MariaSeattle's Journal

Wow, Pacific Northwest is experiencing some stormy weather these past few days. Very rarely do we see snow in Seattle, but we got it Saturday, and then rain, rain, rain...but that's to be expected in Seattle. It is so beautiful here, I'm so glad my stbx, my daughter & I made the move 11 years ago. Unfortunately, there's a downside in the fact that I left the rest of my family in Connecticut, 3200 miles away. Sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, another daughter, 2 adorable grandaughters, and my elderly parents. My mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (kind of a blood,/bone cancer) 2 years ago, so her months are numbered, she's 84, dad is 88 and my hero. Now here is a man who truly loves his wife. We, the kids, have always known they have a strong marriage- 65 years, but to see the devotion my dad has for my mom since she got sick, is a blessing. Here's an old immigrant from Ukraine, don't think he was ever in a grocery store, never mind do a load of laundry. Now he does it ALL, I mean washes the floors, does all the laundry, all the shopping, makes the bed, has breakfast made for mom EVERY MORNING! The whole deal, eggs, oatmeal, tea, and always a banana, which she hates, but he sits and makes her eat it. He's not well, himself- has congestive heart disease, won't see a doctor, doesn't want to take advantage of the Medicare system. Here's a man who survived the work camps in Germany during the war (where he met my mom, by the way) escaped with my mom by jumping off of a train while being transferred from one camp to another. came to this country with NOTHING, has paid off two home mortgages, sent 5 kids to college, one to Yale, worked as a machinist for the same company for 35 years. But he doesn't want to take advantage of Medicare, it's for those" who really need it". God, I love my parents. So, tomorrow I'm getting on a plane and making the trip cross country to help out a little with their care. I try to get back every other month to give my sister a break, who I thank God for. She takes mom the the doctor, cooks dinner and brings it over, and has 3 little kids and works 30 hours a week. It will be good to see my family- many times I think about moving back, especially since I've started divorce proceedings. But I do love it here. Have a good job, great apartment, trying to get my head together, my heart together.

Don't quite know where all this came from, just a bit more info about me for those of you who have so generously given your time and energy and concern to a very grateful woman.

I'll write from Connecticut!!!