2019 Closes Its Door
In My Bloodstream: Lisinopril, Amlodopine, Omeprazole, Tamsulosin
On The Stereo: Auld Lang Syne: Susan Boyle
Today will be my last post for the year. We have much to do from now until the end of December, and there will not be enough time for me to reflect and reminisce, and frankly, to write. My neuropathy has been acting up lately, and that anarchist bastard of a left hand has decided that my keyboard is our new battleground. I have struggled to type anything. Literally every line I write requires correction. For the first time, spellcheck has my approval. It has disapproved of my penchant for creating new words, which I feel more appropriate and descriptive than any that Oxford has available. That has been troublesome. Now, even with spellcheck, I am finding all of my errors annoying. I would normally be upset with the time consumed by these re-dos, but I obviously have the time, and I undoubtably love to write.
2019 has been, like most years, filled with events, that challenge the spectrum of my emotions.
Kath has been teaching, and, although she is regarded as the full time teacher of her fourth grade class, she is still employed by Kelly Services, who is the contractor for part-time teachers, for her school board. Her principal encouraged her to obtain teaching status from the state of Florida, to be an employee, rather than continue as part time. Last April, she submitted her college transcripts, along with her supplemental specialist degrees. She also sent a copy to a company which Florida requires to vet foreign applications. That company sent their appraisal to the state, stating that she is fully qualified to teach grades one to ten, anywhere in this country. A month ago, the state advised her that she only has a three year degree, and cannot become an employee of the school board. Despite the fact that the University of Toronto is not a junior college, and that Kat, incontrovertibly, has everything required, she has not been able to convince them otherwise. Her problem is exacerbated by the fact that the correspondence has no signature, so whomever is adjudicating her status, is nameless and faceless. Some government bureaucrat wields power over her future, and she seems to have no recourse. We will continue to seek help, now most likely after the holidays.
She is also struggling with her auto immune problems. This morning she left for work, having had a sleepless night, from sharp pains, which seemingly travel from place to place inside her body. My suggestion to stay home fell on deaf ears. Truthfully, that is not an unusual situation.
That statement should draw some response. One might agree it is a truism. Another might believe that if I had something worthwhile to say, someone would have a reason to listen. Either way, that is how it is.
She has taken a pill for pain, so hopefully, she can get through the day. She has been declined by Humira, for financial assistance on her co-pay, as we carry additional health coverage, which seems to be the determining factor, despite the fact that the additional insurance will not participate in the co-pay for this particular drug. Her doctor is attempting to change their minds, as the co-pay, even with the coverage, is $1400 per month. That, too, will likely not be resolved until the new year. Her daily pain will remain an issue through the end of the year.
Our year has been saddened by the passing of some family members and close, dear friends. I do know that we are of an age whereby marriages and births are on the decline, and funerals and celebrations of life, are sadly on the increase. As I said to my bride, our advancing age does not make our losses any easier to handle. In fact, each additional year of friendship, only makes their departure more difficult.
Kath finishes work next Friday, and we are off to Naples, to spend a few days with Rose and David, Kathy's brother, and their two adult sons, Michael and Brian. They were adamant that we see them all, this Christmas, and we fully intend to do just that. Work, distances and sicknesses have interfered with our visits this past year, and their family is coming down from Toronto to their vacation home for Christmas. That makes getting together much easier. I spent some time with the boys when I was in Toronto for my friend Tom's farewell. But Kath has not seen them all for some time. We are so looking forward to being with them.
Then, our plan is to fly to Raleigh to see Kristin and Doug and our grandkids, Avet and Eli. It will have been six months, since we last were with them. I think the boys will be happy to see us, especially as Grammy is a big favorite of Eli. I know for certain, that no one will be more grateful than will we. A half year apart from our family is too long. Way too long, when you love them as we do.
They came to see us in June, and we had a good time together. We all kayaked together and spent time at our pool, eating, drinking and playing. I think even Charlie, their dog, had fun. We were impressed that our kids, their kids, and their dog, would make that drive, to be with us. They are special.
We will be back home for New Year, and I guess that we will have a quiet time, together, and re-charge our batteries for the new year, and the challenges yet to come.
I should probably keep you informed on my life with cancer. I have had some welcome time off from treatments, but that circumstance changes in early January. I am scheduled for some excisions at Moffitt, on the 8th. We have a number of areas requiring attention, and we are not sure how many we will remove until surgery day. I am guessing four or five, under local anesthetic, but Dr. Harrington and I will come to some agreement, based on tolerance and manageability. Then, of course, there will be healing time, stitch removal and eventually, more appointments. I consider this type of schedule in my life, as "normal". None of this is life threatening. At least, as far as I know, at this juncture.
However, the surgeries do interfere with regular daily activities and are definitely irksome, to say the least. The sheer volume of my treatments and the reporting of them have taken some toll on me. The act of reviewing my doctors' notes and seeing the pictures again, leaves me somewhat breathless. The road we have traveled over the past year, has not been smooth.
