I've been barely active, and have not spoken much, if at all, since March 2019.
To start with, I am a casual gamer, and my family always took priority over gaming, even my job. I found Gaiscioch while I was playing Rift, way back in the beginning of Rift. My most active games right now are Elder Scrolls online, Neverwinter Online, and Elite Dangerous. I play all three on the PC and on the PS4.
By way of introduction;
I am a father of 3 girls, a step-father to 3 girls and 3 boys. I really shouldn't call them boys and girls, my youngest child (step-daughter) is 27, but I've been involved in her, and their, lives since she was 4.
I have 18 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
On 9 March 2019, I rushed my wife, Leona, to the hospital. we through she had a gall stone blocking her bile duct. When she was taken in to have the doctor scope down to see/remove the gall stone, we found out it wasn't a gall stone.
Further scans found a mass on her liver the size of a lemon. The scans also found a mass in her colon, and another small one on her kidney. All were found to be malignant, and none were metastasized, yes, she had three different cancers. We both had just had our annual physicals the month before, and even though Leona complained about digestive issues (as she had for at least 10 years), nothing further was done by our primary doctor.
The mass in her colon was the size of a golf ball, and was able to be removed with clear margins. the mass on her kidney was 1.8mm and was not even a concern. The liver was intruded into so much they had to reduce it's size before they could even consider surgery to remove it. During one of the procedures, they noted an ulcer just past the stomach, as if the cancers were not enough.
Cancer sucks. Because she had 3 different cancers, they had to attack them with a broad spectrum Chemo/Radiation therapy. The mass on the liver continued to grow. Multiple trips to the hospital/ER when things got bad, we "celebrated" our 20th anniversary in the hallway of the emergency room.
We prayed every day for healing, but His will, not mine, be done.
At the end of June 2019, we made arrangements for home hospice. She got weaker every day, and had difficulty holding down food.
She drew her last breath 31 August 2019. For the most part, I've been going through the motions of life. My gaming computer failed December 2019, but it didn't really matter to me.
Then the insanity of the Pandemic. I am thankful the Lord took her home before this happened, it would have broken her heart to see what is happening in our world.
My middle daughter games with me on PlayStation, I have not really seen much of my step-children or grandchildren because of the recommendations that go against what humanity has done since creation. Stay Apart! Don't visit! Wear a face diaper! SANITIZE EVERYTHING! -- We need each other's strength to get through this.
Two months ago, I purchased a gaming laptop, and I am beginning to get back to PC gaming, though I am not able to play long before the discomfort in my mouse hand starts to distract me.
I have enjoyed the newsletters. Thank you Fog, they have been something to keep me connected, even though I was not really active.
You will begin to see more of me, and maybe I will join an event or two on ESO.
Just knowing you are here has helped.
Stephen
(Dobhran Loisneach on ESO)