G’day Castus Al,
I have been meaning to respond to your posts but have been down on energy lately .Not to worry I reckon it’s just the way strokes work sometimes, one step forward and two steps back. The trick is never be disheartened, you have to press on and not look back, but you’d know all about that.
My thoughts on therapy, and its only what I think, I’m no means a doctor. You have to go as hard as you can every session. With your military training background and experience I’m sure you are well equipped to handle any sort of therapy they throw at you. I have to knock off for now , hope to keep in touch.
Mate, I wish you and all your loved one all best this world can offer.
George….
I am very pleased for you to respond to my post We are all in the same boat here and each of us deals with our daily struggles, mine seemed to have multiplied over the years, cancer, heart disase, diabetes, diabetic perepheral neuropathy (and those are just the highlights) and now the stroke...this one has me the most befuddled of all.
Yes indeed, I too feel sometimes it would be easy to be depressed and overwhelmed when we are dealing with such a cruel disease.You, as well as I, have found so much support on this site it makes it easier to deal with when you know yuo are not alone.
I agree I have somewhat of an advantage with my military background and my sense of dedication to be always positive and upbeat.
George, I'm a little concerned with your lack of energy that you won't be able to outrun a dingo...LOL!
Hope you are feeling improvement and regaining your mobility, please keep me posted.
I hope all is well with you. Sometimes we need to retreat to a special spot and ponder what is happenlng in this whacky world of sensing what is causing me to over think my course of life.
Its not fair when your not on the boards my views totals are soaring. I spent some time today just scanning the peoples... its been one of the times when its one step forward and two steps back, I get pain in my legs and feet the neuropathy is taking its tole, the agent orange makes it even more frustrating as there is no cure.
Just was inquiring on your well being, you know how we salty dogs are, like someone to watch over . Janet hope this finds you and yous well. Until then
Allen. Aka cactus all. Aloha
The following user gives a hug of support to cactus al: Mulchie (01-13-2013)
G’day Cactus Al
Mate I’d be happy when I can run as fast as Mr Bolt, let alone a dingo.
When I was a boy living with my parents, we had a cross german shepard, dingo. Believe me it was the quickest dog in the neighbourhood. It was very unpredictable, we give away to a local tow truck driver, it became a yard dog. It stayed with that man till it passed away from old age. I’d never seen that tow truck driver cry as he did when that dog passed.
Anyhow hope you are well and healthy.
George….
Glad to hear you have been out along the strand, it is a beautiful thing!
My son and I put some time into cleaning the house, and then sitting in the yard. The sun is warm but the shade is a bit nippy.
I thank your for your kind words as we learn more about each other, although much of it seems very familiar. I have gotten much more out of writing here than I have ever given. My eternal optimism has been shaken a bit over the last year, and this is another comeback for me. Comebacks are hard, but nothing compared to giving up, that is not an option until the good lord makes that choice for us...
I have worked all morning, so it is time for me to rest up before dinner preparation time. Running all day just does not work for me anymore. More like a very slow jog, interrupted by spurts of rest.
Glad to hear your OK and busy wit house choirs. I feel its really been a great adventure on this site. I am a person of many interests and just curious for knowledge . I have lots to catch up on,my military associations. Vietnam river rats , navy recruiting recruiters, some special forces personnel.
Please give my best to health boards. Bravo Zulu in international flags. Means
Keeping in touch with our past is so very important to me as well. We are all people that have multi faceted lives, and what was most important to us at the biggest times of our lives, not just the best or the worst, but the culmination of the whole thing.
I learned that from my parents, who were actively involved with ship and port reunions from Korea, WWII and Vietnam. Upon their deaths, I took it upon myself to contact every service organization, club, group and friend that was listed in their extensive address book. Their funeral was a large and dedicated group of these dear friends who traveled from across the US to pay their respects. Those who could not attend sent heartfelt letters that I will keep and read over and over forever. One was from my mothers date to the junior prom, who commented on what a good dancer she was, and how lucky my dad was to land her. They were both from the same "poke and plum" town in Mississippi. (Poke and plum means if you poke your head out the window, you are plum out of town).
Anywho...I have found the greatest comfort in those people, who I have known all my life. You remind me of one of those people, who have stood for our country in the worst of times and survived with a sense of victory in their hearts and minds, because to survive is to become our own personal hero's. You are that survivor and more! I admire your can do attitude and your ability to share and comfort others when you are in your own time of need and discomfort. I salute you.
I hate to stop by the boards without leaving some token of friendship and understanding, rather than just a little update/excuse/reason as to why I have not done so.
With my rest over, I got the dinner in the oven which leaves me one more hour to check in with my many friends here. It is a good day, and I hope yours has been as good as it can be, considering all your pain and difficulties.
