NEPAs Own Off-Topic Thread ( family, home, photos) (Scranton, Hampton: section 8, renting)

[Jungle George]

Thank y'all for your condolences. I posted about Jim mainly as a sharing thing...I'm a firm believer that we all learn from each other.

I've always been a bit "different" from the norm....(and NO I ain't talkin' bout that!!). I'm a very spiritual person & love to share experiences that may help or get other people thinking outside of their boxes...

It's funny, my mom was a VERY pragmatic woman & a very devout Catholic woman. To her, black was black & white was white & there was no room for daydreams or fantasy. Yet before she died, she shared with me that all throughout her life she had "visions" that came to pass later on (precognition I suppose is the terminology) & they scared her & she never mentioned anything to anyone for fear of being thought crazy or possessed!!

That brought about an understanding in myself (yep...must be the genetics...) & explained stuff that's happened in my own life. As far as death, it really holds no great fear for me, & because of my deep beliefs, I do grieve when someone passes, but I am also happy for them to be out of this "plane" & onto the next step of the journey...

As for Jim, he is now no longer going through painful suffering or intense frustration at having a sharp mind trapped inside of a withering body, & for that aspect of his death I am happy...

[I LOVE PA!]

JG...you are just so smart and wise and...well...just so admirable! I agree with your thoughts above too....since my Dad passed...most of waht I feel is 'MY' missing him. I am not sorry for the path he has taken. And I don't fear death either....
Lou Gehrigs is an awful disease, positively awful. I'm sure your friend is resting at peace now. Too young too leave though.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

JG...you are just so smart and wise and...well...just so admirable! I agree with your thoughts above too....since my Dad passed...most of waht I feel is 'MY' missing him. I am not sorry for the path he has taken. And I don't fear death either....
Lou Gehrigs is an awful disease, positively awful. I'm sure your friend is resting at peace now. Too young too leave though.

OMG!! ILP I am no "wiser" or "smarter" than you or anyone else!!! I've just had different life experiences which allowed me to get to where I am now.

Enough of the deep stuff...on with the jokes & photos!!

[Summering]

Oh yes JG invite your friend to the Sunshine state.......nice and warm and comforting...all that sun.
That would be one of the worst illnesses to endure......
I couldn't rep you yet......but.....yes, there is a job opening at the Pool!! LMHO~~~~~~~~~

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by Jungle George

I've written in posts past here about a friend of mine's husband who worked for NASCAR & was a total homophobe 'til he met me....we became "good buddies"...

He developed Lou Gehrig's disease 2+ years ago at the age of 48 & I got a call that he just passed away. My friend took care of him while holding down a full-time job for 2+ years & I'm gonna try to get her down here for a while for a "change of scenery" & a healing place.

He was 50 y/o. On Tuesday I turn 52 & things like this SO reinforce my belief that every day is precious & that we should ALWAYS be thankful for another day & not sweat the small stuff!! We tend to ***** & moan about all kindsa stuff that happens in our day-to-day, but in actuality, this "stuff" is really insignificant when balanced against the alternative....

In the great mystery of the "cycle of life", her daughter just found out she & her husband are expecting. Isn't it amazing how 1 door closes & 1 door opens....

George....

In 1999 I lost a cousin to ALS and it was rough to see the progression...My counsin lived in AZ and we went had our largest family reunion at her house in 1997 a year before she passed. We all gathered to share a week of family and friends with her. She was young and that made it that much harder.

In 2006 a very close family and personal friend was diagnosed with ALS as well. The progression was fast and furious and at the end of 2006 he asked me to help take care of him because he didn't feel comfortable around people he didn't know, because he was completely unable to move and losing his speech....I stopped my life and dedicated myself to helping him and his family on daily basis thus becoming his direct care provider. He was 38 when he passed on Jan 2, 2008. It only took two years for ALS to take his life and it was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to go thru. Being his care provider and a close friend made for some tough and emotional times for the two of us. I would do it again in a heart beat because he was a special guy that was struck down too early in life. He left a huge imprint on all of us.

ALS is a killer and it hits without any warning....It takes fathers, mothers and does not discriminate.

I ask anyone that reads this to remember this when the MDA telethon is going on, please donate. Donate to help stop a killer and save lives, donate to help keep families together.... Donate to stop ALS from taking another young fathers life in its prime.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

George....

In 1999 I lost a cousin to ALS and it was rough to see the progression...My counsin lived in AZ and we went had our largest family reunion at her house in 1997 a year before she passed. We all gathered to share a week of family and friends with her. She was young and that made it that much harder.

