Overtaken By Events

Life happens. Most times, it's things beyond our control, outside our sphere of comfort and influence; events that, in some cases, could alter the rest of our lives and impact decisions in the near future or decades beyond.

We've had a run on those events lately.

For me personally it started back in November, on the day my wife underwent surgery to repair a heart valve. There is no more helpless feeling than seeing a wife or child suffer and then face a very serious medical procedure. In the end, my amazing bride bounced back very quickly and has been back to her old self for some time.

Stacy's mother, the inimitable 86-year-old Retta, has had a spate of health issues the last couple of years, resulting in two major surgical procedures. Mom's spirit and strong faith have seen her through, as she's currently rehabbing in an assisted living facility from the latest issue at the end of November. My wife, Retta's only daughter, spends time with her every day, leaving our home at 0730 for work and returning most nights around 8 pm.
`
Every day.

Joyce, my older sister, has been living with the daily pressures of caring for her husband David, who was stricken with sarcoidosis eighteen months or so back. Its a disease that attacks the lungs and is capable of spreading to other organs, such as the heart. Constant trips to doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and several hospitalizations filled their days, regardless of what the world was throwing at them, mindless of holidays or family events.

Tragically, it took my brother-in-law of nearly 48 years last month, less than three years after retiring from his job as a union plumber.

Oh, and Stacy and I became grandparents again, courtesy of my oldest son Travis and his fiancee Desiree. Raelynn Kay arrived on January 15th at around 1030 am, weighing in at five pounds and 10 ounces, just a little peanut considering her Daddy is a 6' 04" man and Momma is tall as well.

She arrived a couple of hours before we buried my sister's life-long husband and best friend.

Though feeling the need to, I won't apologize for not making a blog post in nearly 45 days.


I was just overtaken by events.