Hi All

Hello to everyone.  I don't post often, but I usually lurk every couple of days.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to do even that for about the last 6 weeks.  So I thought I would catch everyone up.  My busy time at work is June - November and August - December seems to be the bad time for my family.  This year is no different: My grandmother caught pneumonia in early June and took a turn for the worse in August.  She was in and out of the hospital twice that month.  She finally passed away September 4th.  My husband's grandmother went into the hospital on August 30th and passed away September 7th rather unexpectedly.  Then we lost a long time friend on September 10th.  Carol had been battling breast cancer that had matastasized to her liver for 9 years.  She was an inspiration.  She never complained about having to go through all the chemo, etc.  She didn't let it hold her back from living whatever time she had left.  Even in her last 2 weeks, she made plans to go to lunch with me.  We never made it to lunch, but she didn't stop trying to live her life as long as she had breath. So we have attended 3 funerals in a week.  Run from Indy to Kokomo and generally been not sure if we were coming or going.  But thankfully, we have had our families around us and been able to meet all of the needs that arose.  My sister and I were able to be with my grandmother the whole night before she passed.  My husband was able to be there to support his mother as she spent time with his grandmother in her last hours.  I may not have gotten to see my friend before she passed, but I was able to talk to her, to let her know I was thinking of her and that meant the world to me. So for all the things that are going on in your lives, I just wanted to say: Welcome newbies, you have started a wonderous journey. Hi to all my friends, I hope your journeys are going smoothly and if they aren't ... take heart.  It will smooth out soon.  I know I have made the occassional poor food choice in the last few weeks, but we will get back on the right road together. Sherri, I know I missed your PC party.  I had really wanted to order some stuff.  I'm sorry I didn't give you a call to let you know I couldn't make it. Floyd and Brenda, I've missed seeing you at support groups.  I hope to see you all tomorrow night. I gotta get back to work now.  Hope to catch up on all the posts soon.

CINDY,    HI, BOY I'VE MISSED YOU & BEEN THINKING OF YOU! I KNOW WHAT A LOSS YOU HAVE GONE THRU, HAVING LOST BOTH MY PARENTS IN 17 DAYS, 6 YRS. AGO THIS NOV.  SPENDING THOSE LAST HOURS ARESOO IMPORTANT, FOR BOTH OF YOU, & THOSE MEMORIES GET SWEETER WITH TIME.    I LOVED YOUR FRIENDS ENTHEUSIASM FOR LIFE- MY SIS-IN-LAW HAS OVARIAN CANCER- BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE HER. SHE IS IN HER 4 SERIES OF TREATMENTS AND IS AS POSITIVE A PERSON AS IT COMES. I LOVE HER DRIVE & DETERMINATION TO LIVE LIFE, INSTEAD OF LETTING IT PASS HER BY.   I PLAN ON GOING TO THE SPEAKER MEETING TOMORROW, SO I'LL SEE YOU THERE & WE CAN (((HUG))) IN PERSON. LOVE YA, ELLEN

Thanks Ellen.  I look forward to seeing you too.

Cindy, I'm so sorry that you have had so much grief to touch your life this past few months. I'm glad that you had support people available to help you through this. No, you didn't miss the Pampered Chef party. I was going to have it the 9th, but Telena was being induced on the 10th. That, and as much as we had been gone, I really didn't have time to put a party together. We're going to wait until I'm back on my feet after plastics. I'll let you know when...so keep that list! Take care... Sherri

Sherri, Glad I didn't miss it.  Keep me posted on how your ps goes and I'll look forward to going to your party when you have it.

Cindy, Sorry to hear about what you've been going through.  We've missed you too.  Cindi had asked about you awhile back and I told her I hadn't seen you.  See how you're missed when you're not around. Hope to see you tomorrow night. Floyd

Thanks Floyd.  Tell Cindi I said hi.  I'll have to give her a call in a couple of days.