@beaquilter

OMG, honey! What a story! How hard it must be to NOT give into the tears that must well up inside you each and every time you recall what you've been through and what you're still dealing with! It's so hard sometimes, isn't it? You know what, though? I say . . . cry when you need to. Don't fight it! Let it out, my friend. Then, pick yourself up and go to those places within yourself and turn to that support network it sounds like you're so lucky to have.

My husband has never been one to share much of anything, let alone how he feels about anything. I suppose most men don't; yet, that leaves us to "fend for ourselves", doesn't it? Things are better for us now but the "fairies" didn't make that happen. It's taken us over 47 years to come to this point of "semi" tolerable existence, tolerating each other and our opposite ways of handling problems. The problem, I think though, is that when it comes to serious illnesses (and they tend to get worse as time goes on with old age) . . . is, well, when it starts affecting the other's well-being and (frankly) "sanity" . . . it's time to talk it over and work on those things we can do to help each other through it.

You sound like a strong person too . . . so, don't lose that in submitting to anyone else saying you should. It's a necessary and vital part of surviving hard times.

Stay strong and keep that quilting part of your survivor's tool kit.

Love and hugs to you and your husband!
Dawn