Too many people need to do that, nowadays. I long for the days when life's pace was slower, and you didn't have folks at each other throats.

I feel that way all the time! How extreme is it for you?

OK, you asked for it. <G>

First, three years ago, I had to become my Mom's caregiver, then ended
up putting her first into the hospital, and eventually into a nursing
home. I had to become her Power Of Attorney, and with the help of
Arkansas Asset Protection Group, got everything financially set up.
Basically, all of her monetary assets had to be cashed out, and put into
a Miller Trust...to cover the $5500+ a month nursing home fee. My
younger brother wanted nothing to do with that, so all of that fell on
my shoulders.

Then, I ended up moving out from H.U.D. subsidized housing for the
disabled in West Little Rock, to move back home. I had moved out from
home (where I'm back at now...more on that in a moment), when I got
married in 2003. Tragically, my wife died of a heart attack at 48 years
old, 3 weeks shy of our 4th anniversary. Since I became disabled during
our marriage, I was able to stay out there. My Dad had died from
pancreatic cancer 2 1/2 months before my wife died...it's coming up on
the 13th anniversary of her passing...and I know I'll be a basket case
that day.

But, with the funding I was to get from the Miller Trust after her
death, I had to move out of there, and move back home...because it
would've put me over the limit, and I would've been evicted. So, by
moving out when I did, I do so on my terms, and am welcome to come back
there to visit residents.

I had a fellow ham radio operator and his 2 sons, move me with UHaul, basically across town, for $500. However, I lost 95% of my furniture in
the move, as there was no room for it here...so he, his wife, and his
sons, got all the stuff I couldn't move over here. Much of the stuff is
STILL in the garage here. All my friends with my hobbies work, and have
a family. Medical wise, it's hard to get a driver, because my brother
was nearly killed in a freak motorcycle wreck nearly 3 months after my
wife died.

So, I ended up putting my Mom in a nursing home in Lonoke, about an
hour east of Little Rock...but it was cheaper than in Pulaski County. In mid-July last year, the staff told me "her body was shutting down", and
I needed to put her into hospice...3 weeks later, she was gone...less
than a month before her 93rd birthday.

The funeral was delayed nearly 2 weeks, as the funeral home was so
busy with other funerals on the schedule. My brothers former high school classmates being there, was great therapy for him...as he has always had
a hard time with mortality, his, his friends, animals, or otherwise. He
didn't recognize one of the women, who had married another classmate.
She told him "Dank (his nickname), I got fat...and you got old!!" Talk
about a shot across the bow!! I'll tell of one my late wife did to me
later in the message.

Then, 2 months after her death, field rats (rodents) found their way
in the house...and I had to call Terminix to remove the items soiled by
the droppings, and to rodent proof the place. Thankfully, I had gotten
some money upon her death to pay the huge bill...but they are coming by
weekly to treat things. Rats are smart and cautious, while mice are
curious and stupid. And, with a lack of winter here the last 3 years,
many areas are having to deal with them. I haven't seen evidence of them
in a couple of weeks, but they first showed up 6 months ago. It will
take awhile to get rid of them, but hopefully, it won't be as bad as
COVID-19 has been for so many areas.

If this wasn't enough, I had to have bladder stone removal surgery 3
days after her death...and again 2 months ago. Plus, back in December,
2018, they discovered an umbilical hernia...which has grown since then.
So, once COVID-19 settles out (Arkansas isn't doing as bad as some
states), I've got laparoscopic surgery on the horizon.

Then, to add insult to injury (more like salt in the wound), I suspect
an update from Microsoft Windows crashed Internet Rex, so I had to shut
the BBS down for 6 weeks...because we then had nearly nonstop
thunderstorms through March. We've had tornadoes, large hail, high
winds, and flooding rain (this is the stormiest I've seen in the nearly
43 years living in Arkansas)...but by comparison to other states, we've
had "a glancing blow"...especially with the tornado outbreak on Easter.
I finally got things working again, with a short lull in the weather.

Basically, "On the extreme, I rest my case". :P

I find existing to be difficult at times. Sometimes, I swear, people don't M>even want me to exist, so often I'm trying to 'exist less' around people, M>depending on the situation.

My hopes have been crushed so many times, and some trips I had planned
to "get away from things for a time", had to be cancelled...because of finances, my Mom's funeral, and now for both COVID-19, and that hernia.
It is very hard for me to have a positive outlook anymore, and it's only
by the Grace Of God that I'm even sane right now. The hobbies of the
BBS, ham radio, and square dance publications, are keeping me busy, but

(Continued to next message)
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Well Daryl, that's a lot of unfortunate stuff that happened to you all in a M>short period of time.

