Bad News!

Well I had a bit of bad news today. Took Dad to the ear nose and throat doctor this morning to investigate the hoarse voice he has had since the beginning of the summer. I was expecting to hear polyps or irritation with an admonition to stop smoking. Well its bigger than that unfortunately. The doctor scoped Dad's throat and found a mass on his vocal chord. He said it is most likely cancerous but will need to do a biopsy right away. So life just got a bit more complicated and certainly more dramatic. I'm not sure how much of this is sinking in with Dad. Tomorrow we'll go to the hospital and the doctors office for pre surgical testing and then on Thursday he'll go in for day surgery for the biopsy. It will be about a week before we get the pathology reports back. On the 8th of October we'll go in and see what the report says. More than likely Dad will need to go for radiation therapy 5 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks. What adds more complications to the entire situation is that I still have not spoken to my brother and doubt that he will be helpful in any way.

Hitch Hiker

Look who hitched a ride into our house this weekend!

In Flight

Stretched my creative muscles today.

Going Out!

Well it's been a very long time since I have gone out on a Saturday evening. Tonight is the night. Usually 'R' plays out on either a Friday or Saturday evening and I stay home with the kids. Now that he and his band has gone it's separate ways I will have more of an opportunity to get out and reconnect with my girlfriends. I made a yummy appetizer that I'll bring to
'C's house and she has cocktails and other snacks for the few of us who are spending the evening together. It will be nice to have some adult conversation with friends.

Spent some time with Dad today. We are talking about the possibility of creating an in law addition over at our house. The plan would be to get a loan build it and then pay it off after he sells his house. I would feel so much better to have him close to us so that we can make sure he is safe. I worry that a move to a completely strange neighborhood and home would be detrimental to his health and well being. We shall see how this all goes.

Well now I'm off to get ready for tonight. I think I might need some coffee before I go out. The rain today has put me in a very sleepy state.

Peace!

Remembering Joseph Roberto

Joseph Roberto

37 years old

Midland, New Jersey

A Family is

a circle of strength and love.

With every birth and every union the circle grows.

Every joy shared adds more love.

Every crisis faced together

makes the circle stronger.

Joseph "Joe" Roberto was a son, brother, uncle, husband, and father.

He was devoted to his family and his family devoted to him.

He was a friend and colleague.

He maintained a solid work ethic and held himself to high expectations.

He enjoyed life: motorcycles, riding his motorcycle and investigating the battlefields in Virginia and West Virginia, exploring nature with his son, collecting coins, putting up his parents holiday decorations and gathering his own.

He is loved.

When I first received my name from the 2996 project I felt an immediate connection to Joseph Roberto as he shares a variation of my father's name. As I started my research I found it difficult to find much information to share, but I continued to dig and search. Finally I found this site and I learned much more about this person whom we all lost on September 11, 2001. I am honored and humbled to share this tribute today on the 8th anniversary of the greatest loss we have felt on our soil. May the Roberto family be blessed and my God bless the United States of America.

Peace

Troubles

car troubles, sleep troubles, family troubles..... lots going on.... all will be well. I hope. Family troubles might linger. Seems my brother isn't speaking to me at the moment. Sigh. All having to do with the sale of Dad's house and his (my brother's) current economic predicament. Car is in the shop to be fixed which means I must hitch a ride with my friend 'S' to get to school. I hate asking for help! Sigh again. Sleep troubles are hopefully over... 'n' had bad dreams and climbed in last night at 3am. Not much sleep to be had between 3 and 5:30. Tired. Heading to bed now for much needed rest.

Peace!


sorry this isn't my usual upbeat post, guess I had to vent for just a minute Thanks for listening :)

The First Week

Well we've done it! We made it through the first full week of school. I now have a fifth grader in middle school as well as a third grader. Both children are happy. The first day gave us all butterflies. I walked 'N' to the bus stop at the very end of the street. I was the only mom to walk to the bus stop. I was unsure if I should stay with him or not. He gave me the ok to go back home but when I turned around he was just standing alone. I was so worried for him and remembering how I felt when I went to middle school. I was so happy to see his face when he walked home from the bus stop. Smiles and excitement... so much better than last year. In contrast 'n' was thrilled to get to school we walked into school and delivered special notes and snacks to her 2nd grade teacher as well as her new 3rd grade teacher before she spent a few minutes at the morning YMCA before school program. Her new teacher is lovely and the classroom is one of the best rooms in the building. There was minimal homework this week and lots of interesting stories. So far so good.

I started back at my school too. I met the children in both the morning and afternoon classes over the last two days. The children seem to be very excited to come back to school, meet new friends and reconnect with their old friends. Looking forward to a good year.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Looking forward to an extra day off.

Peace!