My sincere apologies for not staying on top of updates about GTD this year. I've been in a deep depression since Dad passed last December. I have been improving at a small microscopic rate month by month since I bottomed out in May. The most common question I get is, "How are you?" Thank you for asking... I will answer some of that below and with several updates starting this week. The 2nd most common question I get is, "When is the GTD Annual Banquet?" I can answer that right now. We won't be doing a banquet this year. Like the covid year we will be doing a mail out in December. I don't have anything left in my tank. I'm an empty cup. I "left it all on the field" over the past 5 years taking care of my parents while rushing back & forth to run events. Like running a long race or packing up your house to move or any physically demanding endeavor it isn't until it's all over and you stop when it all catches up to you and you just want to collapse... add in a deep depression and I have become a shell of a person. But thankfully, in recent months, I have inch by inch been doing a lot of microscopic healthy things and I'm making very small significant progress. I still feel a million miles away from who I used to be, but a few months ago I was a million & 1 mile away from who I used to be... so I'm making progress PTL. I'm seeing a Christian counselor regularly (a retired Colonel from the Marines who served for 25 years and who is a current counselor for the almost World Series Championships Toronto Blue Jays), I'm involved in a weekly Men's Bible Study, I'm attending a new church, I was part of a Monday night Bible study that just ended for the holidays, I'm reading a book called "Blessed Are The Spiraling" (recommended by a friend), I'm reading different parts in the Bible that relate to what I'm experiencing, I'm talking / arguing / whining with God like an immature baby about everything, I'm reading a small booklet on depression, I'm watching a ton of YouTube videos about what I'm experiencing, I'm talking Laurie's ear off about what I'm experiencing, I'm keeping Traci & Carson and some friends updated with what I'm experiencing, I have been utilizing my health insurance (especially since I have met my yearly deductible) getting everything in my body checked out - tested - and addressed (ironically, although I have always had health insurance and I was at the doctor's office nearly every week with my parents for the past 5 years, I hadn't actually seen a doctor for my own body in over 15 years... this is very common for caregivers), and as you can see in this picture I recently got 2 hair transplants to help me navigate a possible mid life crisis ;) ... all that to say that although I have been paralyzed with depression much of the past 11 months I have been taking steps to address it and openly express it. I apologize to friends and family who have reached out to me, but I haven't yet returned your call or email or message or text... I often intend to respond back by the end of the day, but honestly am often too emotionally drained to have the energy to respond and then a day goes by then a week goes by, etc. Thank you all for your love and prayers... I would not have survived without them. More updates to follow.
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