i agree we had such a flurry of new members a few months ago and i havent seen any of them lately. we worry when you join and dont let us know you are ok-divvi
As I have mentioned previously, many people want their privacy, and we must respect that. A huge number prefer to read and not write. Others come and go for their own reasons. If someone e-mails me in confidence, about their whereabouts, I keep that confidence. It is the nature of forums for people to come and go, read and write, read and not write - it is their choice.
The very nature of Internet forums is anonymity. Some prefer it; some don't.
Joan, you are right. However, we form attachments to those who have written here, especially on a regular basis,and some of those we became very attached to and care about deeply. For anonymity, we haven't shared e-mails, so we can't just ask them personally. However, we are a very caring group of people, and those who write here and have joined our family, then stop writing without any comment, causes our concern. There are multiple reasons for not writing: too busy; got feelings hurt; emergency situation; computer failure; death; serious illness of caregiver; or other situations too numerous to name.
Because of the fact that we DO care, we ask those who post here and leave just to let us know occasionally with an "I'm okay" or a simple smiley face, so that we'll know that they are still with us in spirit. We don't want anyone to post who doesn't want to do so, nor are we asking for their whereabouts. And those who just read - we don't get to know them anyhow. There are some who write for a couple of weeks during a crisis who ask for help, but once their crisis is over, they move on. That is fine too.
That is what is great about Joan's Place....Everything is okay..reading, writing, not writing, etc...However, the most mentioned comment concerning praise of this site is the loving care that we all have for each other and our desire to offer whatever advice we can to help those who need it. That caring is why we are concerned when someone is gone over two weeks without a word.
That doesn't take away from the anonymity or privacy of those who write here either...
Lurkers, even though you don't write, we hope you gain something from our sharing our lives with you!
Writers, know that we do care about you and hope that you are okay.
Oh, my gosh! Am I one of the 'guilty' ones? :) I have been checking in and reading posts but just haven't had much to say.
I think I'm ok. I've had some real problems with arthritis for the last 2 months. Yesterday was pretty bad. I'm going to the doctor today FINALLY. Believe it or not, 10 days ago my jaws practically froze. Very painful--swollen, etc. Then it got better so I thought, well, why bother....Now they are very sore again. Can't bite down without pain. Left shoulder--no range of mothion. My back is killing me and my left kneee woke me up the other night. Other than that, I think I'm ok. (ha ha).
I read someplace that the human body was only manufactured to last 70 years. Anything more than that was free gratis. I am past 78 now. So, what does that mean. What do you think, Marsh?
DH is about the same but sleeps a lot. Good disposition. Eats if I fix it. Seems to do well socially but doesn't want to go anyplace. So, I orchestrate a trip or a visit and he loves it. I don't tell him ahead of time. He's 83 now. Looks good. I help him with his showers and shampoos. He still shaves himself 2x week. He's very good about his teeth. I lay out his clothes to make sure they get changed. He doesn't read much anymore and he was such an avid reader.
Sorry I kept you in the dark about my comings and goings. Life is good. The sun is shining. I received a flat of purple 'million bells' petunias for Mother's Day. My grandson is coming to help me plant them.
Guess, I'd better get to gettin' if I'm going to go to the dr. Hope he has a shot or something to relieve my poor jaws. Really hurts bad.
Mawzy, it is wonderful to hear from you! Sorry for the health issues! Hopefully they will get better! Enjoy the flowers! I hope the doctor can ease your pain!
Thanks for checking in, Mawzy. It doesn't sound like you're quite okay. Hope the doctor can find out what's wrong and fix it. Of course it's ok not to post but like Mary said, we're like family here and miss the ones who used to post regularly and don't anymore. We just want to know they're ok.
my sentiments precisely, way to go Mary for putting it out there!. i thought about it as you know i am gunshy about getting chewed out, at least for now =haha :) so many bonds are formed with folks who share their pains and its just one less worry to know everyone who is interested in checking in is ok. good to hear from you Mawsy! hope you get your pains attended to soon! divvi
Hi all! I, too, have been checking in daily to see what's going on, but no posting for a while. In addition to Dave's AD, I am dealing with my oldest son, who unfortunately, has a serious illness that is taking a very hard toll on the entire family. Too painful to share the particulars at this point, but it has been difficult. I'll continue to lurk for now, and when things lighten up a bit, I'll start posting again. Hugs, and I love you all! ~Di
Good to hear from you, Mawzy and Diane V. So very sorry for your pains, Mawzy and hope the doctor can give you something for it. Diane V., my prayers are with you as you go through this serious illness with your son.
