Survivors

Mark's first horse show in years
Top Hands at the Houston Rodeo
2nd in English equitation!



And as soon as we came home, we trimmed and hauled limbs for heavy trash pick up next week. I did the artistic work (the trimming) and Mark did the heavy lifting.
I joked that I'm the ATV (able to get around in the grass easily) and Mark's the Ferrari, very much prefering concrete. Unfortunately, the gearbox is broken and he's stuck in the lowest gear.
He hauled all these limbs.



Here's some more survivors. I have under one crepe myrtle snapdragons and pinks that hung on last summer, after being planted in early 2008. Under another crepe are several native violets.

Dozens of cilantro plants have sprung up all over the yard since the mama plant died last summer.

And the loropetalum (Chinese witch hazel) throbs in full, hot pink glory.

New stuff and some old, too

New recumbent trike - very cool!

Some of the rest of us....

See below for thirty years ago!

Executive (dys) function revisited

Getting out of bed, starting the daily routine, making plans for the day, returning to the routine if interrupted or distracted, moving onto the next item, striving to conclusion, and recognizing when a task is complete; these are some of the "executive functions" of the brain. Recognizing when efforts are going well or seeing problems ahead and then problem solving or changing plans on the fly; all are tasks for the brain's frontal lobes (the seat of executive functioning). The frontal lobes enable us to persist in the face of difficulties or discomfort and to tolerate frustration. When we remember to pick up the dry-cleaning on the way home and to make plans for a birthday next week, when we notice a friend's new haircut and then remark on it, when we go on to express empathy for that friend's sick relative then pick up social cues that it's time for the conversation to move on; that's also all executive functioning. Your well-working frontal lobes allow you usually to think before you act and enable you to use self-talk to control behavior and direct future actions. When you've finished the day pleased with what you've done but ruefully vowing to go back and work on the items you put off, thank your frontal lobes for serving so faithfully.



Mark has largely lost all of this. But I know, and researchers agree, that with effort and activity, persons with brain injuries can regain functions. Mark has goals. He wants to improve physically, to be a better husband and father, to cook, and more. He just can't get there from here without God's divine power and grace and, I think, without friends who will share their lives and share his.