Goodness me, the outpouring of love and support is overwhelming. It’s amazing and fills my soul with love, gratitude and a bit of loss for words.
I am ALWAYS the Caregiver; ALWAYS the Hostess; ALWAYS the one in charge of everything. Suddenly, I realize that I actually might need to relinquish a bit of that control freak persona that is Karen.
So when everyone says what can I do – my initial response is nothing.
BUT, as a person who always tries to do for others, I also understand OTHER people might want to do the same (thanks to my friend TA – for reminding me of that).
Please know that this is NOT to solicit “stuff” in any way. But people keep ASKING, so…
I will post a list of things that might be helpful as time goes on.
| What Can You Do? | Notes |
| Pray; send me positive thoughts; add me to prayer lists; just send me positive energy and vibes through the universe. I SWEAR I feel that! *Text me nonsense or simply say, “Hey, I thought about you”. A funny picture or meme or anything. You don’t have to say anything else. I promise not to bombard you with a lengthy response – but sometimes just hearing that someone is thinking about you can positively impact their day. Do that for other people too. Reach out to your parents; grandparents; Aunts & Uncles; Siblings; Friends. Let them know they matter in whatever small way you can. Knowing you matter to anyone fills people up. It brings them joy. It shows they have a purpose and impacted YOU in some way. Lastly, be kind to everyone. | *Some of my work besties even started a Slack channel called “Karen’s Good Vibes” Feed. It’s meant to raise my spirits and have something not work related that just helps me feel good – but still apart of them all. So far it’s been pictures of Dogs, Cats and Alexander Skarsgard. Apparently, my team know what I like! We all know how I feel about this administration too – so Political posts are always a fun thing! Can’t make me too angry though – as I might bust a stitch or staple or something! |
| Remember to check on Tim! | Tim is my ROCK. He’s my everything and this is going to be very hard on him too. Do what I said above. Make him feel like he’s not alone in this with me. And get him out of the house. He cannot be stuck with just me – 24/7. Remember Covid? |
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| Helpful Recommendations & Activities updated 7/22 I’m going to keep adding when I think of things! | I’ll be in recovery mode for 4-6 weeks after the surgery and will be limited. After the first 4 – I would LOVE to go back to work but…for that 1st 4… 1. Have a book to read? I love fiction; non-fiction; just not romance (I married an Iowa man – I live that! Ha – anyone that knows us is laughing!!!) 2. Binge worthy shows? I could watch the Soprano’s for the 100th time – but I’m always open! And we have EVERY streaming service out there. My friend & Canadian Support Bestie A – suggested BBC Docs – so I’m excited about that! 3. Visit me and play with our doggies! Bring yours too! I love me some playtime! Finnegan will bark, it will be loud, but Sansa and Lottie are lovies and Fergus will ignore you – so it balances out. Plus if you hate cats – Mimi will saddle up right next to you just because. 4. Visit me and help me water my plants. I can’t lift those watering cans for 6 weeks! Wednesdays and Saturdays! Actually Tim can do it – but it can be a fun excuse to see me! 5. For the “Langford Family” come by and help me sort pictures. This will be a perfect time to sort Aunt Kathe’s 14 boxes of photos from our crawlspace that have been here since 2012. 6. For the “Langford Family” #02: Help me get ALL the Langford Family recipes written out so that we can FINALLY make that file we all want. KA-KA Balls; AK’s Carrot Cake; Aunt Lynn’s Chicken Enchilada’s; Lang Potato Salad and Aunt June’s Cream Puffs anyone? We gotta get them outta our heads and digitized. 7. I really plan on getting back into my writing. Give me topics or ideas for my essays. This has been an eyeopener to do the things I loved doing. I’m dusting off my ‘novel’ ideas as well. I’ve got stories in my head that need telling. 8. Help me plan my next “retirement” journey (relax not for at least 5-7 years!) but my plan is to open up Auntie Karen’s Pet Resort and Getaway (on Easy Street of course!). I can’t have ANY more FULL TIME babies at the moment – but Tim let’s me babysit others anytime I want! But I really want that to be our retirement part-time business. I just want ALL the dogs & cats! |
| Helpful Advice on Mediterranean Diet | Have recipes to share? Have a helpful tip for me to get over not having Bacon or Hot dogs ever again? Please share with me! The horror my brain will be in is insurmountable, but my liver and body will adjust in time. And I hope to eventually be small enough to borrow my niece Shannon’s clothes! HEE HAW! As if! |
| Helpful Advice on surviving cancer? | Have a story to tell? Have a book to read? I love recommendations. I also think Therapy with people that have experienced cancer will be an amazing shared topic to discuss. |
| Meals; Doordash; Grubhub ?? | Next two weeks I’m on a liquid diet (liver detox – aka – HELL!). But Tim needs to eat and then AFTER surgery – we’ll both need it. I’ll be in recovery mode for 4-6 weeks after the surgery and will be limited. Food is always a way to help him. It’ll be an adjustment for us AFTER surgery – as I’ll be on special diet – and seriously I’m more concerned with Tim. The poor guy cannot survive on Busch Lite; Mt. Dew; Pepsi; Cheese in a can; Domino’s pizza and bologna with ketchup (yes he eats like that – but I’m the one with THE CANCER! Go figure!) |