For OMC and others here on DU who have been through a lot - a thank you!

No, I cannot know the pain OMC feels, nor can others here. But we can relate at times, which is what is so damned important to it all.

When those we know, family and friends, say simply 'Move on', we have someplace to turn and discuss what others do not want to hear.

I remember it all too well myself - I was happy, had an awesome job, was moving up, bought the house next door to my mom, and life was all peachy.

Four months later, my mom was dead - after weeks of hell, a terrible ice storm that left me alone (Wife was in Sunny CA with our daughter, and mom was glad they went, I stayed home to take care of mom) without power and boiling water to keep me and my dog warm, then seeing my mom all crazy like after she had been at home until Christmas eve (She went back into the hospital that day). It took me down in ways I never thought possible. And that was less than 3 years ago.

Then her best friend died, mom #2 as we always called her, a few months later. And before all that two other close neighbors had passed on right before mom did. Then, my X wife dies, my wife finds out her problems were caused by both a brain cyst and Parkinson's disease, my oldest son whom I spent many weekends looking for (after my youngest son calls me after 8 years to tell me hates me, my precious little boy that he was) shows up at my doorstep with his girlfriend and tells me he wants to know me and that I am going to be a grandpa.

Then I learn he is a dick in some ways, kick him out, leave behind my career and house to move out west for the sake of my wife and daughter (her family is here), and I lose two jobs in one month, plus a car I loved which I had to sell just to move, and I took a huge financial loss just to move here.

All this, and even more (some of which I won't discuss here for personal reasons), in less than a 3 year span.

And yet - through it all - I had folks here on DU to talk to and rant about it.

While others I knew closely never saw it all as 'all that bad' I had people here who got it, and talked to me night after night.

During the last 10 years I have lost several best friends, x wife, mom, her best friend, my house, a career, friends I have held dear out west here, kids, etc and so on - but through the hardest times of my life - even if people did not always like me here - I had folks at DU to talk to.

And now I see OMC and others come here, wearing their hearts on their sleeves, and see people here responding.

It makes me proud to be a member of DU. And as someone who has seen time and again the goodness of people here I thank you.

We don't always agree, we often fight and flame away - but when the shit hits the fan for people we always stand up and comfort one another in our times of need.

So tonight pat yourselves on the back and have a drink on me.

We aren't perfect, but when it comes down to it we stand up for each other.

And that is what being a liberal is all about.

unexpected and expected deaths..illness..disappointment..and watching my country go down the tubes as well...but at this point, i think it was all for a reason...i'm a different person now...older, wiser, much more compassionate and understanding of others going thru the fire...once you know that heartache, just a little thing can trigger the wheel of your heart spinning and hurting...i recently lost my cat, silly i know, but it hurt me deeply...as if the memory of hurt heart was just under the surface...i think its ok to allow that to happen...take a little time, a walk, a swim...something to love yourself in a way that no one could ever love the child in you...i think thats ok too....because we are all children in some ways..in big bodies...im sending you a hug...and a hope for tomorrow to bring you more love and hugs...and understanding...the other stuff is an illusion..

just that. it sucks.