I will have a fairly negative post about ALS soon but today it is all about the good news. Without ALS and the ability to speak I moved through the world pretty fast. And I didn't always have the best listening skills. But because I can no longer speak, I listen much more closely now. And since I can't speak, i write a lot more texts and emails. And with my blog, it has spread wide enough I am reconnecting with some people I hadn't seen or spoken to in many years. One of those people is Nina Lee. I worked with her at the Los Angeles Times from 2000 to 2008. And I didn't get to know her very well. In fact, I may have been rude to her. She told me a couple of days ago when we met face to face for the first time in 14 years, that the very first time we met, I asked her how old she was! That is possible but I think there had to be a context of some sort for that question. But that is now Nina remembers it and I have to go with that. But we have developed a much better relationship via email. She joined my web blog a few months back and sent me a message. that I responded to and we started to email back and fourth. I learned a lot about her that i didn't know and I was poorer for it. So thanks to ALS I made a new friend and have really gotten to know her. So thank you ALS! Funny story. She sent me this picture and said she was going to ask if I could stop by when I posted on my blog our plans. But I beat her to the punch. Jim and I were knocking around Glendale and I sent her a message to see if she wanted to meet. So we did. We had a great conversation though she still has to finish the book I sent her. A very good book about life choices I recommend to all of you. It is called Replay by Ken Grimwood. I have sent a copy of that book to many friends, it made that much of an impact on me.
Nina Lee and Russ
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