Oh good lord. Sorry you're dealing with more!
Oh, no. I'm so sorry this is all hitting you at once.
Is this the time when someone is supposed to say, "Well, G-d doesn't hand you anything..." and then you get to have a brief moment of release, while you stone that person to death?
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear this on top of everything else.
So sorry to hear that alameida, that's awful.
Yeah, it is, as ironic Andy Williams sings, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year". I'm sorry, Al. Keep on.
I have a really upbeat, everything happens for a reason sponsor. I have to just not contact her.
I don't have a sense of your dad; I hope he can be strong and graceful.
I'm glad the Kalashnikov is complete and in good condition. A remarkable, iconic design.
Is your brother reacting inter alia to news about your dad or has that sunk in yet?
Not sure how you could get still worse news than your mother, but I guess it's just a lucky month. So terribly sorry. If there is anything I can do when I'm local again (bring you dinner? Entertain your kids if they get bored and need to go play?), I'm back in DC in less than a week. Heebie can give you my e-mail.
Sweet mother of mercy, I hope shit turns around soon, jobmeida.
Wow, that's truly awful. I'm so sorry.
Oh man, that sucks. Sorry to hear it.
15: in the end we couldn't get him the AK-47 due to recent changes in MD gun laws. but we found a very nice yugoslavian version of the k-98, also a (knockoff) classic. bolt action is very smooth, and all the parts match, like I said, even the number on the wooden stock, which itself has a real nice patina. original cleaning rod too, and leather strap. the whole effect is very nice. dairy queen's comment did strike me once I thought about it, especially since bro tends to seasonal depression related to childhood bummer history. like, we always warn one another, "watch him, is he getting all depressed?" so in that context my gift seems stupid or dangerous or something. but he has so many guns already, it can't make a difference now. but why is he not here? my children are sad and disappointed. I have to get everything pretty and clean. and my mom is being crazy mean to my sister. of all of she's always been the most critical of my sis, and we have a tendency to be vicious anyway, and she's scared of dying and she just had brain surgery so she isn't herself. still, my disabled sister is working the hardest of all of us, even though she's in so much pain, and she's getting shat on. I halfway want to call my mom on it and halfway hope I can help my sister understand that it's not about her...but this is easier to say when it's not me.
FWIW, I also have a parent who is recently ill and confused and scared and is taking out frustrations on others (including myself) who are really working hard to promote his comfort on an hourly/daily basis. It would probably help your sister a lot to hear you say that it's not about her, whether you tell her privately or in the context of a gentle plea to your mom to try to see that everyone is just trying to rally and be supportive. So sorry about the multiple awful stresses on you.
alameida, I'm sorry to hear about this. For some weird reason, family disturbance, including illness and death, seem to cluster around year-end holidays, at least in my own experience. I don't know why you're talking about the gun for your brother so much.
24,25: My mother got that way too. Lots of nasties to her caretakers, my brother, some other people. Not so much aimed at me, ill people seem to pick their targets and stick with them IMX.
My mother says nurses were sort of surprised when research found that grouchy patients live much longer. Nurses thought it just felt that way.
28: Heh. Grouchy is one thing, abusive is another, and "Quantity has a quality . . . ."
26: it's cheerful and fun and a sucessful gift attempt and idp and I were discussing it in general? dq's question made me consider the situation as it would look to an outsider? I got a diamond filigree pendant for my sister with ten little cabochons in five colors of jade, each creamier than the last, open and lacy, about 2.5 inches in diameter. I don't think you could kill yourself with it very easily, though. my mom has a fever and can't come home for her xmas eve visit, and my fucking brother isn't going to get here till 9 or something, at which point my jet-lagged kids will be asleep. but we have figured a way around it, hopefully--strategic naps...
alameida, this just sucks. So sorry.
Even if you're screaming "THIS IS THE WORST" into a pillow on an hourly basis, it's still the worst. I'm sorry.
Oh my gosh, that's just not fair.
I wish you, your sister, and your mother the utmost sympathy and hope that you can all (more or less) hold it together and maintain sanity.
Very sorry, alameida. Wishing you strength.
Ah jaysus. Just... what.
Everything does not happen for a reason, stuff is random and piles unfairly both for good and bad. People who think it does are at best morons at least in a narrow way and at worst self centred smug bastards.
I am reminded of the Lois McMaster Bujold book where the dying sometimes-benevolent sometimes-murdering despot remarks to our heroine, ( ah yes, you're some sort of theist) - "I am an atheist, myself. A simple faith, but a great comfort to me, in these last days".
Anyhow hope ye* can keep on keeping on. Looks like it was a good choice on flying over & bringing the kids.
*what my micro-dialect has as equivalent to y'all
Something in me says, if your mom is being mean to your sis, the one you owe it to (if you do) to point this out is actually your mom.
What a horrible confluence of events. I am beyond sorry, alameida. Please know that if there is anything practical your invisible Internet friends can do, we will gladly do it.
Also, while it is utterly and completely understandable that you don't want to talk to your sponsor if she is prone to that kind of chipperness, I hope that you are able to draw on whatever other sponsor-esque support YOU need right now. Self care is legitimate. Self care is honorable. Self care is lifesaving.
Oy! Al, what a shitstorm. I do hope you get the support that you need too. Witt is 100% on target. I would guess that Husband X is there too as both your girls are there and he should be a help. But, if you need to get to a meeting or whatever, please do so. It'll be good for all of you.
43: I think that the girls flew alone.
"sucks" seems like a wimp of a word in this context. Alameida, that feels overwhelming just listening to it. Take care of yourself.
41:
I second 41. I hope you find a way to get some self-care in the midst of this turmoil. I think Virginia is in the middle of your problems, so if you need anything in this area, please let me know.
ὦ δυστάλαινα!
I'm very sorry, Alameida. Wishing you the best.
Truly a whole lot to bear-- deepest sympathies and good luck to you.
I'm very sorry to hear, Al. Hoping for the best for all.
Oh jesus, just caught up with this. Much sympathy, and wishing you the strength you need.