paddy

Welcome Welthy, It sounds as if you are both doing a great job fighting the fight! Hang in There! Paddy

May Charlie continue to improve and keep comfortable in his own home. Paddy

My heart goes out to you Donna. Paddy

Congrats! Shiney Lady! Paddy

Good Luck in what ever you choose to do Lillian. You will be missed until you call in again. Paddy

Sparrow, I know that some people think I should have "been over it" by now too, however, it is just as the other's have said, you "never do" and "never will". Just let the grief come out and the more you do that the more able you will be to carry on. Paddy

Sandy, My heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. Paddy

Eppie, I am so very sorry to hear this sad news. My thoughts will be with you and your family. Paddy

Gary and Lorrie, Many Congratulations! This is the type of news we love to hear. Have a perfectly wonderful trip to CA. Paddu

Congrats Peggy, I am glad it went well. It was very brave of you to go. Now that I have moved to MI, I don't have any of the familiar places to go to. I have missed going to the Outback with my husband too, It used to be our favorite haunt. We always ordered the ice-cream, rolled in coconut and topped with chocolate sauce and straw-berries! What was it called?!! We used to share one, and then Dave would cheat and steal some from my side! I miss those evenings out. It's ironic, but it is often the happiest of memories which bring the tears for me. Love, Paddy

Eppie, My heart goes out to your Dad.I watched my husband go through this sort of thing and it is no picnic. I do hope your Dad will be feeling more comfortable soon. Paddy

So sorry to hear you are going through this Janet. You will find the pain and tears will lessen slowly. That's not to say that you won't fall back into the "pit" every now and again, (as I did today,) but you will get stronger. My thoughts are with you. Paddy

So very sorry Donna, Paddy

I'm working on a surprize portrait of my sister's grown-up kids for her anniversary.Paddy

Congratulations on your promotion Beth, this is wonderful! I can empathise with you, I have often often wanted to share something with my Dave, my Dearest friend, and I miss him so terribly when that happens. Today I went to church and was looking forward to seeing my daughter and her family there. They were'nt there however, so I sat in a pew by myself . In front of me was a tall man with his wife. At one time she put her arm around his shoulder and rubbed his back and I lost it right there and then. I didn't know whether to leave or not, but I just pulled myself together and got through it. Sundays are just the loneliest times I think and seeing all those people with their significant others puts me in a melancholy mood for the rest of the day. My Thoughts are with you Beth, you are not alone, Paddy Paddy.

Soooo pleased for you Nina! Congratulations! I wanted you to know too that I always enjoy your posts , you have always been so supportive of everyone on the board. I, for one am very grateful for that. Paddy

Connie, I am so sorry your Mom is in such a bad way and that you find yourselves in such a difficult position. I really don't have any good advice, but I have to say that it makes furious when Doctors use such a nonchalant attitude when dealing with patients. Why don't they sit down with you and explain exactly what is going on and why they can't do more about it? It may be difficult to hear, but at least you would understand the situation. Thoughts and prayers with you both. Paddy.

How terribly tragic for their 13 yr. old son and also Christopher's children. She seemed such a lovely woman and so dedicated to her family. I have just seen an interview with a doctor at the Cancer Institute of Detroit. She was saying that 15% of people who have lung cancer have never smoked. Does it take a tragedy like this to bring these facts to the public? When will they wake up!! Paddy

I have only just seen your post Lily. I am so very sorry to hear your sad news. I will be thinking of you. Paddy

So very sorry to hear this Cathy, and, sorry too that the experience with Hospice was not what it should have been. I am glad however that your Dad's passing was peaceful and that your loving Mom was at his side. Prayers for peace and strength coming to you and your Mom. Paddy

Welcome back Holyanne! You are so right, you have to go through the grief, again and again, before you start to feel stronger. Babies are great healers, you are so lucky to have a little one! Paddy

So sorry you have to go through this Peggy. I too understand exactly what you mean. I have had many experiences similar to yours. The other day I was reading a newsletter from an association which Dave and I belonged to and where Dave used to serve on the board. In the minutes of the previous meeting I read this little paragraph. "Member of the board", (shall be nameless,) proposed that Dave ....'s name should be removed from the "absentee" list as he, "had already passed away!" When I first read this I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. I irrationally thought, "How dare they throw my husband off the board as if he were worth nothing!" Of course, the "rational" side of me took over and I realized that while I want to hold on to Dave so badly, others who aren't so personally involved see the reality and accept the fact that he is gone. It still hurts like "You know what" though. Keeping you in my thoughts, Paddy

Pat, I am so sorry for your pain, I know how unbearable it is. There have been many times when I have thought I would rather die than go on without my man. My only advise to you would be to let yourself feel the pain. Sob, rant, scream, but get it out. Each time you let yourself grieve/mourn you will feel stronger. That is not to say that you will miss Brian any less or that their won't be times when memories come out of-the-blue and knock you back into the "pit" again, but just that you learn how to handle the grief a little better. A book that helped me a lot is called "Widow to Widow" by "Genevieve Davis Ginsburg,M.S. It is worth reading. If I can help at all, please email me. Love Paddy

So wonderful to hear this news Ginny! Paddy

Sue, I am so very sorry for the loss of your brave Mike. My heart goes out to you and I wish you strength and peace. Paddy