P.O.T.C. On Stranger Rides! The Missing Chapter,,Final Thoughts,, Preview Thoughts.

[swisely]

I've always found that no one knows what they would do unless they are in someone else's shoes. Last Nov. 7th, my father-in-law passed away exactly one week before we were to leave on our trip to Disney. He had been in the hospital since Sept. 1st, on a ventilator for 2 weeks, and when he finally regained consciousness, didn't know any of us. He eventually ended up in the rehab unit of a nursing home and about 2 weeks before he passed, he suddenly knew us when we came to visit. It was like he picked up where he left off with us. So we felt ok about going and then sadly he died. My husband didn't know what we should do but we made the ultimate decision to go ahead because we felt he would want us to. So, you just have to do what you can live with and not worry about what others think. I think you reasoned things out and decided what was best for you. And he probably wanted it that way.

 

[pkondz]

I've only got a second here, but...
Read the last chapter fairly quickly 'cause I'm short on time. I'll save my thoughts for when I've got a bit more time to spare. I want to re-read it anyway.

I'll just say this before I sign off.

Steve you thought you'd lose readers.... I think you might've gained a few. I'm pretty sure you ain't losin' no one.

I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere.

 

[Heluvsme]

Not losing this reader.

I completey respect your decisions. God bless you guys!!!

 

[mrsksomeday]

I completely respect yours and Diane's decision. In my opinion, funerals are for the living to say goodbye to the dead, Diane's Daddy would have wanted you two to be safe and carry on with your plans. He knew you both loved him. It is so much better to have memories of the person alive, I know from experience.

 

[reelmom]

I've only got a second here, but...
Read the last chapter fairly quickly 'cause I'm short on time. I'll save my thoughts for when I've got a bit more time to spare. I want to re-read it anyway.

I'll just say this before I sign off.

Steve you thought you'd lose readers.... I think you might've gained a few. I'm pretty sure you ain't losin' no one.

I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere.

Very well said!

Nebo- I'm sure it must have been hard typing up the last chapter. Reliving what you had to go through has to be painful.

 

[melk]

You didn't lose this reader either. I completely respect your decision, you thought things through and I can tell you must have agonized at times over your decision. But I think you made the right choice, you were there for him when it was really important . Again, my sympathies go out to you both.

 

[ddstratton]

Wow. Hard chapter to read. I can only imagine having to go through it. Personally, I believe you guys made the right decision. You guys had some good time with him before you left, and breaking yourselves trying to get back for the funeral would have done no one any good. You certainly haven't lost this reader.

 

[nrod]

Totally agree with the previous posters. A very difficult position to be in. Funerals ARE for the living and the important thing is how you spent your time while he was still alive. I hope you are both at peace with your decision. And again, you both have my sympathies. Sounds like he was a wonderful man.

 

[jcc0621]

Ok Janet, yu got me on that one. ?

Mary TYler Moore - RIP Chuckles the Clown.

__________________________________________________________

For Nebo and Smidgy And anyone who says anything negative needs to walk a mile in your shoes before passing judgement. I understand exactly where you were coming from.

 

[buzz1121]

Nebo, I'm going to break the Nebo TR code and just let you in on a little secret that your readers know. You might blush a little, but here goes. Psst....we all know you have a huge heart. Yep, you are a softie.

There is no doubt in my mind that you and Smidgy agonized over what to do. Just because you weren't there physically doesn't mean that you weren't there in spirit and heart. I know you both were and that's what counts. Smidgy's dad would have wanted you guys to be safe first and foremost. From what you said, he sounds like a man of quiet, logical wisdom. You were there when it counted, many times over.

Just because you weren't able to be there physically for his death and funeral, doesn't mean that you didn't and aren't grieving. I feel bad that you even feel that you need to explain the why of it. You don't need to, not in this TR. I think we all know you better than that.

I'm going to give you another big hug.

And Smidgy, I just want you to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you. I'm doing that for Nebo as well. I sure wish I could give you a hug in person, but this will have to suffice for now.

I promise that all my posts won't be like this, but sometimes, things just need to be said.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Nebo, I'm going to break the Nebo TR code and just let you in on a little secret that your readers know. You might blush a little, but here goes. Psst....we all know you have a huge heart. Yep, you are a softie.

There is no doubt in my mind that you and Smidgy agonized over what to do. Just because you weren't there physically doesn't mean that you weren't there in spirit and heart. I know you both were and that's what counts. Smidgy's dad would have wanted you guys to be safe first and foremost. From what you said, he sounds like a man of quiet, logical wisdom. You were there when it counted, many times over.

Just because you weren't able to be there physically for his death and funeral, doesn't mean that you didn't and aren't grieving. I feel bad that you even feel that you need to explain the why of it. You don't need to, not in this TR. I think we all know you better than that.

I'm going to give you another big hug.

And Smidgy, I just want you to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you. I'm doing that for Nebo as well. I sure wish I could give you a hug in person, but this will have to suffice for now.

I promise that all my posts won't be like this, but sometimes, things just need to be said.

Wonderful post!!!

