Life Really Gets in the Way Sometimes...

Hello everyone, and welcome to my first blog post for 2025. I know it's been a while since I last posted anything on this blog, but as the title of this entry says... life and reality has REALLY been demanding so much of my time and energies. 

And since it's been so long since my last post, let me quickly recap where I left off...

I had located the crystal ball my wife gave me for my birthday many years ago and was contemplating looking into it to see if a wheelchair might be in my future due to my continuing leg and back issues. Well, here's the real-life answer as to that question...

So yeah... this has come to pass. Mind you, I am getting used to it. Plus, I'm not in the chair all that often. I mostly use it on long outings and excursions with family and friends. (Sadly, for me these days a long outing lasts more than 15 minutes on my feet for the most part before the pain and numbing of my hips/legs/and feet become intolerable). Still, I really like being able to be out and about with those I love and exploring my surroundings, so it's a trade-off I'm willing to tolerate. Otherwise, I'd be mostly homebound and believe me when I say I am very prone to 'cabin-fever'. 

Another upside to this change in my situation is the fact that it has allowed me to explore some of my characters like Cassandra Elliott from "The Bridge" and "The Ship". While she has not been put into a wheelchair in either of those books, the threat that she might become dependent on such a device to do her Epstein-Barr Syndrome, was highlighted in "The Ship". Now, as to whether or not being unable or having severe difficulties walking is something she'll have to face, you'll have to wait for the next novel "The Door". 

Yes, I know I've talked about the book for a number of years now, but it is still being worked on, I haven't abandoned it. Although I have to admit most of the work that I've done on it has been mental, the book is still going to be finished and published. Though lately, I've been starting to wonder if part of the writer's block I've been dealing with in writing that book, has been my own fears and worries about my own situation. On the other hand, now I have a lot more of real-life experience to draw upon for how to write Cassandra possibly having to come to grips with a disability like mine. So, we shall see how that story unfolds, won't we?

But that hasn't been all that I've been having to deal with for the last 2 years.

Well, due to ongoing health issues (for both me and Helen), along with me struggling to get Social Security Disability for the last year and a half, and the recent passing of my mother back in New York last October, we've had a lot on our plates. And now a new situation has arisen, which could involve us moving out of California and heading northwards. 

This possibility arose out of several circumstances. One of which involves us currently living on the second floor of an apartment complex. Naturally, with my mobility issues getting worse and worse, I've been finding the stairs (we don't have an elevator at this place since it's only 2 stories) more and more of a problem to deal with. Another is the fact that with my mother's passing, Helen's mother who is now in her early 80's has become more thoughtful and concerned about her own situation. Mind you she's a very active woman, you'd never think she was an octogenarian, but she's worried about when she might start slowing down and need more help. And after living many years in the San Joaquin valley where the summers are getting hotter and hotter every year (last year alone had 32 days of 100+ degree temperatures, with predictions it will get worse in the near future) she started giving thought to moving. Well, after several family talks, it was suggested we all move into a place together (somewhere cooler of course) so we can all be there for one another. 

So, at the end of this past January, Helen, her brother, mother and I headed up north to Washington state to see what we thought of the climate and housing prices. Long story short, we fell in love with all of it and even put an offer in on a place. Mind you, the sale is contingent on Helen's mom being able to sell her place, but we have time. So, at this point, we don't have an actual time or date of moving. But even so, there is still so much to do. We must continue researching, organizing, going through things in our respective homes regarding what to keep, what to get rid of, etc.  

All of this of course means, neither Helen nor I have as much time or mental energies for writing or creating. However, we are going to try to keep working on our projects, and hopefully before the end of this year, we will both have some new books and audios out for your enjoyment. So please bear with us and we will do our very best to keep you all up to date on the latest developments. 

We love you all and...

We thank you so much for all your support.

And as always, stay safe, please take care of one another, and keep writing and creating my friends.