Great, Compassionate, Good People on this Board

Hat's off to the great people on this board. Is it just a higher number of highly intelligent good people that fly fish.....or simply that a very high percentage of highly intelligent good people gravitate to this board. I think boaf. (boaf? well, guess I am not in that group) And no I am not an NBA player.

I have some tough times right now. Married 37 yrs and the worst father's day in my life. Wife and daughter got up early and left for the trip to the valley. In the rush to depart they boaf forgot to wish me happy father's day. I sat home, alone, all day. Only one phone call all day from an offspring. I didn't even turn on tv or music. It didn't enter my mind to do so. That stuff just didn't seem important anymore. I just sat there in a chair and looked at the wall all day, I guess in a funk. I live 10 miles on the other side of a small town, which is 3.5 hours from the valley, where all our doctors are. Wife had cancer surgery, chemo, etc two years ago and is still trying to get the feeling back in her hands and feet. Then she fell and broke a hip and had a hip replacement. Geeeez she can't seem to get away from walking with two canes like a slow motion Charlie Chaplin! She has been getting beat up for three years. They had kept the IV port for chemo treatments in her chest for two years just in case. They took it out last month. Gave her a feel good that she was finally ok. We thought she was ok, so we started on getting my body repaired. She was going to do the driving and assist me in the early stages after back surgery. Since April 6 I have had foot surgery, nose surgery and back surgery. Well, Fri befoe father's day they called and said she has multiple lesions on the liver and lung. Needless to say how depressed and heart broken we both are. She is in Phoenix going through hell, and I am home alone going through hell. I am not supposed to lift anything more than a cup of coffee, bend, twist or stretch or drive.....for 3 months! There was originally going to be someone here to help me, I can't even lift a gallon of milk. Now I am alone. uh.....sorry....I didn't mean to take it this far.

Point I really wanted to make with this post is the geat family here. I mentioned my plight on the for sale board on a rod that someone else got. Bless this man. I said I wanted to get it for my wife. He cancelled his order and told the seller to sell it to me. He would rather my wife have it. What a kind, compassionate, generous man. Just a class act. Fortunately I had already made another rod deal and he gets to purchase the rod after all. But what a good man. I don't know his handle so I can't point him out here. Oh, well, I will stick my neck out and state his name is Mr. Jim Sentell. Sorry Mr. Sentell, I just had to tell the family.

Now books on sale on the for sale board. I am thinking what luck, almost all books alrady sold and the one I want is still there. I told the seller...Brummaxxxx something....told him I would buy book number 5. I said it will take a bit to get the check sent out. Life has been hectic for me. Couldn't go to sleep Sun nite till 4:15am. Have not slept well since. I know it seems simple to write a check, but I am very tired and currently in lotta pain. I am going to go to bed. Not looking for sympathy here but just a little patience. Rest assured I will get the check sent.

He replied back to never mind about the check. He is sending the book to me for free. He would really rather do it this way.

Folks there are just some wonderful people in this family of friends that JC and Lf have brought together and raised. I got such a gracious feel good from Bruma's actions, re-affirming there are still a lot of good people in this world.

I got a free book and a GOLD MINE of good feelings.....all free.

Hat's off to this board and all the great men and women that are on here. What a wonderful home here.

A BIG thank you JC and LF for providing this big house, with open arms, and room for all of them to get together. It just restores your faith in people.

Sorry for length of msg but I had to tell it to the family.

Seriously Sincerely and Grateful,

Gem

Hi Gem. You're right; it was a long post, but well worth the read. Thank you for that.
You and your family will be in my prayers. I am sure that things will get better (how could they get worse, right?). Prayer does work. You are right about the "family" on the boards. You can always find someone to talk to or offer support when you need it.



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Cheers
Bob

As Bob said," yes it was a long post but well worth the read " I couldn't agree more.

Gem I know all to well those feelings when no one calls on fathers day. After my wife split 12 years ago I miss the greetings on fathers day. Guess the kids have more important things in their life.

Gem you are part of this family on this board and people watch out for family. I will say a special prayer for you and your wife. God takes care of his children Gem and I know he will listen to our prayers.

