Been gone a while...Hospice experience.

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My Dad died on Tuesday, and by the grace of the Powers That Be, I was able to be with him. Can't say enough about the Hospice at St. Peter's in Albany. Where they find these people who have so much strength and courage is a mystery to me. So many of the people who helped my father die were volunteers, in a place where most folks couldn't be paid enough to work. Amazing.

So for 10 days or so, I didn't hear a whole lot about Y2K. Thought about it, though, during the couple of sleepless nights I spent with with Dad. Thought about how glad I am that he won't have to go through it, and how death is a long, long way from the worst thing that can happen to a person.

At the 'wake', talked to a long-time-no-see relative who is a computer programmer for one of the Armed Forces. He says Y2K will not be a problem for the U.S., but boy, those other countries will be in BIG trouble. Then talked to another LTNS cuzzin who programs for a MAJOR oil company (been with them 30+ years). When Hubby asked what he thought about Y2K, he had a whole diff'rent attitude from the military cuz. Told us a couple of shorties about some trouble they'd had with a pipeline, and a remediation fiasco in a Pittsburgh office... Sorry, though, I can't give details because I wasn't really listening to him that carefully. I was distracted. I'm not mentioning it for any reason than that I was impressed by how vehemently Military-cuz denied any serious problems, and Corporate-cuz expected them.

So what have I missed on TB2K? Anyone feel like giving me a quick summary? I'd sure appreciate it. I have a lot of catching up to do here on the farm, so I won't be able to go back through all the posts. Thanks, folks!

Ps: Leska, are you there? You & Ashton must be angels on earth. Thank you for what you do.

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), October 04, 1999

Answers

God bless. Sorry about you dad. It always hurts...

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 04, 1999.

Hi Arewyn! Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your Dad from this earth plane. Dying at home, peacefully, naturally, surrounded by loved ones, is the good ending. Death is difficult, laborious, but everybody must go through it, and the support and good wishes of family and friends at that time is worth more than all the gold of the world.

We just got off a job, not hospice, 35 days and nights with no sleep. Didn't even have the computer with us the last 2 days, too busy, can't concentrate, zombies. 2 months behind on eMail! Oh well. So please excuse these fluffy rambling posts. Missed the Forum!

A previous thread when we were slightly more awake:

some hospice thoughts & beautiful music therapy CDs


-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), October 04, 1999.

Arewyn, welcome back! So sorry for your loss, saying good-bye is always hard.

-- Tricia The Canuck (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), October 04, 1999.

arewyn,

i'm sorry for your loss. there really hasn't been much new in the last 10 days. frankly, i don't think there has been much new since about june. those who get it are gettin' it. those who don't aren't. hope the big guy shines upon you and the next growing season is a great

-- corrine l (corrine@iwaynet.net), October 04, 1999.


Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow
because even today I still arrive.

Look deeply: I arrive in every second
to be a bud on a spring branch,
to be a tiny bird, with wings still fragile,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the heart of flower,
to be a jewel hiding itself in stone.

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
in order to fear and to hope,
the rhythm of my heart is the birth and
death of all that are alive.
I am the mayfly metamorphosing on the
surface of the river,
and I am the bird which, when spring comes,
arrives in time to eat the mayfly...

Please call me by my true names,
so I cn hear all my cries and my laughs
at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart can be left open,
the door of compassion.

Thich Nhat Hanh

-- (pshannon@inch.com), October 04, 1999.



Arewyn: My sincerest condolences. Like Corrine sez, there really has not been much going on lately. Except that the price of gold is shooting through the roof, and Andy & co are getting rich beyond their wildest dreams. Which pretty much indicates that the stock market is about to become toast. And yet another Y2K deadline (Sept 30) has slipped, so its hard for even the pollies to keep a straight face anymore with the latest one (Nov 30). And there is a new exotic dance, Mudbello, which combines belly dancing and mudwrestling, which I am researching. Anyway, good to have you back.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 04, 1999.

My condolences on your recent loss.

Late breaking news, not y2k, but interesting. Postal Inspectors are being used to investigate the Waco fiasco.

Link: http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/breakingnews/1999/10/02/postal1002_0 1.html

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), October 04, 1999.


Pax Vobiscum on your loss... As far as the latest...

The Market is about to go *SPLAT!*

The Pollys are STILL in denial...

and the Debate rages on in it's usual manner...

welcome back!

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), October 04, 1999.


Sorry, Arewyn. Strength and serenity to you.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 04, 1999.

I am sorry for your loss Arewyn. Nothing earth shattering has happened, I think we're all just tieing up the loose ends of preparation and staying tuned to the forum for the latest. Take care.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 04, 1999.


So sorry to hear about your dad...so sorry...

You might want to check out the first 10 pages of the most recent senate report. Sorry, I don't have a link, but I'm sure someone can provide one.

mar

-- mar (derigueur2@aol.com), October 04, 1999.


Arewyn, I am sorry to hear about your Dad. It is hard, but you are right; it isn't the worst thing that can happen. It just seems so to us sometimes.

My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Glad to see you back.

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), October 04, 1999.


My arms reach out through time

and space,

And hold each memory in place;

A creaking swing, a whispered word,

A promise only night winds heard...

A little footstep on the stair,

A small fragmented baby prayer.

My arms reach out through time and space

And do not find an empty place.

~June Masters Bacher

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), October 05, 1999.


Welcome back, Arewyn. My mother is ill, and my father her caregiver. Every day I think/worry about them. My heart to yours.

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), October 05, 1999.

Thanks, everyone. I never, ever dreamed that this beige box full of wires would be a vehicle by which I would be able to touch and be touched by so many kind and caring souls. Wonders just don't ever cease. I count myself very fortunate.

Thank you again.

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), October 06, 1999.



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