Hello Janet
I hope I didn't give the impression I was depa rating this site. No I am back to make sure everyone has there daily dose of attitude. I feel after reading your well thought and just good writing.
Reminds me of my English teacher in Jr high school she was a stickler for proper grammar, one day when asked do I know proper grammar, I said no I was taught not to ad
dress elderly people by their first name. Lol. Boo poor joke
A key e element in life is never feel sorry for yourself, I don't- for example the courage you have mustered to continue and be a strong inspiration for your boys my hand salutes you.
We all have someone in our memory we hold in high esteem. My wife Frances was diagnosed with three cancers all at the same Dr visit. Û
Dd
She just assured me she will be fine and almost five years to the date she is cancer free and is my inspiration..no one is exempt from the unknown, life is not fair but its for the living. "--not to get really l dark and heavy so to a new subject
We are on this earth for a very short time so remember the goodness of people and forget
The people who are so focused on anger they miss life. Its that merry go round that sees how many brass rings you catch.
My dear friend you help so many and ask for so little, I am still game for lunch breakfast or brunch .. say the word. You know I cannot drive but I do have a power scooter
Have a pleasant evening.
Please do not confuse me with someone who has a firm grasp on the English language, especially those pesky rules of grammar! I am a self taught writer, with no formal training at all. That is where the practice comes in. While I have been employed as a writer for the local paper, as well as an artist and art teacher, I have no formal training in any of those things. I say, fake it until you make it...
What a beautiful day in San Diego! I went for a walk with my best friend along the cove in La Jolla, and watched the sea lions splash and bask, bark and play. The water was as turquoise blue as I have ever seen it , and to my surprise, my videos captured that color and clarity of the water perfectly. We stopped in for some coffee in the village, and came home so refreshed and clear minded.
I am so happy you shared your wife's miraculous recovery from her bouts of cancer. I had a feeling she must be quite a woman, just for the fact of being married to you! I would also love to meet her, but we have to abide by the rules here. Keep posting!
Speaking of, hubby is home...family time is here. I will be back very soon.
What a beautiful day we had today, unfortunately I couldn't enjoy it as much I would liked to have. I took a little tumble yesterday, I was picking the dog up and he got a little squirmy which through me off balance, and down I went. My wife was at a doctor's appt but I managed to get myself righted, she said she knew something happened when she called on her way home...I didn't fess up til she got here tho, she worries enough as it is when she has to go out. I'm really sore today and my muscles are screaming, so rest is in order for the next few days!
I had to laugh at your comment about Frances putting up with me all these years, I have a funny story to share. After my heart surgery I was in cardiac rehab, a group of us formed some wonderful friendships, well anyway one day I brought Frances in to meet "the gang" and as we were leaving one of my "friends" said in a voice loud enough for all to hear "funny, she doesn't look like she was desperate". Everyone had a good laugh and to this day I've never lived that down!
You mentioned walking around La Jolla Cove, one of our favorite spots is The Tide Pools, for many years we've enjoyed taking our mid-west and east coast relatives to see them...such beauty! However, nowadays with the inability to walk this stroke has taken one of my San Diego pleasures away. I may never be able to walk down those steps again but I surely can enjoy the view from above!
I told my wife you'd also like to meet her someday, she agrees, she'd like to meet you too but she understands we must abide by the rules. Who knows Janet...maybe someday we will stumble upon each other in this fair city of ours.
cactus-al
i hope this finds you well and enjoying our warm sunny san diego.
i just have a quick note its been slow on the internet hoping we can
meet up soon frances thinks you are wonderful surviving all the strokes and helping so many with your words of encouragement. until then i am surviving with more bumps and brusies..
I am so sorry to hear you have taken a fall...I know how sore we can get from going down. I took one flat on my face recently, after first taking out my hands, knees and elbows. Ouch!
Looking forward to seeing you in person, we had a couple stroke friends here that happened to both be going to Hawaii on the same week, and they met for lunch at a hotel while there. It was a great story. I am sure we can find a suitable place to enjoy a great view, some good food and a great conversation for 4.
Love the story about the friends from your rehab and your wife. What better thing than to laugh at ourselves with others in the same boat. The best medicine, as they say, and I have to agree.
I know how hard it is to have to give up pleasures that we used to think would never end..but they do. I know I have lost much of the self confidence I used to have, as far as getting out there, and challenging myself to things I used to do. Once you loose that sense of balance and strength, it becomes way too easy to get hurt.
Recently I was flying a kite in the desert, and my son filmed me trying to run with the kite while looking up in the air and also not wanting to trip and fall down. It was hilarious, and the flight of the kite suffered for it, but I did not fall!
I ll check in with you again soon.
