Letter from Tom, September 2006:

A few of you made it down to the Rickenbacker's late Thursday evening, on July 13. I also showed up, wanting to wish to Gay Frazier a happy birthday, give her a bottle of champagne, and generally say hi to everyone there.

This I remember: I was waiting in line for a beer, when, suddenly a darkness came over me. I regained consciousness first when I came to in the St. Gertrauden hospital (and a grinning face of Leonard Lott made his acquaintance!). I had no idea what it was that hit me.

They told me in a hospital that I had suffered another stroke. But they ran some tests, and it seems like I was back to normal.

After a short rest that night, I made it home the next morning. More importantly, no damage has been sustained - the leg and the arm were in their partially healed state, and the brain seem to suffer no damage. The doctor was matter-of-fact about it all: "These things happen. You had a stroke once; you may get one again."

During my downtime on the floor, it appears as if I had an epileptic fit. It may seem that way, but it's not. I just have to be careful about really hot days... I mean, REALLY hot.

These days I'm spending a lot of time training on a bicycle. With a little help, I can get up, and stay up, driving 15 or 20 laps in my back yard on the parking lots at Quentin Hotel. The help I need is how to put my right foot - the lame foot - on the pedal. It fits in a sort of cover. I can't yet move it - but I hope to do so by Christmas.

In which case I'll be up and about on the bike ... in fact, I may come by to see how you're doing.

Any more champagne?

Take care and I guess, we`ll see each other in Templin, yes?