Ode to Awesome People

A lot of people I care for deeply showed an intense and incredble amount of support for me over the past week, some travelling from as far away as NYC to see me over this past weekend. The existence of people like that, of friends, is part of the whole machinery that has made my recovery from the stroke that much quicker.

I want to make sure all of you know, by name, the folks who have meant so much to me over the past week, because of the relationships we've built over the past years. Chris Hanson (who all y'all casting directors would do well in hiring, by the way); Travis Hoxie, a man who is as close to being a brother to me as can be without sharing genetics, despite our political differences, and a man who is also, coincidentally, dealing with a new diabetes diagnosis himself; Dr. Mary Jo Sodd, a stalwart example of strength, integrity and creativity through my collegiate years and well beyond, and one of the most talented people I've ever met; Ian Allen, who by example has given me the ability to put things in perspective and always maintain a properly humorous outlook on life; Patti Milner, my mother - I've yet to meet a stronger woman in my life; Lincoln Milner and Amanda Lee, my brother and sister-in-law, who never fail to exhibit an uncommon compassion; Monique LaForce, a woman of staggering brilliance and fierce loyalty. And that's just the Short List.

I want to make an especial mention of Lucky Spinster, a fellow blogger, who has rallied her many legions of adoring fans to wishing me and my support network well and devoted a sizeable amount of her column on July 1 to stroke awareness and diabetic education. In a world - a sphere, you might say - where attentions are torn a thousand different directions and words are at a premium, Callie's dedication of that column to my new cause celebre is nothing short of heartwarming. Thanks also to LS's readers, who have been flocking here in droves since the beginning of the month. I hope that the reading you find here is worth the time you spent following Callie's links.

Lastly, of Jennifer: I hope that on one lucid day I'll be able to tell her all of the many ways I love her, but for the moment all that needs to be said of her is this: The idea of not being with her, the notion that I might have had to deal with this alone, or the notion that our time together very likely could have been cut short very prematurely last week, is as horrifying a thing as I can imagine. I have not made many smart decisions in my life, but the one I made nearly two years ago to ask her out remains the best one I have ever made, and likely will ever make. Would that there were clones of her, so you all could experience the unconditional love, boundless care and compassion and sheer joy she continues to bring to my life on a daily basis.

No, never mind. You all just have to admire from afar and envy me for the lucky bastard that I am.