The end of this for a while
Several of you have inquired as to the status of our relationship with our daughter, Stephanie. Kath has texted, and has been promised a call, a number of times. We have had no contact. It is, without doubt, the most difficult and incredibly sorrowful part of our life. We have not seen or talked to Steph, nor our grandkids, in three years. With our increasing age and health problems, we worry that our memories of them are all we will ever have. There are not many days that go by, in this house, that one or the other of us cries for our loss. No matter how we try to gird ourselves, I am guessing that we will never overcome.
My operations and excisions over this past year, were in the double digits. My wounds were plentiful and continual. None were as painful as our situation with my daughter.
I would like to thank all of you for your participation in my life. Many have written kind words and some have phoned. And some I see regularly. You words have supported me and given me strength. I have attempted to offer hope, faith, and love in each post I write. I have been gifted tenfold in return.
A friend sent a note last week, and she has given me permission to share it with you.
I am blessed to have friends and family such as I do.
I wish you all a most joyous Christmas. I hope you keep in you heart, the reason that we celebrate this holiday. The birth of a baby. What could be better.
Merry Christmas.
Christmas - a few years ago.
Kristin and Stephanie
Our New Year is an appropriate time to turn a page in our lives. We can move on. Take the opportunity to make our world a better place and make a commitment to help others, less fortunate. Every small thing you do can make a difference in someone's life. And in your own.
Share your love. As a recipient, I know you and I know that you have an abundance.
We intend to do our part, my bride and I. We are trying, each day, to do at least one thing, for someone. A text, an e-mail, or a phone call, can bring a smile to a friend. And costs nothing. And both parties reap reward.
I will be back early in 2020, with more news from Florida, and from my heart.
Happy New Year.
Love does conquer all.
On The Stereo: Auld Lang Syne: Susan Boyle
Today will be my last post for the year. We have much to do from now until the end of December, and there will not be enough time for me to reflect and reminisce, and frankly, to write. My neuropathy has been acting up lately, and that anarchist bastard of a left hand has decided that my keyboard is our new battleground. I have struggled to type anything. Literally every line I write requires correction. For the first time, spellcheck has my approval. It has disapproved of my penchant for creating new words, which I feel more appropriate and descriptive than any that Oxford has available. That has been troublesome. Now, even with spellcheck, I am finding all of my errors annoying. I would normally be upset with the time consumed by these re-dos, but I obviously have the time, and I undoubtably love to write.
2019 has been, like most years, filled with events, that challenge the spectrum of my emotions.
Kath has been teaching, and, although she is regarded as the full time teacher of her fourth grade class, she is still employed by Kelly Services, who is the contractor for part-time teachers, for her school board. Her principal encouraged her to obtain teaching status from the state of Florida, to be an employee, rather than continue as part time. Last April, she submitted her college transcripts, along with her supplemental specialist degrees. She also sent a copy to a company which Florida requires to vet foreign applications. That company sent their appraisal to the state, stating that she is fully qualified to teach grades one to ten, anywhere in this country. A month ago, the state advised her that she only has a three year degree, and cannot become an employee of the school board. Despite the fact that the University of Toronto is not a junior college, and that Kat, incontrovertibly, has everything required, she has not been able to convince them otherwise. Her problem is exacerbated by the fact that the correspondence has no signature, so whomever is adjudicating her status, is nameless and faceless. Some government bureaucrat wields power over her future, and she seems to have no recourse. We will continue to seek help, now most likely after the holidays.
She is also struggling with her auto immune problems. This morning she left for work, having had a sleepless night, from sharp pains, which seemingly travel from place to place inside her body. My suggestion to stay home fell on deaf ears. Truthfully, that is not an unusual situation.
That statement should draw some response. One might agree it is a truism. Another might believe that if I had something worthwhile to say, someone would have a reason to listen. Either way, that is how it is.
She has taken a pill for pain, so hopefully, she can get through the day. She has been declined by Humira, for financial assistance on her co-pay, as we carry additional health coverage, which seems to be the determining factor, despite the fact that the additional insurance will not participate in the co-pay for this particular drug. Her doctor is attempting to change their minds, as the co-pay, even with the coverage, is $1400 per month. That, too, will likely not be resolved until the new year. Her daily pain will remain an issue through the end of the year.
Our year has been saddened by the passing of some family members and close, dear friends. I do know that we are of an age whereby marriages and births are on the decline, and funerals and celebrations of life, are sadly on the increase. As I said to my bride, our advancing age does not make our losses any easier to handle. In fact, each additional year of friendship, only makes their departure more difficult.
