Aerial

I'm grateful for your good thoughts & prayers, SpiritualWanderer and kodadog--I appreciate your kindness!

Spiritual Wanderer--hugs and prayers to you and your family. I'm sorry I haven't been around the forums for a while. Thankfully, my life has been very busy with career, family, & friends. I'm a teacher, so I was looking forward to a summer of relaxation and fun but, now... A few weeks ago, at my yearly mammogram, they found a cancerous lesion in my right breast (I had already had a lump removed and radiation to that breast in 2003). Now, they will need to remove the whole breast and I will probably need chemo. Just when you think it's safe to breathe easy, my depression was healing, only one more year until retirement and Wham!another hit to my peace of mind and "smooth sailing." (Such is life and I'm striving for "acceptance.") My surgery will take place on June 8th and I would appreciate your prayers as I face it and the treatments to follow. Thank you!

Yipee, for good stuff happening! It sounds like the positive vibes are spiraling out to other people, too. The car refurbishing sounds very complicated to me--it takes a special mind set to deal with such mystical machinery (that's how it seems from my perspective). I used to drive a Comaro Z28 in the late 70's--it was pretty spiffy & fun to drive. ...like packing a suitcase,eh (I know that feeling)... Congrats on your good day--may they keep rolling in for you! (Those naughty tom cats--I bet you're right--they will be home for warmth and food!) Happy days, Aerial

Your work with the support group sounds a bit like a tight rope walk. I've been in those kinds of groups. I could get "on board" for a while but, after a short time, it became a draining experience. Seems like you are super busy, these days! People (a lot of them) seem to come and go on forums. I miss the "regulars" I came to know here on the DF. I'm glad you're still around!

Oh, Dee--I'm so glad you got approval for the government help! Plus, the information and aid for your plant nursery sounds very promising. I believe you're finding a niche for yourself! I hope the fibro treatment is good for you and leads to more energy and healing. I doubt I have any telepathic "power" to communicate with cats over long distances (move over "Mentalist") but, I keep thinking about your wandering kitties and thinking: go home to Dee, go home to Dee.... (Yep, still a little crazy after all these years...)

((((((Dee)))))) I'm so sorry to hear about the fibro and your struggle with the effectiveness of meds. There's got to be reasons for the things we go through. I have hope that, like the song says: "we'll understand it better by and by." Keep posting & blogging, I'll be around and maybe I'll start up my blog again or maybe, make a whole new one. I have my good days but sometimes, the crud & the crazy can get me down. Your situation is much like my daughter's she's married to a good guy (well that's not like yours) but, she's suffering more anxiety, some OCD traits and some physical problems, as well. She can't stick with a job. She's tried but can't keep her energy up. She has a great psychiatrist and therapist, thank goodness. You'll make it through this--you're persistent and you have strengths you don't realize. I'm sending good thoughts, Aerial

Hi, DeeBear! It's been a while since I've checked out the blogs but, I was thinking about you and hoped you'd left a blog post. You were one of my first "depression buddies" here on the DF and you helped me so much as I went through my worst & first bad days of a major depression. I just wanted to thank you! I'll be forever grateful to everyone who helped me and became my cyber friends when I first joined the forums. You've helped plenty of others over the years, too! It's something you can feel good about, for sure. I'm so sorry to hear about Buzz, your cat. I know my pets feel like family members and to lose one is a real blow. I'm not sure why some of us lean more to negative thinking at times in our lives. I've tried to change my thinking and I've made some progress. I've stopped isolating myself so much and have co-workers & friends that keep my busy, help me vent and often, make me laugh. I'm not always "happy as a clam" but, I'm coping. My always supportive husband is my steady voice of reason and encourages me to find and live on that middle ground where life is solid & sturdy (if not always happy). He can't "make" me think more positive, of course, that's up to me. All we can do is keep on trying, do the "one step at a time" thing, focus on the good and try to be the good in the lives of others and in our own. Whoa...a philosophical rant, huh? :rock: Good to talk to ya, Dee. Take care of yourself! (I'm holding good thoughts for your cat.) Hugs, Aerial

I would think that everyone questions the whys and ways of the Universe. I tend to gravitate to "God is punishing me" kind of thoughts when things go wrong in my life. I have also questioned my Christian faith, has God made us to just leave us alone to muddle through, does he intervene even make miracles for us? I've read a lot about my faith (Christian) and perhaps, the best book on the subject (in my opinion) is "The Case for Faith" by Peter Kreft. It really gave my faith a boost! Good question, keep asking them! Take care, Aerial

I was going to say the same thing--check out the Bipolar forum and see if any of the symptoms ring true for you. Only a psychiatrist can say for sure, of course. There could be a physical cause such as hormone imbalance, thyroid trouble or any number of things. Check with your regular doctor and he/she can send you to the proper specialist (if need be). I'm sending positive thoughts your way. I hope you'll find a cause and a cure--you deserve help and some normalcy in your life. Take care, Aerial

"You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor

Finall, Fall weather in Ohio--it was only 61 degrees F, today! Relief from the 90's!