| I am recovering from a mild stroke that I | | | | point. I felt embarrassed at first, then just |
| suffered last year. For the most part, the physical | | | | humored by the entire thing. Fortunately, I have |
| impairments have been resolved through very | | | | lived in this community for 35 years and I have |
| intensive physical and occupational therapies. I | | | | friends everywhere. We all just had a good laugh, |
| learned a great deal about my self-determination | | | | then I started the same process over for an oil |
| during this medical crisis. One area of my life that | | | | furnace upgrade. |
| remains a bit foggy is how my brain processes | | | | After this event, I visited with the local stroke |
| information. Currently, it seems to leave out | | | | support group at the hospital, the following week. |
| crucial information when I am trying to | | | | I told them about all of the planning that went in |
| problem-solve anything that comes up. My house | | | | to the process for purchasing a new gas furnace. |
| has needed a new furnace for some years now. | | | | I told them about the comparative shopping I did |
| With the cost of fuel being so high, it made sense | | | | on gas furnace prices and things such as energy |
| for me to order a new furnace and have it | | | | fuel efficiency ratings, costs saved through |
| installed. I took my time and did some | | | | professional installation etc... Others in attendance |
| comparative shopping on gas furnace prices for | | | | were asking me all kinds of questions and I was |
| my house. I took notes, asked lots more | | | | answering them. Eventually, the doctor in |
| questions, and took more notes. I was | | | | attendance figured that something wasn't quite |
| determined to plan this through correctly. I | | | | what it seemed and he asked the question. With |
| achieved this, almost. Though you can't see me | | | | as much humor and dignity that I could muster, I |
| doing it, I am smiling to myself and shaking my | | | | told them the punch line and everybody started |
| head in wonder and amusement. | | | | howling. SOme people laughed so hard and so long |
| Here's the thing: I did all of this intensive research | | | | that they were crying. Recovery from a stroke is |
| on gas furnace prices, and my house isn't | | | | a deeply individual experience but the trials and |
| equipped for gas ! Dear, Sweet Lord ! My furnace | | | | tribulations are common. In any case, some of |
| system runs on fuel oil. I had all of the right | | | | my fellows now have all the necessary |
| information for the wrong kind of system. My | | | | information to make an informed decision about |
| brain had simply not registered this important | | | | purchasing new gas furnaces. |