Sharing something small but important that happened to our family. Not politics!
Some of you know my younger daughter has endured battling a challenging condition since she was 18. She still lives with us, has a job (that doesn't pay enough for her to become independent yet), will likely not find it easy to find one that is better or that much more fulfilling. It is tough on my wife and I - we've gone from empty nesting to having both of our daughters at various times end up back home - our older daughter is now settled and doing well.
I am sure many of you know how things can build up - differing personalities and agendas, frustrations build - yesterday we had one of those "family meetings" - had to share what was causing my wife and I to get on edge, and gave her a chance to share with us. Our girl tends to have a problem with empathy, with responsibility, she is very anxious/tense, introverted - the usual stuff, but mainly our concern is her developing life skills - if something happens to my wife and I, or when we decide to move, she needs to be able to get on, interact at least reasonably well with others, realize what things cost - what we are still paying for, what she would have to assume. Tough stuff, and with her condition, she tends to just hear a few things then stuff stops going in..
ANYWAY - she thought she was coming down with a UTI a few days ago - but by 8 PM last night, it turned into severe lower abdominal pain, moving to her back. We were off to the emergency room, and after the obligatory long wait, the answer was...kidney stone! Daughter was in absolutely miserable pain with nausea for 3 hours before they got her in and started pain meds - she is better today, we are all zonked and tired.
BUT - what did we learn from this? We learned how fortunate we are. We have two great girls - adults, 31 and 27. Life is working out differently for them than it did for my wife and I. But we all love each other, and my wife and I realized that we have two girls who would do anything for us - and vice versa. We thought about the bills that would emerge from her situation - we are on a fixed income now, having been bounced from the corporate world a few years ago - and our daughter's health insurance isn't all that great. But - we can help her. it is only money, and if you can't spend what you have on your kids - then....what is it good for? We will be fine, we can be there for her - even if it takes her years to work out her issues.
The punchline for us - everyone deals with crap of all sorts. Some people seem to skate through somewhat unscathed - but do they really? Our daughter's condition has broken our hearts many times, it's been touch and go - but she is still with us. It isn't the life she wants, necessarily - and not the one we wanted for her. But she is with us, she knows how we feel about her, she is trying. All we can do is take it one day at a time - all of us. There is no "should have" or "could have" - there is what we do. We've learned that life doesn't follow any set script - our girls may remain single, we may never be grandparents, they will likely never earn what they wish to....but at the end of the day, watching hummingbirds at our feeder, hearing a good piece of music, my incredible 33 year friendship with my wife, taking my daughter out for frozen yogurt (something we never thought she would ever agree to do with us after what she went through years ago).....a good tomato (some of you knew that was coming!)....a funny post at DU that gives me a smile before I hit the sack....
We went from a really frustrating day feeling low about our daughter, to feeling very fortunate indeed, just because of a night at the emergency room.
Weird, hey? I'm in a good mood today...and haven't thought very much about politics!
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Hope you continue to look on the bright side of life since some days are easier than others.
You have learned a great lesson: Being happy where you are.
Congrats!
I think of how much time we worry about the bigger picture, yet forget to appreciate the little things in life. And when we look back, it is always the little things that seem to have mattered the most.
Life is a work in progress, we need to slow down and spec out the scenery... thanks for the reminder!
You are truly a wonderful man and your family is the proof and the reward.
This was a fantastic story--thank you so much for sharing it, and your wisdom and happiness, with us!
You are a great father, and your family is indeed blessed to have you. I wish you and your family much happiness!
love and the people who love you. I am so very happy that you found the light in what could have been darkness. I hug you and your family. You do have a great one. That is evident. 
Thank you for sharing. Glad your daughter is feeling better.
or maybe an Old German.
BTW Bradley Tomato 
It is extremely important to recognize the positives we have in our lives and really feel a sense of gratitude for them. Even if it's something as simple as watching the sun set or scanning the night sky. Sounds as if you're well aware of this (e.g., watching the zippy little hummers, good music...).
Thanks for sharing!
thank you.
