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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | I know I dropped off the map...but I am back now. Just saying hello and explaining - not looking for sympathy...for the past year...mom gets cancer, dad gets dementia and cancer, mom goes terminal - then dies, buried in Arlingtion National, Dad progresses the wrong way - cannot live on his own, has cancer surgery, nothing to be done about the dementia - I stay out of state to help dad, then move dad to Colorado to try to help more, lose my job due to time away, dad now in assisted living in Colorado, doing okay....I get new job, life returning to normal, restrung the slot head today....it sounds pretty good.
To all the old friends - say hello - even the lurkers - come up for air - say hello...any events on the horizon? public or private....to all who met her - Sam says hello too.
Mark |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Rough year. Welcome back, hope you get some balance back in your life. |
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | Wishing some happiness and relief for you. |
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November 2011
Posts: 741
Location: Fort Worth, TX | Wow... and I have the nerve to complain I will soon have the 19th major surgery. I wouldn't trade spots with you for anything. You sir have been through the wringer my friend, and a pox upon the employer who let you go to deal with all this! Hopefully, as you deserved, you ended up with better employment. Hoping everything starts to go your way from here on out. |
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November 2008
Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | My condolences. The loss of a parent is devastating. Both and your job. You did good. Chin up. Always honor your father and mother. You will be blessed. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Mark - sorry to hear about your year and glad to hear things are improving. It's never easy keeping everything in balance. I hope to see you and Sam at a gathering soon. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Welcome back, Mark. Aging and ailing parents are an issue for many of us. Mine have had similar issues this year, but are doing well in assisted living. Better that you spent some time with them rather than spending time on this board. You've motivated me to give them a call. |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Glad things are beginning to look up for you.
I've been absent for a while also but, nothing what you're going through.
Best of everything to you from here on. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Yow! It seems like trouble never comes a little at a time, but always in bunches that strain us to the breaking point. I hope your next year balances things out by being all good! |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Dave...yes I got a an even better job...so I am fortunate...even though I felt my employer could have handled it better, in the end it was their loss. Mark |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | "You do what you have to for family".... the unwritten rule.
Mark, I feel for you. I went thru what you went thru (a lot of us have and its safe to say, in a positive way, you're not alone) except it kept going with more and more for about 4 years.
Glad to hear you're coming thru the other side and doing well...... |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Thanks Paul |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | 23rd Psalm says "yea tho' I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death", not yea tho's I pitch a freakin' tent and stay there.. You're not gonna be fine, you are fine.
Hell, you played a damned plastic salad bowl in an orchestra pit. You can do anything.....
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October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Mark, condolences for the loss of your mother. Also I am sorry you have the other challenges, and all at the same time. My wife's father passed a few years ago after a long battle with Alzheimer's so we are well aware of the difficulties you are going through. Your OFC family is here so don't be shy about asking for whatever you might need even if it is just a place to blow off some steam. |
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June 2005
Posts: 489
Location: California | I have been there without playing for awhile, to restring that means you are feeling better and that is good.
Strength and happiness! Enjoy playing now.
H |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Mark
glad to see you back.
it's hard to keep on the positive sometimes
stay strong |
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August 2011
Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | In the midst of the challenges gotta enjoy the time you have for it is all we have and all too soon it will be our turn! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hey Mark,
Good to hear from you again. I thought maybe you were pulling a Fugot!
It's a shame but unfortunately we are all reaching that age where we are losing parents.
Immortality is still an elusive goal.
You still in education ?
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February 2013
Posts: 9
| Went through a similar 3 year period a few years ago. More spread out then you, so I feel for you.
Edited by Bobbyelite 2013-07-09 11:49 AM
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Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | Wow. Bummer of a year. Glad you're coming up for air now. A big pat on the back for coming out of it with a positive outlook and a new job. That's outstanding and says a lot about your resiliency.
