Alanomad
8th May 2008, 00:21
Folks, its been quite awhile since I checked in, and I've got a fair amount of catching up to do even for here, but there has been a real tragedy in my family, and some other sadness, and I wanted to take a few minutes to fill in everybody on what's gone on, and where I've been.
One of my stepdaughters, my wife's oldest child, died on April 13. She was 37 years old, and as we all know, parents shouldn't have to bury their children.
I won't go into details, but it was sudden, and unexpected. She was a smart, beautiful young woman, with a smile and presence that always changed the way things were happening, whenever she came into a room.
She also was an incredible singer, who had been trying to make it in the music business for awhile, and that's not an easy thing to do, but she was tough, and keeping at it. She was a tiny girl with a really big voice, and I've heard many people say that she sounded like an angel, and now she is with them. I have to agree.
As you can imagine, my wife is a basket case, and sometimes freely admits that she doesn't know how she will deal with this. Obviously, my grief is not as great as hers, but we had developed a very close relationship, and she even asked me recently if I minded if she changed her maiden name to mine. Since I have no biological children, you can imagine how I felt.
Her mother and I (my current wife) broke off our engagement in June of 1969, and she was born in August of 70, so I always felt that she should have been mine; since she and her father, by her own admission, had a very poor relationship, so did she. When her Mom and I "refound" each other and married, she was very pleased; I was proud to call her my daughter, and she called me Dad.
So my task is to try to help her Mother through this, to whatever extent that can be done, and at the same time deal with my own grief, which is more than a little. Sadly, she leaves behind three teenage daughters.
In any event, I won't mention any real names, because although its almost unthinkable, I know that sick people troll web sites trying to find details about issues such as this, to take advantage. I'll just use a sweet childhood nickname, and say "Didi, we miss you, and although you were here for only a short time, you brought joy to many lives, and you will remembered by all of them."
Also, my brother in law, who I've mentioned previously, and who has some horrible health problems, is not long for this world, according to the docs. My sister and her two children are trying hard to accept the outcome that will soon happen, but it's tough for them to do.
My sister quietly said to me the other day, that after he was gone, she was going to ask if I wanted to buy his bike. I told her I would, and of course nothing else was said at that time, but that is truly a sad thought. He has an '03 black 100 annie edition Ultra Classic, that has nothing but a smattering of chrome as mods, and although he's had it now for over 5 years, it only has 2,900 miles.
I was always sad that his health kept him from riding it, and that we were never able to ride together. It's a hard thing to accept that we're heading to the old joke, but I know he would laugh, knowing him; "Lifes a bitch, then you die and your brother - in - law gets your motorcycle - bummer." I was talking to my sister recently, and in the background I heard him tell her to tell me "he would talk to me, but he was on his way to the gym." I will really miss him. I have no brothers, and he was always great in that role. Over the years he had bikes when I didn't, I had bikes when he didn't, and this was the only time we had them at the same time.
Finally, my wife found out today she must have a knee replacement, and that is probably going to mean she will lose her job, which she likes, because of the off time she'll need. But, I told her that we'll just figure it all out, and the main thing is to get her so that she can walk pain free.
So, I've been up to my ears lately, but thanks for listening to me, and I'm gonna try to catch up on the news; I missed being here. Oh, and I can't resist, but Dar, after reading your shoot 'em up incident, when they say in the ads "Texas - it's like a whole 'nother country", they ain't just whistlin' Dixie, my friend. Good for you.
One of my stepdaughters, my wife's oldest child, died on April 13. She was 37 years old, and as we all know, parents shouldn't have to bury their children.
I won't go into details, but it was sudden, and unexpected. She was a smart, beautiful young woman, with a smile and presence that always changed the way things were happening, whenever she came into a room.
She also was an incredible singer, who had been trying to make it in the music business for awhile, and that's not an easy thing to do, but she was tough, and keeping at it. She was a tiny girl with a really big voice, and I've heard many people say that she sounded like an angel, and now she is with them. I have to agree.
As you can imagine, my wife is a basket case, and sometimes freely admits that she doesn't know how she will deal with this. Obviously, my grief is not as great as hers, but we had developed a very close relationship, and she even asked me recently if I minded if she changed her maiden name to mine. Since I have no biological children, you can imagine how I felt.
Her mother and I (my current wife) broke off our engagement in June of 1969, and she was born in August of 70, so I always felt that she should have been mine; since she and her father, by her own admission, had a very poor relationship, so did she. When her Mom and I "refound" each other and married, she was very pleased; I was proud to call her my daughter, and she called me Dad.
So my task is to try to help her Mother through this, to whatever extent that can be done, and at the same time deal with my own grief, which is more than a little. Sadly, she leaves behind three teenage daughters.
In any event, I won't mention any real names, because although its almost unthinkable, I know that sick people troll web sites trying to find details about issues such as this, to take advantage. I'll just use a sweet childhood nickname, and say "Didi, we miss you, and although you were here for only a short time, you brought joy to many lives, and you will remembered by all of them."
Also, my brother in law, who I've mentioned previously, and who has some horrible health problems, is not long for this world, according to the docs. My sister and her two children are trying hard to accept the outcome that will soon happen, but it's tough for them to do.
My sister quietly said to me the other day, that after he was gone, she was going to ask if I wanted to buy his bike. I told her I would, and of course nothing else was said at that time, but that is truly a sad thought. He has an '03 black 100 annie edition Ultra Classic, that has nothing but a smattering of chrome as mods, and although he's had it now for over 5 years, it only has 2,900 miles.
I was always sad that his health kept him from riding it, and that we were never able to ride together. It's a hard thing to accept that we're heading to the old joke, but I know he would laugh, knowing him; "Lifes a bitch, then you die and your brother - in - law gets your motorcycle - bummer." I was talking to my sister recently, and in the background I heard him tell her to tell me "he would talk to me, but he was on his way to the gym." I will really miss him. I have no brothers, and he was always great in that role. Over the years he had bikes when I didn't, I had bikes when he didn't, and this was the only time we had them at the same time.
Finally, my wife found out today she must have a knee replacement, and that is probably going to mean she will lose her job, which she likes, because of the off time she'll need. But, I told her that we'll just figure it all out, and the main thing is to get her so that she can walk pain free.
So, I've been up to my ears lately, but thanks for listening to me, and I'm gonna try to catch up on the news; I missed being here. Oh, and I can't resist, but Dar, after reading your shoot 'em up incident, when they say in the ads "Texas - it's like a whole 'nother country", they ain't just whistlin' Dixie, my friend. Good for you.