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Tag Archives: Loss

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – 9/11

11 Sunday Sep 2022

Posted by Dave Gardner in Bonus Content

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

9/11, Ceremonies, Fear, Loss, Pearl Harbor, rememberance, Twin Towers

I wanted to take a few moments to remember 9/11. I was at the gym, when the planes hit the Twin Towers in New York. While I was working out, I always take a peek at the many televisions in the gym. I didn’t realize this was a news report. I thought it was an action movie, coming to theaters. Boy was I wrong.

When I got home, my voicemail was beeping. When I checked it, the message was from the Company Commander of my recruiting company. The message: Get in to work. This is not a drill.

I did not listen to the rest. I got dressed, told my wife what was going on, and headed in, What a crazy day. I could not believe it. I will always remember that day and where I was when it happened.

I have not looked at the news yet, but there will be ceremonies across the nation commemorating the day, which has been compared to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Have a great Sunday, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Valentine’s Day

14 Monday Feb 2022

Posted by Dave Gardner in Motivation Monday

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Fatigue, habits, Learning, Loss, Love, memories, motivation, pain, Valentine's Day

After reading some posts on the blogs I follow, I was taken aback by some of the sentiments they expressed. One blogger posted about wishing everyone well. Another, explained that she felt better when she served other people, especially when she was in a mourning period.

One of my wife’s friends passed last week from a heart attack. She overdosed and expired in the ambulance speeding to nearby hospital.

How do we stay motivated when our lives are falling apart? I think both of my blogging friends offer some great advice.

When things are bad, you have to grieve. There’s no escaping that. It’s human. Some days it’s ok to just lay in bed and sleep. But all of us have responsibilities. We can only lay in bed and sleep or deal with our depression or sadness or whatever feelings you have for so long, before it disrupts all of your ability to live life.

I have discovered that habits play a huge part in this. When we have habits, we will do what we need to unconsciously. We may not do the best job we could do, but on days where we are really feeling it, doing something is better than doing nothing.

Building habits is something that takes time. You can’t build a habit overnight. Most of my readers have good habits. They write in their blog. Some do a lot of exercise. All do daily what their passions demand–crafting, photography, writing, or creating.

Life would not be life without suffering losses. We are all only here for a finite amount of time. As we age, we experience new pains, fatigue, lose our friends, lose our family, and all the rest. Where is the meaning you ask? The meaning comes from what we do with our lives while we are here. Do we serve others? Do we wish others well? Do we take care of ourselves?

Life is a beautiful thing. It is finite. It is fleeting, but it is a wonderful experience to learn from. Love given–love received.

I wish all of you a terrific Valentine’s Day.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Thankful for the Health of Family and Friends

26 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by Dave Gardner in Thankful Thursdays

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Death, family, Friends, Hardest Hit, health, Loss, Tragedy, World Health Organization

In light of all of the tragedy stretching across the globe, I wanted to express my gratitude for the health of my family and friends. It could be a lot worse, and luckily, it isn’t.

One of my friends wasn’t so lucky. He lost two fraternity brothers this week to the coronavirus. There are thousands of stories of families losing loved ones, told and untold. According to the World Health Education Website we are at 416,686 confirmed cases, 18,589 confirmed deaths, with 197 countries impacted.

The hardest hit are: China (81,869 confirmed cases), Italy (69,176 confirmed cases), U.S.A. (51,914 confirmed cases), Spain (39,673 confirmed cases), Germany (31,554 confirmed cases), Iran (27,017 confirmed cases), and France (22,025 confirmed cases). Each death is tragic, especially when you consider that there is no cure for this thing.

Express gratitude for your loved ones. Reach out to them if you are separated. It’s so important in these rough times.

I hope each of you remains safe, remains informed, and follows local guidance. We can beat this thing if we stay at home, take care of ourselves, and follow the guidance provided by our governments.

