It’s been a year filled with too many low lights, but there are good things, too. I won’t detail all that has happened but here are a few of them.

It’s the end of 2016 and I have great hope for a fantastic 2017. Please. 2016 was a big downer for me. Not the result of the election (though, ouch), not the loss of so many wonderful actors and musicians, but the family and friends issues of 2016. I feel like much of the year was spent in doctor’s offices and hospitals taking care of or watching over others.

It turned out that I had to turn down several potential consultation and research clients and some seminars due to all that was going on. I apologize to those who had to wait, but, I am back to all of this in 2017!

Early in 2017 my childhood friend’s daughter died of a sudden heart attack. She was only 39 and the same age as my youngest son and my niece. That really hit me. That was followed by the long hospitalization of my youngest sister. She had a particularly bad strain of flu, complicated by pneumonia. She was in a coma for many weeks and while in the coma, had a bad heart attack. She survived, but life will never be the same for her.

Then while I was out of town doing a long-scheduled seminar, a sewer pipe in my building backed up into my apartment. It filled the sinks, covered, the counters, floor, and filled the drawers and left a mess everywhere in the kitchen. It sat for at least two days until my oldest son just happened to stop to check my apartment that I rent in a condo building. He did a lot of cleaning. Due to slow landlord reaction, followed by much begging by me, begging by the building’s office, some activity, a threat by me, some things started to be done. New cupboards had to be installed. The dampened and moldy floor is still the same. Now they are replacing the cupboards again as they don’t like the color. More than a six month journey and still not truly liveable. There’s more to the story, but I will spare you.

During the months of this mess, all the windows in the building were being replaced due to water damage. That was another fun mess of many months.

Then at the end of the summer, the unthinkable happened. My oldest son felt a lump in his neck and had pain. It was stage IV cancer. I have no idea what happened to the first two weeks of September. I was in a trance. After months of treatment with both chemo and radiation, he is slowly getting some energy. He still cannot eat food as the damage to his mouth and tongue is severe. Not a smoker. Not a drinker. We won’t know more for sure for a couple months yet. Please keep your prayers and good wishes winging his way. Needless to say, our small family was focused on him and still is. He has been amazing and I salute him!

Cancer really sucks. Two good friends are in long-term treatment for cancer and just after my son’s diagnosis, another friend (that I have had since kindergarten) received a cancer diagnosis.

Now you know why I have turned down your consultation, research, and seminar requests. Please remind me if I have neglected to respond to a email. My mind has not been focused on that.

I truly hope that 2017 brings health, peace, and comfort to all of my family, friends, and readers. There’s still too much good in life to have it otherwise. Spending time with my children, grandchildren, and a great grandchild keeps my hope going. The love and support of them, other relatives, and friends has been amazing and much needed.

Happy New Year!

© 2016 – 2017, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.

Please follow and like us: