Tank birthday, 47+ years

[Paul B]

After I got back from fishing I had to take my wife for an MRI of her face. Last night she was in terrible pain so I didn't go walking this morning.

There is nothing they can do for her so of course I couldn't sleep. She is still sleeping and I am afraid what today will bring. Depending of the results of the MRI we will see if she should go for a Gamma Knife treatment.

She had that years ago but even if it works, it takes a month or 6 weeks before it takes effect.
This is called the "Suicide" pain for a reason.

We went for a physical a couple of days ago and I am seemingly in perfect shape. I have been getting chest pains but it has nothing to do with my heart. Well, not physically anyway. It's a Hyania Hernia caused by stress. It won't kill me and is not dangerous. For me, it is caused by worry about my wife. It causes my stomach and intestines to cramp up pushing my stomach up. I am prone to that for some reason and was hospitalized a couple of times because they thought it was a heart attack, but I knew better.

My internist a few years ago told me it comes from love and seeing a loved one in such pain can cause it.
I'm not very happy today.

 

[MikeyZo]

words can’t express the heartfelt sorrow I feel for not only your wife, but for you. You are an amazing man given all you’ve done for this nation as well as your family. Your wife is a lucky woman, and you’re a lucky man to have found someone that you love so much you’ll do anything for. I know a lot of men (well, in this generation I hesitate to call them men ) who would have given up or just stopped caring or just be ticked off they’d have to deal with this instead of being caring and loving.

I think you’ve earned your wing’s and a special place in God’s kingdom by now. As usual, prayers to you both. Stay strong, and try to remember that even in the darkest times, the clouds part and the light shines again.

 

[ScottJ]

words can’t express the heartfelt sorrow I feel for not only your wife, but for you. You are an amazing man given all you’ve done for this nation as well as your family. Your wife is a lucky woman, and you’re a lucky man to have found someone that you love so much you’ll do anything for. I know a lot of men (well, in this generation I hesitate to call them men ) who would have given up or just stopped caring or just be ticked off they’d have to deal with this instead of being caring and loving.

I think you’ve earned your wing’s and a special place in God’s kingdom by now. As usual, prayers to you both. Stay strong, and try to remember that even in the darkest times, the clouds part and the light shines again.

^^Dito^^

Many men (and women) starting off in life could learn about the devotion a man should have for his wife by reading through this thread.

 

[Rybren]

Paul, you have an incredible amount of strength and love as you help Dale navigate through this difficult journey. It is no easy feat and the toll on you is massive. Stay strong my friend.

 

[Paul B]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. She is much better this morning and only gets the severe pain if she talks, eats or drinks so most of the time, she is relatively pain free. Except of course for all the problems MS brings including not being able to walk or do almost anything.

This morning as we were talking, she mentioned that our neighbor is severely sick and dying from brain cancer.

Even though my wife doesn't feel well she wanted to do something for his wife who is distraught and can't get out as he needs constant care in their home. My wife ordered them two meals from an Italian restaurant here.

She has been going through this for over a year and it is taking a horrible toll on her. They are very nice people and also our friends.

My wife is a very caring person and always thinks of others which is one reason I married her almost 51 years ago.

 

[Paul B]

Tonight I will be cooking some of this fish. One of our friends and neighbors here just lost her husband a couple of months ago so we invited her over for the fish dinner, so I better make it good because she is a very good cook.

 

[MikeyZo]

Garlic lemon aioli!

I’ve never tried this on porgy, I just usually use a lemon pepper seasoning. But on salmon I mix stone ground mustard, honey and maple syrup together and slather it on the fish with salt and pepper and bake or grill it. My kids eat it up.

 

[Paul B]

That sounds very good. My family always had a seafood business so I grew up on fish and that is what we mostly ate.
I use a lot of lemon pepper as I love lemon. I will also be making small Greek Lemon potatoes.

Being I have so much fish I will be lightly pan frying them. The fillets of porgies are small, like 4" and thin so they will cook in about 2 minutes. I will be drying them then putting them in flour, then egg, then Italian bread crumbs or Panko. They will be basted in lemon and a little butter.

This is how I made them the last time I went fishing and they were a big hit.

I have about 70 fillets so I will use two pans and I won't be making all this fish so I will freeze much of it.

 

[Paul B]

Paul, you have an incredible amount of strength and love as you help Dale navigate through this difficult journey. It is no easy feat and the toll on you is massive. Stay strong my friend.

Rybren, you are the same type of person and I realize you know how it feels to care for a sick loved one.

