Just a quick update on life in the Northwest... still upright and breathing, so I guess I am still alive... underwent the physical therapy and made it back to my regular job after dealing with the loss of my mom and moving into a new home all at the same time... am still dealing with back pain and will continue to for the rest of my life according to the docs but have learned how not to over do it too much and cause undo stress and more pain... will be able to do my job for an undetermined amount of time, depending on how long I take care of myself and how long my spine holds out... goody!!! anyways, the grief of losing my parents has lessened but by no means has gone away, some days I am fine and others it overwhelms me. I miss my mom the most I think because we grew so much closer to each other after losing dad, and it is almost as if when she died I lost a major part of myself. I didn't think that I would hurt this much... So, I get up in the mornings, go to work or do the things that need to be done and for the most part just function... I don't really think of it as living, just as existing. I don't really have any close friends around me anymore, as I had devoted most of my time to caring for my parents and no significant other in my life either unless you count my dog... don't get me wrong, I am not in a pity pot mood here, just stating facts. I am not exactly lonely, just alone. I don't know if it's a good thing or not, it just is. And most of the time I like it that way. I don't have to answer to anyone, cater to anyone's whims but my own, (and the dog's...lol) and I can do whatever I want whenever I want. However sometimes.........it would be nice to have someone to talk to that doesn't pant all the time whenever you ask him a question...lol