I’ve been doing a bit of housework this morning so giving this matter quite a bit of thought.
One friend, a widow of five years, I’ve given so much support and care having learned from other widows on Gransnet how difficult Sundays are and how important a proper invitation is rather than a casual ‘call in any time’. Anyway I rang her a few weeks ago, as I do weekly, when our beautiful daughter-in-law had been told she has breast cancer. The friend banged on about her house sale problems. I then said we’d had some bad news, told her about B, and her answer was ‘oh gosh that’s awful, we’ve had some bad news too, son and his wife are splitting up’. The conversation was all about that while I stood in the kitchen with tears streaming down my face. Eventually she stopped talking, I said ‘sorry must go’ and put the phone down.
A few hours later another friend phoned, I told her our awful news, she then proceeded to tell me all about a 75 year old friend going through the same thing. B is 39. It’s not the same. She didn’t pause for breath and changed the subject, ‘must go’ cheerio.
I came on to Gransnet good morning thread and told our bad news. The outpouring of sympathy and kindness was amazing, personal messages and one particular wonderful mum shared her own story of her daughter at a similar age. She has then followed that up with tips and support and so much care.
It got me thinking about just how many have said the same on this thread, what is the difference between people on Gransnet and many in ‘real life’.
I’ve concluded that the majority on here are real life’s listeners and supporters. We come on here to be able to share our problems and our joys, be listened to, to get a word in.
For that I thank you. What a lovely lot on here.
Ooh I’ve got all soppy now. Back to flippant me.