Hi everyone. I’m Chris. I’m new here. It is very comforting to know that there are communities like this one around to help each other deal with grief and loss. I’ve never dealt with my grieving in a ‘public’ setting, and I look forward to the opportunity to share my feelings with others, and help them deal with whatever difficulties life throws at them.

February is a complicated month for me. My dad died after a 5 year battle with cancer on February 12^th, 2005, at the age of 54. The 5 year anniversary is looming, and it is already hitting me harder than it has the previous couple of years. He was originally diagnosed in February of 2000. Today is also the 3 year anniversary of the death of my grandmother, whom I was very close to. And in the last month I have lost 2 of my great uncles. And today I learned from my mom that her friend’s cancer diagnosis is worse than thought, and he only has a few weeks left. All of this has been a tremendous strain on my family and myself.

I am in southern California, but my family is for the most part in Missouri. Part of the coping and healing process is being with your family and drawing strength from that bond. I don’t really have any blood relatives within 1200 miles, and that’s left me on a bit of an emotional island. I still talk on the phone regularly, but that’s hardly a substitute for a good hug. So I’m not really having the best day. But getting this much off of my chest has already helped quite a bit.