And so I write

They say that life happens while you're making other plans. 

In my last update, I wrote about Bob and the letter his wife Leah had written.  At the time it broke my heart to read her words about Bob's terminal cancer.  I couldn't imagine the pain she was enduring.  I still can't imagine her pain but on April 6th I got my own dose of life's fateful twists.  I apologize to those of you who are learning about this just now.  On April 6th my wife Sherri passed away from a unpredicted brain aneurysm.  And just like that, a beautiful life has left us and the world changed.  The memorial service was beautiful as it was traumatic.  Our children, Emily and Rob, delivered incredibly heartfelt eulogies for their mother and I couldn't be prouder of them.  We each wrote letters to Sherri and included them in the service program.  Mine is posted on my blog.  Every day since has been a fog of tears, confusion, anxiety, lack of concentration, sleepless nights, compassionate friendships, lost friendships, loneliness and hope. 

As I made the unavoidable return to the work world, I learned on April 18th, Bob Norling passed away from the damned non-Hodgkins Lymphoma he'd been battling. Far too soon after Sherri passed away I was sitting in church listening to Bob's wife and his friend deliver heartfelt eulogies.   The fog in my head was still pretty thick and I sat through the service like I was watching a film with the audio out of sync with the film.  Despite my disoriented state of mind, their words tapped the well of tears that had been unsealed only three weeks earlier. Once again I can't convey the emotions as well as Bob's wife, Leah.

Bob as you recall is the reason I got re-engaged in Team in Training and pledged to help raise money to fight cancer.  People were so touched by Bob's story that they donated $4000 so far to help fight blood cancers.  Don't stop now; please go to my fundraising page and donate if you can.  Thank you to the many people that have supported my fundraising.  I can't thank you enough. 

When I started writing my updates this season, I fully intended to finish my story about my trip across France.,  I had a particularly life-changing tale about my climb up the Tourmalet but now it all seems so long ago in a life from a sweet shattered dream. That story will have to wait for another time and frankly, a whole lot of  healing.  As I muddle through the emotional shards of my new life, I'm learning to look at it from a entirely new perspective.  I've decided to start writing again. I feel that it will help me clear my thoughts and return me to a new normal.   I have one request from those that have been following my adventures and updates.  I realize that the only thing that really helps to get through these times is to talk to people.  I would love to hear from you.   Drop me a message or give me a call.  I'm still the same guy; my life is just a lot less ordinary. 

Thanks for reading, stay tuned as the pieces come together.

Steve

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