Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Good afternoon, everyone. I haven't been on my computer much the last few days so I had some reading/catching up to do. My "baby" brother, all 6 foot 6 inches of him, was in town from Tulsa this weekend with his wife and their grown daughter came from GA with her dog. There was lots of visiting and my mother decided we should have our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday while everyone could be there. My sister who lives about 3 hours drive away came for several days without her dh because they have ole McDonald's farm and can't leave all the animals. She went home with a new little animal, a miniature goat. It was small enough to ride in a dog carrier.

The brother who had back surgery was present for dinner on Sunday but he looks like someone who has suffered and is still suffering He is getting by on pain meds. His left leg is completely numb and he walks stooped over. He's tall, too, about 6 foot 5 inches. We all feel really bad about his situation. I wish there was something I could do for him. I'm sure all of you have experienced the same helplessness in regards to a family member. Anne, you feel that way now about your brother, I'm sure.

I went to the gym this morning, came home and was all set for a nice Monday at home when I decided I'd better glance at the calendar in the kitchen. Sure enough, I had a dentist apptment at 1 pm. This was a new hygienist for me and I loved her. She was so gentle and skilled and didn't cause me any pain.

Afterwards I stopped at Hobby Lobby and bought more yarn for crocheting. I gave away three hats this weekend to my sisters and niece. Now I'm working on more to take to the cancer center. I'll have to post some pictures.

Happy Monday.

Linda, Belated Happy Birthday!!!

Joan, the day before Thanksgiving dinner should be for prepping and/or traveling!! (

Jackie, the prior Avatar with kitty in a cup and now the Avatar with kitty on a blanket have a nice pop of yellow.

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I took the following photo during the 1st week of November.

Such a lovely shade of pink leaves on the ornamental pear trees.

The happiness which brings enduring worth to life is not
the superficial happiness that is dependent on circumstances.
It is the happiness and contentment that fills the soul even
in the midst of the most distressing circumstances and the
most bitter environment. It is the kind of happiness that grins
when things go wrong and smiles through the tears. The happiness
for which our souls ache is one undisturbed by success or failure,
one which will root deeply inside us and give inward relaxation,
peace, and contentment, no matter what the surface problems may be.
That kind of happiness stands in need of no outward stimulus.

Billy Graham

In loving memory of Bob and in honor of all those who served or are now serving for us.

I need to say as well -- great pictures -- all. The sun has been trying hard to come out here, but it will not really make it. A storm, the weather people say is on the way. It has been a mite windy, but tolerable. That is helping to carry that storm here.

I'm really conflicted here. Out where I feed at Wal-Mart, my sweet old, old yellow and white fellow finally quit showing up. The most upsetting part of that was not only that we spent so many yrs. together. I could sometimes hold him, and had many a wonderful conversation. The last time he came down the path to get his daily ration ( fairly good sized ) he remained as skinny and to that degree somewhat frail as he had been for nearly a yr. He seemed to have just about the same energy and enthusiasm. We talked and I petted him a bit, then put his food down and left as I always did. The next day he didn't show up nor has he now for pretty well over three weeks.

My sensation is that due to his somewhat thin and frail condition --- some other predator may have come upon him while napping or something and perhaps that is why when he actually appeared for the most part fine, that he seems to have gone to a better place. I still miss that old sweet boy, but a couple of weeks before this happened another cat --- a nice mostly med gray, with if you look closely very pale orange spots on his sides, almost like well placed polka dots. That has made it a bit easier to go out to Orange & White's and my special feeding area.

My quandary is this: When the gray cat came he seemed very reserved and somewhat wary, though otherwise determined, invited or not ( well, hey, I'd never say no ) to join in with a good meal. Since he always 'turned' up from the same general area ( actually, there is nothing there really but an unused farm field ) but the cat never came from the farm the direction of the farm house really quite far away. He instead has always come from the highway ( in town the speed is well regulated ) but the area I feed in is well across the street from any homes.

The cat did not look abandoned when he showed up --- not scrawny and his hair and feet looked fine. Still he has continued to show up -- always still from the highway ( could be dangerous, of course ) side of the thicket where I feed. Not to sound horrid about it, but I always felt that I'd have good reason when my Orange & and White sweetie was no longer there, to finally give up the rather long ( approx. 7 miles ) drive to Walmart's and though I was in no hurry, save myself the gas and time and often big in-convenience.

Obviously, I'm still going out there. It would feel SOOOO bad if I thought ( I have been calling the cat Mr. Gray ) this loving, actually quite attractive cat was just being something of a little pig and helping himself to a decent hand-out, and actually belonged to someone. I'm not wanting to take in any more cats at my house period. But I confess, I've thought a time or two -- should I scoop Mr. Gray up and bring him to my house ( should he want to remain outside I think he could learn the outdoor ropes here since he seems to have a fairly calm nature, or should I not. I know how I would feel if one of my outdoor cats ( I have three that are actually indoor/outdoor ) suddenly disappeared. Yet, for such a long time I've had that thought that I could save such time and money and work ( in winter, I have to shovel out the cat area with a snow shovel and as the crow flies it can be a bit over 1/4 th. of a block. I'm in a holding pattern now --- as causing someone to lose a pet they love would upset me greatly, and in truth --- I never felt the cat was really un-familiar with where it was. Seemed to not have been nervous or particularly wary of its surroundings. Well thank you all for letting me rant. I guess I'll just wait things out for awhile yet, even though I'm so tempted.

