As Mike continues to navigate a daily “new normal”, he is finding ways to adapt despite his significant vision impairment. Add to that the fact that he still cannot use his left arm and hand in a functional way and this all keeps him in a sort of limbo.

I mean, there’s only so much he can accomplish with one hand.

He had his third Botox administration in mid-August. Dr. Doyle concentrated on the wrist and hand to free up the fingers and hopefully get some functional movement.

Unfortunately, there’s been absolutely zero improvement.

And something I haven’t talked about much in my blog is Mike’s short-term memory loss, which is starting to become a true impediment in his day-to-day as he tries to stay on top of e-mails, text messages and various tasks for his business.

On a positive note, he sold his body shop in Schenectady. He did come down on his price, but he is comfortable with the terms of the sale.

Back when he bought the building, he got it pretty cheap and it helped establish him in the autobody world, which is his stomping ground.

Saying goodbye to that brings with it mixed emotions.

It’s something he’s been very proud of (and should be). His success was built from the ground up. The building is located in a very traffic-heavy area of Schenectady.

The best kind of business card.

It’s brought him scores of customers and made Komp’s Quality Auto Works a trusted name in that area.

But…

It’s been sitting vacant and has required a lot of work as the roof was damaged and leaking and the inside was old and falling apart. Taxes and liability insurance have been constant expenses with no money coming into that location to draw from.

And the hard cold reality of Mike’s situation is he is unable to work and bring in the kind of money he was used to.

After all, he was his best worker and he hasn’t been able to find a suitable replacement.

For now, he does not want to go on disability which I can respect. I am willing and able to help with some household bills, but I cannot help with everything.

So, selling the building was necessary. Mike came to that conclusion on his own and got it sold rather quickly considering the limited market for such a business.

It’s more evidence of Mike’s ability to remain steadfast and determined. As much as he’s been knocked down, he keeps getting back up. I am in awe of his resilience and ever so grateful for it.

***

I don’t know if you’ve been following the continued saga of On Eagles’ Wings, but if not, I will catch you up. A LOT has happened!

Shadow, coping with the loss of Jackie, had been seen coming and going at the nest. Sometimes he was absent for days.

A new eagle in town named Kaydee started flying around and visiting the nest on a regular basis. To be fair, she was spotted before Jackie passed away as kind of an onlooker of sorts.

She is a subadult eagle and on the brink of her first mating season.

And she sure is making her presence known.

Oh, the drama! She had been observed (on camera) rearranging the sticks in the nest once occupied by Shadow and Jackie!

It could only be surmised that this didn’t sit well with Shadow at first, because he disappeared for a while.

After the first couple of weeks following Jackie’s passing, Shadow and Kaydee started displaying some teamwork in building the nest. They were often spotted together for days at a time. Then, one or both would be gone for days at a time. This is apparently normal eagle behavior.

I personally think Shadow is still trying to process his significant loss. Maybe he’s been revisiting routes that he and Jackie would fly together, setting on a high perch they once shared for rest and enjoyment. Savoring those memories one last time while also making peace with them. His process of letting go and moving on.

After all, Shadow and Jackie were devoted and loyal partners for many moons. They had babies together. Their bond was strong.

Kaydee may be coming off as a little bit pushy, but her efforts can be interpreted as “making the first move” to show her interest.

Now, it’s just up to Shadow. The big “will they or won’t they” question looms.

I, for one, think they will become a mated pair. I mean, who could resist this face?

Kaydee is quite charming. She’s quirky and cute and brings a smile to everyone watching the nest.

I think she’s exactly what Shadow needs right now.

***

In the early morning hours last week, as Mike was coming back to bed after using the bathroom, I was awakened to a loud thud and Mike crying out in pain.

He had fallen.

I was so confused at first. He hasn’t had any issues getting back in bed in the dark in a very long time.

He had fallen on his bad side and at first thought he broke his arm.

Luckily, he did not.

But that’s always my biggest fear is he will fall on that vulnerable side and break something.

He also hit his head, but it was slight and resulted in just a scratch (thank you, God!)

After making sure he was okay, I asked Mike what happened. He said he stood at his nightstand and took a sip of water. He lost his balance as he tilted his head back and went to lean on the wall but misjudged the distance.

His instinct to do a perfectly normal thing was met with a harsh reminder sending him crashing down.

Still, we are grateful for the feeling of normalcy in those moments. And the opportunity to learn from these experiences without a catastrophic injury.

***

As Mike finds himself in one of the lowest valleys of his life right now, his faith has allowed him to see the beauty that resides there. There are wondrous and unique flowers in the valley.

There is peace and tranquility there.

There are new paths to wander onto and different terrain to explore. He is discovering that meaningful life still exists even where the sun doesn’t always shine.

And when he stumbles and falls, his faith gives him the strength to get back up. It may take longer than before and he may come out with some extra bruises and scratches, but stopping just isn’t an option.

***

Last week’s episode of On Eagles’ Wings…

Shadow has returned to the nest in Big Bear Valley and is consistently working to build and maintain it alongside Kaydee. He seems to have taken a liking to her. His behavior has shown acceptance of her presence and they’ve been sharing many beak-to-beak moments as well as early morning chortles.

Experts say it is too soon to tell if the pair will mate. Eagles are known to be social outside of nesting season. They are, however, displaying a behavior indicative of nesting preparation.

And Kaydee has shown persistence trying to earn her spot in the nest once occupied by Jackie. She continues to be a beautiful symbol of hope in Shadow’s valley.

***

We are excited to see Dr. Doyle in November. He told us there are a lot of options for Mike if Botox doesn’t work. He assured us he isn’t stopping until he finds the right treatment for Mike.

Meanwhile, Mike continues to learn strategies that keep him safe, even how to “safely” fall. It really just takes practice.

Because, sadly, falling is a daily risk.

But that’s okay…

After all, it’s not the fall that gets you in the end. It’s the sudden stopping.