Wright Here: Good reasons to give thanks : The Bastrop Advertiser

Last weekend, my sisters and I met up in San Antonio for a sisters? reunion. We haven?t been together since the last time we took my brother camping, prior to his death last February of a brain tumor.

We did that special camping trip around this same time of year, maybe a little earlier. Even though by that time Robb was confined to a wheelchair, he had a great time up on his favorite river, the Guadalupe. We rented a cabin, drank some beer, made friends with other campers and hung out. We took Robb to The Salt Lick ? another of his favorite spots ? and had some great barbecue.

Robb hung in there for two years after his diagnosis. The doctors told him he had ? on the outside ? nine months. He found it really funny when I told him the reason he wasn?t dying on schedule was because our family was like weeds ? very difficult, if not impossible, to kill.

Anyway, he passed close to Valentine?s Day. I guess it?s taken some time for us siblings left behind to regroup. As anyone who has been the caregiver ? or is currently the caregiver ? for someone who is dying, it?s not an easy road. My brother didn?t have any money. His only desire for his time left was to sit on the front porch of his friend?s house, watch the deer, drink beer and listen to music. But dying takes money. Of course, with Medicaid he qualified for a lot of stuff ? his medications (and there were a lot) were free. Meals on Wheels ? they were great. But, as time went on and he deteriorated, we needed to find money if we wanted to keep him in his friend?s house because he needed full-time caregivers. Of course, we all took turns, even our sweet husbands stayed with Robb, but we all have jobs and family commitments, as well. He lived up in the woods of Pipe Creek, far from any of us so taking a turn meant packing a suitcase for a couple of days and nights. Some of his close friends also stepped up and took their turns but as it went on, it became clear we were not going to be able to continue it indefinitely. Bringing him to our homes was not an answer since he got to the point where he could not be left alone.

Well, we scrounged and borrowed and pleaded and felt our hearts? breaking, but we managed to keep him at his home until Medicare kicked in and we could move him to a ?nice? nursing home. He hated it there, of course. No-one wants to be the youngest person in a nursing home.

But we all trooped up there to visit him on a regular basis. Friends and family, there was usually someone there keeping him company, bringing him a taco or a burger and just hanging out.

So, last weekend, the siblings left behind ?hung out? as a group for the first time since we last ?hung out? with Robb. It was not planned to be on Veterans Day weekend, but that?s the way it ended up. As we reminisced about our lost family members we made a special trip to Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery to remember our dad, who died five years ago, and our mom, who died in 1992.

We had a great time. We celebrated those we have loved and lost and we made time to be thankful for those we still have ? and especially each other. As we come into the season for giving thanks, I?m reminded that I?m a pretty lucky gal to have such great sisters, friends, children, grandchildren, husband, workmates and more. I hope that everyone finds some reason to give thanks.

Source: http://bastropadvertiser.com/2012/11/16/wright-here-good-reasons-to-give-thanks/

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