HandsomeHarley
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2004
- Messages
- 4,587
I know this is a couple of weeks early, but I didn't want to tack it onto a running Christmas thread because it is important to me to get this out.
Thanks to a lot of friends, some whom we know, but most whom we don't, we will have a very merry Christmas this year, and I wanted to express thanks for any and all who might have had a hand in it.
As most of you know, I've been struggling with depression and self-worth over not having a job and the financial struggles that go with that. It has been a very rough year and not even close to the first rough year in our lives. In fact, our lives (both my wife and mine as singles, as well as together through 19 years of marriage) have been an uphill climb the likes of which are way too long to put down in one writing.
This Christmas was looking like another rough one. My mother passed away in October. We were never close, but the realization that three of my sisters and I are the oldest living family members has taken its emotional toll (no parents, no grandparents). In fact, I will turn 44 at the end of March, the age my father was when he died in 1977.
Many of you have shared your thoughts with me through this board. Some have been sympathetic and others empathetic (yes, there is a difference!), and I have grown close to still others and know you by name.
To make a long story short and to help me get the tears out of my eyes, we had a knock at the door tonight. At it was a Christmas tree, followed by several -- SEVERAL -- bags of groceries, being delivered by four men from our church whom I don't even know their names.
There's something magical about a Christmas tree that really makes Christmas. As a child, I used to lie under our tree and stare up through the lights -- the colors, the smell and the anticipation of opening presents are some of my most fond memories and those which I want to pass down to our now 11-year-old, developmentally-disabled son.
So many of you have been generous in ways I can't imagine. My wife now understands why I peck on the keyboard night after night on SportsJournalists.com. To all of you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have brightened my dim spirits while giving me hope, and have our son bouncing off the walls in anticipation. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Because of many of you, I am holding on, even if it is just one more day at times. I know I'm stubborn, and probably have too much pride, but I can't stand the thought of my kids growing up like we did. Because of many of you, I can still hold my chin up and know things will get better.
So thank you, my SportsJournalists.com family.
-HH
Thanks to a lot of friends, some whom we know, but most whom we don't, we will have a very merry Christmas this year, and I wanted to express thanks for any and all who might have had a hand in it.
As most of you know, I've been struggling with depression and self-worth over not having a job and the financial struggles that go with that. It has been a very rough year and not even close to the first rough year in our lives. In fact, our lives (both my wife and mine as singles, as well as together through 19 years of marriage) have been an uphill climb the likes of which are way too long to put down in one writing.
This Christmas was looking like another rough one. My mother passed away in October. We were never close, but the realization that three of my sisters and I are the oldest living family members has taken its emotional toll (no parents, no grandparents). In fact, I will turn 44 at the end of March, the age my father was when he died in 1977.
Many of you have shared your thoughts with me through this board. Some have been sympathetic and others empathetic (yes, there is a difference!), and I have grown close to still others and know you by name.
To make a long story short and to help me get the tears out of my eyes, we had a knock at the door tonight. At it was a Christmas tree, followed by several -- SEVERAL -- bags of groceries, being delivered by four men from our church whom I don't even know their names.
There's something magical about a Christmas tree that really makes Christmas. As a child, I used to lie under our tree and stare up through the lights -- the colors, the smell and the anticipation of opening presents are some of my most fond memories and those which I want to pass down to our now 11-year-old, developmentally-disabled son.
So many of you have been generous in ways I can't imagine. My wife now understands why I peck on the keyboard night after night on SportsJournalists.com. To all of you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have brightened my dim spirits while giving me hope, and have our son bouncing off the walls in anticipation. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Because of many of you, I am holding on, even if it is just one more day at times. I know I'm stubborn, and probably have too much pride, but I can't stand the thought of my kids growing up like we did. Because of many of you, I can still hold my chin up and know things will get better.
So thank you, my SportsJournalists.com family.
-HH
