Prior to Memorial Day, my wife, began having a lot of pain in her lower back. the pain would follow the back of her leg and in the front calf. The pain became very acute to her. I find seeing her in such pain and being helpless a most terrible feeling, as well. As you may surmise my domestic duties increased thus limiting my outdoor ventures. 
We have been to a number of doctors and still we do not know with certainty what has caused the issues. There seems to be some MRI evidence of a bone fragment pushing on nerves. The neurosurgeon will not make a determination on that until after July 8th. At that time, the doctor is going to do a nerve test. A therapist and a pain clinic doctor, both, suggest a possible resurgence of Multiple Sclerosis. The MS doctor isn’t committing to that, yet. 
One may easily see my outdoor ventures have been limited. However, now with meds to lesson the pain to a slightly tolerable level, I have been out a little for short times.
This past week I walked a local game lands one morning for some exercise. 
This morning, June 17, I spent a couple of hours along the Allegheny River enjoying nature and fishing. I caught one catfish. I lost a nice fish, and missed three hard strikes because of either not concentrating on fishing or taking photos. 
I saw a mother mallard with a small flock of ducklings. I saw a loon. Later, I saw daddy mallard.
At home this morning I watched a doe with her playful fawn. Later, I saw some movement and saw two adult Canada Geese with five goslings. I have been rebuilding a deck over the last couple of weeks, too. A groundhog has been trying to regain lost land. The hole was under the deck.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
I do hope your wife is okay!
Thank you very much!!!
Larry,
So sorry to hear of your wife’s illness, having suffered through my wife’s own “close call” mis-diagnosis of Multiple Scerosis several years ago, I can feel for you. Fortunately a very good UPMC Neusurgeon was able to determine that it was “water on the brain” or a hydrocephalic condition, although it slowed her down, and resulted in her early retirement from the Veterans Administration Hospital where she was a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, it has not worsened. She tires easy, has short-term memory loss, and has an unsteady gate, or step, but Thank God, other wise at 66 years old still able to manage. Her latest project is training our newly adopted 3 year old Beagle, having lost our beloved 10 year old Black Labrador Retriever of cancer about six weeks ago, and this new little guy is a “hand full”.
I am finished teaching for the summer next week, and am pretty much free for July, so am sure John and I can hook up with you and Slim next month. WE are now working on a history of the 139th PA. Infantry Regiment, that has several companies from Armstrong County, and one from Mercer in addition to those from Allegheny County. We still are at least two years or more from completion, but have both discussed the idea, of prevailing upon you to paint a portrait, that we could possible use on the center piece or even the cover of our work?
Take care friend
God Bless,
ART
Sent from Windows Mao;
Art,
Great hearing from you, and thank you. I am so sorry to hear of your wife’s illness, too. The uncertainties, and long waits for appointments causes much frustration. Just look at Slim’s situation. All these years and still no diagnosis! Also, sorry to hear of the passing of your black lab. Those critters sure can become close family. Good luck with that beagle.
Yes, maybe we could get together for some Civil War talk!!!
Thanks again,
Larry