Siblings and friends,

I knew that 3 friends from Notre Dame were to visit me this past weekend. And we arranged for a dinner with them along with local family and local friends who have connected with my ND buddies through football pools and Thursday night online poker games.

But to my great surprise, into our private room came streaming another 8 or 9 Notre Dame friends. I was totally blown away.

And you can see the surprise and the joy in my face in the photo, taken by Jim McGee. (One of the 3 that I had expected to be there, so he was an "insider". Great shot Jimmy!)




All,

I was overwhelmed and surprised beyond belief at the turnout this past weekend. I cannot thank all who participated and arranged the events enough to match the joy that it brought to me.

It was a wonderful way to belatedly mark the 50th anniversary of our graduation from Notre Dame. And this very day, August 8, is the five-year anniversary of the accident that turned my life upside down.

So once again, I send heartfelt appreciation to all of you for helping me get through all of this. Your friendship and love and support is beyond the pale, and I could not do it without you.

A final note. At the dinner at Gargiulo's Saturday night, I offered a broad appreciation to "family and friends". But what I failed to do was to express the massive gratitude that I have my loving wife, Florence. Her life got turned upside down virtually as much as mine did 5 years ago. And she has been an amazing rock for me through these 5 years. I suspect that everyone knows that, I just wish that I had remembered to give her props that night.

I love you all, and thanks for an incredible and memorable weekend.