Wow it does seem like I am returning home after an incredibly long journey. I had to change my username to PurpleScribe but friends might remember me as 61tasc130fe - aka Jeff.
I had to take some time away to tend to a number of real word "challenges". For those interested in hearing about my life I'd suggest a cold beverage, comfy slippers and reading glasses. It's a long story...
Prior to my departure I was struggling with placement for my elderly mother (she is currently 94 years old). At the time she was living with my younger brother in Louisiana USA. We had to start making arrangement for her to move closer to me here in Pennsylvania USA as my brother was having heart issues and could no longer look after her. To make things more difficult it was decided that she could not live with me as my home has three levels and she in confined to a wheelchair. So we had to look for a nursing home. We were able to find a place for her about a 45 minute drive south of where I live. After getting her settled in my younger brother had a heart transplant and ended up in a medically induced coma from which he never recovered. The same week he passed away I lost my aunt and a dear family friend. Attempting to attend three funerals in one week that were 1500 miles apart was a horrible experience.
Not long after I started experiencing problems with my left hand. Ultimately my little finger folded completely into the palm of my hand and I could not use it. After consultations it was determined that I had Dupuytren's contracture, a hand deformity that usually develops over years. The condition affects a layer of tissue that lies under the skin of your palm. Knots of tissue form under the skin — eventually creating a thick cord that can pull one or more fingers into a bent position. I had my first surgery in January 2020 and a second surgery in September 2020. I am finishing up my last occupational therapy session on Friday completing over 16 months of therapy (almost 100 sessions). My hand is about 60 percent usable and we're attempting to do an intensive 6 week home therapy before looking at another surgery.
In the midst of all that along comes COVID-19. Like most of you the pandemic shut down our life. Fortunately our business didn't take a terrible hit and since we worked from home anyway it wasn't a major change. Socially we did become more isolated. We were active in our church and I was a Boy Scout leader. All that disappeared overnight. About a month into the pandemic the nursing home where my mother was living became overwhelmed with COVID cases. She contracted COVID and become seriously ill. I received a call from the social worker asking me for details concerning her funeral arrangements. We were not allowed in to see her and there was a five day period of waiting to see if she would die from this disease. Amazingly, she recovered and is doing incredibly well today.
Fortunately, my immediate family (children and grandchildren) were spared. Life has started to return to normal. Both my wife and I have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. My oldest granddaughter is about to start her third year at the University of North Carolina. My second oldest grandson has finished high school and trying to decide if he will enter the US Air Force. Meanwhile the love of my life Pam, continues to put up with my shenanigans and we just celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary.
For all you cat lovers - we adopted a one year old tabby that appeared on our doorstep in the middle of winter two years ago. Archer (named after Captain Archer from the Star Trek Enterprise series) has stolen our hearts. We spend most mornings stalking one another. He than spends the rest of the day lounging in my wife's home office.
As you might imagine - I haven't hand a chance to do much with Minecraft while recovering from hand surgery. I have slowly developed coping skills to allow me to use the keyboard although I am not sure I'll be able to outrun some of the faster mobs. There have been some changes in Minecraft that I'll have to adapt to. So if you see a half naked character stumbling around the streets looking lost - have mercy upon me and don't pelt me with rotten fish.
While I have missed Minecraft (I often wonder what happened to my pet chicken Bob that wandered the halls of my SixtyGig home) I mostly miss the friendships I developed here and look forward to catching up with everyone.
I had to take some time away to tend to a number of real word "challenges". For those interested in hearing about my life I'd suggest a cold beverage, comfy slippers and reading glasses. It's a long story...
Prior to my departure I was struggling with placement for my elderly mother (she is currently 94 years old). At the time she was living with my younger brother in Louisiana USA. We had to start making arrangement for her to move closer to me here in Pennsylvania USA as my brother was having heart issues and could no longer look after her. To make things more difficult it was decided that she could not live with me as my home has three levels and she in confined to a wheelchair. So we had to look for a nursing home. We were able to find a place for her about a 45 minute drive south of where I live. After getting her settled in my younger brother had a heart transplant and ended up in a medically induced coma from which he never recovered. The same week he passed away I lost my aunt and a dear family friend. Attempting to attend three funerals in one week that were 1500 miles apart was a horrible experience.
Not long after I started experiencing problems with my left hand. Ultimately my little finger folded completely into the palm of my hand and I could not use it. After consultations it was determined that I had Dupuytren's contracture, a hand deformity that usually develops over years. The condition affects a layer of tissue that lies under the skin of your palm. Knots of tissue form under the skin — eventually creating a thick cord that can pull one or more fingers into a bent position. I had my first surgery in January 2020 and a second surgery in September 2020. I am finishing up my last occupational therapy session on Friday completing over 16 months of therapy (almost 100 sessions). My hand is about 60 percent usable and we're attempting to do an intensive 6 week home therapy before looking at another surgery.
In the midst of all that along comes COVID-19. Like most of you the pandemic shut down our life. Fortunately our business didn't take a terrible hit and since we worked from home anyway it wasn't a major change. Socially we did become more isolated. We were active in our church and I was a Boy Scout leader. All that disappeared overnight. About a month into the pandemic the nursing home where my mother was living became overwhelmed with COVID cases. She contracted COVID and become seriously ill. I received a call from the social worker asking me for details concerning her funeral arrangements. We were not allowed in to see her and there was a five day period of waiting to see if she would die from this disease. Amazingly, she recovered and is doing incredibly well today.
Fortunately, my immediate family (children and grandchildren) were spared. Life has started to return to normal. Both my wife and I have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. My oldest granddaughter is about to start her third year at the University of North Carolina. My second oldest grandson has finished high school and trying to decide if he will enter the US Air Force. Meanwhile the love of my life Pam, continues to put up with my shenanigans and we just celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary.
For all you cat lovers - we adopted a one year old tabby that appeared on our doorstep in the middle of winter two years ago. Archer (named after Captain Archer from the Star Trek Enterprise series) has stolen our hearts. We spend most mornings stalking one another. He than spends the rest of the day lounging in my wife's home office.
As you might imagine - I haven't hand a chance to do much with Minecraft while recovering from hand surgery. I have slowly developed coping skills to allow me to use the keyboard although I am not sure I'll be able to outrun some of the faster mobs. There have been some changes in Minecraft that I'll have to adapt to. So if you see a half naked character stumbling around the streets looking lost - have mercy upon me and don't pelt me with rotten fish.
While I have missed Minecraft (I often wonder what happened to my pet chicken Bob that wandered the halls of my SixtyGig home) I mostly miss the friendships I developed here and look forward to catching up with everyone.
