Dunham Family and My Stroke Story!

I am a very private person. However, a blog is very public especially when you write things about yourself that might uncomfortable. Talking about depression should not be uncomfortable but it usually is.  In my mind, "Depression" is a dirty secret that people do not talk  about. Especially, me.  However, I have been trying to use my blog to educate people about stroke. Warts and all. "Stroke" is not pretty. Depression is not pretty.  I try to do my blog every week; however, I have not done it for many weeks because I have been very depressed.  " Depression" is common when you have strokes. About 6 weeks ago, I was startled when I realized “this is basically it for my life.” Sure, I get better every day, but I will NEVER be back to what I was before. That is a shattering realization for me. Despite brain scans and doctors, I just assumed I would “back.” There is no going back for me. This is it. Even though I have never really liked ...

I used to get a lot of emails! At the height of my career, I bet I got about 100 (or more!) emails every day during the week. Over a weekend, it was less but still a constant stream of emails. Several years ago, when our son was starting to ride his bike, he asked me to “watch me Daddy!” I watched but I was actually responding to emails. Our son said, “Daddy! I want you to watch ME! Not your phone!” That was a great lesson for me. However, admittedly I still checked emails though I was more sneaky about it. When my career began, there was no email. It was a simpler time. My secretary would hand me a stack of messages, and I would respond. I had a policy that I would respond as soon as possible though never more than one day later. I had the same policy for my staff. “Call” – NOT email because there was no email – no later than 24 hours. Technology changed everything. The demands of time made everyone want instant answers. People would email me and then call me mi...