Ann’s Reply’s

You’re awfully nice, mom. Thank you all for tolerating me and helping me mature a bit.

Most of the posts I’ve deleted (and there aren’t a lot of them) were ones that I felt might reveal my identity.

I would love to see you all in person. Lemonade in the summer; hot chocolate if it’s winter.

Finally, I worry about Shawn.

I also love your participation and input, Ann. Your perspective is important here.

Shawn is a very troubled person and has been ever since he came here. He goes through highs and lows regularly. At first, he was the orthodox defender of the faith, since he was on a high at the time, but he comes here mainly now during his lows.

Frankly, there is nothing we can do for him other than be loving and listening and understanding. I am sure he doesn’t get that fully in his off-line life, and, to be fair, it is really hard for those who deal with issues like his to be supportive all the time. It is bone-deep wearying, as many here know from personal experience with family issues that are similar to varying degrees.

In a real way, we are like doctors and nurses and therapists who are not limited to one kind of disease, disability, illness, etc. but deal with a wide spectrum. We can do only what we can do, and that carries with it both great fulfillment and deep sadness.

Thank you, Ann (and mom3 and everyone else), for working in this particular hospital ward.

I’ll do that in the next couple of days, if you really think he’d be okay with that.

I PMed him and just tried to encourage him by telling him I have sucky seasons too. I offered he could PM back if he wanted to talk privately. This is where internetting is tough.