Thanks. There is something that makes DU different - and tonight DU showed it once again

[The Straight Story]

Despite all we say to each other here on one thread or another, no matter how we rail and rant from one day to the next, there is something special about this little corner of the web many of us call home.

Thread after thread we can battle over ideals, disagree on things, and at times be rather visceral towards one another (yeah, I include me in that) - but in the same breath we can be uplifting to each other.

It is, to me, what separates us at times from other places on the net.

In my case, I am in a situation where things are - well...bad. Lost my little boys years ago, have a daughter who does not know who I am yet (and who I watch grow up from afar), found my kids when the X died, have another X who is slowly dying from several problems, and after finally finding my kids now have one in a war and another living across the country and the last time he and I saw one another was 1998.

My daughter has been through hell - her mom left me, her cats died, her favorite dog ran off last summer, and it seems each passing week now her mom is getting sicker and sicker. She cannot compute what her mom does or why, does not understand the medical reasons behind her many illnesses. She only knows that at one point in time we were a happy family and now it is all broken, all the things she held dear went out the window - all mainly because mommy got sick. At one time we had a home, I had a good job, and then it was all gone and somehow it has to do with mom being ill.

I try each day to just be me. Post my news stories. Get along yet one more day. One day at a time. I can't always explain it - explain how or why she has a half sister back in CA that daddy loves and misses, a sister she wishes she knew. A little girl I watch grow up online. I can't always explain why her big brother is a world away and cannot play games with her each night now - because he is in a war.

I have tried hard over the years to make sense of it all, tried to be the best man I could for her, my other kids, and my X.

Here at DU I have been able to do something that has helped me - talk.

Outside of all the politics, the threads on this that or the other - I have been able to, when it all hit me, just rant and have folks take that thread and those things I was feeling at the time be the most important. Whether someone liked me or not elsewhere, whether a thread I posted last week make me look like a jerk or not.

DU'ers have been here. When my mom died. When my X found out she had Parkinson's. When I was feeling my worst.

That is something more than all my 'friends' can say.

I know that I won't agree with you over many things. We might fight, argue, imply that each other are this that or the other. But I know, that when I have a bad night, have bad things happen, I can count on you to be there.

And that my friends makes DU worth more to me than any other web site out there.

Finally, a song - You'll be there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKS_yJl_x70

[Bluerthanblue]

1. -

:grouphug:

[DearAbby]

2. >

I'm here.

[northoftheborder]

3. Be strong, and know you are appreciated as part of a big family of people, who each has his/her.....

.....problems with this journey we call life.

[WillyT]

4. (((((((HUGS)))))))

:cry:

:loveya:

:grouphug:

:kick: & Rec !!!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear Straight Story...

As long as I draw breath, as long as I post here...

I will be here for you, sweetie...

:hug:

[The Straight Story]

7. I know Peggy - you were one of those I called

And you were there for me. Things are so much worse now. I am trying as best I can.

It is so much worse now :( I keep trying but am not so sure anymore about it all.

Some nights I just need a friend to talk to. And you were there for me when I needed it the most.

Things are bad right now and I don't know what to do.

And tomorrow - it could get even worse. If it were just me I would be ok with it.

[ZombieHorde]

6. We all love each other!

:hotDUorgy: Oh, I guess there is no smiley for that.

Jokes aside, I wish your family peace.

[annabanana]

8. ; - ) . . .

[Pharaoh]

9. Thank you straight story

O8)

[DainBramaged]

10. .......

:hug:

[elehhhhna]

11. please get yourself and your daughter into a support group or something.

it will be a gift for both of you, and for your xwife as well. please.

[madrchsod]

12. that`s the reason i`ve been here for all these years

it`s the people that counts

[Booster]

13. I wish I could wave my wand an make your pain go away.....

but, alas, I can't. I always read your posts because you write them so beautifully and they are always interesting. You can only do what you can do; you're not a magician nor a wizard so don't beat yourself up too badly for doing what you can do. Hang in there, and you can count on us to be here for you.:grouphug:

[The Doctor.]

14. NGU.

Keep her close, help her, make her smile as much as you can. You are too important.

[HuskiesHowls]

15. From The Messiah's Handbook by Richard Bach:

The Bond that links your true family is not one of blood,
but of respect and joy in each other's life.

Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.

[suffragette]

16. K&R

:hug:

[MrMickeysMom]

17. It's gonna be okay, Straight Story...

... Eventually, it's going to be better. I guess we can't know the outcome as we go through the things that make us feel so low.

But, right now, we've got your back.

[opihimoimoi]

18. Dear Straight, you are not alone...count me in to be a Wing Man...Opi :o)

KnR

[UTUSN]

19. OR, we can battle over WRONG FORUM!1 n/t

[freshwest]

20. A good place to call home.

:grouphug:

[Dappleganger]

21. You add so much to DU!

While we may not always agree, I look forward to the variety and passion of your posts.

:hug:

[Lifelong Protester]

22. Hey, it may just be a 'hi' or 'thinking of you' from strangers, but

I know it helps.

Hope things start to turn to the better for you. One step at a time. That's all you gotta do. ONE. STEP.

[Maraya1969]

23. Please adopt a pound puppy with a microchip and a color with name and phone number

You can have the tag made at any pet store. Mine has my dog's name, my address and phone number. The pound put a microchip in both of them.

I think it would be good for your daughter to have a pet now.

I'm so sorry this has been a bad time for you. :hug:

[lunatica]

24. Hugs to you and all your kids

This made me cry.

[PhillySane]

25. Hang on, brother

and keep coming back. I've been through similar things the last few years. Maybe, not quite as intense. We only have each other. That's why we're here. There are no promises. But sometimes, you find some peace, some joy, some laughter, and that's all it takes.

[Mimosa]

26. Straight Story, you are among the many I admire here on D.U.

God bless you. People really care about you because you are a good caring person. *hug*

[Enthusiast]

27. Sorry to hear

of your many difficulties. I hope things improve in the future.

[felix_numinous]

28. Your humanity comes across in your posts

I usually check them out because you have meaningful things to say. You have no idea of the people you effect, what appears to be the smallest things end up meaning the most. What I tell everyone, it is who you are, your presence, that means the most--you don't even have to DO anything. :)