I suppose ordinarily this would go in the hangout, but I usually post here and ergo just it feel it more appropriate. My good friends and neighbors are pregnant with twins. It has been a really hard road for them. They have struggled to conceive and have endured some really hard (and painful) dissapointments. In the meantime my wife and I have had a child, and his sister has also given birth. This has unfortunately made things even more depressing. They finally got pregnant with the help of IVF. Well the pregnancy is not going well. And I'm just feeling so awful for the two of them. They are just plain awesome people. Genuine, thoughtful, and deeply committed to each other. As they now struggle through anxiety and helplessness, I'm just plain aghast at the unfairness of it all. We all see news reports of children being abandoned and abused by all sorts of horrible people. Of teenagers doing absolutely horrific things that I don't even want to think or write about it. And here are two sincere people, who would be great parents, but are facing deprivation of something so special. For no good reason. Another good friend found out he has cancer today. He has a pacemaker, and as such chemotherapy options are limited. He has two young children... It puts things in perspective, I suppose. But that perspective is sometimes just unnaturally cruel. I don't really know what the point of this post is. Sometimes life has a very harsh way of refocusing one's priorities.
I'm sorry to hear that man. Sometimes really good people are dealt really ****ty cards. My family and I have been Sweden for the past month and I've seen how other people live. It is a different kind of life here. Most people are relaxed and just live at a different pace. While we have done some touristy stuff and traveled around a bit, we have mostly just hung out with my wifes family. They are the coolest people I've ever been around. We are leaving to head to the airport to go home in about 5 hours and I really down about it. I'm not looking forward to the hectic pace and life we have back home. You talk about perspective and I have a completely different perspective on life since being here. I'm not saying that Sweden is utopia, I'm sure everyone has problems. It's just different to see people take time to enjoy life instead of constantly worrying about what's next. People have just enough and they seem ok with that. People take time to conserve energy and recycle. They spend time with their kids and go fishing after work. I regret that I haven't spent more time with my kids. It seems I'm always working or too tired or preoccupied to do things like that. I'd give up my big house, big cars, and flat screen TV's to have this kind of life. I wish it was that easy.
MB: Thanks for the post. I know exactly how you feel. I wonder how much silly materialism, social misdirection, and just plain greed has made me misunderstand what the heck is important in my life. Things like this certainly make such feelings even more acute. Like you say though, it's so damn hard to get out of the rat-race from inside it. Lowering your so-called" standard of living is really hard. Especially in the states.
rhad... My best friend and his wife are kind of dealing with the same thing. They haven't been able to conceive, yet. They are 2 fantastic people who will be fantastic parents. At the same time, her brother, who is currently addicted to pain killers, has 4 children with his now estranged wife. Luckily, she finally cleaned up her act and the kids have a more stable home, but it's completely unfair that this couple who want kids in the worst way have to sit back and watch her brother, a s*** stain on society, have 4 children. On top of that, they lost her father last week to cancer. It simply makes no sense to me.
I think just having universal healthcare would go so far towards fostering a more relaxed society. People would have much more freedom to work at a job (and as much) as they really wanted, rather than being forced into jobs because they offer health insurance.
I think there is a whole lot more too it than that. rhad, that story hurts. Thanks for the perspective check.
I hope if Obama is elected he would implement some kind of universal health care. Sorry about your friends.
Well said. Health care for everyone, pensions and higher minimum wages will help people to feel more secure. Unfortunately the other types of personal tragedies you mention will still be part of the human condition.
What a shame. That is really rough. I think it's very hard to want children so badly, and work so hard at it, and be given hope, and then have it taken away. It just seems like an awful feeling. That is also a total downer about the cancer friend. I lost my mother to cancer. She sent it into remission twice, but the third time it spread, and there was nothing that could be done. It's a hard road. It won't be easy on anyone, and I feel awful for the children. Best of luck.
