I did not mean to sound negative - not in my nature and I was referring to the R's being the 'best' at money laundering.
As far as dying before me, I doubt it. I will say it again, I am a walking pathology book. Lost 30 pounds in 3 month this past year. now weigh 79 pounds. Due to chronic spinal problems, I have over the years lost 3 inches in hgt. - I call my disease 'McArthuritis' who said "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
In, 1965, my brother, step-brothers and cousins were military and if any of them required nursing care I would want them to have the best they could get and thought all of military personnel should get the same; thus I enlisted in the Army Nurse Corp as a 1st Lt and was in their 1st 6 week (cut from 8 wks) basic training class. After I was retired from the army with a line-of-duty disability, I tried to return to my previous love - emergency room nurse, but found it too physically stressing and had to give it up.
But not all was doom and gloom, I found other things that I could do that worked for me and an OD that helped me increase my physical capacity.
I have taken into my home and cared for my elderly uncles, one with PTSD from WWII, deaf from working demolitions, the other with decreased mental capacity from a kick in the head when he was 9 yo and the closest hospital was 30 mi. away and the only way to get there was by horse and wagon. I have had a gay man and one trans. living in my home at one time or another; and hosted for 5 years foreign students coming to visit America.
My housemate who died a few years ago, was the husband of one of my best friends. They were married with no children for 26 years, her death caused him such depression, he lost his job and almost all they had ever worked for; he moved in with me and rented his house for income. In the 16 years that we shared living space, he never got over her death, his depression or a well paying job, due to his age and inability to adjust. He found his only comforts in my dogs, his BIL and family and members of my family. (Oh, and both he and wife were die-hard Rs.)
When he moved into my home and learned for the first time in 20 years of being my friend, he was shocked to learn that I was a member of an underground railroad for abused victims. He became our avid protector and a avenue to use his skills and size to advantage. When we moved from the coast of VA to the mountains, we continued with the railroad. No one ever knew - new friends or old.
In 2014, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, serious heart valve problem and an aortic aneurism so large it was about to explode. I was dx. with circulation problem so bad, that I may lose a leg. We took care of each other and the dogs with much help from out friends until I came down with CFS in early 2016 and could not walk more than 5' without having to sit. (The house is an 80' long ranch - he was on the east side; I, on the west.) Thus, an intercom and chairs down the length of the house. On his last day at home, after I had called for the rescue squad, I found he had soiled himself and somehow, (I'm pretty good at improvising) I got him (180#) me (110#) cleaned up with clean underwear and a pad under him before their arrival. (He had a cleanliness fetish.) Upon his discharge from the hosp, he went into the therapy section of our local nursing home and I have been alone since.
We had a memorial service here in the Blue Ridge foothills and took him back to coastal VA. to be buried beside his beloved wife for his funeral.
It took me 6 weeks to get over making that trip, but make it I did (with much help from my friend) and we took the 2 Yorkies that he loved so much with us.
Covid came along, it hit our area hard and I lost a number of friends and neighbors. Knowing that I was compromised by hypertension and chronic kidney disease, I isolated with much, much help from my friends. Most of them Rs. They did grocery shopping, my yard work, brought cooked food when I could not stand long enough to prepare anything for my self.
Happy to say that I have improved and can do quite a bit for myself now, but they still make sure I get everything I need, drive me to appointments. make phone calls for me as I am almost deaf and can not hear some voices on the phone - or sometimes even hear the phone ring.
Now let me tell you some better stuff - At my 1966 wedding in the chapel of Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii) the Maid of Honor was Black and Protest. ; the bridesmaid, a Puerto Rican Cath. The groomsmen were just as varied. The bride was Protest.; the groom, a Jewish immigrant from Israel. Those attending the wedding were Army officers and enlisted. Some were dressed in uniforms others in mufti, some came in their pajamas and robes or convalescent suits (patients).
Over the years, I have had some of the best friends that anyone could ever wish for and while I have lost many to the Grim Reaper, I am in touch with the others although it is less frequent; from the 1st grade and from all the places I have lived. worked an/or just traveled.
My son, a successful businessman, in his 50's is also adopted. I raised him as a single parent after my divorce when he was 5. He is my pride, my joy and still my darling, baby boy. A good husband with a good wife and 3 handsome, intelligent sons. Yeah, I'll brag!
There is more that I could tell you (like my 6 surgeries in the past 5 years - one life threatening (I can't take most pain meds) and the loss of my short term memory due to anesthesia and the pain med I was given) but this enough for now except to say that while I sometimes get disgusted or frustrated I have not become depressed. I really care about other people and their feelings, I care about every living thing (except mice, ants and flies when they are in my house!) My sense of humor (while sometimes morbid) is still intact and I recently renewed my car regis. for 2 more years so I'm still optimistic; if anything is left when I fade, I am still an organ donor.
Just two more things to tell you. #I was, am now and always will be a Democrat and #2 I am asking to be taken for one more sky dive for my next birthday!
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