With my father in law terminally ill and declining raplidly, I knew I'd be a gone a while but had no idea it would be quite this length of time. That, and the chaos surrounding it, are the main reasons I didn't say anything just prior to disappearing off the face of the blogosphere. It all happened so quickly it's a blur now; I couldn't get a grip on anything, much less popping in to announce I wouldn't be popping in for the foreseeable future.
My father in law passed away on the 10th of November, after nine months' spent battling gastric cancer. We knew he was terminal but when he went into the hospital for the last time we didn't anticipate his rapid decline. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, it was so quick. We'd still been anticipating the potential of one last round of chemo, introducing another drug that may or may not have extended his life when it became apparent there were no more options.
The after-effects of our loss will be felt especially intensely during the holidays. We've already gotten through our first Thanksgiving without him; now it's time to face our first Christmas. Then, New Year's Eve, a holiday we always shared with my in laws. That will be especially tough.
My goal is to write an end of year wrap up but I don't expect I'll be up for much more than that through the end of 2012. You never know, though. I've certainly learned life is anything but predictable.
Until next time, stay well.
