tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post8475886255938535527..comments2024-03-03T22:12:54.997-08:00Comments on Living the Journey: An excerpt from my in-progress memoir about caregivingKate Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16478737570632377733noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-77101323628341564532009-04-17T21:26:00.000-07:002009-04-17T21:26:00.000-07:00Wow Kathleen... beautiful writing. As long as I ca...Wow Kathleen... beautiful writing. As long as I can remember (I met you when I was 6 so, 32 years) I remember your mom giving your dad his treatments every night. In later years, your dad would come into my work, oxygen tank in tow, and he would always say hello and chat for awhile. He would tell me about how his illness had progressed and I was always extremely sympathetic with his struggle. He would always shrug his shoulders and smile and say, "its okay, Shauna, this too shall pass." Even with his struggles he always had a smile and and some sage advice. I was always amazed by that. Although I'm sad for his absence, I'm happy that he was here to meet all of his grandbabies and that his struggle has passed. Your writing is beautiful and brought back many memories of your dad (including him outside cleaning the gutters!). I can't express to you what an impression he made on me with those words...almost every time we spoke..."this too shall pass." I think its beautiful how all three of you have supported your parents through their later years. Thank you for sharing your experience It reminds us of what is really important and what it really means to love someone.<br />-ShaunaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-89939697531782087272008-06-10T12:31:00.000-07:002008-06-10T12:31:00.000-07:00Jo--Yes, this is such a universal experience. Tha...Jo--Yes, this is such a universal experience. Thank you for connecting. I'm sorry for your losses. It's such a hard time when the generation in front of us dies one after the other...<BR/><BR/>Wow, Lisa, your comment goes right to my heart. Thank you.Kate Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16478737570632377733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-18107230392181020792008-06-10T06:41:00.000-07:002008-06-10T06:41:00.000-07:00You make me feel proud to be a member of the human...You make me feel proud to be a member of the human species, Kate. God Bless You for your caregiving, your ability to speak on this-- and to it-- and your words<BR/> <BR/>"...embryonic fluid.."<BR/>"a world once theirs.."<BR/>"..he runs his fingers up and down...like there's a secret between them."Lisa Nanette Allenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15263158091013515471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-5104365545441248192008-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:002008-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00We lived through this many years with my father in...We lived through this many years with my father in law. He suffered terriby. Your words brang tears to my eyes remembering how he suffered for every breath. He was a good, stong man like your father, I've never been so sad in my life to see my mother and him die within a year of each other. <BR/><BR/>All the machines and medicine, and the fight to survive another day. I'll have to post mine sometime, just so sad for me to bring it all back! Love your new photo header, I have a similiar one, I took when my husband and I honeymooned in California. Very beautiful there too! :)Jo A. T.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06925256842521954260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-70613665079606029122008-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:002008-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:00Wow, Joanna, your experience is so familiar--not o...Wow, Joanna, your experience is so familiar--not only to me but Annie too. She took care of her mom for a number of years, and like your dad, her mom died of emphysema. That story is part of my memoir as well.Kate Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16478737570632377733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-24742720297196162152008-06-06T17:12:00.000-07:002008-06-06T17:12:00.000-07:00I can't wait to read it too. Daddy suffered from e...I can't wait to read it too. <BR/><BR/>Daddy suffered from emphysema for years and it was a loooong road. Mama was deceased, I'm an only child, but [husband] Mike was great throughout a extended, difficult time. <BR/><BR/>I can totally relate to the repetitive reminders of routine tasks that you've done many, many times. Daddy's whole focus, whole universe, became about his health and tasks related to his care, that's all he could think and talk about.appalcarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08592728352758100034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-85334066728828842842008-06-06T17:01:00.000-07:002008-06-06T17:01:00.000-07:00Thanks, Collin. oxThanks, Collin. oxKate Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16478737570632377733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562902658148179903.post-23575587538614636832008-06-06T14:49:00.000-07:002008-06-06T14:49:00.000-07:00I can't wait to read the whole thing. You write so...I can't wait to read the whole thing. You write so eloquently of your father.Collin Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03777180960376039699noreply@blogger.com