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Friday, May 23, 2008
Last Saturday was Armed Forces Day. Monday is Memorial Day. In Norma’s update last Friday I explained that she is in “Boot Camp” for now. Her orders are to concentrate on getting better. She needs to devote her full time and focus on recovery.
Last week, we shared that Norma was going to meet with Dr. Patrick Walsh, Marionjoy’s staff psychologist, on Tuesday, May 20th to review and discuss her progress. He explained how the front and rear parts of our brain interact, as well as a brief summary of the various functions that the main parts of our brain performs. Can I explain them back to you now??? ... Of course not … (I have many deficits also!) I will say that Dr. Walsh did an excellent job of explaining the healing process and the interconnectivity of the brain.
He further stated that this is a work in progress. Norma has come a long way …
but she still has more time left in “Boot Camp.” She didn’t enlist … She was
drafted!
Our focus for the next four months will continue to be concentrated on exercising Norma’s brain by doing cognitive exercises to retrain brain cells to do the work of those that are now gone. Then we will re-evaluate at that time.
We, of course, will continue to meet with her neurosurgeon and neurologists to perform cat scans and EEGs to monitor her against seizures and any further damage.
For our concerned educational industry friends, what does this mean for The Chalkboard and Toy Town, A Smart Place for Kids? I’m happy to report that it means business as usual! Those of you who know Norma know that she loves and is passionate about our industry. Over the years, she has grown our business and retained and trained very valuable and loyal team members. While Norma is recovering, our dedicated staff has been stepping up and not only doing their job responsibilities, but also those of Norma’s. Over the years, Norma trained all our buyers very well and they are now making purchasing decisions. Our managers have always been in charge of managing and training their staffs at their locations. So Norma and I are blessed to be able to “rest easy” and not have to worry about our business at this time – it is a “well oiled machine”! So a big hug and thank you to our key full time players:
Crest Hill
Aurora
Downers Grove
Batavia
Crest Hill: Educational Aids, Inc – Catalog/Internet
And, of course, we want to thank all of our Chalkboard staff members who are in the front lines, taking care of our customers! We appreciate your great effort!
Financially … how are we doing? Total store sales are up for the year, so we are blessed by this good news … even in a struggling economy! (A testament to our staff and very bright customers!) And let’s give credit where credit is due … the good Lord is providing for us!
We also want to thank Northwestern Mutual who is the insurance company I have been privileged to represent for the past 35 ½ years. The disability and business policies that we purchased from Northwestern over the past years are now providing excellent benefits. Northwestern Mutual’s various claim departments have been wonderful to work with … which is the same world class service we have experienced at claim time with my own clients.
Sorry for the “commercial” … But it is the truth. For any of you “out there” who are still reading Norma’s website, I would strongly encourage you to review your own benefits, both personal and business, and make sure you and your employees are being provided for … for the “what if!”
I would be more than happy to share with you the planning we have done, and how it has impacted us in such a positive way, as we go through Norma’s healing process. It is wonderful not having to worry about the “financial side of life.” We can invest all our time and energy into Norma getting better.
We can all meander through life thinking nothing is going to happen to us… It’s always going to be the “other guy” … and that’s okay … but then reality shows up knocking on your doorstep one day and you wish you had taken the time to plan … but now it is too late.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call me … I’d appreciate having an opportunity to help you or at least share my opinions … no charge … no obligation!
We are all free to make our own choices and decisions in this life. With that thought in mind, please remember to remember those who gave their ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms … this Memorial Day.
Thank you for your ongoing thoughts, prayers and concern for Norma and I. We love and cherish you all.
Love,
Norma & Ken
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