Until next time…

Dave

42.942464
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Daily Ramblings – Wisdom Wednesday – Enjoy What you Have While You’ve Got it

22 Wednesday Jan 2020

Posted by Dave Gardner in Wisdom Wednesday

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Gratitude, Grief, Loss, Love, pain, Suffering, Unexpected, wisdom

Life can be tough.

One day you’re hanging out with some friends. One of them dies in a car accident.

One day, you hug your husband, kiss him, and say, “I love you.” He dies on a military deployment.

One day your playing with your dog. Then a vet is called to put them down for seizures.

One day you’re celebrating in your home. The next day, it’s burned to the ground.

All of our loved ones, pets, toys are on loan to us.

The only thing you take with you when it’s your time, is the love in your heart.

Enjoy the people in your life. Serve them. Give them everything you have.

Enjoy your pets. Love them like today is their last day.

Enjoy your toys. They will wear out.

Be grateful for even the smallest thing you possess. You’ll leave it behind when you’re gone.

The love you have for them never leaves.

It is love that you take with you.

The love you felt at your birthday.

The love you felt when your dog woke you up to go outside for a pee.

The love you felt when you kissed your wife, your husband, your Mom, your Dad, your son, your daughter, your brother or sister, your boyfriend or girlfriend.

The love you feel when you’re hanging out and just looking at how great that person makes you feel.

Love is the only thing that will never leave.

Love is forever.

Love endures.

Love stays.

Until next time…

Dave

42.997350
-82.507366

Daily Ramblings – Book Review – Vietnam: A View From the Front Lines

18 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by Dave Gardner in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Andrew West, Heart Wrenching, History, Loss, Non-Fiction, PTSD, Traumatic Injuries, Vietnam, War

Vietnam: A View from the Front Lines (General Military)Vietnam: A View from the Front Lines by Andrew Wiest

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy Mr. West’s work. This book is written much like the documentaries that are produced by Ken Burns, focusing on the man in the trenches, rather than the strategic view of conflict that is typical of most historical books. Some of this book is really heart wrenching, particularly when the wives of men who died are writing about their lives after they lost a husband. I can’t imagine how horrific that was. I highly recommend this book to anyone studying the Vietnam War.

View all my reviews

42.997789
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Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Losing a Pet

15 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by Dave Gardner in Spiritual Saturday

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Crossing Over, Leaving this World, Losing a Pet, Loss, Mourning, The Next Adventure, Transition, Weezer

My sister’s dog Weezer passed yesterday. The Vet diagnosed him with a brain tumor and she decided it was best to put him down to ease his suffering. The little guy lost all of his energy in recent months and over the last few days couldn’t walk or negotiate stairs.

Losing a pet is no fun. You spend a good majority of your time with them and then, suddenly, they’re gone. What was interesting with the little guy was that he wanted to follow my sister everywhere she went toward the end of his life. It was frustrating because he had a bad habit of sitting right behind her on the floor when she was cooking. I think it was his way of spending as much time with my sister as he could because he knew his time was coming. He wanted to be as close to her as he could, since his time was fleeting.

Pets, like us, realize at some point when our time here is up. With dogs they sleep more. They dream more. In my religious path, we use these dreams or experiences to ease one from this world to the next with as little shock as possible. My sister said Weezer went easy. He didn’t fight. He just went to sleep. This happens when we slowly let go of our attachments to this life and prepare for the next. If we pay attention, the same will happen for all of us when it is our time to go.

Weezer, we will miss you. You were a great companion to our family, and you were always a welcome addition to our home when my sister had to travel. Goldie will miss you too. Even though you got on her nerves when you were here, she will wonder what happened to you when my sister comes the next time and you are not there. Wherever you are, buddy, I know you will run after balls and enjoy yourself in the next life. I wish you well on your journey my little friend.