Kath finishes work next Friday, and we are off to Naples, to spend a few days with Rose and David, Kathy's brother, and their two adult sons, Michael and Brian. They were adamant that we see them all, this Christmas, and we fully intend to do just that. Work, distances and sicknesses have interfered with our visits this past year, and their family is coming down from Toronto to their vacation home for Christmas. That makes getting together much easier. I spent some time with the boys when I was in Toronto for my friend Tom's farewell. But Kath has not seen them all for some time. We are so looking forward to being with them.
Then, our plan is to fly to Raleigh to see Kristin and Doug and our grandkids, Avet and Eli. It will have been six months, since we last were with them. I think the boys will be happy to see us, especially as Grammy is a big favorite of Eli. I know for certain, that no one will be more grateful than will we. A half year apart from our family is too long. Way too long, when you love them as we do.
They came to see us in June, and we had a good time together. We all kayaked together and spent time at our pool, eating, drinking and playing. I think even Charlie, their dog, had fun. We were impressed that our kids, their kids, and their dog, would make that drive, to be with us. They are special.
We will be back home for New Year, and I guess that we will have a quiet time, together, and re-charge our batteries for the new year, and the challenges yet to come.
I should probably keep you informed on my life with cancer. I have had some welcome time off from treatments, but that circumstance changes in early January. I am scheduled for some excisions at Moffitt, on the 8th. We have a number of areas requiring attention, and we are not sure how many we will remove until surgery day. I am guessing four or five, under local anesthetic, but Dr. Harrington and I will come to some agreement, based on tolerance and manageability. Then, of course, there will be healing time, stitch removal and eventually, more appointments. I consider this type of schedule in my life, as "normal". None of this is life threatening. At least, as far as I know, at this juncture.
However, the surgeries do interfere with regular daily activities and are definitely irksome, to say the least. The sheer volume of my treatments and the reporting of them have taken some toll on me. The act of reviewing my doctors' notes and seeing the pictures again, leaves me somewhat breathless. The road we have traveled over the past year, has not been smooth.
The end of this for a while
Several of you have inquired as to the status of our relationship with our daughter, Stephanie. Kath has texted, and has been promised a call, a number of times. We have had no contact. It is, without doubt, the most difficult and incredibly sorrowful part of our life. We have not seen or talked to Steph, nor our grandkids, in three years. With our increasing age and health problems, we worry that our memories of them are all we will ever have. There are not many days that go by, in this house, that one or the other of us cries for our loss. No matter how we try to gird ourselves, I am guessing that we will never overcome.
My operations and excisions over this past year, were in the double digits. My wounds were plentiful and continual. None were as painful as our situation with my daughter.
I would like to thank all of you for your participation in my life. Many have written kind words and some have phoned. And some I see regularly. You words have supported me and given me strength. I have attempted to offer hope, faith, and love in each post I write. I have been gifted tenfold in return.
A friend sent a note last week, and she has given me permission to share it with you.
On Dec 13, 2019, at 2:34 PM, Janice St. Hilaire <djsthilaire5@icloud.com> wrote:
Good afternoon Robin. As I write, I am returning from my 6th and final trip of this year to Toronto. My Dad had a stroke in July and he sadly passed November 15th. My siblings and I have just settled Mum in an assisted living home. I can return home knowing she is in good hands. As difficult as it was to leave her, I won’t miss those Barrie temps and bone chilling winds. 🥶
I have just finished getting caught up on your notes that David kindly shared with me. You remind me a great deal of my Dad. Not in age of course, but for your persistence in your fight for life.
A couple of years ago Dad starting to write his memoirs (by hand). He titled it “Never Give Up”. I have had the privilege of typing them up for him. In the last few visits, I continued to write his story with him. He would tell me a story or I would ask him questions. I learned more about him in that precious time, than I ever had. He was your quintessential English Man - stiff upper lip, even stoic. A man of few words. So I have come to realize that it was a true blessing that I was able to spend this time with him. I believe that God’s hand was all over this, from the moment he had the stroke, until the end. I will forever be grateful and i will cherish his memoirs as I’m sure my siblings will be once I’ve finished typing them up.
Thank you for sharing your story. Like my Dad, never give up. Words can be a healing gift without you even realizing.
Blessings and God’s Grace to you and Kathy.
Janice
xoxo
I am blessed to have friends and family such as I do.
I wish you all a most joyous Christmas. I hope you keep in you heart, the reason that we celebrate this holiday. The birth of a baby. What could be better.
Merry Christmas.
Christmas - a few years ago.
Our New Year is an appropriate time to turn a page in our lives. We can move on. Take the opportunity to make our world a better place and make a commitment to help others, less fortunate. Every small thing you do can make a difference in someone's life. And in your own.
Share your love. As a recipient, I know you and I know that you have an abundance.
We intend to do our part, my bride and I. We are trying, each day, to do at least one thing, for someone. A text, an e-mail, or a phone call, can bring a smile to a friend. And costs nothing. And both parties reap reward.
I will be back early in 2020, with more news from Florida, and from my heart.
Happy New Year.
Love does conquer all.
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