Hello wonderful supporters, friends, and fellow earthlings…

Hello wonderful supporters, friends, and fellow earthlings,

We’re back with another dispatch from the rolling hills of West Marin—where every errand somehow turns into an adventure and every “quick trip” requires snacks, layers, and maybe a recovery nap.

First stop: our favorite cycle whisperer, Josh.
After a much-needed brake cable fix for the trike—synchronizing the front wheels so James can stop without feeling like he’s auditioning for a stunt show—Josh sent us off with smiles, confidence, and fully-functioning brakes (hooray!).

Naturally, we turned it into a day-long outing. We took our usual funky little route—think bike path meets train tracks meets dusty goat trail—stopped at Costco for “just a few things” (how does that ever stay true?) and made our way to Stafford Lake for a lovely, sun-drenched picnic.

That sun? Yeah... it came for me. I ignored the warning signs and the wind laughed in my face on the ride home. I paid for it with a sore throat, a dry cough, and a week of pretending I wasn’t sick until I finally surrendered and called off work. Lesson learned (sort of).

Meanwhile, James had to go into conservation mode—battery conservation, that is. We rolled into our driveway just as his trike’s battery flashed 3%. That’s what I call cutting it close and crushing it at the same time.

Then came a different kind of ride: memory lane.
We were invited for an interview on Voices of the Valley with our friend Albert at KWMR (actual airing time to be announced). The focus was our first big adventure: biking from Alaska to Ushuaia. What a ride it was—both then and during the retelling.

I was a bit nervous, honestly. James has been experiencing more frequent cognitive “Lewy moments” (thanks, Lewy Body Dementia…), and I worried about how he’d manage on air. But the microphone must have magic powers—he lit up and rode that conversation like a pro. For a whole hour, it felt like Lewy took the day off. It was beautiful. There’s even talk of a part two.

On the medical front...
We’re gearing up for appointments with UCSF and our local doc to get clarity on some recent challenges: episodes where James suddenly stiffens and can’t move, paired with mental fog and disorientation. It’s scary. When it hits, James has learned to lie down wherever he is so he doesn’t fall—which, bless him, has worked so far. It’s mostly been happening at home, but it’s time to get expert eyes on it.

Now for some good news: WE GOT A BED.
Yes, a real bed. With a solid foam mattress and—drumroll—drawers. Storage! Support! Elevated sleeping!

It was a bit of a saga: a Mill Valley NextDoor pickup, an Ikea reassembly quest (involving multiple trips, a deep-dive into mysterious instruction diagrams, and James operating on screwdriver fumes). But we got it done. And oh, the sleep. James slept like a healthy person. I nearly cried. It’s the little big things, right?

We’re reminded again and again that quality of life doesn’t just mean medical care or big changes. Sometimes it’s brakes that don’t feel like an amusement ride. Or a bed that makes it easier to get up at night. Or a good radio chat that brings someone fully present.

We keep putting one foot (or pedal) in front of the other, with your kindness lighting the way. Every bit of support matters. Every note, every donation, every hug in the grocery store. We feel it. And we’re so grateful.

With love and resolve,

Margit and James

https://gofund.me/736ec308