Life is returning to a semblance of normalcy, thank God!

Dad's been transitioned into Hospice care at the lovely nursing home where he resides. My daily visits are no longer a source of stress and anxiety, but a source of strength and joy.

Dad and I were both really scared of the "Hospice" word. We're old-fashioned. The new method of delivering hospice care is really, really cool. It's just a way of providing an extra "layer" of caregivers who visit with him daily and make him comfortable. All medical oncology is now out of the picture; palliative care is what it's all about. Thankfully, the kind of cancer my dad has is not causing any pain; and the small amount of discomfort is being addressed with Oxycodone twice daily; so he's very much alert, awake, and sharp as ever.

I had the good fortune of being there when his meditation counselor came. What a wonderful soul! The lady took us both through a guided-imagery meditation for relaxation, health, and well-being. She gave me the script; and now I read it to dad before I leave, and he falls asleep with a smile on his face when I'm done.

Despite the burden that I bear, at the last minute, I decided to participate in The Nodermeet Upon Which The Sun Never Sets. Check the node for my w/u and check here for contact information. I'm hesitant to give my cell phone number out on the Internet, but I check my email very frequently.

Business is as frenetic as usual (good and bad). So therefore I've made a commitment to myself to dive back in to E2 and bask in its riches. I just need to shake off the sleep a little earlier and get the heck on-line!

I'm more upbeat now than I've been in months. A good two weeks have gone by without bouts of tears nor emotional spiking/bottoming.

I'll see you guys around - more often than in the past months!

Love and my best,

Shaogo