Kathy I just saw your post on the community wall. It's 3 years that my mother joined my son. She was the last of my immediate family as I lost my only sibling Richie 20 years ago next Monday. I have continued doing what I did before my son and mother left. This Thursday I will be at my garden club and we will make Christmas wreathes to put together with ornaments that our club provides and takes home. There are goodies on the tables brought in by hostesses who volunteer. I was fortunate that I was asked to be publicity. With writing I've had to think and be alone and write articles for newspapers. I'm also membership and that somehow are connected as people read the local paper. However, as VP I will probably be asked and nominated to be President of the club. I have ask Rose to take over being membership chair. She's a nice lady who's son played ball with my Joe when they were very young. I've given her a couple pointers but I'll mentor her and still get members as I tell everyone they are membership too. Just thought I'd tell you what has helped me to continue on. I'm also on the senior citizen advisory commission in my community. Now I decided to take up computers again given at our senior center. Everyone is different and does things at their own time. It still stinks and my thoughts are always with my loved ones not here. My husband Bill and I always talk about my mother and our son Joe. My husband spent more time with my mother than he did with his mother. They both would laugh a lot and enjoyed the time they spent together. My son lived with my mother and took care of her as she was already in her 90's. If you're up to it write me back by clicking on my name. I will think of you and your beautiful daughter this Thursday November 19th. God Bless You!

With Love, Barbara

Kathy thank you so very much for your post. I think this is probably the first time I've seen your name and I sincerely thank you for wishing my only child Joe a Happy Birthday! I use to tell Joe that he was my favorite son and he'd say "I'm your only son!"  I would probably post more but my eye has been hurting for a few hours now. I had an irritation on the side of my eye and now it's on the little bone next to my right eye.. I wear glasses too much and I'm on the computer too much. There is a special connection when a parent I connect with on this site had only one child as did I. We truly understand what it's like with so many things that parents that have more than one child don't understand. Actually there are not even a handful of parents that I know of on this site that had lost an only child. There is me, you and Melinda.  I'm often comforted by something that David has said about our children not having to walk the same hard road that the rest of us do. There is some truth in that whether we want to believe it or not. I know lots of people who have lost children but we don't speak about it. It's just that when I told someone they'd tell me or I learned in other ways. I've been celebrating by eating frozen blueberries and pineapple and even candy that are hard from the picnic I attended last week at my senior center. I don't usually eat hard candy or frozen fruit. But I think I wanted something extra sweet. My mother passed on November 19, 2011 and now on that date I will think of your Brittany. I hope my eye gets better because I need to color my hair tomorrow and need my eyes. Thank you again for your wish and thoughtful Happy Birthday wish. It's a celebration that our childrfen were born and they chose us to be their parent. I'll look forward to hearing from you. With Love Barbara