In 2006 a very close family and personal friend was diagnosed with ALS as well. The progression was fast and furious and at the end of 2006 he asked me to help take care of him because he didn't feel comfortable around people he didn't know, because he was completely unable to move and losing his speech....I stopped my life and dedicated myself to helping him and his family on daily basis thus becoming his direct care provider. He was 38 when he passed on Jan 2, 2008. It only took two years for ALS to take his life and it was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to go thru. Being his care provider and a close friend made for some tough and emotional times for the two of us. I would do it again in a heart beat because he was a special guy that was struck down too early in life. He left a huge imprint on all of us.

ALS is a killer and it hits without any warning....It takes fathers, mothers and does not discriminate.

I ask anyone that reads this to remember this when the MDA telethon is going on, please donate. Donate to help stop a killer and save lives, donate to help keep families together.... Donate to stop ALS from taking another young fathers life in its prime.

Dan, your post brought tears to my eyes. I KNEW under that gruff exterior there was a good heart beating!!

Just like my taking care of my mom for 2+ years...it was the toughest thing I ever had to do physically & emotionally, but yes, I also would do it again in a heartbeat.

ALS, cancer, AIDS, they're all non-discriminating diseases. I was an HIV Counselor in NY for 3 years. I saw men & women wasting away to living skeletons in their 20's & 30's that wrenched my heart out. After 3 years I couldn't take any more...total burnout. That's why Hospice is at the top of my list for the job that they do. God bless them & ALL caregivers!!

When a person's older like my mom & Paul's grandma, it's kinda "expected" (not to demean the impact of their passing), but it always hits harder & deeper when a younger person goes through these hells & passes...it seems so unnatural & unjust....

[weluvpa]

Thank you George. He was a great father, good friend and an inspiration to all of us. He never let his family see it get him down. He was one of the strongest people I have had the chance to know. I learned more from him in the last year of his life about the human spirit then I will ever learn on my own.

[Summering]

I always knew we had a bunch of very careing people here on the threads of NEPA.......
Reading all of the above just puts the stamp on that belief.
Your all very special people, to have helped someone so fully at their time of great need.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by Summering

I always knew we had a bunch of very careing people here on the threads of NEPA.......
Reading all of the above just puts the stamp on that belief.
Your all very special people, to have helped someone so fully at their time of great need.

That's why I like to come to the NEPA forums, folks are friendly, down-to-earth & caring!! No "phonies" here like on the Florida & NYC boards!!

I spent the past 5 hours finishing off the cases for the old church windows I got. Before we left for up north, I had the local stained-glass guy clean & fix the solder joints & build a lancet case around them both. I got plastic diffuser sheets (what a PIA to work with...they're the stuff used on fluorescent light fixtures in stores), wood sheets & fluorescent fixtures at Home Depot (sorry Paul...)yesterday.

I cut the plastic diffuser to fit the cases, cut the wood to fit the backs of the cases, installed the lights & stained both cases. Now to let them dry & tomorrow I'll hang them & take a pix of them lit up...they came out great!!

I have a passion for old things & especially love carved wood!! Bill says he feels like he's sleeping in a church!!

Oh well....I guess there's worse places one can sleep....

[Summering]

Hey, Everyone.............I spent the evening with friends we met down here a few years back, but who live in the Jim Thorpe area ( Lansford)......So we went out to eat at that place I mentioned before that is a room full of foods.......Oh me Oh my Oh.......
So later in the evening I was showing her how to log on to our dear City-Data.
So my dear friend SuzieQ2 might be on here tomorrow. I have started to set up her page from her home location not far from me.
Please welcome her as a wonderful new member to our CD family, and a life long member of PA.
SuzieQ2 spends her winters down here in this Village during the same timeframe that Mr Summering and I do. We have some wonderful times here, and even back home.
She is excited to meet you all and to have this wonderful group of new friends .
I'm sure that you will enjoy that she is a wonderful person, with a great family.
I hope to have a nice candlelight dinner for her and her hubby real soon..........I love candles.

BTW.......I saw the Market Commons and Wow, has it grown. Anyone wishing to live in townhomes and then just walk to stores and to the park. This is the ticket!! It has grown........It is its own little town ( or perhaps quite a large town) The Market Commons has its own theaters, Barnes and Nobles, its own restaurants, high-end stores, and the planning of it was just perfect.
I hope to have some pictures soon from that area.

Also, I hope to perhaps go on a bus trip to Charleston, the Citadel, and the Market there............
Any interest in pictures or should I post in the SC thread?

Since JG is now sleeping in a church, I might just get some pictures of churches for him to adore.
Anyhow...........Please feel free to hug my friend and invite her to your friends list.
Hugs to all of you...........and Sunshine too!