Matthew Appleby:  

September 14, 2009 Life is full of surprises. Just when you think everything is peachy-dandy a curveball gets thrown at you. In December 2007 after having vision problems I was diagnosed as having the rare incurable cancerous disease called lymphom of the cranium. The doctors did not give me any chance of recovery, but after 4 different chemo-therapies and 26 radiation treatments I am still alive and kicking. In March of this year I celebrated my 60th with friends and family. This past summer I spent getting my brain and body back in shape. I am no longer teacing at high school as I am on old age retirement (as planned). This has set me free to resume my teaching at the university level beginning next month. I will also continue writing school books in English for geography in bilingual classes in German schools. Hope your summer was good. I can finally watch American football here in Germany (ESPN). Yippee! Just in time for the season! Later. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hi to all from waaay back when! I surely hope that your health and prospects are of excellent quality! My knees are wearing out. It was really very nice being back in Pa. this summer of 2007, even if it was only for a week, the first visit in 3-4 years. At least it was really summer and not like here in Germany in July and August. Seeing a Phillies game on TV with a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich was a treat. They even make a beer in Hbg. now that is pretty decent. While visiting family and recognizing this and that again, I have to admit that Pennsylvania corn is unbeatable. So is the Lebanon Bologna. Here is a sketch of my existence since the Middletown days in 1966. One year at the PSU Mont Alto campus was a very positive experience, but changing to State College the next year literally blew my mind. I had been studying electrical engineering and doing extremely well, until my brain became overloaded causing sleeping problems. I dropped out at the end of the third semester. It didn't take long though until Uncle Sam heard about my availability, so after building a few trailers at Fruehauf's, I was whisked off to Texas for basic training in the Air Force (I cheated on my pushups test.) Tech school in Denver following torture in Texas wasn'...Expand for more