Hey Ya'll...don't mind me here, just venting a little bit.

As some of you may recall, my mother recently passed away from cancer back in late October. Needless to say there were a lot of family issues to deal with (still are in fact) and then of course the holidays hit us and there was of course some other "drama" in my life too. You'd really think that enough was enough and that the universe would let us take a bit of a break to "process" everything...ya know what I mean?

Yesterday morning my 76 year old father (they guy that just lost his wife) fell in his bedroom and broke his pelvis bone! I won't go in to all of the details but I got a call from the hospital this morning and they're going to have to do a partial hip replacement surgery. Ordinarily this is a fairly routine procedure but because of my Dad's age as well as him having a number of other health problems...he had 2 back to back heart attacks last summer, he's on -a lot- of medications including blood thinners, he has lung problems including having had 1/3 of one of his lungs removed due to cancer and COPD, yadda, yadda, yadda...needless to say there is a good deal of additional risk for this surgery.

And of course this all had to happen yesterday during the middle of a small blizzard here in N.E. Ohio! It took the ambulance nearly half an hour just to get to the emergency room because of the snow. Anyways...

I've known for sometime that we were going to have to deal with my Dad's health issues sooner or later...but I was really hoping it was going to be later....like 10 or 15 years maybe. Especially since Mom died, we have been keeping after him to eat right, take his meds and just "take care of himself". This past year with my mother has been very hard on all of us (my father certainly included) but after all of that, I figured that once we got past the holidays (and the first holiday season without Mom), we'd have at least a little bit of a break in the drama...maybe even some time to catch our breath. I figured that if my Dad takes care of himself, it should be at least a few years before we had to go through any of this stuff again.

BTW...just a few years back we also went though a lot of stuff with my wife. She had been diagnosed with uterine cancer and after a year and a half of oral chemo, they ended up doing a full hysterectomy followed with 4 months of traditional chemo. Once my wife got better, just two months after she got back to work, her company closed leaving us with no income at all (I was out of work at the time too). In other words, that alone was nearly a 4 year battle and we're still trying to recover from it. Add in the stuff from this past year or so and now this thing with my Dad...

Oh yea...I think I know a little something about "the blues". I don't think there is nearly anything as hard as watching a loved one in pain let alone watching a loved one die...especially when there isn't anything at all you can do about it. Add in that whole thing about watching your parents getting older and everything else my family has been through over the past several years.....I think it makes me realize just how much the years have crept up on me. I don't have to look in a mirror and wonder where all these gray hairs are coming from...unfortunately I know. Like I said...just venting a little.

Anyways, I would be most grateful if everyone who reads this would think some kind and healing thoughts for my dad as he goes through this surgery today. Lighting a candle for him is certainly a welcome gesture. I'm Pagan myself but my Dad is Christian so I'm sure that any prayers would be quite welcome too.

Thank you and peace,
Jim

Sorry to hear all of your troubles, and all at once. Tell your dad that the Hopkins family down in Louisiana is praying for him. Hang in there my friend. I know it's easier to say than do.

Just remember that God never gives you anything that you can't handle. Hang in there, man. My prayers to your family.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

You got a lot of prayers coming from this side of the world too. Hope everything works out ok.

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
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Blackstar HT-5

Jim,
I'm sorry to hear all the bad news, but rest assured my friend you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers. I'll light some sage tonight, and send my prayers up. I'm on a shamanic pathway, which as you probably know is similar to the ways of the Pagan. At the end of the day, our prayers go to the same source. Peace bro, and good luck.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Jim. I am hoping things get better after your Dad comes back from the hospital.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Jim my prayers and sympathy go out to you and your family as I also know the feeling of there being no let up when travesty strikes. I have had more ups and downs in my life and I mean as down as you can get .But I also know that sooner or later things turn around. You know people are depending on you so that will keep you going. I know you say you are a Pagan but I think you are just going through a period where things are so bad you are saying how can there be a God, we all have doubts. Someone who is a true Pagan does not ask for prayers. One of my best friends just came home from prison 3 years ago after doing 7 years. He had lost 7 members of his family through the years from everything from his brother getting killed on a motorcycle, another sister dying of AIDS, another brother over dosed , another brother dying of liver failure,a sister who was murdered and his Father throwing himself in front of a train. His Mother has gone through hell and even wrote a book of her life. Well he would always say to me there is no God and I could understand his bitterness. Six months ago he had a heart attack and now he was diagnosed with liver cancer at 50. I went to see him and he asked me to have my mother pray for him and I saw religious articles in the house which made me happy. Maybe a stop in Church will give you some comfort right now, anyway you look at it it cant hurt.

Sending you Major MOJO and Prayers.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

My heartfelt prayers for you and your loved ones. Keep your head up during these difficulties and remember that it always turns around.

Been There....Best mojo in the world coming at you from Oklahoma. Jim, will keep you and yours in prayers............. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Jim, if you feel the need to talk again, don't hesitate to do it. Sometimes, enough is enough but we tend to keep it to ourself for too long, hoping that we can cope with the stress, the pain and the loneliness. Yeah the loneliness because to deal with our responsibilities we have to turn our back to friends, family members, coworkers along with relaxing activities. I'm talking from personal experience here and I can tell you that one of the best remedy is to talk with others. Major Mojo sent to you and your loved ones.
Claude.

My prayers are with you and your family.

Jim,

I've said a prayer for your father, your family and you. May all Good start coming your way.

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You dig?

Lomitus I'm sorry to hear of the things happening to you and yours and i will be praying for your dad. You know sometimes God allows things to happen to people or people close to them to get thier attention so they will look for a higher power for relief and healing. God will not allow more on you than what you can handle then when it gets to be too much is when he takes over. If you don't mind i'll be praying for you and your family also.