 

[dwheatl]

No judging here. My mom had health problems for several years before she passed away in September. Every time we'd go on a trip, we'd talk with the family, saying that we wouldn't be coming back mid-trip if something happened. My mom was the one who suggested this. She knew how hard we worked when we were working, and when we had a chance to get away she wanted us to just enjoy it. I'm sure Smidgy's dad felt the same way.
You both are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[KRIS10420]

I'm very sorry you had to go through that and totally respect the decisions you guys made, I probably would have made the same ones. I don't think there would be anything you could say that would lose me as a reader. Loving the report (as always ) and I look forward to happier times ahead

 

[cp'ersmom]

I had a very similar situation this summer when I went to Disney to celebrate my DD's 21st. My son and myself were scheduled to fly out on Sunday and my husband was coming on Thursday (not a Disney fan). On Friday we got a call that my MIL was on life support at the hospital (long story but it was sudden in a not sudden way, if that makes sense). Anyway the decision was to go ahead with the trip. Having a heavy heart made it difficult to enjoy myself but I was the to celebrate my daughter and I was determined to make it special for her. Well on Wednesday morning we got the call that she had passed. My husband went to his family and we decided that I would stay at WDW with the kids, "it's what she would have wanted." it was a weird trip and so many little things went wrong that it almost felt like karma and we wondered if we made the right choice. My daughter's birthday was a great fun day, we drank around the world with friends and then went to see Bob at POR. We were there to celebrate her and we made the right decision and you did too.

Steve at least you were there for Diane, my only regret about my situation was that I wasn't there for my husband. Much respect.

 

[shan23877]

I'm so sorry that you and Smidgy had to make such a difficult decision. None of us can know how hard that must have been for you both.

Nebo, you write so well that I felt like I was right there with you, and even cried a little at the end. You're not getting rid of me that easily.

Smidgy, my thought are with you, and I hope that you take some comfort in all of the times that you had with your Daddy. It sounds like the two of you had a special relationship, and nothing will ever take that away from you.

 

[burly]

I RESPECT your decisions and applaud you for listening to your hearts and knowing what Smidgey's daddy would have wanted for you.
Didn't lose me, still here.

My daddy's passing was heartbreaking, i had to leave my 7 year old daughter who was in simple tonsilectomy surgery (which ended up having complications, who knew) and driving to a different hospital to sign the papers to have the "plug" pulled on my dad. All my siblings were in different states, and i had to respect my dad's wishes and not "wait" on them. bad day. hard, horrid decisions. i feel like i cried all my tears that day.
I am so happy you were there with Diane.


KIM

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

Hi I have been lurking on your report and decided to come out of lurkdom after your latest update. I really respect how both of you handled the situation and if you lose readers there is no reason for it. Being on vacation and facing a crisis at home is a tough situation for anyone and you two obviously worked hard at coming up with a solution as to the right thing to do. I believe finding joy in life and enjoying time with your loved ones after a loved one passes is the right way to honor them and you two honored Smidgy's dad by deciding to enjoy life and realize he was in a better place. I don't know how or what I would do if I were in that situation and I bet a lot of people would agree so if you lose readers then it is their own issue because you two did what was right for you and the memory of Smidgy's dad and no one should have a right to judge that.

 

[laura74]

So sorry for your ordeal. I hope you were able to get some enjoyment out of the rest of your trip.

 

[pkondz]

All the way to the ice room a sick feeling in my stomach just got bigger and bigger.
I've had a lot of them this trip, from hearing the air leak out of the valve to blowing out the exhaust to no being able to see on the interstate but this time the feeling inside me was far worse.

Deep down, you probably know (with respect to the valve and exhaust and weather) that everything'll be fine. You may even think, "Hey, this'll be good for the TR." A death in the family, which it sounds like you suspected, does not fit that model.

Please understand, neither one of us are cell phone people, she has one for emergencies but otherwise we prefer life without a constant interruption no matter where you are.

I'm with you on that one.

Folks, I said I was going to leave this out until the end of the trip, but after talking it over with Diane, we decided to tell it as it happened, let the chips fall where they may.
Besides, since you all know this anyway it's like trying to ignore the "elephant in the room" as they say.

For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision.

I have a feeling we may lose a lot of readers telling the story this way, but hey, I'm sorry, there have been plenty of laughs on my reports up till now, and there will be after, but this is a part of what happened concerning us, and I can't leave it out.

You need to go back to page 25 and re-read posts #362-418. Did you really think we were just going to leave?

I didn't have the chance to really know him like Diane had, but he was one of the greatest men I ever met in my entire life! He had a southern, Andy Taylor type of logic that would just make you stop talking, and start thinking.

He never swore, I never heard him raise his voice but in his own quiet way he was the E.F. Hutton in the room, when he talked people listened.

It sounds like he was a wonderful man.

We didn't know what to do, but there didn't seem to be much we could do ourselves now, so we went back to Epcot that night.
It was very strange and we didn't stay very long, even left before Illuminations and went back to our room.

That must have been surreal.

The next morning there was still no word yet, and we were hoping maybe he'd pull through this crisis, at least until we got back.
I know that might sound cruel right there, but it's honest.
We hated to see him suffer so, and it was time for him to start his new life with the Lord.
We just didn't want this passing to take place when we are 1200 miles away.

No, it doesn't sound cruel at all. Quite the opposite. If you didn't care for him, then you wouldn't care if you were there or not, at the end. Cruelty? No. Compassion? Yes.

At 4:30 in the morning on September 11, 2011, on the ten year anniversary of 9-11, Diane's father passed away.

With that all said, I hope you all understand our position, or at least respect our decisions even if you don't agree with them, these were hard calls to make.

Yes, I'm sure they were very hard and I don't envy you for having to make them. I do understand and I do respect your decisions. Who am I to judge? We can only do the best that we can do and what's right for us.

And Dad?
If you can read this;

Smidgy is still your little girl.

Nicely said.

 

[mmeb144]

Pkondz, when I read the update, I couldn't wait to read what you had to say. It was worth the wait. Thanks for telling Nebo, again, that no one is leaving this trippie.