Wow, some hard times for many of us, which offers some significant perspectives when you think about it. I am so sorry to hear of so much sadness from my friends here. We, too, have not escaped sickness in this year, with my mother's kidney transplant failing after 8 years, my FIL being put in a nursing home after a steep decline into dementia within about a week of a car accident, and DH's sister's diagnosis with breast cancer at 52. My good Carl dog passed away in March at age 14, as did my sweet Henry cat of the same age. The rest of the senior citizens mammals are hanging in there.
But I will savor the upcoming weekend I am spending with my wonderful big sister, who is coming to town solo as a gift from her splendid DH to hang out with us. We are planning a long boat ride, visits with shared friends, and late night gossip sessions that all too rare since their family moved to Vermont last year. Your losses remind me that time is shorter than we think.
I wish for peace and hope that 2011 brings more cheer than sadness to all of us. Freebird, I admire your lemonade from lemons and that you ended a relationship that wasn't good for you. As we all know all too well, there are worse things than being alone.