... as a result of another family health crisis.

My father-in-law, who has emphysema, congestive heart failure and prostate cancer, suffered respiratory arrest on Sunday and is now hospitalized and in intensive care. I am flying to Memphis tomorrow to be with him and the rest of the family, particularly my sister-in-law Penny (who, in less than a year, has already lost her mother, only sister and favorite aunt).

The doctors can't give us a very good idea of how much longer my father-in-law is likely to live, but it isn't long, perhaps a few days to at most a week or so.

Barring an unexpected and significant recovery, it now seems unlikely that I will be able to make the convention. I am going to have to be in Memphis at least a week, no matter what happens, and for at least a week after my father-in-law dies, whenever that might be.

In the past few days, I've received nearly 100 emails. As things stand now, I probably won't get to answering them for awhile and certainly won't be taking any action on them until my father-in-law's situation is resolved (and probably not until after the convention). I will get to them as quickly as I can, but will appreciate everyone's patience and understanding until I do.

I think I have written privately to everyone involved in my convention commitments (grading seminar, electronic chipping forum, club auction and exhibit chairman). If I have missed anyone, please let me know.

If it turns out that I can make any part of the convention, I will. If not, I will miss seeing everyone & hope you all have a great time.

----- jim o\-S