When I first met Charlie and visited his home for the first time in 1988 it was unimaginable that sport was his primary interest. Not a trophy or an award to be seen. His family home reminded me of a painting or a beautiful picture that had been created over several generations.
History and Political science as Fat B/KitKat has pointed out are topics of great discussion, debate and passion.
BTW and I know it is hard to believe it will be 6 years in April that CHarlie was diagnosed and those silly Docs have been wrong about most. They call people like this in the medical lingo Outliers.
As for drawing any conclusions if I have learned one thing from this man it is that 1st is better than 2nd ( no kidding ) 4th is better than 5th and so it goes with his attitude about everything.
Sadly I learned this lesson too late in my athletic career in Montreal at the Olympic Trials when I ran " Like a sack of shit" i think is how he put it, in the heats. We or he got into a screaming match with me yet I knew he was right. I went on to the finals and beat one of the 3 Olympic team members ( she was from Quebec and for those who know Quebec athletes in Canada are the chosen ones, I think sorta like the native pop in Australia etc ) to perform the best outdoor race of my career. The time sucked, we all ran slow into wind and I was the only one out of the 4 girls who needed the qualifing time and I did not get it. Ancient history and am I glad I got over that;)