Dear Friends,

I figured I would write a quick midyear update for you. Unfortunately, I mean the title of this missive literally. My wife had a stroke in early May. It was kind of a surprise because you don’t see many strokes in people in their mid 40s and she’s always been the healthy one. Apparently, she has had very high blood pressure for a long time, but it never gave her symptoms and since she doesn’t need to go to the doctor very often, she was unaware of it until the stroke. If there is a good thing about it, the doctor said it that if you had to have a stroke, the one she had was the better one to have since she will make a full recovery. It has been about six weeks now and she is almost fully recovered except for some lingering numbness in her left thumb and part of her left foot. And, of course, since we know about the high blood pressure now, she can take medication for it which, so far, is keeping it in check.

There isn’t a whole lot new going on with me. I finished the spring semester and had three weeks off. Now, I’m teaching two summer courses, but they are online and so I don’t have to go to campus. In the late spring, I was in the market for a new truck. However, with inventory shortages, I was unable to find a dealership that had a Colorado that I liked in stock. I decided that I would take a look at the Ram 1500s, since I’ve always like them, but I couldn’t find one that I liked within my price point.

While at a Dodge dealership, a red Challenger SXT Blacktop caught my eye, so I took her for a test drive. I really enjoyed the drive and the price was right, so I bought her. Naturally, I named her Molly since Molly helped pay for her. I’ve owned both Fords and Chevys in my life, but this is my first Dodge. I have to say that this is the first car I’ve ever had that I just want to get in and drive aimlessly, and that includes the Mustang GT convertible I had for a few years many years back.

I’m sure it will be fun rolling up on campus in August.

Until next time, Dear Readers, take care of yourselves.

And each other.

L.H.