Be thankful for what you do have

[689maple]

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of 2013. 2012 is the pits for my family and I. My business was improving, not to pre 2009 levels, but making steady progress the first half the year. Sons were doing well in college and all seemed well. In July while on a cruise with my wife and sons I get a desperate shore to ship call to get home asap for my mother had taken seriously ill very unexpectedly. Its not easy to get off a cruise ship as you know. 3 days later I am at the hospital with maybe 10 hours sleep in 72. 18 days later we leave the hospital for a rehab facility. I go there 583 times between July 23 and November 7 doing what I think is right for my mom. I am a sole proprietor professional so my business suffers but so what, you only have one mom. I am an only child and my dad passed 24 years ago. She has no one but me, my wife and sons. You do what you think is right.
November 7 I get mama home once more with private around the clock care. Things look good. November 12 someone poisons 2 of my dogs I have had for 9 and 11 years. They are like members of the family. Crazy I know but true. November 18 we are getting ready for church and get a call our only nephew, 18, is on the way to the hospital. He dies in route. A blood clot from a seemingly inconsequential bump on a trail bike is the cause. We are devastated. We can't bury him until Friday because of the autopsy and the Thanksgiving holiday so it was essentially a week wake. The week following his burial is a blur. On December 2, I go see my Mom before and after church, she is fine. At 4:07 PM she passes, 2 weeks to the day after our nephew. The funeral home can't see us until late Monday, my younger son's birthday is Wednesday and my older son has two exams that Thursday the college would not even talk to us about rescheduling. Thus another death on Sunday and a burial Friday within two weeks. We survive. My younger son goes to pick up his check Saturday following the Friday burial at the convenience store he works at on weekends and is attacked and beaten with some metal object by a deranged customer. Hospital stay and a surgery later with one to go. He will recover almost 100%. He is very lucky it was not worse and we are very thankful.
The point to all this: If there are important people in your lives, tell them so. No one ever tires of hearing how important they are to you. While we don't know what the next hour holds, make the most of the current hour. May 2013 be the best year in all your lives.

[AzPaul]

Between our moments of joy, life here on Earth can be a very difficult journey. All we can do is try our best, be guided by our principles and if you're a person of faith, look forward to reuniting with our loved ones again down the road.

[GradyPhilpott]

That's a lot of stress over a very short period of time. Each of those incidents would take a toll on any person, but in rapid succession, for some it can be both overwhelming and devastating.

You have my condolences and my best wishes for your son.

Stay strong. Stay active in your social support systems, such as church and even TRF.

I hope that the new year will offer a chance for recovery, both from the shock to one's senses, but also from the financial losses you've sustained.

God bless you and yours.

[Rocco22]

That sounds like a horrible year. Very sorry to hear all those bad things happened to your family.may 2013 bring you alot of happiness, god bless you and your family.

[68camaro]

My condolences to you and your family. I couldn't imagine dealing with everything you have.

May God bless you and take care of yourself by making sure you have time to mourn your mom and nephew.

Chuck

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

That's a lot of stress over a very short period of time. Each of those incidents would take a toll on any person, but in rapid succession, for some it can be both overwhelming and devastating.

You have my condolences and my best wishes for your son.

Stay strong. Stay active in your social support systems, such as church and even TRF.

I hope that the new year will offer a chance for recovery, both from the shock to one's senses, but also from the financial losses you've sustained.

God bless you and yours.

Grady said it best.

Sorry for your losses. It's going to take time to recover from all of this. It's simply too much.
My condolences for the loss of your mother, your nephew and your dogs. Best wishes to your your son and I hope they prosecute the SOB that hurt him.

[VICI]

So sorry for your losses.

Stay strong for your family.

[financeman]

Wow, that is a few months that would bring down the strongest person. I know it is easy to say but stay strong. Things will get better. My thoughts will continue to go out to you and your family as y'all recover and get back to some sort of normality.
As others have said, stay connected without others as in TRF and any other source of interaction with the outside world. That will help you get through.
You definitely have a great point with never taking for granted the close people around you. We never know how long we have them. I know I am definitely going to give my wife, kids, and parents a extra big this weekend.

