Goetz retirement holds surprises and mysteries

Moving to Odessa for our retirement has not been what we expected. The people here have been wonderful. It is great to be with family again. 'But' when Dr. Powell had Tom flown out in "lifebird" on a warm and moonlit August night, I had no idea what was in store for us as a family.

Stroke had not been a part of the retirement plan. The stroke was bad. As I drove back and forth every day to Spokane for 2 and a half months, I saw my husband deteriorate before my eyes.

The neurologist took me to the side and said, "I don't know how close your husband will come back to where he was."

Where he had...