Jackie

Wren, that sounds like a great idea to me. There is a vet's office a mile or so down the road, and I may consider making up a bit of a flyer type poster and take it around there and to the houses across the street. Though I know cats can 'travel' a good way --- I'm not feeling the notion that this one does. I just want to do the right thing. If I knew for totally sure he had a home to go home to, I would likely just stop going out there, but my guilt wouldn't let me off the hook unless I was sure.

Thanks for a good suggestion. Sometimes you are so close to the forest you forget there are trees there.

Jackie

suersis - there are a number of places online where you can get lists of foods with their amounts of vit K listed (as I recall kale is the highest). I understand about the cost of prescriptions. I had a hard time changing from warfarin to xarelto ($65 per month) to enoxaparin ($153 per month), but I got so I couldn't breathe and didn't want to just take asthma medication (and thus more side effects) so that I could tolerate it. I had to give up a couple other things to enhance my quality of life. I was fortunate that I could make that adjustment, I know that not everyone can. If warfarin doesn't give you any side-effects be glad!! The key to keeping stable on warfarin (as puffin said) is to eat consistently. Don't eat a bunch of salad one day and none the next. Eat greens every day - not just greens, of course, but as a regular part of your well balanced diet.

Don’t recall if you’d mentioned it already, but has “Mr. Gray” been scanned to see if he has an implanted microchip? If he has one, it’s a sign that he belongs to someone (or did at one time). Usually, the person who registered the chip is notified that the pet’s been found. If he isn’t “chipped,” that doesn’t mean he’s feral and not a runaway, but still less likely that he’s a pet-with-wanderlust. If you do adopt him, getting him chipped is a good idea.

Jackie, You make me miss our kitty, Cookie. She was the smartest cat we ever had and we had quite a few. She understood so much. She was a shelter cat, a Holstein, 5 black spots and a black tail! She died this spring, we had her for 8 years. After our previous cat died, DH said no more cats, we travel too much. well I lasted 2 weeks before getting Cookie. This time I'm being good, and we will be kitty less til we stop traveling. The one before Cookie was 21 when she died. They certainly become members of our family, sniff, sniff. Jean

Jackie, You are a good person! I have had many animals over the years. My kity I have left was brought to me as a ferrel 14 years ago. Her name is Happy! She still says away from strangers, but sleeps on my bed every night.

Jackie, I have said this before. You remind me of my animal-loving sister, Linda. Your new avatar is so cute.

Hello to everyone.

UGH!!! Once again I have written a rather long post, and lost it!! Me and computers are not friends right now!

I was telling you all about what a hard time I had making Lucia a photo book in shutterfly last night. I was up till after 11 when I usually go to my room by 9 to watch TV. I have over 400 pix in my computer, and some are in folders, some not, I have lots of duplicates, and pretty much had to download each picture separately. Then my laptop kept shutting off, so I had to start all over. I switched to my daughter's laptop about 8, which worked fine, but hadn't downloaded two pix that had to be included. What a job that was! I would have liked to take more time with it, but they had a 50% off sale that ended last night.

I have promised myself that if I finally organize my pix, I will get myself a new laptop.

Jackie- haVe you thought of putting notices up at your local stores? I love my two dogs, but am not really an animal lover and don't know that I would think to check at the vets if one of my dogs was missing. I would post a notice everywhere I could though. And I don't go to the post office a lot either. Just a thought. Good luck with Mr Grey, whatever happens.

Anne

If you take vitamins or supplements, I just found the site, LuckyVitamin.com. You can find ALOT of information there and ingredient lists and some prices are less than Amazon. Really good.

WELCOME Emmiejohns,

I am so glad you found us. We are as young or as old as we feel. It is sad isn't it, when the younger ladies get this. Worrisome thinking that they must carry this burden while caring for wee ones. No matter what amt. of fear we may have felt I always think of them having so much more.

I'm not computer savvy at all, but don't much care. I had planned to avoid 'computering', but decided one day while dh was using it that it looked interesting. In no time I was hooked, even if I didn't really know what I was doing yet.

We are a pretty diverse bunch here and talk about lots of different things --- even cancer sometimes. There is life after this dx and most of the txs are done, the hair has returned, and you have gotten enough energy back to start catching up.

I do want to tell you --- you are very important. Here's one way of looking at this -- everyone here is here for a reason. It may be a reason we don't even think about --- like having the ability to know instantly who in a room is 'down,' lonely, 'feeling worthless' or whatever and smile at them. Most people never do a big thing, but oh the thousands of little taken for granted things like that smile, holding a door open, answering the phone with a smile, leaving a few cents in the change tray by a cash register for someone who hasn't quite enough. Just don't forget that little things turn into mountains when done often enough. One of those things may be the care and concern you feel for the younger women who must walk this path. They have a reason for being just as we do. They are important for their reasons and we are just as much for ours.

Rads can wear you out -- they did me a little, long time ago when I had them. I fought it off by trying to take a walk everyday. It seemed to work for me. Looing forward to hearing from you here often.

Blessings,

Jackie