[Jeffex]

Please accept my deepest condolences. I can't imagine what you have been going through, but in the end the strength of your family's love will keep you strong! It's been a terrible end to the year given what happen in Connecticut.
It can only get better in 2013.
"Keep your chin up"!

[Gaijin]

God is the light that shines within you.

Think and pray and believe positive for a great 2013. It will be a great wonderful year for you and your family.

[Beek]

A bad year indeed. My thoughts are with you. Only advice I can give is to stay strong. Not easy, I know.

[masterserg]

2012 has been a rough year for me and my family as well.

I echo your sentiment and wish the best for you and yours.

[bayerische]

OP, that's a terrible end of your year. Sorry to hear about it. Stay strong.

[hdrazor251]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

That's a lot of stress over a very short period of time. Each of those incidents would take a toll on any person, but in rapid succession, for some it can be both overwhelming and devastating.

You have my condolences and my best wishes for your son.

Stay strong. Stay active in your social support systems, such as church and even TRF.

I hope that the new year will offer a chance for recovery, both from the shock to one's senses, but also from the financial losses you've sustained.

God bless you and yours.

x2

[Welshwatchman]

You've had more than your fair share of misfortune this year. If you are of a similar age to the rest of us it will be a rare year that a person or two is not lost from your life from here on in.

It's just so wrong when the younger generation die before their forebears, tragic.

As others have said, stay close to your tradition/religion and here's hoping for a much improved 2013 to you and yours.

[bgriz]

Sorry for your losses. 2012 was a rough year for me as we'll. lets hope 2013 treats us better. Good advice in your post. Thanks!

[Sixshooter]

Very sorry to hear of your losses. Praying for you and your family.

[gmh1013]

I had bad several months like that back in fall 87 to summer 88
Wife left, cats died, father died, friend was killed in motorcycle crash, and ex-wife cleaned me out...and I was fired/laid off from a job.....all in 6 months.
I almost ended up in the street.
But time has a way of making the bad times seem less "bad" than it really was.
If you live long enough bad things will happend it just trying to survive and make it through them and hope better time are ahead.

[Kingair]

The only thing I can say is . . . keep thinking positive . . . how hard it is . . .

All the best !

[Trouble15]

Wow. My deepest condolences for your losses. Keep your head up. I hope 2013 brings a blessed year to you & your family.

[rolio]

I've been through some rough times when clouds were all I saw. "Tis only a season," it is written. Prayer helps like nothing else can.

[BNA/LION]

Best Wishes for a Happy, Successful and Peaceful 2013. The Best is yet to come!

[threemonkeys]

Quite a rough patch there, Russ. Thank you for sharing with us as it's a great reminder.

My kids just went to sleep. But I'll give them each an extra nice tuck-in and will think of you and your family. I hope that this little gesture will give you one very small reason to smile.

[Hairdude1]

Sorry to hear about your losses

[Monte Cristo]

Very sorry to read about such misfortune in your family. Here's to a better 2013.

[lebowski321]

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May 2013 be better than 2012 for everyone.

[blackbear]

Condolences and prayers for you and your family at the same time you managed to stay in church and connected. I hope your congregation supports you and always lean on God. Dont get angry but be thankful for what and whom you have is so right on. Blessings on you and yours.

[Bangel]

My sincere condolences to you.

Life will always challenge us in some way, shape or form.

You are right, we must all be thankful for what we have.

Cherish the memories of the ones you've lost. Be strong and love and inspire those around you.

I hope 2013 brings you happiness.

[rr-nyc]

You have gone though some very difficult situations in a short span of time. I echo many of the comments made so far; life can dish out some real heartaches so take time to mourn and the time to heal.

I wish you and everyone else here a happy and healthy 2013