Hi,

I just saw you on line posting on the same thread that attracted my attention. Heard you remarried, congratulations!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Actually liked the way you responded better than the way I did. You still have beautiful warmth to your writing.

Hello to the guy I'd most like to share a park bench with! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> I will always remember you for your "Laugh In" anaology!

You heard right, we married July 10, 2002. H is one heck of a guy! H asked my daughter for my hand in marriage. You also married didn't you? When? Lucky lady!

[/QUOTE] You still have beautiful warmth to your writing. [/QUOTE] Thank you for the compliment! I try.

The last 12 months have been something else in other areas of my life. I am now my mothers guardian/conservator and you know how that goes. I am her primary caregiver as I am an only child.

My 29 year old son is currently in a h@ll bent fog. I've directed my DIL to the works of MB's. SAA has helped her "see" what is happening to their marriage.

You know what is keeping me going in addition my H in my life? Having 4 grandchildren from the ages of 8 months to five years. When I'm in their company the rest of the world goes away.

Tell me what is going on with you my friend.

Hi Ragamuffin,

It is wonderful to hear from you again. I've been away from the boards for a while, but that is a whole other story.

Well about that park bench. I have my stationary bike parked in front of a TV set and I still watch LaughIn every morning just to see Tyrone and Gladys. CJ thinks I like Tyrone because I identify with the character. He wants so badly to please women, but he is forever saying all the wrong things, and he has all the world's worst pickup lines. Tyrone really isn't a bad guy, some of those mature gals need us old farts to put a little snap back in their garters once in a while. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Yes, I've remarried. We had been dating for a while prior to 9-11. About a month after, I had to fly out to Wyoming and my fiance was my ride to the airport for a 6:15 a.m. flight. She started out in the guest bedroom, and about one thirty in the morning she came up and crawled into bed with me and we've been together ever since. In August it was a year since we made each other honest, we went on a two week cruise Vancouver to Alaska and back for a honeymoon. Took her to Wyoming and Montana this spring for the family reunion, and later we went to Canton Ohio and Pittsburgh PA on vacation. She always wanted to see the NFL hall of fame, she is the football fan in the family.

Welcome to the sandwich generation. I've been handling Mom's affairs for twelve years now. The Alzhiemer's is so far advanced that she no longer knows how to feed herself, or even chew. Everything has to be put through a blender first. Having been through a number of problems, I'm sort of a half baked expert on geriatric case management. If there is anything I can share to help you out, please call on me.

Ah, the kids. Money isn't everything, but it helps the kids to stay in touch. Have four grandchildren, and the folks at the bank can always tell when I've had them for the weekend. I have to go replace the cash, they manage to leave me flat broke every time! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

My youngest son also married. He is the one with congestive heart failure. His wife has spina biffida??? It was a heart breaker, neither one knows how long life is going to be, and her family was dead set against the marriage. Here is where my ex is really helpful, between us, we made them a wedding and paid for it without any help from the inlaws. Her father refused to come to the wedding ceremony, and didn't realize he was going to his daughter's wedding reception until he was already there.

Sorry to hear that your son is wandering, that has to be hard to watch. I swear that all waywards go to the same school, or at least are reading the same book. They just don't seem to be aware of the pain they cause, and have no idea at all how many people are affected by their choices. I'll bet you were ready to tie his neck in a knot. (That statement has been edited and cleaned up some.)

CJ called around last month, first time I've ever spoken on the phone to a cyber buddy. Couldn't believe how different it is. I think you know she lives in Denver and has the midwest accent. At first I thought is was one of my cousins or aunts, she sounds just like them! Anyway, she is doing well, and in time I hope she finds somebody to share her life with too.

You and CJ are my favorite writers on this board. You both have marvelous insights and your stuff is so well thought out. Often the stuff posted here seems superficial, but you two have always been the deep thinkers. There just isn't anything shallow about either of you.

Well, enough of that, I'll be standing by reading the mail.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> some of those mature gals need us old farts to put a little snap back in their garters once in a while. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You've got that one right, I'm turning 49 (and holding) next week! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> about one thirty in the morning she came up and crawled into bed with me and we've been together ever since. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"><img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> we went on a two week cruise Vancouver to Alaska and back for a honeymoon. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">My husbands dream, I hope we can make it come true.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> she is the football fan in the family. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Now I KNOW you "done good"!!! Who is her favorite team?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Welcome to the sandwich generation. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">No kidding! Mom has the beginnings of dementia, they called it multifaceted caused by the medicene she took for 30 years for bipolar. She functioned great all of those years, now comes the price for taking care of her self. Doesn't seem quite right.

I do have the help of CNA's 2 hours in the morning M-F but I do all of her shopping, set up all medications, do her banking and bill paying etc. She can still do her laundry and personal care but she doesn't cook any more. We try to bring her to our house on the weekends during the day. We have also aquired her dog. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> If there is anything I can share to help you out, please call on me. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thanks, it means alot to me!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> the folks at the bank can always tell when I've had them for the weekend. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I love it!

Guess what? My 5 year old grandson taught me how to put mustard on a hot dog the right way! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Can you believe it?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> My youngest son also married. He is the one with congestive heart failure. His wife has spina biffida??? It was a heart breaker, neither one knows how long life is going to be, and her family was dead set against the marriage. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">This brings tears to my eyes! How wonderful for them! They deserve to be happy!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> and didn't realize he was going to his daughter's wedding reception until he was already there. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">This is where I'll call you an honery old fart because I just know you helped pull this off! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> I'll bet you were ready to tie his neck in a knot. (That statement has been edited and cleaned up some.) </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">That is putting it mildly! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" /> You did clean it up quite well!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> midwest accent </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">We have an accent? Naaa....it's everyone else!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> There just isn't anything shallow about either of you. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thank you for putting me up there with CJ, she is one heck of a gal who deserves to be as happy as you and I are! I miss her!! How is she doing?