I feel like I should let my faithful readers and commenters know I am entering uncharted territory in my life journey which will undoubtedly impact the blog in some way going forward. I am heartbroken to share that the love of my life, my old study partner, my faithful companion through my journey and the smartest person I ever met started hospice care this week. She is a warrior who fought off a series of multiple catastrophic health crises starting over 20 years ago. Sadly this crisis is a fight she is not going to win. After very sad conversations through many tears we concluded that it's time for her to be free of the pain.
I immediately noticed her in the crowd of students who came together on the first day of medical school. We met formally a few days later at a social event at the Dean's home. We had a brief conversation but I walked away with a feeling there might be a mutual attraction. It took several months to work up the courage to ask her for a date in the spring of 1979. We've been inseparable from that day almost 47 years ago. I am heartbroken.
For the time being I plan to maintain the blog as best I can. It is my therapy and a big part of my reason for living. But as we know, life can get in the way. I will do my best to let you all know when I need to be away and when I expect to return. In the meantime, please know that I value each and every one of you who make this the greatest Giants blog ever, well, except for the guy who hammers me after every single post and I hit the button on so you all don't have to put up with reading it.
Go Giants!
Very sorry to hear that. Can’t imagine what you must be feeling now.
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry. hat a terrible thing for you to go thru. I've been married for 57 years and worry about what you are addressing now. My prayers for you and your significant other in your time of need. Take care. Bob from Dixon
ReplyDeleteDoc, I'm so sorry to hear about your sad news. I'll be praying for you and your family to pull through this difficult time. Take care
ReplyDeleteThank you for trusting your readers with something so deeply personal. I am so sorry. Your love for her shines through in your words. Wishing her peace and you comfort through this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear this news, Doc. I'll be praying for the both of you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this sad news news. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI’m tearing up reading this, Doc. You and by extension your family supporting you in this have been a daily part of our lives here.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know what to say other than that your blog has been a daily ritual for me for nearly the last 14 years closing in on half my life. I’ve graduated high school and college, gotten married, and started my first job, all while reading, commenting, and celebrating Giants news here.
I have no doubt your wife was a supporter this blog, and her encouragement enabled this community to thrive.
I wish you and your family the strength you need during this incredibly difficult time. And when you come back, know that I’ll be right here, ready to complain about and celebrate Giants baseball with you.
- A crying fan
Thank you for the heartfelt comment. I am not going anywhere for now. I will let everybody know when/if I have to step away for ahwile.
Delete🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteAs with everyone else here, we are grateful for the work you do and have done here in this community that you have created. We have all been touched by your generosity, thoughtfulness, and decency. We are all sorry for what you and your family are going through. But wrenching.
ReplyDeletePlease know that this, your, community is here for you, whenever you need us. Godspeed to all involved.
A pair of Drs. What a cool story about you two meeting. God bless you and your wife doc.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was a pretty quick kid coming into medical school but she quickly disabused me of that notion. Smartest person I ever met and I am proud to be the supporting spouse in our relationship.
DeleteSo sorry Doc, thinking of you. Have been enjoying reading you for years - first (and probably) last comment!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, Doc. And so glad you found each other. As someone else said, thank you for the trust in sharing something so personal and so heartbreaking with us. We're with you.
ReplyDeleteDoc! Good day. Just read your post. words are words , but I too was moved to tears. Funny, but I am with you > I married the smartest person I ever met!
ReplyDeleteWe met in the summer of 1980 >then married June 1981. I am 74, and she is 72.
You have been very kind and supportive to me as Ishared earlier in the fall my prostate cancer story. My partner/my best friend > i sometimes shot often wonder where I would be without her.
Sharing her story your story reminds me we are living on borrowed time all of us.
So to you and your family truly know> we care fore and hope the journey ends that you both know your love for each other was well earned and deserved!
Take care old friend!
Richard in Winnipeg
Just caught up here this morning. How devastatingly sad ~ there’s no way to gloss over it or to fill the chasm it creates. May God watch over you both through this journey.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine what it's like to lose a wife and could not survive without mine.
ReplyDeleteI am 47 years, 48 in May, with "my reason for living" and would be lost without her as she IS my brain as I, nearly 86 yo, am experiencing loss of memory and depend upon her to figure things out.
But this is not about me, it is for you and your pain we all feel heartbroken, we love your strength and know much of it comes from your life partner, so we grieve with you as much as we can.
My thoughts are with you. I too check this site every day and the discussions are interesting. I wonder if there is a way to carry on the conversations when you are not present. I am thinking you have given so much to this community, that perhaps we could give back to you by keeping "When the Giants Come to Town" alive. Not sure what that would look like and maintain a respectful tone. Just a thought. I the meantime, take care of your bride. That is what is most important.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear this. My thought will be with your family. I also commend you for sharing it here, and I hope you will keep haring it as you see fit. This is a difficult time, and sharing with others will sure help you.
ReplyDeleteSo great to read what you and your wife found so long ago and so sorry for what you are facing now. Thoughts with you and your wife and your entire family.
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
Thank you for creating such a wonderful, caring community. Thank you for sharing such personal and heart-wrenching information. Know that our thoughts are with you. APGiantsfan
ReplyDeleteSorry Doc
ReplyDeleteDoc, so sorry to hear this sad news. Through your labor of love- this insightful, well informed and engaging blog- you have become a big part of many of us Giants fans’ lives- so we do feel for you and your family. Take heart in knowing you have been blessed with 47+ years of a loving marriage, raising a wonderful family, and sharing in a common and fulfilling career. Please take as much time as you need to devote to your wife and cherish that time you can spend with her. Your many followers will understand and will have your family in thoughts and prayers. And maybe, if it’s not too personal, just let us know how you and the family are doing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDr. B, first, I am. so sorry to hear what your partner (and you) are going through. I've followed "When the Giants Come To Town" for many years and I feel a kind of kinship with your history. My wife and met in 1975 as she and my older sister work at the hospital where my mom was undergoing (terminal) cancer treatment. We married in 1977 and she soon turned into a Giants fan. Thank you for your wonderful blog. Stay strong-for you and for all of us readers! Rick
ReplyDeleteYou and your partner are an inspiration for this 30 year old hoping for the same in his life with his partner. I wish you and your family all the best at this time and thank you so much for what you do for the Giants community.
ReplyDeleteYou're the man, Dr. B!