Your friend, janet
Always so good to hear from you, wanted to drop you a few lines before I headed to the backyard to water the lawn and fruit trees. We had all the trees fertilized yesterday, have to start getting them ready for the summer crops...LOL! It would be nice to share our summer bounty with you and your family. Right now we have oranges, tangelos, lemons, limes and strawberry guava berries. Come summer, figs are out biggest producers, but we also have pears, persimmons, apricots, nectarines, Santa Rosa plums and macadamia nuts, not all will produce this year, but some will.
It's such a small world Janet; imagine 2 stroke board members visiting Hawaii at the same time - what a fun lunch that must have been! We look forward to the day when we can share a table for 4 with a nice view and good food. It's the simple pleasures in life now, good friends, good food and good conversation...I really don't ask for much anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still get up everyday with a can do attitude and don't stop until I can't go anymore, but I truly do "stop and smell the roses now".
Your kite flying adventure brought back such fond memories, as kids we made our own kites from sticks, newspapers and glue...good times for sure, I loved it! You know I'd pay the price of admission to see that video of you flying a kite..hahaha, next stop...America's Funniest Home Videos! I whole heartily agree with you, if we can't laugh at ourselves..what fun is life!
Well my friend, the backyard awaits me and it's time to get these legs and arms moving!
I hope you and your husband enjoy a wonderful weekend..looks like our weather is back!
Those fruit trees should be good and watered by now, as it has been raining non stop all day and night.
I have been very introspective for the last days, and quiet. Please excuse me for being absent. While I have been battling depression and anxiety since my strokes with success for the most part, it still has a way of sneaking up and biting me in the rear at times. I just roll with it, and know it will pass. I hate that it can cause worry for my friends, and I do not want that for anyone.
I learned of a newly discovered disorder that many of us stroke survivors have gone through, and while I have forgotten the letters that make up the name they call it, it is when folks who have gone through brain injury break out crying or laughing inappropriately. I will get more information about it and see if any others here have experienced anything similar. I know I have during the early years of my recovery, not so much anymore. Have you had anything similar happen to you?
Hope all is well with you, and to hear from you very soon.
I happen to be online now, when your last post appeared, and I hoped I could answer your questions...Could you explain what it is you are bemused and confused about?
So good to hear from you Janet, I must agree with your statements of depression and anxiety. I also have experienced extreme sadness without knowing why. This brain injury has me so confused as to whatever the outcome may be.
Janet, I speak the truth when I say I am confused not knowing what will happen from one day to the next. I am really a person of very strong constitution, believing in attitude, enthusiasm and a very positive outlook in life. As I have mentioned on this board before, the extreme out pouring of everyone's stroke experiences have been a real learning experience for me. As you well know, my military background has caused me to feel invincible at times, but over the past 25years I have learned that I too am human.
My friend, you have encountered so many life threatening and tragic events over the years, you would not be human to not feel the effects from time to time, but I also know that is what makes you the compassionate person you are, having helped so many on this board (myself included) when you are in such turmoil yourself...you, my dear friend are a true survivor!
In concluding, I don't think we should call this a Chamber of Commerce weekend.
Good morning to you, my friend. Even with the rain and fog, today has started off on a good note. I agree with this not being a chamber of commerce day!
I continually have to remind myself not to take the lost time that comes with depression as a setback, but rather as a part of the cycle of life that includes both the highest highs and the lowest lows. There is always another day coming to provide another chance. Just like another bright sunny day being around the corner.
Stoke recovery really taught me the value of the smallest moments of enjoyment, the tiniest point of beauty, a few sweet words from a loved one. It is the constant search for the goodness that keeps us going, even when they are stretched far apart with darkness and pain in between. That is the definition of positive thinking, right?
Good morning Janet and good morning Al!
I was in the middle of a nice long reply when "zap", it disappeared. So know I'll give you the condensed version because I'm getting tired. I just wanted to let everyone know that even though I don't post daily, I do read the posts everyday if for know other reason than to enjoy the communication. I would like to share with everyone that I love a good sense of humor and a dry wit. My family has taken to making fun of me now when I stumble into walls or slur my words (all done with the utmost affection) and this is so much better than seeing concern and worry in their faces.
I realize I'm rambling....I'm good at that. I do hope that those of you basking in the warm Calif Sun are torturing all of us living in the ice age. Massachusetts, particularly in the hills of Worcester where I live, is still in the single digits. So remember me when you are relaxing in the warm air, and picture me housebound sipping my umpteenth cup of tea (hot tea not iced)
Mulchie, I do hope you are reading this and staying warm too!
I love you all and I'm so glad to have found you!! Enjoy your day.
Re: confused 
Re: confused 
good morning mulchie
