Grit Your Teeth

[allenlondon]

I was on the verge of giving up this morning, then thought of my old man.

He wanted very little, which was just as well. But in his late 40s, he contracted an awful form of arthritis, twisting his feet so badly that walking made him cry in pain.

And yet he carried on, with primitive orthotic shoes, working every day until his premature death aged 63.

So I said to myself, as he must have done, “This is going to hurt, but I’ve got to do it.”

And that thought has sustained me all day. Some people appreciate their parents while they were alive. I wish I had.

(And no, this is not ‘virtue signalling’, whatever that dreadful cliche means; it is deep respect for a gentle, wise man).

[Baldric]

Thank you for sharing Allen.

[Canary42]

What a wonderfully determined guy - we could do with more like him in these troubled times.

[Chinajan]

Your Dad continues to inspire you. That's a wonderful tribute.

[Rosie29]

I agree wholeheartedly with Chinajan. That was a lovely thing for you to say Allen.

[allenlondon]

He used to know Kipling’s ‘If’ by heart, and while I’ve got serious doubts about Kipling’s politics, I can still hear my dad reciting “...and you’ll be a man, my son!”

[ToraToraTora]

forgive me allen, are you similarly in pain?

[allenlondon]

Hello Tora.

I don’t want to say ‘Yes’ in case it distorts our ‘relationship’.

Put it this way. Today, with my dear old man’s spirit in me, much less than sometimes.

A

[Mamyalynne]

When we hurt and struggle we take heart and inspiration from what and who we know - your Dad sounds inspirational.

I am my Daddy's daughter too, when he died at 56 years old my World collapsed, but I knew he'd want me to carry on.

[Bobbisox1]

Allen ,that's deep appreciation and love for your Dad,I have for mine, he was never out of work and passed down some very valuable lessons to us

[ummmm]

I've always appreciated my parents. Miss my dad so much it hurts. Premature death at 59 :-( My mum is so upbeat all the time. She's a funny, non-judgemental, Bible basher :-)

Allen - It's so easy to compare your pain with others, be it your father or not, but no-one can feel somebody else's pain. We all cope differently. And pain is depressing.

I hope you feel better soon and your pain can be controlled x

[AuntPollyGrey]

My father struggled with throat cancer for 7 years without complaint before he died in 2003. Even now I am both sad and angry that he's not around to share our lives.

[ToraToraTora]

15:22, what's the problem I may have some ideas, eg about 4 years ago I had an arthritic type issue in one of my wrists, I could barely scratch my bum, my old Kiwi mate, who's 88 BTW got me to try this "potion" and after about 6 weeks of taking it my pain was gone. It wasn't magic of course the ingredients were 4 of the most powerful natural anti inflammatories put together in a prescribed proportion. I now drink a shot glass every day and I barely have any aches of that nature any more.

[jennyjoan]

do tell TTT

[allenlondon]

Well, (and only because you asked, TTT), I’m an amputee. No big deal there. Ex-alcoholic, drank myself silly, lost a leg.

But underneath the necessary silicone liner my skin ain’t good. Large ulcers, one right on the point of the fibula, so that the skin can grind away between the bone and the hard socket.

Another two behind the knee, hard to dress and slow to heal.

Only real solution is to take to my bed for six weeks.

Which of course is impossible, as who would take care of Mrs A, seriously ill with congestive heart failure? She’s desperate to help, but the slightest activity causes breathlessness.

You asked, Tora.

The only potion that might help is the sort our kind vet keeps in his syringe, which has eased the passing of our cats.

But today was a good day!

A

[ToraToraTora]

ok allen, yes I asked and respect to you for explaining. I know we are often opponents on here but I'm not a barbarian. I'll promise you 2 things, I'll not ever leverage this information in our discussions and, as requested at 15:22, It will not influence me in our traditional bipartisan skirmishes.

[allenlondon]

Gotcha.

[ToraToraTora]

I don't understand, you mean your 19:45 post was insincere?

[Mamyalynne]

I think Allen means he understands and agrees TTT.

[ToraToraTora]

ahh that kind of "gotcha" - cheers

[Sunk]

TTT,
You’ve been ‘reading’ the ’Sun’ too long me old China.