Abel Rosenheimer here.  Thought I would continue on with my story.

As you know from my last entry, I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.  Because of it, I can no longer walk (I ended up in a wheelchair when I was ten, thirty years ago; I'm now forty) or do many things for myself.  I have to have my brother's wife take care of me.  (She's a nurse.)  I live with my brother and his family in Alpena, Michigan.

Despite my health problems,  I am a very happy guy.  I have a good attitude, and I still can enjoy life.  I love my brother and his family; they were gracious enough to take me in and put up with the demands that my disease causes.  My sister-in-law is an excellent caretaker, and my nieces Sabrina, Sabra, and Sophie dote on me; they love taking turns riding on my lap.  They think it is great fun riding in my wheelchair.

I love to read and write.  While I use a pointer to turn my pages as I read or do my writing, I still can enjoy both activities.  I am trying to become a full-fledged writer; my goal is to write a book and talk about my life.

While I wait for my SSDI to go through (however long that will take; fighting tooth and nail to get it; it's frustrating, but I don't give up that easily!), I write and do computer work to make a little money.  With Christmas coming up, it is needed, and it will come in handy.  If I don't get much, I want to make sure my nieces do; Christmas is for children, and they should have something to open under the tree come Christmas morning.

For Thanksgiving, which is only in two days (can you believe it??), my folks are coming here to spend the day with us.  It will be good to see them.  They are in their eighties, but they are in a lot better shape than me.  They are absolutely amazing!  Dad still jogs five miles a day, if it's not too cold or nasty out, while mom does senior aerobic dancing and swims two times a week.  She also uses the exercise machine to keep her limbs supple. 

My sister is coming too; she lives in Grand Rapids with her family.  I haven't seen them since last year.  They have been busy trying to adopt; the adoption finally went through.  They are adopting a little boy from China; he is due to come in any day.  The kid is five years old and is deaf; his name is Chung.  I've seen pictures of him; he looks like a little monkey.  LOL  He's cuter than cute!

After we have turkey and watch the football game, we will go to bed, where my brother will take the gang Christmas shopping while Cara (my brother's wife, the nurse) stays home with me.  Too cold for me, and besides, it's hard to get around in snow in my wheelchair.

I will just have to sit by the nice, roaring fire and let Cara baby me with hot tea and love.  :)

Well,  I have to go; we're eating roast pork, lima beans, and scalloped potatoes for supper, which will probably be in 15 minutes (or thereabouts).  I will write in here again; until later, have a most wonderful Thanksgiving with your family, and may God bless you as you count the reasons why you are thankful!

~Abel Rosenheimer.  :)