In a way I hesitate to post this but I consider the people here to be my friends. Maybe you remember that I lost my dad last September and mon last November, they had lived to a "ripe old age" though. Dad was 97 and mom was about 3 months shy of 98.
 
A few weeks ago my father-in-law had a heart attack, we went for about a week to help. Monday PM or Tuesday they sent him home under hospice care. We were going there, about 250 miles, with the turkey and stuff. We were at the bank getting some travelling money hen my wife got "the call", on Wednesday. He was gone.
So, we went on down and stayed with my mother-in-law along with a niece, my sister's brother and sister, and other family and friends. We managed. Her mom had a hard time for a few days but is getting better. We tried to celebrate his life, in being thankful that we were all there, and without him we wouldn't be.
We buried him Saturday and came home Sunday PM... I don't remember ever being this exhausted.
 
I hope all this sort of thing is over for a while but I guess as you get older death of family and friends gets more and more likely.
One good thing. Our cat was well, she was SO happy to see us. I had someone feeding her and checking on her. She usually sleeps with us but she curls up above my knees always facing the other way. Last night she did too but after I read for about 30 minutes she turned around, stretched out a paw and laid it on my arm, then wrapped the other 'arm' around my arm, then got up and stood on me with two feet. She has never stood on me before except to wake me up in the morning if I don't wake up when she pushes on me, lol. She is a sweetie. After about 5 minutes of purring, she turned around and went back to sleep. She went out for about 3 hours this morning and has been sleeping here and there all day. I love that little kitty more than any pet I've ever had.
 
So Thanksgiving was bittersweet, bitter in death but sweet in a life remembered and a family full of love.
 
It seems I missed a bit of forum drama and some BF sales but really, I didn't see anything I really wanted (that was on sale).
 
All things considered, we are well! Tired but well... cat just came in and got on the couch, on a blanket, back to sleep. She must have slept with one eye open since Tuesday afternoon.
 
Julien
 
 

Ouch!  What timing!  You seem to be taking it very well Julien - stay strong!

Thank you Craig. What else can you do? We are all in the same boat, headed for the same Dust .
 
Julien

I am sorry to hear about your father in law. My parents are gone and I will be very sad when my father in law moves on. I wish you all well. 

Thank you RS!
 
I hope he lives a long time and in health.
J

My condolences, Julien. I remember you mentioned him not too long ago.
 
My wife's grandmother passed away 2 weeks ago.
By some strange twist of fate, her understudy lost her grandmother the next day.
 
Last week, it was my wife's aunt.
 
We couldn't make it to either funeral, with my wife's recent surgery and all - it's like a day worth of plane and another 16 hours by car. No way she can go through that w/ her hip.
 
There certainly seems to have been quite a few people who've passed in our friend's entourage too in November.

Hi,
 
Still on in my family ... mom is like ... 94 or 95 ... still independent as ever ... she gets up and goes for her little walk ... and that's that! Has no faculties much anymore ... but she's getting better at learning when to sit for food and when to eat and all that ... strange to see that, and not something that we can exactly get used to ...
 
My mom always said that her health came from a glass of red wine every dinner!
 
Is it time?

I hear ya, J. I fear the holiday may have been forever ruined for me.
 
As I'm sure you recall (you offered some kind words of sympathy and support at the time), my wife died last year two days before Thanksgiving.
 
That year it was really hard going through with the celebration, but we did it anyway. We did it because we were certain it's what she would have wanted. Gathering her family together and force-feeding them was what she lived for. 
 
This year we did our best to not make that the focus of the holiday. We served the odd Thanksgiving dishes that might seem unusual but are a tradition at our house: pansit, adobo, lechon and lumpia. We watched football and played cards and managed to not mention the elephant in the room until my granddaughter piped up with "I wish grandma was here". Aargh.
 
 

It's a sad thing that many of us have gone through and you have my sympathies. I don't know what it is about this time of year, but it kills people. My mum and dad both went at this time of year. We have the Canadian Grey Cup at this time and both my folks went around the Grey Cup weekend. Most folks get revved up after the Christmas kick off but I stay depressed until March.
 
jbow, Bitflipper, you are both getting some instant karma sent your way.

bitflipper
 
We served the odd Thanksgiving dishes that might seem unusual but are a tradition at our house: pansit, adobo, lechon and lumpia.
 
 

Possibly inappropriate, but thanks for that Dave. I had to Google all those, they sound really good.