How I have missed you!
We arrived back in the land of internet and routine yesterday after flights of 2hrs, 9hrs, 7hrs. I will now be updating regularly, as always.
I did not say anything on my blog about it but my younger brother* is terminally ill with cancer and I spent as much time as I could visiting him. We laughed, talked about fond memories, and both cried as I left, knowing we would not see each other again in this life. My older brother suffered a massive heart attack last Saturday, leaving the family reeling as our 90-year-old mother tries to cope with so much illness in her family. I was incredibly glad I could physically hold him near and tell him how much I love him.
It sounds horrendous, but I am so glad I was there when it happened. Being 15 000kms away when family needs you is a terrible feeling.
*my biological parents died when I was a teenager so my uncle and aunt took me in. We had lived next door when I was a toddler and the two families were basically one. When I refer to brothers here, they are cousins with whom I grew up. I was informally adopted into the family as a teenager when I lost my own parents.
Sending love
I was wondering what happened to your emails. Sending prayers your way…my brother has cancer as well; I understand completely. He only lives maybe 30 minutes from me but the feeling that I can’t help him is the same….
🥰
Hope to see you again this Aug.at priory grounds. I work with seniors – Palliative and assist.living and long term memory care and End of life care. Going back to school to complete 1 last study unit for diagnostic imaging unit clerk.
Janet. Can attest. My thoughts are always with my beloved school friends far and apart. Never a day goes by that my thoughts drift to each and everyone of you.
So sorry for your sad news, Janet. How wonderful that you were able to spend time with your brothers.
Welcome back!
I’m sorry to hear about your brothers. It must have been so hard to leave them. ❤️
It’s never easy living away from family. I am only 150 miles-ish away from my family in Fife Scotland (I still don’t understand kms) and when I went up to visit my dad (when covid restrictions had been eased) the care home told me to go back on Wednesday, we were only there from Friday to Sunday. He died before I could go back to see him and I had tested positive for Covid so was unable to attend the funeral in person. I hope your brothers recover and that your mum doesn’t have to bury them both.
I am so sorry Dave
Dearest Janet! WELCOME BACK!!!! You have thoroughly been missed! I am so glad you could spend this very precious time with your brother. He must have been so delighted to be able to hug you. And I’m also sure your kittens must have been all over the place when you both came back! They will become velcro cats for a long time and you might have to take them with you for your classes! Much love to you!
…and all the Nivea in the whole of South Africa was the one with the green thingie on the lid!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo………………………..
I am so sorry to hear all this.
Being able to spend that time with your family is a blessing and I’m glad you were able to be there with them.
I can only imagine how hard it was to leave. Sending comfort to you all xx
Thank you so much. The distance is such an obstacle and this is the first serious illness to hit our generation of the family.