Rather than going into the gory details of my hip injury now, (that means it will come later), I'll just say that I have come a long way physically from where I was 2 years ago. Although I still have pain and stiffness, it is so incredibly better than it was. I can walk but I need a cane if it's for some distance, I can do my "man chores" around the house and yard. I have stopped doing rehab type exercises, but just go about my life in as normal a way as possible. I have reached what I call the "new normal", and I'm grateful that I've come that far. If I continue to get mobility, that's just that much more to be thankful for.

Persons who know me well constantly comment on how cheerful I always seem to be. One of my pastors whom I regard as the ultimate pastor and who I respect more than any other man I've known, wrote me a note stating that I'd "been an inspiration" to him. I didn't know quite what to make of that, but my closest family assured me that it was because I wasn't pissin' and moanin' about my situation and blaming God and all that stuff. This from a man had had been and continues to be an inspiration to me. So there you are.

Does everyone have a "bucket list'"?  I sure did. It was to see the SF Giants win a World Series before I left this earth. I not only was able to scratch it off the list in November 2010, but did it again in November 2012. It's no longer on my bucket list, but I sure do hope they get another ring. After all, the 49ers have 5, and almost had a 6th one this past season.