Saturday Greetings

Eve actually lives in Rice. She takes on a lot of guilt and feels abandoned and lost. She was an only child and her father kind of kept her sheltered. So now she doesn't know some basic things. 

Hi Eileen,

I'm sorry to hear about Mike, and Eve feeling responsible for him.  

Being a recovering alcoholic, who would drink, pass out, wake up and drink again, then pass out again, I understand that level of alcoholism.  It is a vicious cycle, and while in it, I did not care what I was doing to my body.  If I had not been in therapy, with a kick ass therapist, I would not have sought help at all.  But, it took ending up in the psych ward of my local hospital, to realize I also needed to go inpatient at a drug and alcohol rehab.  While at the hospital, I asked my psychiatrist to order bloodwork to check my liver.  Thankfully my liver enzymes were, and still are, good.  

When I lived in PA, I tried to help a friend from AA, who was so bad with her drug and alcohol addiction she actually would leave her husband and young daughters for months at a time to live in crack houses in the worst part of Philadelphia.  By the time I met her she had Hepatitis C, and eventually died of that and cirrhosis of the liver.  She was in her early 50's.  I learned in AA that I am, and always was, only responsible for my drinking.  As a member of AA, I'm responsible to offer the hope of help and recovery to those still suffering, but if someone I tried to help continued drinking, it was not my fault.  That was their decision.  Same goes for when grown men and women choose not to seek medical care.  Addictions, which alcoholism is, are hard to understand, unless you have been gripped by them.  That's why a person who attends AA feels safe.  Every single person has been in my shoes at some point in their journey.  There are no judgments.  There are also no real pity parties either.  Some AA groups have a real kick ass attitude about recovery.

Encourage your friend Eve to visit an Al-Anon meeting.  I did attend some when Sean last relapsed on heroin.  Al-Anon is for families and friends of alcoholics.  Their easy to find online.  I just Google Al-Anon and the city closest to where I live.  Same for AA.

Hugs.

Hi OFF family...can't say much have "company" right now...Rick's mom and aunt are here...need I say more?

Thinking of you all and Praying ALOT for Vickie and Butch and hope Butch can now enjoy his time with his family to the most!!! GOD be with you Poe family!!!! HUGSSSSSSSSSSSS

OK need to get out of here....sighs.......

Thoughts and Prayers for ALL that need them!!

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Hello Judy...I forgot about your company coming. Oh joy!! I am sure you are loving every minute...NOT!! Are they staying until Monday? I would be nice if they left sooner so you and Rick could have some of the weekend to yourselves.

LOTS of love and hugs too....connie d

Awwww now heck, Judy! I just want you to have a day when you can kick back and relax without aggravation! 

Good afternoon Trish and everyone.....

Tri**** is so nice that you will be meeting Carla. She is a hoot....you will enjoy your time together!

I pray that the bake sale is a huge success!! It is great that you have all those other people bringing goodies. I think you will make more money then you think!!!

As for me....It is dark and rainy and cool today. It was actually sprinkling when I took my walk earlier. It was kind of nice walking in that gentle rain. I was hoping the rain would wash my flabby tummy away...it didn't work!! 

I think people around here think I am a little odd at times. Especially today with walking in the rain.  When I came in I got a couple funny comments. One guy asked me if I knew it was raining...DUH!!!  

I was up until about 4:30 AM again. Not insomnia. I had a lot on my mind. Prayed and prayed for Vickie and Butch and their family. I so wish I could be there!! I prayed that a feeling of peace and contentment will pass over them. I want the following time to give them a chance to share many wonderful memories, much love and caring. 

I will check in again later.... we are so so blessed to have found each other!! 

Prayers for our loving and caring OFF Family and their families.

Lots of love and many hugs to all of you...connie d

Oh, Connie, I do NOT want to be the cause of any more sleepless nights for you!  We are going to be okay.  Butch and I are tough and we're a team.  We always have been.  Sometimes adversity tears couples apart.  In our case, it's always made us bond closer together.  SO PLEASE, do not worry so over us.  Death is just another part of life.  It will come to all of us one day.  I know you know that, but please be assured that with God's help, we are going to handle this next phase of our lives with dignity and love and grace.  Butch is not afraid to die.  I am not afraid either.  We shall hold each other's hands and walk through this valley together.  We will be all right.  

Now, please, honey, take care of yourself.  Your health is fragile.  You need to sleep.  I love you, sista!

Sweet Vickie....I do know you and Butch have an amazing bond together. I just don't like that the two of you need to go through this. I love you!! 

I was awake because of a few other things as well. No need to worry about me. I am pretty tough too when I need to be. LOL!!

