Guest guest Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Gladys ~ I vote for the house cat also. Got one of those little darlings myself. However, I can't fault my siblings. My younger brother is fighting his own battle for life...he has a glioblastoma multiformae, stage 4 brain tumor (the same as Ted Kennedy's) and is getting ready to undergo his THIRD surgery in less than a year's time to remove it. My older brother has severe heart disease and is totally disabled due to exposure to Agent Orange during Vietnam. My sister has diabetes, high blood pressure, and is on several antidepressants. There are times that I feel less than charitable when I'm exhausted and emotionally drained from dealing with my Mom's and Dad's situation, but then I look at my siblings. I feel perhaps I've been spared many other problems so that I am here to deal with all theirs. All I know is I've had to become far stronger than I ever thought I could be. I do know I have to keep myself as focused and centered as possible, as good to myself as possible, because I found out some time back that you can't give out of an empty bucket. I've had to quit teaching my extra classes, which has meant a loss of about $1,500 per month, and I shop thrift stores on my lunch hour, cook at home and don't eat out, take my lunches, and spend my free time (not much) doing the things which bring me the greatest joy. I have to keep something in that bucket in order to give from it. Jannis Redefining Normal Every Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Dear Jannis, You certainly have an incredibly full plate. My heart goes out to you as I read about the struggles that you and your siblings are enduring.... I had a very dear friend who had brain cancer - glioblastoma (astrocytoma).... her brother in law, a podiatrist, did a lot of research, and is now one of the leading authorities on brain cancer. If you write to me at my email address, I can send you his contact information - he is in New York - he is a great resource. Regards, Helene > > Gladys ~ > > I vote for the house cat also. Got one of those little darlings myself. > > However, I can't fault my siblings. My younger brother is fighting his own battle for life...he has a glioblastoma multiformae, stage 4 brain tumor (the same as Ted Kennedy's) and is getting ready to undergo his THIRD surgery in less than a year's time to remove it. My older brother has severe heart disease and is totally disabled due to exposure to Agent Orange during Vietnam. My sister has diabetes, high blood pressure, and is on several antidepressants. > > There are times that I feel less than charitable when I'm exhausted and emotionally drained from dealing with my Mom's and Dad's situation, but then I look at my siblings. I feel perhaps I've been spared many other problems so that I am here to deal with all theirs. All I know is I've had to become far stronger than I ever thought I could be. > > I do know I have to keep myself as focused and centered as possible, as good to myself as possible, because I found out some time back that you can't give out of an empty bucket. I've had to quit teaching my extra classes, which has meant a loss of about $1,500 per month, and I shop thrift stores on my lunch hour, cook at home and don't eat out, take my lunches, and spend my free time (not much) doing the things which bring me the greatest joy. I have to keep something in that bucket in order to give from it. > > Jannis > Redefining Normal Every Day > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 OK, OK! Let's stop here... No offending my kitties, please. They are very nice and affectionate ladies, and very clean too. Of course, they cover it -thank goodness! They are indoor cats and I can't even imagine the smell if they didn't. And I PREFER to be the one who cleans it because, who knows what mess they'd make trying to get it out to the garbage bin? They only seem indifferent, but one of them always comes to comfort me when she sees me crying and another comes and lays down by me whenever she hears me praying. What about that? I bet you don't have many family members who do that! Have you realized by now that I'm a CAT person? In fact, I'm an animal lover with the exception of roaches, fleas, flies, mosquitos and the like. I even take out to the garden the spiders I find in my home. Another day I will post my vote for my brother. I would probably say something like " leech " , but that's a little too strong. Keep up the joke! Laughter is a wonderful medicine. Love you all, Raquel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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