Well, it’s been a couple of months since I wrote, not a lot to tell about recent times.  But, one big event occurred three weeks ago.  On 20 Dec, I broke my wrist and fractured my elbow in a fall from a ladder while cleaning my gutters over my driveway.  In whatever way you can call it good fortune, it was my left wrist and elbow.  I had already cleaned all the gutters up to the driveway, had the ladder properly positioned and balanced on a firm (hard) surface of the driveway.  However, the driveway has some slope, and when I was about halfway complete cleaning that portion of the gutter, the ladder started to slip.  I grabbed at the gutter, bent it some, but then fell 10 feet down to the asphalt.  I hit leg, hip, and then hand, with the elbow bent.  The pain was excrutiating.  I laid there a moment, then got up and walked around a little with the left arm hanging down.  After a few moments more, the pain started lessening, and I decided to drive myself to the hospital.  May I recommend that you not do this if you should ever be in this unfortunate circumstance; about 5 miles down the road, I started getting some shock.  Dizziness, flush, shortness of breath.  I turned on the air and controlled my breathing.  I never felt faint and made it to the ER OK.  X-rays confirmed the break, and I’m seeing a local orthopedic surgeon.  No surgery required, but setting it was almost as painful as the break.  Unfortunately, the orthopedic doc does not participate in TRICARE, so I’m uncertain how much of the bill I’m going to get stuck with.  However, I am healing well–I’ve got the use of my fingers back somewhat, since I’m able to type now.  For a while, I could only move my fingers with my other hand.  I still can’t squeeze very tight with them, and my elbow only has limited range.  The first 12 days, I slept on my recliner to keep the arm elevated and avoid rolling over on the injured arm, but I’m back in my regular bed and for the most part sleeping soundly.  My brother, who just retired from the Air Force, was in town and helped to finish cleaning the last ten feet of gutters and fix the gutter I bent.  In case you are wondering, all my relatives were at work or out of their houses.  I’ve got another 3 weeks in a cast then unknown time for rehab.  Overall, it could have been worse, so you have to give credit to God for his intervention, because it should have been much worse.
 
We are finally getting some much needed rain, so there’s not been a lot of work to be done outside, and I’ve just been doing enough to keep the house clean.  One thing I did discover–when you hurt, you really do not want to eat.  Actually forced myself to eat the first week just because I knew it was important to the healing to have proper nutrition.
 
My brother who retired from the AF had been a flight engineer, but he wants nothing more to do with flying.  He did not have the good experiences I did with flying, although he says he enjoyed ops better than he did maintenance, where he had been a crew chief on A-10s and T-37s.  In his last 8 years of a 20 year career, he accumulated 4000 hours flying, including many in the Middle East.  He did get a bachelors in Business Administration and started a Masters degree.  He’s looking for a job in management or operations supervision.  He’s had several leads and interviews, nothing exactly in what he wants.  He had a lot more hits from NJ (where he lives) than down here where he wants to retire.  He really wants to move to NC, where military retired pay is not taxed.  At any rate, the family is happy that he will be closer to home.
 
Glad to hear from everyone, but don’t expect a long letter like this in return, my arm is starting to hurt, so I’ll close for now.  Happy and prosperous New Year to everyone!
 
Elwood