I am back, thank you Griffin so much for catching messages and playing secretary. I'm home and exhausted, since 19 December was in two different hospitals, at Urgent Care twice, had a telemed with my doctor, & saw a specialist yesterday. Neuro ophthalmologist I think. No stroke but i have lost most of the vision in my right eye, seems to be getting progressively worse. So I'm trying to limit screen time, be kinder to my eyes. For now this should not affect my ability to keep researching and answering questions. If that should change, i'll update. Thank you to this very unique community for your patience and kindness. Grace + peace, AmyLynn. (leaving Grif's note up for a while just in case)
*~*~*~*~*
AmyLynn has been hospitalized since 12-20-2022 with sudden loss of vision in one eye, a possible stroke. She hopes to be back very soon, I will carry msgs to her if there are emergencies, we need a little bit of patience for Edits, I know that is extremely important to her. We appreciate your prayers and good thoughts for our Lynnie.
- G. Mathers.

Loves cats, books, used to (some of these things are in the past, it's hard to not hope for a miracle though) take photos of people who hate having their photo taken, to show them how beautiful they are to everyone. Disabled for the last thirty did pretty well until the most recent losses. Not sure there is ever any "being ok" or the same after loss, but the complete strangers who truly keep me alive by making me laugh are my current heroes (Currently enjoying podcasts "Fly On the Wall" with Dana Carvey and David Spade and "Literally! With Rob Lowe" - highly recommend for a dose of the medicine of laughter.
Please always feel free to be in touch with questions, advice, only funny insults... ;0) I'm here to help if I can. This place has brought me a lot of solace, peace, and occasionally smiles, for which I'm so grateful.
I have always believed, to quote my Mom, that we are walking around now in our "Earth Suits", and that there is life after this one. My personal faith says a lot about this, but it is absolutely actor Martin Short who taught me the most *practical* advice about death. In his Memoir, he talks about the importance of three things - First, of "continuing the conversation". He talks about still speaking with his beloved wife after her passing, and remembering what she would surely say in response. Second - Keep saying their names! I agree. I missed saying so many names of people I love who are gone, missed giving them silly nicknames and putting their names in completely incongruous songs :) . Say it, not in hushed tones, unless that is what brings you peace and or comfort.
The third is this - and I believe Martin took some of this from Henry Scott Holland's poem about death - our loved ones are not gone, they are only "in another room". This is the hardest, for me at least, to fully grasp, but it's so wise.
Link to full poem: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland

I am back, thank you Griffin so much for catching messages and playing secretary. I'm home and exhausted, since 19 December was in two different hospitals, at Urgent Care twice, had a telemed with my doctor, & saw a specialist yesterday. Neuro ophthalmologist I think. No stroke but i have lost most of the vision in my right eye, seems to be getting progressively worse. So I'm trying to limit screen time, be kinder to my eyes. For now this should not affect my ability to keep researching and answering questions. If that should change, i'll update. Thank you to this very unique community for your patience and kindness. Grace + peace, AmyLynn. (leaving Grif's note up for a while just in case)
*~*~*~*~*
AmyLynn has been hospitalized since 12-20-2022 with sudden loss of vision in one eye, a possible stroke. She hopes to be back very soon, I will carry msgs to her if there are emergencies, we need a little bit of patience for Edits, I know that is extremely important to her. We appreciate your prayers and good thoughts for our Lynnie.
- G. Mathers.

Loves cats, books, used to (some of these things are in the past, it's hard to not hope for a miracle though) take photos of people who hate having their photo taken, to show them how beautiful they are to everyone. Disabled for the last thirty did pretty well until the most recent losses. Not sure there is ever any "being ok" or the same after loss, but the complete strangers who truly keep me alive by making me laugh are my current heroes (Currently enjoying podcasts "Fly On the Wall" with Dana Carvey and David Spade and "Literally! With Rob Lowe" - highly recommend for a dose of the medicine of laughter.
Please always feel free to be in touch with questions, advice, only funny insults... ;0) I'm here to help if I can. This place has brought me a lot of solace, peace, and occasionally smiles, for which I'm so grateful.
I have always believed, to quote my Mom, that we are walking around now in our "Earth Suits", and that there is life after this one. My personal faith says a lot about this, but it is absolutely actor Martin Short who taught me the most *practical* advice about death. In his Memoir, he talks about the importance of three things - First, of "continuing the conversation". He talks about still speaking with his beloved wife after her passing, and remembering what she would surely say in response. Second - Keep saying their names! I agree. I missed saying so many names of people I love who are gone, missed giving them silly nicknames and putting their names in completely incongruous songs :) . Say it, not in hushed tones, unless that is what brings you peace and or comfort.
The third is this - and I believe Martin took some of this from Henry Scott Holland's poem about death - our loved ones are not gone, they are only "in another room". This is the hardest, for me at least, to fully grasp, but it's so wise.
Link to full poem: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland