[Oe List ...] Join Us!

[Nancy Lanphear]

Dear Folks,
8/21/2009


Once again please "Dust off your walking shoes and walk with us!"

Here is an update on Fred’s health and well-being along with an invitation
to join us as sponsors of Fred’s Folks in the ALS Walk.  As you recall, he
was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) 1 1/2 years ago and the
disease process has steadily progressed, the path seems to be unique to each
person.

Fred continues to be his own steady, creative self.  Although he has lost
the use of his legs and has limited use of his hands, he is busy writing his
books, (one thumb typing along with the use of dictation software) a
personal and a community auto biography – in the latter, he is writing the
narrative with community members sharing stories of their own experience of
living in community.  His breathing has become more compromised and he
spends a part of most days with his bipap machine on, always using it for
sleeping, and any time he lies down.

One of his favorite times is visiting with folks who come by (or write) to
share their stories and listen to his.  He also participates in two study
groups that meet regularly in our home. Fred continues to be very much a
part of community life in spite of the fact that his days are spent in a
wheel chair.  The gardeners of the community come to share ideas and to hear
his wisdom or advice on plants.  He attends meetings, dinner/breakfast in
the common house dining room 5 times each week. With our wheelchair
accessible van we are able to stay active in the Kirkland UCC Church and NW
Intentional Communities Assoc. Singing continues to be a vital part of his
life and is his measure of his breathing capacity and a strong part of his
spiritual path and practice.

Early on in our life with ALS, I mentioned being a caretaker, which put Fred
in the role of being the receiver.  A wise colleague and friend suggested
that in her experience with her husband as he was dying, they continued to
be in a partnership until 3 hours before he died, only then did she become
the caretaker.   I loved this wisdom and continue to see our relationship as
just that – a true partnership – each one giving the other what they have to
offer at each moment.  Life is amazing and full!

We are blessed to have been given time to realize and prioritize the
important things in our lives, to bring relationships to the top of the
list, to experience the sacred in the mundane, and to connect with those we
love through visits, letters, emails and prayers.  In our celebration of 50
years of marriage on July 4th, we articulated our gratitude for our life
together and for the inter- relationships with family and friends that have
been such a huge part of our lives.

Please join us in supporting the ALS Walk. You can contribute by following
the instructions on this website or send a check, made out to ALS Walk, to
me at 4106 224th St. SE #1, Bothell, WA 98021.

This event is happening on Saturday September 26th.  We would love it if you
could join us in person at Seward Park and walk with our great team, "Fred's
Folks."

You are loved,

Nancy

Click here to visit my personal
page.<http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/EvergreenWalk?px=1944707&pg=personal&fr_id=5987&et=iCEpNFTU5kFGOY0wijqB_Q..&s_tafId=71800>
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web
address:
http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/EvergreenWalk?px=1944707&pg=personal&fr_id=5987&et=iCEpNFTU5kFGOY0wijqB_Q..&s_tafId=71800

Click here to view the team page for Fred's
Folks<http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/EvergreenWalk?team_id=135200&pg=team&fr_id=5987&et=Ss9igfslg-ViJYsLpRGtsQ..&s_tafId=71800>
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web
address:
http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/EvergreenWalk?team_id=135200&pg=team&fr_id=5987&et=Ss9igfslg-ViJYsLpRGtsQ..&s_tafId=71800

If you no longer wish to receive email messages sent from your friends on
behalf of this organization, please click
here<http://web.alsa.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=fcd42caa9937ba0759661cf86883777452869c15ef04f318>or
paste this URL into your browser:
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