Face of my Lord and Saviour and knowing that I will be healed when I get up there to Heaven!

Tyman:

Well, I hate to go, but it's time for my bath and another round of meds.  I hate living like this!  I'd be better off dead than having to put my family through all this agony!  

Weathertracker14:

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time, Ty.  Do you mind if I pray for you?

Tyman:

I really don't mind, but I don't see it doing much good.  But I thank you for thinking of me.

Weathertracker14:

No problem.  That's what friends do.  They care and support one another and I want to be there for you.  It's been quite a few years, and I wanted to touch base with you, to see how you were.  Now I know.  Again, I'm so sorry you're having a bad time.  I hope that I can see you before too long; I'd really like to see you again.

Tyman:

I'd love that.  You know where I live, right?

Weathertracker14:

Still in Nashville, I hope?

Tyman:

Yeah.  Same place.  Please come and see me; I'd love to see you and get to meet your wife!

Weathertracker14:

I'll be sure to do that if my own health allows it.  It's always a production to get me, my wheelchair, and my vent in and out of the van, but thank God I have my caretaker and Rebekka to help me!  I don't know what I would do without 'em!

Well, I'm going to eat; I smell supper simmering on the stove, and it smells absolutely divine!  I will talk to you again; until later, take care and if you need or want to talk, I'm here.  I'm only a computer click away!  Take care and God bless; know you are in my prayers!

Tyman:

Thanks, Johnno.  You're the best; you've always been there for me, and I appreciate it!  I really, really do!

~Tyman and Weathertracker14 end conversation.~