If you’ve ever followed an old school blog of mine, you know I absolutely HATE those posts where the author’s been MIA for a period of time, and is like “I’m SOOO SORRRRYYY!!! I’ve been so busy blah blah blah…” and then apologizes up and down for their absence and then doesn’t post regularly after that anyway. I promise not to be that person — I’m not even gonna apologize. ;) Haha.
Well, I may have apologized in the video, but mostly it’s just an explanation of why I was away and how this affects you as a Dear Blog Reader, because the slant of this blog is going through a change. A great change, actually. One that I’m really excited about. And I hope you will support me through all the ups and downs of it.
Here’s the shorthand version in video format:
And the longhand version is this…
I’ve had a pretty shitty year so far.
First, I find out my best friend has two life-threatening diseases. I vow to help her in any way I can. Then my husband wants a divorce. After crying for 2 months straight, we finally get through that one amicably. Then my father is diagnosed with Stage 4 Small Cell cancer, which doesn’t mean much to me other than it’s pretty bad and he is going to be gone quicker than I’d like. But thankfully, because of the divorce, I’ve moved in with him, so now I can be his self-appointed Chief Caretaker as well.
When it rains, it pours, right?
I decided to come out of hiding recently because of the idea that I could do some good with my blog under these circumstances. I want to try and affect my Dad’s health with some lifestyle changes. And I want to do that with food mostly. And if he doesn’t take to that and just wants to sleep and eat ice cream all day, that will be fine with me, but I will continue to try for myself. To prevent anything that I can in 20 years. And I’ve decided to shift my focus on this blog to the exploration of all that — the journaling of cancer caretaking, the finding of new healthy recipes, cancer facts and support systems for people going through the same issues, and lots more of what I used to do like local restaurant reviews, infographics and fun, pointless guessing games. And how could we forget those delicious cocktail recipes??
So please join with me, and help me out, or get help yourself, from what I’m offering. Hopefully we can teach each other a thing or two and offer support like good humans do.
I’m honored that you’re with me. Let’s do this!
Wow, Cheri, I only knew bits and pieces of all that you’ve been going through and I’m really sorry.
Love and prayers to you and your dad. <3
Thank you Ms Julie — I really appreciate it!! Hope to see you soon!
All the best to you and to your father!! I hope YOU have support as well as being one who is providing support!
This is life and this is living even though it’s not all fun and games all the time, it is life nonetheless.
Again, best to you and all of yours!
Honestly I was going through and deleting and unsubscribing my mounds of blogs I get and stopped to read yours based off the pic of you and the salad. I’m a sucker for summery salads and on the prowl for healthy bbq/picnic recipie ideas.
I’m extremely sorry to hear about the tough year but I love the positive and strong attitude you have and could use a tough cookie like you around in my mailbox. I look forward more blog posts!
Hey Cheri. I have missed your face girl! Big hugs and kisses. You are a string and wonderful person. Glad you’re back. Like you said let’s do this. :-)
Dennis — thank you so much for that lovely comment, it means a lot to me! I actually do have a really fantastic support system, which I’m super grateful for! I hope to see you more soon!
You have easily jumped to the top of my favorite people list. How sweet and thoughtful of you to comment — I could definitely use a lot of awesome readers like you! Thank you for stopping by and I hope we will see a lot more of each other! :D
WAYNE!!! Oh how I’ve missed you too! Thank you so much for the love and support; you’re one of the good ones. LETS DO THIS!!!! xoxo
sorry to read of your troubles….hope the next year is a lot better than the last one….good luck!
I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough time this year, but I love your outlook on life. Best of luck to you with the many changes. I pray that your your quality of life, as well as your family’s, increases ten fold. I look forward to all your healthy recipes. I know I can definitely use some more.
As for suggestions for the blog, I’d love to see some more meatless recipes. I’m not a vegetarian by any means, but I do like serving my family a couple of meatless meals a week. We love eating beans and veggies!
I’m a brand new subscriber to your blog,in fact this is the first one I’ve received in my inbox.
Wow, I just want to give you a hug. You have indeed had a shitty year. And no doubt will have more shitty stuff to go thru still, but I know brighter days will come your way and you’ll have happiness in your heart again.
I’m especially glad to hear you have a great support system. As you go through this journey with your father, it is so important for you to take care of yourself. Eating healthy, as you plan to do, but also having people that will make sure you get away from the care giver roll for a few hours every now and then, to go to dinner, go to a movie, to take a walk with you, be your shoulder to cry on.
I’m speaking from experience, and it made the world of difference to me, and I’m sure kept me from falling apart, when a person I had pretty much just met, stepped up and made sure to come by the hospital, and take me to lunch, or a movie, who came by the house and kept me company, and when the hospice nurse said the time was close, she stayed the night with us because she didn’t want me to be alone when my mom passed on.
When it’s a parent we take care of, most of us will want to be there every second for them.
Your dad is lucky to have you stay with him and help him thru this. I know how comforting that is for him.
Stay strong.
I have come to the conclusion that in life it is amazing how much a glass of wine (ok, maybe sometimes a shot of vodka) at the end the day can do to take away everything life throws at us. Having been through a bad divorce that led to a long post-divorce battle, losing my mother to cancer and having to walk away from a great job in the span of a few months 8 years ago, I can honestly say what hasn’t killed me has made me stronger. Hang in there!
Wow, honey, I had no idea!! Huge huge hugs to you. I’m a firm believer in things happening for a reason. You deserve happiness and you’re amazing to take care of your Dad. I’m in awe of you. xoxo
I just stumbled upon your blog tonight. I am sooo sorry to hear life is handing you such a rough ride all at once. I lost my mom to cancer one year ago this August. You will never regret the time you spend with your father. I look forward to following you so please don’t go away for too long. I’ll be praying for you and thinking of you daily. All the best to you!