This past week has made me realize how fragile this thing we call life is. How delicate relationships and family ties can be. As a child the week before 12th November, my birthday was always fraught. No-one mentioned my birthday at any time of the year and so when my Dad William arrived home, without a gift, he was in for a blasting from my ‘mother’. Until I was 11 and I had realized, that throughout the year, as my siblings big day was getting close, their birthdays would be discussed and so Dad knew when they were. He was a Royal Marine and had fought in the war and had been away a great deal. He had been away for 2 plus years when I was conceived and born. I wasn’t fathered by this wonderful man and he had no reason to remember my birthday. As my 11th approached, I bought a colouring book and some crayons and wrapped them up. The night before my birthday, I gave them to him out in his shed. I will never forget the sadness in his eyes as he understood I was trying to prevent another row. It failed, the row was different but still happened. So my birthday as a child was no fun to say the least. As an adult, having daughters I was fussed over and spoilt on the day and this has continued by my wonderful husband and youngest daughter for the past 31 years.
However, for regular readers of my social media, you would have seen the nasty cruel comments on here last year around my special day, and since, that have been written to try to put me back in the place I had been as a child. Alienated by ‘family’ and made to feel different and alone. Well, I am different and glad to be different. Last year I had most of my family on Facebook or Twitter but because of evil lies spread, I took everyone off for my sanity and safety. Of course I wish my ‘family’ were by my side at this difficult time but it ‘aint gonna’ happen. Not my doing but. I have accepted that now. But I have made contact with 3 relatives who are happy to be back in touch and that’s good. This year I was spoilt and had a lovely day except for one thing. Sunday last, after writing my blog, my little 14 year old cat Boukie Rose was taken ill and sadly later that night she died. I was devastated as my husband was. She hadn’t been ill and that was something to be thankful for but a huge shock to us here ‘on the farm’. Her brother Luther is lost without her and it is heartbreaking to see. So the 12th November was blighted in a different way from last year with her death.
Other differences from 2015, my youngest daughter married in April so that is another huge change. We lost another pony and our little herd is just that, little now. But the biggest blow is my beloved husband’s cancer diagnosis. We had no idea, nothing had made us suspicious, no symptoms, no pain. Nothing. Just a routine blood test and our world turned upside down. I have talked about this, my anger, my fear, my helplessness and fears for the future in earlier blogs. Today I was thinking how odd that he has cancer, with a little ‘c’ and is fit and well and I have been so ill! I would do anything to take the uncertainty from him, the worry but it seems his worry is for me. As I have said before, I have always been the strong one, in the family and at home. The one who others come to, but not currently. I am coming back, I know that, but it just seems strange that he is still looking after me. Everyday he reminds me of the things I have endured, both as a child and as a young adult. Recently in the unforgivable treatment from ‘family’. Hence the verse at the top of the blog.
Today I was sent a video of a man singing in a square. The song he sang went like this:
‘You raise me up to stand upon the mountain
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be’.
Of course I have heard the song as you will have,many times but today I say these words to David. He is my rock and I am beginning to be his, I can see a way forward now as I couldn’t before. This year has been momentous. Many losses, huge changes and scary health issues. But together, with me on the shoulders of the man I love, we will make it. Family may not need me, not want me in their lives but we have each other and that’s what counts, in our truth, with the truth on our side, we will make it.
One of the reasons I believe I was successful in my work as Counsellor and Psychotherapist, is because of my own experiences. I have always believed that the best people to turn to, to help you through the storms of life are the ones who have endured their own storms. Having suffered most things in life that can hurt us, not said for sympathy, just a fact, I am able to understand where people are coming from. I never insult them by saying ‘I know how you feel’ because we are all different. But I can understand the depth of their feelings and their fears. I have facilitated groups and group work is very successful. Since David’s diagnosis I have joined a couple of groups on social media,Prostate Cancer Support group being one of them and the help, advice, support and love has been amazing. Can’t do it without that input so thanks guys.
So another year gone and I will be glad when 2016 says goodnight. 2017 can’t be worse, in any way so I will look forward and see the light, standing tall at my husband’s side whatever life throws at us.
Thankyou for reading x
carolannwright 