Thank You for Your Support

I just got back from Luverne, MN.  It's good to be home.  Grandma's funeral was this morning.  I got the chance to sing Children of the Heavenly Father at the service.  I did a lot of crying and a lot of hugging.  I owe so much to my incredible wife, Claire; she put all of her needs (including law school) on the back burner to be there for me. 

Claire, if you're reading this, thank you for being my rock.  You mean the world to me and I don't know how I would have managed to get through the last few days without you.  You make my life immeasurably better and I'm going to lose 100 pounds so I can be with you until I'm 90 and long after.

I'd also like to thank everyone for your kind words.  They provided a source of strength and encouragement over the last few days.  I didn't expect such a showing of support, especially from so many people I've never met in person before.  I wish I could give each of you a hug to show you how thankful I am.  To those of you I do see in person, expect a hug the next time I see you.

I'm planning on moving forward.  It's going to take a while to heal.  I told Claire I'm looking forward to things getting back to normal.  Not that normal is going to be the same as it was before I lost my grandmother.  It's going to be an emptier normal than before.  This experience is leaving me hungry to live my life to the fullest.  Some day I'm going to be in that coffin and I want to fill every day until that point with adventure, love, and joy.  I want to accomplish the things I set out to do.  I want to help those around me.  I want to do things that would have made Grandma proud.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going back to the healthier lifestyle I had to leave behind for a few days.  I'm going to get right back in the swing of things with my diet and the gym.  I've managed to keep my goal of drinking 64 ounces of water every day since the first of the month (miraculously).  I don't think I'll weigh myself until Monday.  I don't need to be discouraged by a number that is the result of Lutheran comfort food.

Thanks to your voting, I decided I am going to do the Polar Bear Plunge.  I'll try to set up something online so you can donate.  I really want to raise a whole bunch of money for the Special Olympics, so tell everyone you know to donate and suggest silly costumes for me to wear.


It's late, and I'm tired.  Thank you again for all your kind words.  They meant a lot to me.