It's been a rough last few weeks in my family, which is why I'm just now getting back into the Pub for the first time in a few weeks. ~bartender, a black coffee please, I could certainly use a bit of a caffeine boost - damned insomnia.
My father in law, who is in his mid-70s, has been diagnosed with cancer and is rapidly going downhill, unable to keep food or drink down and generally unable to get out of bed. I can tell the toll this is taking on my wife, though she is trying not to show it. It's having a bit of a rough go on me, as well, as I have had a great relationship with my in-laws over the years and hate to see them going through this.
I've been distracting myself with my sysadmin work, free software projects, and video games, but this whole thing (as it does every time something like this happens in my family - lost too many loved ones to cancer already) has me thinking about my own mortality and the inevitability of time.
the wife and I mostly live pretty healthy lives, we eat right and do our best to get in exercise and take care of our bodies, but as usual, this is a reminder that eventually, the time comes for all of us, no matter how well we take care of ourselves, and we need to make the best of this life while we have it.
hug your loved ones, let your friends and family know what they mean to you. none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, and someone we care about could be here one day and gone the next, which is why it's so important to let them know what they mean to you while they're here. there are so many people in my life that i've lost that i would love to have one last conversation with, just to let them know what they meant to me and how much of a profound impact so many of them had on my life.
other than all that, just dealing with the usual August Arkansas heat and waiting impatiently on autumn to arrive. hoping to see some of this turn around, but sadly it's not looking like the prognosis is great. take good care of yourselves, Pub, and spend time with those that mean the most to you while you can. and if you get any rain in your area, send some my way! some tranquil rain and a cool front would be a nice break~