Mawzy, I'm not sure how long we are supposed to last. A lot has to do with our genetics, and this varies widely. My father and grandfather both died at 68. I celebrated when I passed that age. My mother lived to have her 100th birthday party and died peacefully 4 months later. Another factor is how we take care of our bodies - smoking, drinking, overeating, etc. will shorten our lives. So it's hard to say how long any specific person will live. I just take each day as it comes and try to find something to be thankful for as I deal with this horrible disease (AD).
Dealing with dementia is terrible. This is a great place to vent. Feelings are injured when our posts aren't always answered. People feel slighted when they don't post and nobody asks how they are. Folks feel put upon when asked why they don't post. Some feel we post too much. We are a family and do care about each other. If part of our family just doesn't want to chat-that's OK. Just say "I'm still here" once in a while.
Although my mother died at 63 from breast cancer, my dad lasted in good health to 92, which is why I have planted a bunch of baby trees.....I hope to see them flowering in the spring and dropping red and orange leaves in the fall 20 years from now. I just hope I can still see at that point.
Well, I'm back from the doctor's office. A friend was driving that way and dropped me off. I had about a 45 min wait, but that's ok. He started checking me over and said "I believe you have an inflamatory condition." All of your joints are swollen and enflamed. Especially my left jaw, left shoulder and right hip. Hands, elbows, knees and the rest of me are also enflamed but not so much. So he prescribed an antii-inflamatory medication.
He also renewed the prescription for the diabetes testing strips and a new meter.
I told me to get back to the pool and is calling for an 'access bus' to pick me up and take me. Also, he said "more green leafy vegetables!!! They have an anti-inflamatory substance in them to help. I'll see you in 6 weeks."
So, there you have it. I do believe I'll be just fine! Thanks for all your kind words and thoughts. :)
well, Mawzy, you know we love you and your husband, and you HAVE been posting, just not as much as usual, for obvious physical reasons. But what we always REALLY want to hear about is Noche!
I am one that reads many of the posts....I am unable to go to a support group here in town, this is where I get my support and much information...I don't post very often, the only time I get on the computer is after DH goes to bed, my time is limited, since there are so many things that need to get done. Mawzy: glad you went to get checked out...hope the meds help you..we just can't afford to get sick while taking care of our loved one 24/7 DianeV: we say an extra prayer for your Son...and You...
Well, if you really insist (smirk, smirk). Noche is just fine. He is so pretty and just a shiny jet black. I figured out his b'day is June 6 so I'm thinkingof getting him a can of ocean fish with cheese sauce. Howzat sound? Yumjmy? He will enjoy it.
He's been going outside for a while almost every morning for his constitutional. He brings in angle works, beetles and other prey. He caught a big bumble bee the other day and tormented it until he killed it and then he ate it. He never catches anything he doesn't eat. You should see him if a fly gets in the house on the windows. And, yes, he eats them and expects me to praise him for it.
He also picks up pine cones and makes little kiosks here and there. Never know when you are going to find one. It's best to wear something on the feet. He made one the other day in front of the toilet. Isn't that cute?
So, now you know how the cat is doing. it's sort of asking a grandma if she has any pictures?
I'd like to hear how Peanut Butter and Jelly are doing. Any reports lately? I don't want to hog the conversation.
Checking in, I'm still with you. Have enjoyed all the responses to my thinking about getting a dog. I will definitely be doing this in the next few weeks and will let you know how it goes. I have always disliked negativity and that's the response I have had most of my life from family and in-laws, so this has been very refreshing. What's always got me was the statement "why would you want to do that?" I prefer "that might be fun so let's try it."
I don't post often enough so that anyone would miss me. However, we are going to Texas for several weeks--so although you may not miss me, I will miss you.
Have a fun trip. We were in Texas (near Houston) about 22 years ago in March. Absolutely beautiful. Fill us in on your adventures when you return! Blessings!
Lori have a great trip to the great state of tx.. i am biased cause i live here too! we do miss you! just we never know if you are just lurking or away from posting for a bit! have a safe trip and enjoy texas. ps its very hot and humid ! divvi
Lori, we miss you when you are not here. What part of Texas? Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio? Love all of those cities! We lived in Houston for 17 years, and I miss it! I also gladly miss the humidity, 100 degree months of August and September, and hurricanes! But loved the many places to go - and the free live concerts, and sports teams, and the medical center...I worked in downtown Houston in Pennzoil Place and we had free lunches with concerts during the Spring and Summer and it was wonderful! There is a tunnel system under downtown so that you can go from one building to another without getting hot and sweaty! They had restautants, dry cleaners, shoe repair stores, tailors, office supply stores, florists, etc. - anything a person who works needs to do and can't do after work at night very easily was there for us to do on our lunch hours. It was too cool. I miss it. <sigh>
And the river through San Antonio.....that place is so neat! And Austin is so warm and inviting...with hills and lakes and all the college kids around! And Dallas with its shopping!! Woo Woo!! (As you can see, I LOVE Texas!)