I really do take good care of myself. I am getting stronger all the time. Still have a bit of a balance issue but better then it was at first. I laugh at the staff here as they are always talking about my little muscular legs and booty. I was in track for years...that paid off! I wish I had that muscle in my tummy!! 

Thank you so much for caring about me!! 

Could you PM me or email me your new address please!

Loads of love and hugs....connie d   

You are so amazing Connie! And you are so right: this is a very special group indeed.  I am so lucky to have found you. 

Hey Everyone!

Went yard sailing this morning & made out pretty well. Then home for a nap! the anesethia from the endoscopy kicked my butt...I slept most of yesterday. Doc said I had 'inflammation' & asked if I had history of taking meds for it. Nope! I have never had stomach issues. also said I had some polyps. Ugh! Hope all is okay...

Christine, guess I am weird, but I love tackling projects like your old shed. Out w/the old & in w/the new always gives me a sense of accomplishment. If NY is anything like DE today you are also enjoying some great weather! I plan to wash my car, do some sanding on the deck, and help Jim with the pool.

Trish, reading your posts MAKES ME DROOL! If I was anywhere near I would be buying up those cupcakes & other goodies. Good thing I am far away. I have followed my meal plan, but been hungry for some reason even after eating. Think I could cut back on carbs. Hope your bake sale is a success...I am sure it will be!

Jeannie, I hear your analogy you shared w/your husband upon your discovery of his sta**** just ****** you off when you see someone you love do things that create problems for themselves...knowingly, and then on top of it you have to deal w/the fallout. We really can't appreciate the fact some ppl are going thru hell while we take things like our health for granted. Hopefully he got the message & will be more vigilant about his health!

Eileen, such a sad story about that man. It drags your heart out (once again) that folks either don't have the capacity to recognize their good lot in life or the ability to hold onto it. Slow suicide...exactly.

Vickie, my thoughts and prayers are with you & Butch. I cannot remember if it was today or yesterday somebody on here summed it up so well...once you both get settled w/hospice & the oxygen both of you should have some quality time to spend together w/out hospitals, doctors, tests & treatments that detract from a 'normal' life. I wish that for both of you.

I know y'all must be sick of hearing me tell about ppl who passed in my life, but my mom's passing was SO beautiful & touching! I cannot relate the feelings around her death, but she was alert, awake, funny, & fully engaged w/the family w/her telling stories from past up to present.  She had asked for her parish priest to hear her confession that morning & to give her the sacrament of the Last Rites.

We all enjoyed her company the entire day...the hospice worker had told us it was her last days. But none of us believed it b/c mom was so upbeat, talkative, and in good spirits all day. At one point she did call out to our dad, but aside from that nothing stood out. We all left around 11pm promising to return the next morning for her b-day. She was living w/our youngest brother, and our other brother was up from SC. They told us they left her to go to bed around midnite...and the live-in home health aide came & sat w/her.

The aide told us shortly after my brothers went to bed mom sat up in bed & while trying to get up was saying 'Lord, I am ready to come home to you.' She turned to the aide and asked her to 'tell my children I love them very much." and that quickly she passed! She was gone before the aide could get across the hall to get my brother.

As I said I cannot describe the feelings around that day...it felt spiritual and 'honorable' to be in the presence of impending death...not sad at all. In retrospect we believe mom knew she was going to be called home that day...calling out to our dad (we believe a loved one who has already passed comes to greet you when dying), asking for the priest, some of the things she said, & then passing without any of us there ...she knew how hard it would of been for us to be there at that moment & like the mom she was left while we were not there.

I remember getting choked up that night as I went to hug & kiss her good-bye...not b/c I was necessarily sad, but b/c I knew the day we had spent w/her was SO special...one of those times you would never have in your life again, and certainly not w/her whose time was short. I raised my head away quickly from the hug so she could not see the tears in my eyes and she grabbed me back down in a hug & whispered how much she loved me.

Vickie, I hope you & Butch have the same kind of experience as his time draws near. You know we have millions of 'priceless' memories w/our spouses, parents, children & special friends. But I can honestly say that last day w/my mom was one of my favorites & it makes me not quite as sad about her passing. she was ready to go home to the God she loved, her husband & father of her 5 kids, to her parents & other special ppl who had passed before her AND she had done a fine job here on earth. Her work was done.

I think you could probably say a lot of the same things about Butch. So while the days & weeks ahead will be trying take comfort in each other & the life you enjoyed together. There is no honor greater than walking that last road together towards death. I believe in time you will be reunited again anyhow under the best of cir****tances.

Okay, gotta take a break.

Love to all!