Quote:
Originally Posted by killer_carlson
That fantastic foresight to get your dad to sign the anniversary card - what a tremendous idea. While I had hoped it wouldn't have been necessary, your preparation couldn't have been more appropriate and effective.
That said Chris, are you taking care of yourself as well? Caring for the caregiver is important because you're taking the stress of others onto your own shoulders. Please don't overlook your need for your own supports in this.
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thanks k_c
yes, i'm taking care of myself. my wife and i have an awesome circle of friends who regularly check in on us to see how myself, my wife & kids and my folks are doing. not only that, there are also numerous phone calls, emails and texts of encouragement. i often forward my mom the emails and texts i receive to encourage her and then she reads them to my dad.
a couple of the ladies that work at the same school as my wife decided they wanted to help with meals for not just my folks, but for my wife and i too. our deep freeze is packed with meals - it's just amazing. it's nice that when you start to get run down (and even though it doesn't happen often, i just don't feel like cooking) we can grab something from the freezer and have a tasty meal.
i find it amazing how certain people come into your life at the perfect time. so time for a little story... probably 4 or so years ago a friend of mine (brenda) was looking to put together a band to just do a few local gigs. she had recorded a cd a few years earlier and i think with a little encouragement from her husband was getting the bug to get back on stage again - so brenda asked if i'd like to play bass. i accepted. the funny part was that her music is the complete opposite of what i enjoy (i love blues, metal, classic rock and her music is very 'jewel'-esk - ha! ha!), but whatever - i love to play so i was in. thru playing in that band my wife and i got to know brenda and her husband. they are such an awesome couple. fast forward a few years and a little over a year ago now, brenda's daughter and son-in-law moved to kelowna from ontario. have you ever met someone and immediately clicked? that was myself and brenda's son-in-law. we hit it off immediately. when i found out about my dad in jaunary i was telling him what i had just found out. that's when he shared with me that his dad had passed away a couple years earlier. the encouragement and support he's provided these past 7 months has been awesome. a lot of times it's just knowing i can talk to him about whatever i'm going thru/feeling and he just knows. sometimes when i see him he'll just come up and give me a look, put his arm around me and give me a shoulder to cry on and an ear that will listen. having friends like that is amazing and we're so blessed to have people like that in our life.