 

[Rybren]

Rybren, you are the same type of person and I realize you know how it feels to care for a sick loved one.

Thanks Paul. Suzie would have turned 70 tomorrow and it is also the 10th anniversary of her passing. It is so hard to believe that it has been so long. It feels like she just left us yesterday.

 

[Paul B]

Wow, has it been that long already? OMG. Dale is also 70

Unfortunately, today is another horrible day and there is nothing I can do for her. Am waiting for the doctor to call but she can't do anything anyway. I want to see what the next move is.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

im so sorry. will pray!

 

[Paul B]

Very high tide early this morning.

 

[Paul B]

I know a lot of men (well, in this generation I hesitate to call them men ) who would have given up or just stopped caring or just be ticked off they’d have to deal with this instead of being caring and loving.

Mikey, I feel that is a problem a lot of couples face today. When we are young we look for beauty, myself included and I luckily did marry a beautiful girl. (I can't believe someone so beautiful would marry a lug nut like me)



I went out with quite a few girls, and not all of them were Supermodels. My wife and I are still friends with many of them, as they are in our crowd.

But, as we find out through aging, those looks fade, and there are much more important things to look for in a mate.

Caring is the most important thing, and I think many people find out in a few years that their "beautiful" mate may be shallow and not care too much about that. I know a young couple recently divorced because they were totally only interested in each other's looks and not much else. Now, unfortunately, they have 3 kids growing up between both parents.

Marriage means not only caring about yourself, but of your mate. After almost 51 years, I still open the door for my wife. Pull out the chair for her and occasionally bring her a small gift or flowers, just because I love you and I am thinking about you. Small things mean a lot, and my wife does the same for me.

(of course, now due to MS, I also help her get dressed and put her shoes on. I also have to lift her leg to get her into the car seat, and many other things we take for granted.

Of course, we argue as all couples do, but those are minor things, and we forget about them quickly, no matter who is right.

My wife is also my best friend, and we hang out all the time just to be together. I met her when she was 12, and I am 6 years older, but I was going out with her older cousin.

We were partners together at a wedding party.

I am confident that my wife would take care of me if I were the one who was sick and in pain.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

100%!!!

 

[MikeyZo]

Well said Paul!

Side note…
You found Parasaurolophus skull! That’s worth a fortune!

 

[Rybren]

Wow, has it been that long already? OMG. Dale is also 70

Unfortunately, today is another horrible day and there is nothing I can do for her. Am waiting for the doctor to call but she can't do anything anyway. I want to see what the next move is.

Sometimes we just feel so helpless. Seeing your partner for life in pain and not being able to do anything substantial to ease their suffering is the worst feeling.

 

[mmw64]

After I got back from fishing I had to take my wife for an MRI of her face. Last night she was in terrible pain so I didn't go walking this morning.

There is nothing they can do for her so of course I couldn't sleep. She is still sleeping and I am afraid what today will bring. Depending of the results of the MRI we will see if she should go for a Gamma Knife treatment.

She had that years ago but even if it works, it takes a month or 6 weeks before it takes effect.
This is called the "Suicide" pain for a reason.

We went for a physical a couple of days ago and I am seemingly in perfect shape. I have been getting chest pains but it has nothing to do with my heart. Well, not physically anyway. It's a Hyania Hernia caused by stress. It won't kill me and is not dangerous. For me, it is caused by worry about my wife. It causes my stomach and intestines to cramp up pushing my stomach up. I am prone to that for some reason and was hospitalized a couple of times because they thought it was a heart attack, but I knew better.

My internist a few years ago told me it comes from love and seeing a loved one in such pain can cause it.
I'm not very happy today.

I'm so sorry Paul. We just found out my husband of 61 years has metastatic prostate cancer. Please all you older guys out there make sure you are getting an occasional prostate blood test. Somehow our doctor blamed all the symptoms my husband had on diabetes. I'm praying for you and Dale Paul.

 

[MikeyZo]

It’s funny when you can nurse one coral back from sure death but lose another. This was the second hammer I got, and it stressed after I dipped it. Looked like this 3 weeks later:

I got some coral love and LPS amino acids from Korrallen Zucht and it worked wonders. This is it now (early morning, not open yet) and it now has 3 heads.

 

[Paul B]

mmw64. I am so sorry to hear that. I just got checked this week and am so far OK. The Doc said I don't have to get checked any more because I am 76 and it is slow growing so it won't kill me even if I get it. I hope so.
But it is horrible to hear and as all my friends are about my age, a few of them already have it. Unfortunately, If we live long enough, we get everything.

I am only married for 51 years so far.