Comments for Shoulder Season

Comment on Give The Ones You Love Wings to Fly by Hilda Pope

Hilda Pope — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:39:10 +0000

You brought tears to my eyes, but I know you’re strong and will endure. Just take time for yourself and enjoy a distraction or two! So glad that you shared your thoughts…

Comment on Give The Ones You Love Wings to Fly by Dodie Peterson

Dodie Peterson — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 19:39:13 +0000

I have thought of you and our time together constantly since getting back home. It was a pleasure and a privilege to see you and share some time with you. I wish the circumstances would have allowed me to spend more time together. I would love to come back down and stay with you and help in anyway I can. Even if just another person to fill the space for a time. You are a gifted writer. I want to hear more. I want to be another person in your life that you can talk to. You are so strong because you have to be. Everyone needs time to be vulnerable and allow yourself to grieve the losses along with the victories. You have done an amazing job raising such a well balanced young woman in Sam. I can feel in your writing how difficult it is to not have her there to fill the empty spaces. Keep writing and sharing.

It is so amazing to me that we had not seen each other for 40 years but I felt like we have been friends all along. Family is truly a gift. Love you, Dodie

Comment on Give The Ones You Love Wings to Fly by Sue Medjo

Sue Medjo — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 13:19:18 +0000

Oh my beautiful, strong, resilient friend! My heart aches for you as it has over these past six years yet I hear in your words a resolve and re-commitment to yourself that is uplifting and filled with inspiration! No one could have, would have, responded to this onslaught of challenges with the grace, love and unyielding commitment that you have… it is time for you! I love you!

Comment on End of Summer by Joan

Joan — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 20:12:45 +0000

I forget at times that this is your “new normal”. Essentially you are creating a whole new life – not because you want to, but because you have to. I hope this is the year-2016 that you will start turning some of the focus on you. Without you, there would be no chance of positive outcomes here. Feed your soul, care for your health, both mind and body. Know that I am (and Maui is) always there for you!

Comment on Only Three Things Matter…. by Sandy DiMinno

Sandy DiMinno — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 19:00:05 +0000

George…of course you can share. Please do. I hope some of what I post here will help someone else. Thank you.

Comment on Only Three Things Matter…. by George Gehl

George Gehl — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:53:56 +0000

Sharon:

I had no idea what had happened prior to seeing you and Sam in Germany, This is a beautiful site. Do you mind if I share this with friends?

George

Comment on Back To School…end of Summer by Carolyn Gibbons

Carolyn Gibbons — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 21:12:13 +0000

Dear Sandy,
This is very lovely. Glad that your doing it. Heard an article on the BBC August 28 about electrical brain stimulation boosts memory. They also talked about writing by hand what your going to do and or have done
helps you remember.

Taking moments away to breath in a different city are good for everyone’s soul.

Love of Hugs…Carolyn

Comment on Looking Back…the last three years by lisette diminno

lisette diminno — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 22:46:09 +0000

Really…I have a heart full of thoughts….memories..and admiration of Sandy..sweet Samantha…my niece extraordinaire and Tom….I simply can not put in precise words….how very much I LOVE you and admire your courage. You are amazing in all your strength, love and true hope.

Comment on Back To School…end of Summer by Sandy DiMinno

Sandy DiMinno — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:22:13 +0000

Paul…Thank you so much for the great input. My heard goes out to you….I know the challenges and the difficulty this type of injury leads to. I hope to visit with you soon.

Comment on Back To School…end of Summer by Paul Canez

Paul Canez — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 22:17:17 +0000

Sandy, my second go around so hoping you are able to see this post, I did the math this time! As discussed, I can identify but not directly as only my mother can do that as it relates to my father. My father over 17 years ago had TBI and like in your husband’s case a brain bleed. It robbed him of half of his site, left him weak on the left side, and he was not able to talk well or understand. However, the brain is an amazing piece of work as different connections started to form and things that went were replaced with almost bionic like hearing. I tell you the man can hear a pin drop two rooms away. He tried very hard the first year but was frustrated that this happened to him in the first place. My mother was the same with the feelings of sadness, frustration, anger, pity, and all the emotions in between. She got him even writing (which I still have that letter from 16 years ago) explaining how he loved me, that he was working hard, and that he hoped to get better. Well, then the worst thing that could have happened, happened. He had a seizure and everything he had gained he lost within seconds. At that point he gave up and we all could see it. That was a very hard time as a man who was an engineer, great in math, loved to drive, enjoyed the daily news could do none of those things and refused to work on it ever again. So, another round of anger, sadness, frustration, etc. However, something new came out of it, “swearing.” My father said no more than, “shit” before the stroke and now, he is the Mozart of swearing, which you can imagine can be very embarrassing. Now, here is where as my mother’s children (we were all married and could take care of ourselves at the time) pleaded, begged, prayed, etc. for my mother to either allow someone to come in or put him into a home. She refused and refused and so now all these years later she has become a slave to my father’s every wish, demand, desire, and more. The only saving grace is my sister will get angry with him and tell him he cannot treat her like that. My father was never had any patience before the stroke and now afterwards had literaly none. I cannot even begin to know the big decisions you have to make for your husband and please just know that I share this as a story of what could have been for my mother and father if only my mother had gone ahead and acted early on for a caregiver or a care home. In your case I understand that you may have already made these kind of arrangements and the fact that you went with your daughter to Paris I think is absolutely wonderful. Yes, full of guilt I am sure, but I am so hopeful for you and your young daughter that you will take the time to take time for yourself and have a life. My mother never did and I know it is a sadness that we all share as her children. I look forward to one day speaking with you further about your husband and things you have seen and perhaps I can even offer some insight if similiar situations have arisen with us over the past 17 years. You have a friend here in Tucson and if you ever need to get away please do not hesitate to let me know. Paul