Thank you Andrew. I will include you in mine. I wish for your depression to abate and happiness to restore you. Close your eyes and say the word Opa 50 times. It might not restore but it will make you smile. Happiness is just one smile after another and we all have to start somewhere

Peace

OPA!
 

Yes, you are so right about that. I am trying. :bbq:

Hi Nightshift,

Thank you for sharing. I too am a broken man (person). I am just looking inside at the world from another demension. It is just how it is. If someone had to walk in my shoes, then they too would feel the same pain I feel on a regular basis. It can't be erased or dismissed. It is. I accept it. And I am trying to move on as best I can.

Some understand this, and some don't & never will.

I wish you well, and peace.

Namaste,
Andrew

Andrew, I think of you when I read these words:

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are stronger at the broken places.”
~ Ernest Hemingway

Even though you are suffering personally, I see you continuously reaching out to lift others up, to comfort them, to help them find the peace that eludes you. There is such a beautiful strength in that.

I hope that you and all who are suffering today find a moment of peace.

Thank you Purepisces. :snowysmiley:

Hi Wolfyone, :superman:

We all are glad you are here with us! :snowman:

Don't worry about asking someone to repeat themself. I do it all the time. It is part of my learning disability. I have to ask people to repeat themself all the time. It has nothing to do with hearing loss, but how my brain processes things.

As I have aged, I have changed quite a bit. What was once a day trip is now an overnight trip because I just can't take the long car ride.

My eyesight is changing drastically. I have some problems with my diabetes that is really changing my vision each year.

I am slowing down quite a bit. I still am active playing tennis, and golf. But I am really working on loosing more weight. I want to be off all of my diabetic pills.

I so get it when you talk about being online here. When you are online, people think of me one way, but when they meet me in person they realize what I have been saying for years is true. I have swiss cheese for a brain, and really am slow. When I say slow, I mean slow.

I used to be very social, but not too much any longer. It takes too much energy now. Unless someone special is coming to town, and I really want to meet up with them, forget it. I am just exhausted by the end of the day.

I very rarely drive any longer because of the freq. of my seizures. I have to rely on my neighbors, friends, and Rosie for help. If they didn't help me, I would be in a pickle.

So, please do not feel isolated. We have this beautiful home that Jack and Medusa built for us. We all are welcome. And this spot is just for us! :penguin:

As for the holidays, I always try to volunteer somewhere. To serve a meal to the homeless, or to help out with St. Vincent de Paul Society at my Parish giving out coupons for various stores. I just make xerox copies of their id's. I also go to Mass several times. I figure if I am going to give a big burden to God, the least I can do is go to Mass 2x's.

I usually get a phone call from my mother Christmas morning. It is very short, and sweet. Nothing memorable. I consider Rosie and my furkids my family. They are all I have, and without them I would be lost.

Andrew

I understand.
To endure a pain so intense and constant that the option of not having to endure it becomes reality.

Peace

This is SUCH an important thing to remember! Especially during the holidays, we all have much more on our minds and are occupied with a million things...it's even more difficult to notice that a friend and/or loved one is feeling especially blue or having a real hard time. It takes courage to reach out and say, "Hey, I need some help/time/attention/etc now" but when they do, we will respond.

As a former graveyard shifter, I understand the "what day is it NOW?" mentality. I've done my best this season not to let the traffic, lines or other annoyances get to me. I have been patient in parking lots and have given up the only available parking spot at the post office, causing me to park two parking lots over and walk my packages in, but I was okay with that. The person who wound up taking the spot needed to be closer than I did. I have yet to grumble about the lines or time it takes to ring people up (I've worked retail and customer service during this season, so I've been on both sides of the situation) and I dare say, like you, I've given people that momentary "Oh!" and I'd like to think that sometime later they passed it forward.

A note about broken things, Andrew. Do you know that when a bone is broken, say a rib, that it heals stronger and thicker than before? One might think it'd be a weak spot, but it's just the reverse. Interesting, yes?

I just knew all those hours of watching CSI would come in handy for something! :)

Gemme,

You are right about broken bones. Yep, CSI follower here too. :thumbsup: Let me ask this...how does a guy say those words without looking like an idiot? I had someone tell me that before. That I had to get up, get dressed, and get going each and every day. Well, I do. I have my furkids to take care of, plus my outdoor animals. In addition to my obligations to my Parish. It was as if my life really did not matter, and I had no place. I was beyond astonished. And the woman who told me this is quite popular. That is what made it even more surprising to me.

Arwen,

I was in the grocery store the other day with Rosie. I sat on the bench in the front of the store. I sat next to a man who was out of place. His wife was shopping. He was severely depressed because his daughter came out as a lesbian, and his wife was thrilled with the news, and he was devistated. His wife was a therapist, and he was a stockbroker. He said that he wanted to walk his little girl down the aisle. I told him he could, but he looked at me like I had 3 heads. I think how you take in each major event in life affects your soul. You can forgive, and move on, but you just never forget it. Like when my father beat me. I will never forget that.

Happy Holidays Bella!!! I was hoping that you would make it home for a day or too!! Look forward to seeing you!

Insert <BIG HUG> here!!!! LoL

Perfectly put! I refuse to dwell on the unhappy stuff. One of my primary lessons this year has been that it's not all about me. And I actually like that.

Also, grin, I know the giver of one of the gifts so I feel safe in saying CRAZY. phbbt!

Darlin, me too! I was hoping to get some Cowboi time. Wasn't meant to be though. Hopefully next year. I've already put in for some Christmas vacation time.

Did they do the flotilla this year? I used to LOVE that! Box sliding on the levee and hot chocolate. grin

The same to you, Andrew!

Happy Holidays and Merry Everything to everyone!

Happy Holidays, everyone! :)

It's the first Christmess eve I've been alone in many years and I'm admittedly having a tough time. Thankfully, my family is here and they are coming over tomorrow.

***hugs***