Keeping it in prospective.....

Every time I start to think about when I use to run out to Tacoma and the NW, it makes me miss what I use to do even more. I just got my taxes done yesterday and after seeing how much I pay for state income tax and property tax well my wife and I are seriously discussing leaving the state of IL because between those 2 I pay over 8k a year.... that's over 10% of my income on 2 things that do me no good. I could just flush the money down the turd swallower and get the same thing! I hear you Martin! Also I am sorry to hear about your Mother and I hope the issues with your truck are fixed sooner then later! That's a ton of money in fuel!

 

Remember the '13th Warrior'? They're facing bad weather, an army of cannibals that dress like bears, the odds against them surviving...and the Viking would laugh and tell jokes. I was thinking to myself..."man, those guys are awesome. To have that kind of courage."

I retired in 2000 because my mom caught cancer, and she needed some help. They burned and butchered my mom (double mastectomy) and the meds made her full blown diabetic. Extremely painful to watch. Anyways, I feel it's important to be manly, you know, like an emotional shelter for the family. Women (moms included) and children should feel secure around a man.

Had a really good friend leave his home in Texas, heading to California. He had loaded in Laredo and was in Albuquerque when the wife called and told him about a tornado that touched down and damaged the house. He told the wife to take the kids to an extended stay hotel and check in. He would have people come to the house and board it up. He would be back from Cali the following week to meet with the adjuster. A mutual friend of ours told him that he would have dropped the load and went back home for emotional support. My friend said that his wife believes in him. When he says everything will be okay, she knows he has it handled. He had a friend come board up the house and put a tarp on the roof. A week later, he was back and met with the adjuster. The house was repaired.

Had a buddy of mine call me in July and told me that he quit the company because his doctor notified him that he had stage 4 lung cancer and stage 4 brain cancer. He's actually doing better and looking at returning to work. So I do have hope for your mom. Stay positive, friend...it DOES help.

Best of luck to you and the family.

 

Right here is where you could have let a series of really bad situations turn into something worse.

But you didn't. Life is 10% about what happens and 90% about how you react and deal with it. Well done and I hope you get everything fixed that you can fix. And the stuff you can't fix I hope it fixes itself. Sounds like you deserve it.

EDIT: You might get better than 3 mg if you don't set the cruise at 72 LOL.

 

just a couple of thoughts . For whatever their worth

1- almost always no matter what your situation , theres a guy out there that would give up his family jewels to be in your shoes.
2- Kinda relates to what Triple stated about his friend. To your kids & hopefully your spouse your it , youre the man , superman, strongest fastest and best provider in the whole world. I cant fail cuz I dont wanna fail my kids & let them know Im just a regular guy not the comic book superhero they think I am.

Trying to remember this when going thru some really tuff times has helped me through crappy stages in life. My fathers death, loosing it all when the economy tanked, having to relocate, banging my head against the wall over and over trying to find my groove in trucking. I think I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I am extremely grateful you guys on the forum take the time to answer some of my dumb questions .

 

[/h] I think you mean perspective. In fact I know you do.

Yer welcome

 

Hang in there....things will always get better, just takes time...which we can't do anything about. Focus on what makes you happiest, handle the bad stuff as it happens.

 

Sorry to hear about your Mom.

The days that we are able to step back and realize how fortunate we are, are too far apart. Sometimes those days need to be prompted by somebody other than ourselves. THANKS!

It brings to mind something I have heard here and other places as well,

The Days I Keep My Gratitude Higher Than My Expectations Are Usually Really Good Days