My Youngest Son

[Palehorse]

Dude, given the restrictions around the headcount I will forego attending in deference to family and loved ones. They need to be there to support you and each other. However, please know you and your family remain in my thoughts and prayers and reach out if you need to.

I am in Boone county daily, Sunday through Thursday every week if you need to talk, scream, or just do some talking about things. I promise a sympathetic ear and shoulder to cry on when needed.

[Mr442]

PH, thank you very much, I sure appreciate it. 

[Mr442]

What a ride this has been, good times and sad times, and one hell of a trip down memory lane.  Three months of moving his *stuff from his house to ours finally came to an end a couple weeks ago.  Of course our house and garage are jam packed to the point of bursting.  Our garage addition should begin soon, but not soon enough.  Once it is complete we will be moving and storing all automotive items to it, leaving room in the current garage for his, and some of ours, *stuff.  As *stuff is relocated, it will be sorted and tagged as needed.  Unwanted *stuff will find a new home of one type or the other.

*Stuff,  a word describing too much of anything which may or may not have obvious value.  See also crap, and bullshit for further explanation.

[Palehorse]

Oh man 442. Been there with my fathers stuff. The tears, laughs, and flood of memories were unexpected and astounding. A lot of reset the grief process to start. Some of it several times.

I found one thing among all the stuff, that provided me with a wealth of good memories. And while I placed all the other stuff into an organized place, that one thing I placed into a prominent location that I walk by every single day at least once. The man cave. (Aka the garage).

That one thing is a 1963 5 hp Johnson Seahorse outboard motor. And while it provides me a soulful smile each and every day, it still has not resurrected the absolute obsession I held for fishing in the 21 years since his passing. I just can't bring myself to do it anymore because the numerous times I've tried all I can do is miss him and I end up a blubbering man-girl over it.

But that daily soulful smile is something I look forward to every single day. Because it puts him squarely into my minds eye in a state wherein he and I shared a common ground. He taught me to fish and I in turn eventually taught him modern approaches and theory to the endeavor. And just as I was an astute pupil in the beginning, so was he until the end.

I hope you can find your special item to provide you the same within the cornucopia of stuff you've obtained. It is amazing to have let me tell you.

[Mr442]

To say it's been a while since I've checked in, would be an understatement.  This past year has been one wild roller coaster ride to say the least.  Emotions have been all over the place, some good, some not so good, but we have endured.  PH, we do have a few things out in places of prominence, while there is a lot still out that needs to be dealt with.  We have added on to the garage so we have more working space, and the original part can absorb some of the overload from our son.  Delays in getting it built delayed a full move in, but at least it was weather tight before winter hit.  The next paragraph will explain more delays as well.

I ended up with some serious prostate issues that came to a head the first of December, which required surgery the end of January.  The time in between was bladder healing time, while catheters were the theme of the day to keep me going.  Now I can urinate again, and kidney function has returned to normal.  It was kind of scary for a little bit.

[Palehorse]

Happy. No. Damned happy to hear from yah dude!
I was getting concerned but now I read (see) why you've been scarce. Also happy to see you've beat the challenge! Well done sir!

These things take time , and everyone is different. And the process is something no one is comfortable with; nor should they be. Ever.

Sounds like you're navigating your own process extremely well brother. Stay the course! And remember the journey is yours, and only you can determine where you are, and where you need to go. In your time and no one else's.

Keep checking in man, and as always, if I can help in any way just let me know man. Always happy to lend a hand, and ear, or a shoulder to cry on. Always!