My email address is in my profile,shoot me an email with your mailing address. I have something I want to send you.

Take care Gem
Rocky

Hi Gem,
When I read your post I had to just sit here for a few minutes and absorb it.
It is good to get your thoughts out as it can help you out of your depression or at least from going deeper into it. I feel your pain my friend but please try to keep a positive attitude. Your wife's cancer is the most serious problem. All the other little things (not that your operations are little) like no phone calls and such get amplified by the overwhelming hopelessness feeling that can come over you when things pile up like that.
Gem, I do not just speak off the top of my head when it comes to cancer. There are others on FAOL , more than you might think who understand your feelings first hand and have walked in your shoes.
Bruce (Brumat) is a friend who has gone through a series of his own problems. I have fished with him and, you are right, he is a caring guy as are many, many FAOLers.
I am so very glad that a couple of small tokens of good will from fellow FAOLers have cheered you a bit. Please keep tuned in as I am sure many others will offer words of support. Keep faith my friend and let your wife know your FAOL family will keep you both in our thoughts and prayers.... Warm regards,...Bob

Jim,
Please, please, please talk to your doctor! If you can't talk to him/her make a copy of this post and show it to him!
Your world is changing way too fast for you to handle it by yourself, and far more than we armchair psychologist on FAOL can help. We'll always be there to listen, but you need more than that now. Depression can be helped. Please see him/her as soon as possible.
Please.
Betty

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Trouts don't live in ugly places

I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

My church and I both will hold you and your family in our prayers. John

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I wish you all everlasting flies and tight lines.

Betty, I am already on anti depression pills. Have been for over a year. Your pretty astute. I don't know how you picked that out.

I didn't set all day and say oh woe is me. Oh why is this happening to me. Not an o sole amio day. I am not that kind of person. I don't blame others for my problems and I don't have the why me thing.

It was just part of explaining a rotten day. I was/am more in shock that this has happened to us. Penny has fought so hard and looked so forward to getting to do things. And she doesn't deserve this. So it is hard to take. But I wasn't sitting all day feeling sorry for myself. Just for others. And wondering what can be done, etc. What can I do? I think a lot of the sitting was not even thinking at all. But suddenly things like computers, tv, music, etc just weren't important that day. They paled in comparison to other bigger problems. Funny when you get a rude awakening like this how much your priorities change and what really is important. Anyway I thank you all for your comments. I wasn't going to go to our Monday morning friends coffee clutch nor our Wed monthly fly club mtg this week. Sunday eve I got on FAOL and it kinda brought me back to the land of the living. I sent an e-mail and a friend picked me up and I made the coffee clutch and the mtg. It took FAOL to stir me to go. Again I thank you all for your comments. I am not a religious person but I think the prayers do the most good and I appreciate you people praying for us and mainly Penny.
I am kinda still a newbie on the board compared to some of the old timers and still trying to be accepted. But this FAOL board is a great home to so many good people. So I sorta feel it's a stretch to consider myself part of the family but I SEE the family and am very fond of it. Again....JC and LF....I thank you for this home for everyone. It is beyond comprehension the impact JC and LF have had on this world and their efforts on this board. It's the board that got me back up out of the chair. Can you just imagine how much influence and effect this board has had on the people who come here in the past?

Thanks again JC and LF. Your impact goes far beyond what I think you even realize.

I will stop talking about ME. It's the wife that is in trouble. I just wanted to tell the board and it's people how much it and they mean to a lot of us.

Thanks thanks thanks,

Gem

Jim,
I picked up on it because I've been clinically depressed for over 50 years. 13 years ago, having suffered a stroke (a MAJOR wake up call) I finally sought help for the depression. The stroke literally saved my life.
We are here for you. We are here for your wife and family. As are my prayers.
Betty

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Trouts don't live in ugly places

Gemrod,

I'm not going to push this suggestion, but I think you should get in touch with a minister. They're great listeners and that alone might be a big help.



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There's almost nothin' wrong with the first lie, it's the weight of all the others holdin' it up that gets ya'! - Tim