a year ago this month was a turn-a-round point in my recovery from my heart attack followed by three strokes and i can not believe how much my life has changed and how much confidence i have regained. the recovery and changes can be attributed to GOD, FAMILY,and cars. i started last fall reading two years of hot rod magazines that i had not had any interest in for years. then i started watching all of the good tv car shows, and begging my wife to let me try driving again, during this time i was doing a vigorus therapy routine that i developed myself that took me almost two hours per morning(starting around three am). then things moved into high gear: 1-started driving in high school parking lot. 2-progressed to driving on desolute county roads 3-had a game plan to go land speed racing at the maxton mile in nc. 3-my friend bob chandler at bob's rod shop starting preparing my 2003 ss silverado truck 4- got approval from my wife and doctor to run wide open for one mile. 5- made seven passes down paradise dragstrip with lee timms aboard to attest in writing to my ability to control the vehicle, coordination, etc. 6- made practise runs on an undisclosed stretch of county road. made three passes down the maxton mile in sept. with best speed of 126.5 mph and told myself that i was satisfied with what i had accomplished after not being able to walk, see, or take care of myself 1 1/2 years before. 7- went back to maxton to break and reset track record of 127.999 mph in a/pp class. 8- just had new wheels installed on my 1998, 20,000 mile corvette. 9- ordered high performance tuner and ehaust system and cold air induction system for the corvette. now i can not wait until the test and tune sessions start at paradise. 10- VERY THANKFUL FOR OLD AQUAINTENANCES RENEWED AND NEW FRIENDS MADE. i pray each night that i will not get set back in anyway by health problems or worse along with thankfulness and prayers for family friends and country. 11- vow to become more adept in computor skills next year. happy hollidays to all, garrell patterson