My dad died in '08 and now my mom is declining. Her health isn't good, her memory and cognition skills are declining slightly, and she is more and more dependent on others. She can afford to have people come in to help, cook, clean, etc., but I'm thinking the time will come (maybe a year?) that she will have to go into assisted living. |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Yep Stephen - still a principal....or as some might say....still on the dark side.....but that's ok, my students call me the weirdest principal ever, since since I act like a busker and play the guitar in the hall...then they think they can stump me with guitar requests....and I normally can play them....and better than Darby would! So what did happen to Fugot.... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | LOL... Darby....what a guy!
and Fugot..... I do not know. Occasionally someone will see an ebay posting for one of his guitars but he has disappeared from the OFC. I still have his number and have tried to call him a few times over the last year without success. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I can't add much that hasn't been said already other than it's good to have you back.
Keep on keepin' on.  |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Best of luck Mark. I just finished up my caretaker phase and know how difficult it is, especially with dementia.
Good thing you have that slot head to see you through! |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Hey Mark,
Saw Darby last night and he says Hi to all the suspects and friends. Glad you're back.
Edited by Beal 2013-07-12 7:35 AM
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March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Mark, glad to see you back...I can sympathize: not the easiest 4 years but I just deal with it...one foot in front of the other and keep on picking cuz it keeps you sane...glad to hear the slothead is doing well too!
Edited by MusicMishka 2013-07-12 8:38 AM
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Thanks Mike, pulling old trivia out here, listened to any Jim Lauderdale, Pete Corum, Scott Ainsley and Michael Marks lately? |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | G'day Mark,
I too have been missing for a while......welcome back.
AJ |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | AJ and Mark in the same thread and almost the same time.........
The world will be ending soon. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | elginacres - 2013-07-06 1:28 AM
I know I dropped off the map...but I am back now. Just saying hello and explaining - not looking for sympathy...for the past year...mom gets cancer, dad gets dementia and cancer, mom goes terminal - then dies, buried in Arlingtion National, Dad progresses the wrong way - cannot live on his own, has cancer surgery, nothing to be done about the dementia - I stay out of state to help dad, then move dad to Colorado to try to help more, lose my job due to time away, dad now in assisted living in Colorado, doing okay....I get new job, life returning to normal, restrung the slot head today....it sounds pretty good.
To all the old friends - say hello - even the lurkers - come up for air - say hello...any events on the horizon? public or private....to all who met her - Sam says hello too.
Mark
Man that rough.... prayer said for you and your family. Welcome back we missed you. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Welcome back James |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | AJ, good to hear from you...hope this post finds you well |
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November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | All the best to you Mark. Those of us who haven't felt your pain will.
It's all part of the ride. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Mark, I'm trying to catch up, too. I retired earlier in the year and am doing a lot of playing, some gigging, lots of motorcycling, some teaching, and haven't been good staying up on these boards. Sorry to hear of your parents. Were you affected any by the floods? |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Prof, good to hear from you, we survived the floods, btw, what looper do you use? |
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September 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Charlotte, NC | elginacres, we haven't met (I just joined a few days ago) but reading your post quickly put my own 'problems' in perspective pretty quick, so I thank you for that and wish you and your father the best.
And I think it's awesome that your a school principal and you play your guitar in the hallways at school. There was a teacher who I first knew from 4th grade (he bounced from one grade / position to another as I went through school) and he always had a guitar with him. All the students loved him and I have fond memories of him playing Beach Boys tunes outside his classroom between classes... Who knows what impact your music will have on some students :-) Might even make some of them want to pick up a guitar themselves! |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Thanks Chilly Willy....but you haven;t heard me play... |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Thanks Chilly Willy....but you haven;t heard me play... |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Welcome back, brother. I can relate directly to your recent time of troubles. Play that guitar! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I use two, both Boss, both dual pedals, the old unit with only 12 memory banks, and the new unit with 99 banks. I keep one on each of my boards. |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Thanks Brad |
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Ahoy and an update