Love and Respect Your Parents

One year ago on March 18, 2022, I wrote the following on my Facebook wall:

I am placing below a copy and paste of comments made on the Facebook wall of someone whom I know very well along with the person’s entire family. It was visible only to that person’s Facebook friends; therefore, I am not providing the author’s name.

The comments are admirable in that they reflect the love and respect an adult child can have for a parent regardless of a parent’s possible shortcomings.

“It’s been one year ago today that my dad passed away. Everyone who knew him… Knew that he was never father of the year but I was there with him and for him till the very end. Although a lot of horrific things happened throughout our childhood… I still love and miss my dad.

Always Love and respect your parents no matter what. In their own way they pay for the things they’ve done in life one way or the other.

I love you and I miss you dad. “

I am over 75 years of age; and, that posted message that I copied and  pasted holds special meaning to me. I have three adult children, all in their upper 40s. My oldest and youngest have demonstrated their love and respect for me. I wish I could say the same of my middle adult child who chose to become estranged from me almost three years ago.  Since the estrangement, all my attempts to communicate and reconcile have been rebuffed. Most likely, my second-born will continue the estrangement; and, I will die broken-hearted.

TMI or Not?

Question: What does TMI mean?
Answer: Too Much Information.

I am making an exception to my general rule in regards to my Closed and Private Facebook Group that can only be accessed and seen by members of the group that consists of family and friends, who I have allowed to be in the group, by making one of my posts a matter of public record. The following is a copy and paste of a posting I made to that Facebook Group:

February 25, 2023.
Having received some disconcerting news concerning a health crisis of someone close to me earlier this evening causes me tremeendous worrisome anxiety, which does nothing constructive but is part of my nature. For the life of me, I do not understand why I was not informed of this earlier than now! From what I just learned, this health crisis has been ongoing for a week. None-the-less, I am hopeful for a positive turnabout for the person of whom I referenced.
This latest troubling concern causes me to realize that I had once again fallen into my cyclical pattern of negativism/positivism in my personal thinking and outlook. I must rededicate myself to cease dwelling on negatives in my life and return to a more positive outlook overall. Indeed, I do have much for which to be thankful and grateful.

To that posting, several people made positive and encouraging comments to me. HOWEVER, one person, who has an interpersonal relationship the same as mine with the person of whom I had not identified in my posted Facebook comments and who has known of the situation for the entire time, sent me an e-mail that is critical and causes me dismay and frustration. The following is a copy and paste of that e-mail which I have edited in order to safeguard any identifying information:

I just wanted you to know I felt it was up to (name redacted) to let you know about (pronoun redacted) problem. Why you had to mention it on Facebook, I will never understand. Thank goodness you didn’t go into more detail.
(Name redacted) is very sick. (Pronoun redacted) (nature of illness redacted) is out of control. The infusions (pronoun redacted) is going to get is a gamble. They are very expensive & not covered by insurance. (Pronoun redacted) will still need meds and (descriptive word redacted).
We are doing all we can. I know (pronoun redacted) does better when I am with (pronoun redacted). I seem to calm (pronoun redacted).
This is very hard on (name redacted) & (redacted). If ever you pray, pray for (pronoun redacted).

Damn, Sam! I guess, according to the sender of the e-mail, that I am not allowed to vent my frustrations in my own closed Facebook group! In that I have not identified anyone, I do not understand the reaction from the one person.

Am I guilty of TMI or Not?

To All The Dads

So many fathers go under-appreciated in American society. I speak of fathers who have tried their best to raise their children, teaching them the ways of the world, supporting them in every way – – – emotionally as well as financially, loving them unconditionally, etc.

In my opinion, it is very commonplace, with some rare exceptions, that the large majority of Americans publicly and openly praise mothers expressing gratitude and appreciation for their mothers. This type of thing also occurs in regards to fathers, but with far less frequency, in my opinion.

Having stated all that, I am attaching the following for all the good dads out there.

[I realize that the word “grateful” is incorrectly spelled “greatful” in the attachment that I found elsewhere on the internet and of which I copied as is.]

Life Advice

Time and Karma

“Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present.”

“Karma means action. Physics shows that for every action, there must be an equal and opposite reaction. Karma is energy, which in itself is neither good nor bad; these are just the labels people choose to attach to it. The energy created by an action has to be returned: ‘As yea sow so shall yea reap.’ It cannot be avoided.”

A Guide To Follow In Life

A GUIDE TO LIFE IN SIX BULLET POINTS:

• Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. Then when they grow up, they will know the value of things, not the price.
• Best awarded words: “Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise, you have to eat medicines as your food.”
• The one who loves you will never leave you, because even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find one reason to hold on.
• There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it.
• You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, you have to manage!
• If you just want to Walk Fast, Walk Alone! But if you want to Walk Far, Walk Together!

Children Learn What They Live