Posting Again

[porphyry]

I have been quiet on LJ for a long, long time. To make, as they say, a long story short--as many of our friends here know, last year was not an easy year for us. The car wreck that injured my mother and son took the greater part of the year for getting them well and whole again.

Shortly after the two of them were pretty well mended, my oldest brother became ill. He was born with profound disabilities--he couldn't walk or talk but understood everything. My parents cared for him all his life and, according to all the doctors and nurses who helped care for him, my brother lived twice as long as he should have given the extent of his physical limitations.

In August of last year, he got pneumonia. Ultimately, it became chronic and he was eventually put on hospice care. He died on April 17th this year.

As for me, I think watching the decline was more difficult than the death itself, which was peaceful. He just quietly faded away. The first weeks after his death were hard, but I'm feeling more like myself than I have in a while.

I will probably be posting more frequently, especially as we prepare to move into our charming little chalet. I have promised the children bunk beds and two kittens after we move. They are already disagreeing about who gets the top bunk, and Malkhos and I are disagreeing about what to name the cats.

I have missed you all.

Comments

[leopold-paula-b.livejournal.com]

It's mutual.

And I'm sorry to hear about your brother. I hope things are going to be all bright and calm once you're properly settled in your new home.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Martin. We'll be fine, I'm sure.

I noticed you asked about how the children are doing. They are doing wonderfully well. Andrew is almost finished with kindergarten and has grown to love school very much. Madeline is as sweet as ever although we have a new nickname for her: the Impertinent Midge. She's sweet but awfully sassy.

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry about how hard this year has been for you. Welcome back.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[jermynsavile.livejournal.com]

What a horrible sounding year you've had. I'm so sorry to hear it.

Very pleased to see you back.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm so sorry to hear of your hardships this past year, and the passing of your brother. When I used to come and visit you I remember him as being sweet and interesting, even though he was unable to communicate in english, and often wondered what he thought about. I can't tell you how profoundly sorry I am for your loss.

I am very excited to see that you have bought a new home; it is truly adorable! Please extend my sympathy and well-wishes to all of your family, and know that even though we have not spoken in some time, you always have my love and are often in my thoughts.

Juliette

[filialucis]

I'm so sorry to hear about all that, and especially about your brother's passing. I had wondered whether there was some graver reason for your silence than simply too much real life getting in the way of posting, and I regret to hear that this was indeed the case. Please accept my sympathies.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

It hasn't been the greatest, no--but life is like that sometimes.

I truly am glad to be back, and thank you.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Yes, there was some graver reason as you now know...

I have this odd personality trait--when life becomes overwhelming, I tend to just quietly tend to what I must and don't say too much about it.

Thank you for your sympathy.

[jermynsavile.livejournal.com]

You are, of course, absolutely right. Last year was fairly ghastly for me too, but life has, since, been good. These things often catch us by surprise and the only choice we get is how we deal with them.

Your new home looks lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops once you've moved in!

[benicek.livejournal.com]

Bunk beds are good. Monsters and ghosts cannot climb. At least, that's what I believed as a child.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I knew you would make me laugh!

Andrew, who is more prone to being frightened by monsters, will be doubly determined to have the upper bunk when I inform him about this. Today he said he might share--"We can trade"--but now I doubt it.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I know last year was hard for you as well. Let's hope for brighter days ahead for us both!

The final thing that truly saddens me--the other day I noticed something I hadn't before: my father looks like an old man.

[stefanie-bean.livejournal.com]

Very sorry to hear about your brother. And it's understandable that you haven't been on LJ much - sounds like you've had your hands full with "real life."

I've missed you too!

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you, dear. :-)

[siamhussein.livejournal.com]

Hail! Sorry how tough it's been. Looks like you're into a new, well-built St. Louis house. Congratulations.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am feeling more cheerful each day.

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

As glad as I am to hear from you again, as sorry I am to hear about what has happened.
(Though I must admit not always having been absolutely sure, with whom of the both of you I was communicating, but I think I have learnt how to distinguish your different "voices", by now.)
It seems last year was difficult for many of us. I really do hope this one is going to be a little less hard and quite a bit more good for you (and everyone of my friends).

Your house looks so lovely! To me it means a lot where and how I live for the way I appreciate life and everything, so this place looks as if it can only be a wonderful influence on yours, as I am sure it will be. With those roses and all.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you, dear.

I think my husband and I have distinct voices; you always get it right.

Thank you for your good wishes. I do feel much better, but it was hard for a while. It's always hard to watch someone you love get sicker and sicker and know that the person will not ever get better. As I said, that was more difficult than the dying.

We love our new house, too!

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your condolences.

I can't wait to get the kittens; I've been feline-less too long. Are your cats declawed, by the way? Now Malkhos and I are arguing about that (he's for it; I'm against it).

The plot thickens daily on bunk beds. Madeline thinks she'd rather have a canopy bed (because that's what a princess would use). I tried to talk her out of it, but she steadfastly maintains she needs a bed with a roof just like out of her princess coloring book. We shall see.