Just a quick word before Xmas rolls around...

[Alrauder]

I haven't been able to make it into here just lately. For that I apologise. It's been a frantic last handful of months. Sometimes things seem to be going along just fine and them wammm, something hits you side-on that you just weren't expecting. At one stage for about 2 - 3 months, family trajedy struck and it looked like my mother was going to lose to an ongoing illness, then we (actually it was ME) finally put her into hospital once I saw that illness in action. They finally put her on medication which has brought her back to an almost normal life and now she's so much better. Then when she settled down it was dads turn, going through a spell of illness, much of it related back to his participation in the Vietnam war and Agent Orange. For those who know what this is, I don't need to sat any more. He has many ongoing problems that have seen him get really old this year, and to be honest at one stage I wasn't expecting either of them to see Xmas this year. Me and my brothers were all drawn in closely to help out, especially me the the brother I live with,, both having to take much time off work (self employed builders) to take them both to doctors, sepcialists, and hospitals and even helping them to shop for normal supplies on a semi regular basis. Dad's also losing his sight but the big C was the immediate up front problem. Just a handful of days ago, last week, he had some of it removed - again - and is now just starting to recover. It looks like we will all have a big Xmas get together around here and we're going to make it one to remember...

All my hobbies have had to to a backseat in the past 5 or 6 months and I just looked in the cupboard and saw my P-rod, which I used to look forward to firing, even in the backyard, just for somethig to do. It hasn't even been looked at in the past months and this morning I pulled her out and smiled. It hasn't lost any pressure in the past 6 months, so that's one good thing. I'll have to take the dive bottle to get certified again as it expeired about a month ago, but that's no hassle.

It all seems like a bad dream this year. It just didn't turn out like it was supposed to have, but I am an optimistic type and can see there are still good times to be had by all. My brother and I have worked very hard this year, both at work and behind the scenes, to keep this family unit up and running. At times there has been no sleep and two very tired guys at the building sites but we hung in there. I can now smile and say "that is what life is all about"...

Now, Xmas is about to roll over us and we have got a bit to do now to get our family together, and give both mum and dad a good one. Looking forward even one more year is just too much to ask for in their case right now, but we can look at the present and be thankful...

It feels good to let it out like this as at times it has bottled up in so many ways, that it almost became unbearable... All our family is all gorwn up and in our 50's plus. Mum and dad are in their late 80's. They did their part for us way back then. Now it's our turn to show how much we appreciated what they did...

I may not be able to make it back in here for the rest of 2012 so I would like to wish all of you a great Xmas and happy new year and hope that you and yours will all be safe and well...

[mudduck48]

Well, thank you for the kudos, hope mum and dad get to fealing better. I lost my mum in 78 and my dad in 98, so I know what you are going through. Just do what you can for them as long as they are here. They know, they always know, they are parents and they are loved.
Merry Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season.

[breakfastchef]

They did their part for us way back then. Now it's our turn to show how much we appreciated what they did...

Happy thoughts going your way. Thanks for sharing and stepping up for the family. You are good people!

[chongman]

Thank you for your story. It's greatly appreciated and I praise you for what you have done to keep yourself and your family together through trying times.

I don't have much of a family left nowadays and it makes me thankful for what remains of it.

[WyoMan]

Thanks for sharing Alrauder,
I've also been trying to make lemonade out of the lemons I got - wife with MS, sister and mom in hospital with kidney, stomach, and some really tough things going on. I always wonder what other folks do to cope with adversity. I think you said important thing that you are optimistic. Thats what I try to do. When it works I realize that I was dealt a pretty good hand after all.
18 years ago, almost to the day, my youngest daughter was 2 years old. She just had eye surgery for a partially detached cornea and was wearing an eye patch. On new years eve we were giving toasts when she lifted her cup of milk and said "Happy to You". It worked for me!
Hang in there and best wishes!

[mr007s]

Sending Love and Hope your way during this special Season

[Fronzdan]

Thanks for sharing Alrauder.  Sorry to hear about your family's troubles.  I think a lot of us can point to stuff like that in our own lives to varying degrees.  Thanks for the inspirational reminder of what's important.

[arkmaker †]

Glad to see you are holding up and Christmas will be all family!  Enjoy it!




Rich

[tinker]

Have a very special holiday season with your family!

Glen

[Trophyhunter49]

I hope this Christmas will very spiesal for all of you.Our prayers are with you and God bless. 
   Mike