http://pamstone.pnn.com/6787-the-front-page Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:03:35 GMT A PNN Broadcast by: pamstone <p><strong>Creating a New Life!</strong></p><p>Earlier this year, I woke up in the hospital after having suffered a mild heart attack, and realized I needed a new life.</p><p>If you are like me, you have spent your life taking care of others.</p><p>Starting at the age of 11, my Grandmother came to live with us after my Grandfather's death.&nbsp; She was 80 years old at the time, and lived with us for the next 22 years!&nbsp; Having never spent a night by herself in her life, until she died, whenever my parents wanted to go somewhere, I was on "Granny duty".&nbsp; Most of the time I didn't mind it at all -- she would regale me with stories about San Francisco before and after the 1906 Fire and Earthquake.</p><p>Later, I married and had a wonderful son, Frank.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last.&nbsp; Fortunately my former husband and I got along, and worked together to raise our son.</p><p>About the time my Granny died, my father was tentatively diagnosed with Alzheimer's.&nbsp; At that time, the state of medical knowledge was that a firm diagnosis could only be made with an autopsy -- with my father being alive, that was definitely not an option!</p><p>Since my father had no idea where he was, my mother, son and I would pack him up and take him on vacation with us.&nbsp;&nbsp; Before it became impossible to take him anywhere, we took him to China and Europe.&nbsp; It was an interesting experience.&nbsp; In London, my father became frantic because he couldn't find his car keys.&nbsp; He was looking for the keys to a car we had had in London over 25 years before!&nbsp; Another time he thought he was in Panama, where he had been born and raised.</p><p>Throughout that period of time, while holding down at least one job, I spent weekends driving 180+ miles each way to help my mother and provide respite care.&nbsp; Also, as my mother never drove, I had to do the family shopping.</p><p>After my father passed away, my son was in college, so my mother and I spent time together.&nbsp; As she had been literally house bound for years, I felt that she should be able to enjoy herself.&nbsp; In the process, she became my best friend and we traveled to every continent except Antarctica!</p><p>Suddenly, a few years ago, my mother died unexpectedly of undiagnosed colon cancer.&nbsp; So, I packed up and moved back to the home I was raised in.&nbsp;</p><p>So, upon waking up in the hospital, I realized that I had spent my life taking care of others.&nbsp; I also realized that I wanted to live and for the first time, I had to take care of myself first!</p><p>However, there is a small problem -- how do you go about taking care of yourself when it has never been a priority!!&nbsp; In fact, it is a totally new adventure.</p><p>Come join me as I start on this new adventure!</p> Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:03:35 GMT Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:03:35 GMT Pamstone 1.&nbsp; Write something interesting<br />2.&nbsp; Send it to 5 friends<br />3.&nbsp; Add it to <a href="http://del.icio.us/">del.icio.us</a><br />4.&nbsp; Favorite in on <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/">StumbleUpon</a><br />5.&nbsp; Add tags to everything<br />6.&nbsp; keep writing!<br /> Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:03:35 GMT Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:03:35 GMT Pamstone