What was your first clue??

Let all those difficult memories get clouded-up by any positive things that M>happened during those times. Obviously it will be hard to outweigh all the M>sad stuff, but those few nice things that happened (you didn't mention any M>but there has to be some) are the things you should focus on a bit more.

From September, 2006 to September, 2007...I lost my grandmother-in-law (dropped dead), my Dad (pancreatic cancer), my wife (heart attack)...my
best man (cancer), and nearly lost my brother in a freak motorcycle
wreck. The only good thing that happened was that I used a deal called HamTestOnline to upgrade my ham radio license from Technician to General
in 14 days, then General to Amateur Extra 13 days later. It was the best
money I ever spent in amateur radio. I did it mainly to become what is
known as a Volunteer Examiner to give and grade the license exams. I did
this after Morse Code was no longer required for a ham radio license in
the United States...and it has been the most rewarding thing I've ever
done in ham radio.

At one session, a husband, his wife, and their two sons, came in to
take the entry level exam (the Technician License), and all 4 passed
their tests!! It was a joy to sign the documents saying they had
passed...but we joked "they were going to fight over the radio". <G>
However, the funny part was that Dad and his 2 sons had the right change
for the exam fee ($15), but all Momma had was a $100 bill. When she said
that, the liaison at the time, quipped "I think you just passed"...the
whole room busted out in laughter. But, several others were testing that
day, and we had petty cash, so we were able to help her out.

He had been hinting at wanting to get out of being a liaison, and I,
having being recently accredited as a Volunteer Examiner, asked him if
he'd like to take over, and he said one word..."PLEASE!!". Sadly, he
passed away from pancreatic cancer several years ago...the same thing
that killed my Dad and his sister.

In the time from the loss of my Dad, until my Mom got sick...we went
on several trips to the Clive Cussler Collectors Society Convention.
He's a world famous fiction adventure writer...with titles like Arctic
Drift, Raise The Titantic, Poseidon's Arrow, among many others...we had
a ball. Clive established the National Underwater Marine Agency (NUMA),
looking for and doing research on shipwrecks. He wanted to find the
wreck of the Bon Homme Richard, the ship used by John Paul Jones, who
uttered the words "I have not yet begun to fight"...and as far as I
know, he never did.

Anyway, for several years (they don't do it anymore), they had a
raffle for a DOXA divers watch (good to 100 meters)...and rather
expensive ($2500). Anyway, one of the members, Tom Gwinn, was always
saying "I still do NOT have a Doxa". Well, with the help of a former
employer (silkscreen printing), and permission from Dr. Pete Millar, we
got a picture of a DOXA watch on a T-shirt. Above the watch, it said "I
had hoped to win a Doxa for my wrist..." -- and below it, "But, this is
what I ended up with". <G> Only myself, my Mom (we were co-conspirators
in this <G>), Wayne and Kristi Valero, Bruce and Debbie Canfield, Rob
and Liz Sansom, and Dr. Pete Millar, knew about this.

The late Wayne Valero (he died of a rare brain disease a few years
ago, he was only 58 years old) was long time president of the
organization, and loved being in the limelight. Well, he really "laid it
on thick" with leading up to the presentation. It went something like
this:

Wayne: A lot of people are going to be very mad, at what I'm about to
do. But, something happened, that hardly anyone in this room knows
about. But, a DOXA, did come to this convention!!

Tom: YO!! THANK YOU!!

<begin the undertone grumbling> <G>

Wayne: However, I'm not going to raffle it off. Instead, I've decided to
give it to one person...the one person in this room, more deserving than
anyone else of a DOXA. Would Tom Gwinn please come up here??

By this time, the undertone grumbling was at a fever pitch ("What
makes him so special??", etc.). Well, there was some laughter and
applause, then here's Tom...on his hands and kness (looking like an
absolute fool!), on the well sanded wooden stage (the event had a
Hawaiian theme, lai's, hula dancers, grass skirts, and all), and he said "Praise The Lord!!". <G>

He walks toward the podium, grinning like the cat who swallowed the
canary. Then, the look on his face like "What The Hell??", as Wayne goes
to get the shirt. Then realizing what it was, Tom turns away, as if to
say "Oh, $h!+". At this point, Wayne holds up the shirt to the entire room...and it erupts into this loud scream, followed by raucous
laughter, and a ton of smart-@$$ remarks (guilty as charged)!! <BG>

As he comes back toward the stage, seemingly emotionally crushed,
everyone's yelling "Read It!!", and he says "I can't read!!". The room
gets dead quiet as he read it, and it resulted in another round of

(Continued to next message)
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