For any of you that lose a pet, know they are in a good place, filled with love, and doing the same things they did here. They are on their next adventure and continue their journey back to God. Like our pets, our time here is temporary. We will all pass over too. As we age, we too will sleep more and dream more, to make our transition to our next assignment in the worlds of God easier.

I wish all of you a terrific Saturday!

Until next time…

Dave

42.997350
-82.507366

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Posting – Veteran’s Day

11 Sunday Nov 2018

Posted by Dave Gardner in Veteran's Day

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

California Wildfires, Gratitude, Loss, Love, memories, Thousand Oaks, Veteran's Day, War, Worry

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about all the suffering in California. The wildfires are ripping through the countryside, people are having to evacuate their homes, while first-responders are doing their best to contain the fire and save those souls who cannot help themselves. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about the shooting in Thousand Oaks. I wondered about what went through the Marine’s head as he squeezed off round after round into the bodies of the patrons of that establishment who were just there to enjoy some music, finger food, and their friends. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I try to understand the victims of these tragedies and how their lives have been overturned by events they had no control over. I think about the Mothers, Fathers, sons, and daughters. I think about the Aunts and Uncles. I think about the pet owner who has lost their best friend to the tragedy of a fire. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about all the men and women of our Armed Forces and the sacrifices they make every day. I think about the first responders who are here to keep us safe and protect our loved ones in times of natural disaster. I think about the sacrifices that are made, the losses of life and limb, and what it means to be a volunteer. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about all the wars this nation has fought. I thought about all the young men and women who volunteered to help keep this country safe. I thought about the tears that streak down a soldier’s face when he bids his loved ones goodbye. I thought about the tears held back by the fathers who watched their baby boy or girl left, to stay strong for his wife and the rest of their family. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about all the wives and mothers waiting by the phone to hear from their loved one in harm’s way. I thought about the constant worry that goes through their minds as they scour the Internet, the television, and the radio for any news. I thought about the day a man in uniform arrives at home to deliver the worst news ever. I thought about the caskets arriving at Dover. I thought about the funerals and parades. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about the time I was told by my unit first sergeant that the Red Cross called. I thought about how angry my Mother was that I hadn’t called. I was thinking about my wife calling me in Turkey after having a car accident and not knowing what to do. I was thinking about how cold it was one rainy night in Austria on a field exercise. I was thinking about how cold I was pulling guard duty at Spandau on a Christmas Eve, wondering what the hell I volunteered for. I was thinking about waking up to the smell of hot bread in Berlin. I was thinking about a New Year’s Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at this keyboard.

As I write today’s bonus posting I was thinking about the time I got a letter from a Judge in my hometown and how good it felt to have someone say thanks for my service. I was thinking about getting a care package from an elementary class in South Dakota whom I’d never met. I was thinking about the looks on my soldier’s faces when they got mail from home. I was thinking about how great the food tasted when I hadn’t eaten in four days. I was thinking about how good a hot shower felt. I was thinking about how warm and soft my wife was when I returned home. All, as I sit in my comfortable home office and clack away at my keyboard.

I thank everyone that has served our country. I will never forget you. You are what America is all about.

Until next time…

Dave

Sergeant First Class

United States Army, Retired

42.997964
-82.517601

Daily Ramblings – Daily Quote

25 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by Dave Gardner in Quotes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

family, Friends, Loss, pets, Sadness, Time Heals

Today’s Quote:

“Sadness flies away on the wings of time.” – Jean de La Fontaine

Most of us have experience with unfortunate events. We lose a loved one to disease or old age or a cherished pet whose time has come. Death is an inevitable end for a body that just won’t last forever.

The sadness we associate with loss is always a painful one, primarily because it is permanent. That person or pet will not be here in our lives anymore. Time is the only healer. We get a new pet, we bring our friends and living family members closer, and we just begin to accept our new situation.

If you’ve lost someone recently and are feeling the pain I’ve described above, I am truly sorry for your loss. Only time will heal those wounds.

Until next time…

Dave

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