Are you currently caring for a family member or spouse? Drop by the cafe to share your insights with Jackie, Jeff, and friends.

  Late last night, after all the celebrating for St. Patrick's Day was over, a group of Cafe friends sat quietly enjoying the companionship of one another...a companionship forged by sharing  thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears on our common, yet uniquely individual, journey of caregiving:

Our dear friend Bill quietly said:  "I have learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts."

Mary added: "I have learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be."

Ben:  "I have learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences."

Amy:  "I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you."

Sam added:  "I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel."

Joe:  "I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.  Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself."

Lon:  "I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different."

Then it was my turn.  As all eyes turned toward me, I thought about the revolving door I keep going through with my mother-in-law entering the emergency room; spending days in the cardiac unit; returning home and doing it all over again and again and again. 

I looked at my dear Cafe friends and quietly said:  "I have learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't."

Wishing you good friends and valuable learning on your caregiving journey.  Caringly, Jackie, Jeff, & Friends