Hey BUTTHEADS.... did you not READ my last post???? I SOLD A FUCKING CAR ON CRAIGSLIST!!!!! This writing 'to myself' is getting OLD!!! Jeeeezus.... gimme some feedback, or I'm done!!!!! Yeah... irritated.
s
Trying to survive and thrive, through the most difficult time in my life.
Welcome!
So here's the Reader's Digest version for those of you who are new to my blog.... My 39 year old husband, David, was diagnosed with a hideous and deadly cancer in April of '08. We were told he'd likely die in less than 4 months. Obviously, that diagnosis turned us inside out and shook us to the core. At the time, our boys were 12 and 4... can you say 'fucking nightmare'??? I spent the next 14 months being his 24/7 caregiver and advocate... never leaving his side unless it was to get the boys to or from therapy or their cancer support groups. Cancer and the hell that it brings became our universe. And yet, I was able to get myself to a place where I was depending on my faith.... existing on a plane of pure gratitude. I focused my energies on recognizing the blessings that cancer had brought to our lives... yes, there ARE blessings that come with such a dire diagnosis.
Things were good. David miraculously entered remission in April of '09. I was looking forward to the next few months being our 'summer of healing' as a family. And then my world stopped. He left me... left US... on 6 June 2009. And FYI... he told me he was ending our 18 year marriage in a note. As if that wasn't bad enough, he had left me for a 'friend' who also happened to be married. Nice. The next few months are a blur... I descended into a deep, dark depression, and David's vicious treatment of me didn't help. He was running as fast as he could from everything associated with cancer, and that included me... our family, our home and the entire life we had built together. Things went from bad to worse when his cancer returned with a vengeance. He began treatment once again, and I had to dig deep to help him and make things as easy on him as possible. I even offered to have him move home so I could care for him through his treatment. As it turns out, it was a good thing he didn't take me up on that. The hateful way that he treated me during that time would have made caregiving for him an unbearable situation. I KNEW he was dying... nobody else did, because he fed them all kinds of bullshit... but I knew. Because of that, I focused on the boys and made sure they were with their daddy as much as possible.
His final months were a living nightmare... a kind of pain and darkness for which there are no words. No human being, no matter who they are or how they lived their lives, should have to suffer the horrific pain and endless indignities that David did. In spite of everything, I was with him constantly, much to the chagrin of his girlfriend and his mother. 'Too fuckin bad' was my theory. I wanted my boys to see that I NEVER turned my back on their dad. And I didn't. I continued to advocate for him in the hospital... fighting to get him the meds and the specialists he needed. I was there during his final moments of consciousness. I took Reilly to say goodbye to his dad, just before he slipped into that state. I was there when he died. I ID'd his body at the funeral home. I planned his funeral and his Celebration of Life. I placed his ashes in the wall of the Columbarium at the Naval Academy. We had spent half of our lives together, and though I was no longer in love with him, I did those things out of respect for the life that we shared and the family that we created.The 6 months since he died have brought more changes. I struggle daily to untangle the financial disaster he left me, and I'm fighting like hell to keep our home. The boys are now 15 and 7 and trying to learn how to move forward in their lives without their daddy. I had to get a part-time job after spending 15 years as a full-time mother, and I'm doing everything I can to trim the fat so we can afford to stay where we are. My boys NEED the stability and comfort that come with remaining in our home and community, and staying in their schools. To that end, I will fight with every fiber of my soul to ensure that those things happen.My greatest blessing is that I now have an incredible man in my life... a man who is thoughtful and loving, strong and sensitive, hilariously funny, and who loves me just the way I am. He is authentic. He knows who he is and is completely comfortable in his own skin. It certainly doesn't hurt that he's 11 years younger than I am and sexy as hell. :0)Yes, my boys are struggling in many ways... the therapy and support groups continue... and I still have MUCHO 'death business' to handle. That said, I am starting to believe that there might be a happy future ahead... for all of us.The past almost 3 years have been quite an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. Writing has been the most important part of my day, every day, since this journey began. I am once again being put in a position where I have to learn to survive... spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially... you get the picture. My hope is that I can hold on to my faith, find a moment of joy in every day, be the best mother I can possibly be, and hopefully... one day... emerge back into the light.December 2010
Hi Honey...
ReplyDeleteYou know it's easier for me to keep track of you via FB but I did manage to find some time to catch up on all the deets on this blog! Although now I'm really curious about your latest FB status and hopefully you'll update on this so I know exactly what you're talking about.
Congrats on selling the Heap O' Shit. I know that car represented a lot of unhappiness for you so it must feel really good to get it out of your life. Not to mention that it is always good to put a lil sumpin' sumpin' in your wallet!!!!
I love that Rory calls Roy "Froggy"!! So cute! Plus it reminds me of the Froggy books! Are you familiar with that series? I bet Rory would LOVE them! Oh and I must tell you that it's hard to go to calling your man "Roy"! I really like the name "Finn". :) It just feels like a name that represents love and happiness for my Shanny!!! I guess I just need to get use to the name "Roy" representing the same thing.
Regarding taking on the toddler....I do shit like that ALLLLLLL the time! And I've done the exact same thing a few summers ago----offered to help out a friend with her toddler daughter. It was a lot of work and I was kicking myself for offering to do it. It will be a challenge for you but it makes sense to do it, Shan. It will save your household money and time.
Well I need to hop in the shower...my friend's mom is in town (she lives in your area) and I'm meeting them for lunch!!
Love ya lots and lots and lots!!
Bon
XoXo's
Keeping them guessing on Facebook uh? Let's see, I don't even do Facerace and I am going to say you are engaged. Facebook. Anyway, I have been very preoccupied with my own stuff to really be a good poster of late. I have to say I am in a funk myself. But you sound much better than a couple of weeks ago and that's a good thang! Each day has personality all it's own. Hope you continue to have little victories(or big ones) like selling the car. You deserve all the best!! Take care and have a great rest of the week, T.
ReplyDeleteYOU SOLD A FUCKING CAR. FAN FUCKING TASTIC! YOU ROCK! VERY HARD TO DO. NOW SELL SOMETHING ELSE!
ReplyDeleteIT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING, isn't it!
I love you and what your doin is good fer you!
AN