Dear Friends...

Just a place-holder to tell you that I haven't been posting because I have nothing happy to share at the moment.  My dad is in the hospital, and the only recipe I have for you is how to make a tasty and palatable milkshake out of a can of Ensure nutrient drink (secret:  big scoops of any rich ice-cream, duh).  We hope to be taking him back to his home quite soon, but it will be for his final stretch of a few months more, perhaps, on the planet. 

He's had a good long run, but as one of my dear cousins says, that doesn't compensate for the fact that none of us is getting out of here alive. 

Comments

[Paula]

I am so sorry to hear that. My boyfriend has testicular cancer and that hasn't been too easy on the blog, either. Here's to your pop's last summer being full of friends and flowers.

[Alanna @ A Veggie Venture]

Aii, my heart goes out to you. From experience, I can also share that it's an incredible honor to help care for a parent. May you find more laughs than tears ...

[Jessica]

Julie, I am so sorry to hear this about your father. I know how stressful it can be to worry and care for a very ill parent... Please know you are on my heart, and I will be praying for you and your family.

[evil chef mom]

Julie, I will be thinking of you and your dad. Take care of yourself. We will be here when you come back.

[judy]

Julie. I lost my father to cancer in October. It is such a difficult process to be a part of, but I can't help but feel blessed that I was able to be there as much as I was. Little things like making palatable milkshakes from ensure are no longer little things; They are gifts of comfort and love and you will still remember that years from now. It's little things like a glance, a joke, a moment of sitting side by side sharing the same sunbeam that your heart holds on to. I hope you and your father can be a blessing to each other in the time you have left together.

judy

[Lea]

Julie, please know that I'm thinking of you and your dad. I know it's a comfort to him to have you near. Your love for each other can never be broken.

Hugs,
Lea xxx

[Bakerina]

Oh, honey.

[Jenny Schwartzberg]

Dear Julie,
I showed your post to Mom and she remembered that when Red's father, JJ was in the same position, Granny Emma also made milkshakes, with milk, ice cream, and...she added brandy. JJ loved it and we think Red would too. We send all our love and lots of virtual hugs and kisses to you, G, and all the family.
Love,
Cousin Jenny

[Julie]

Thanks, Paula -- I'm sorry too to hear about your boyfriend.

Alanna, I know what you're saying. I feel very lucky to be here to do anything and everything for my dad.

Many thanks, Jessica. Your kind thoughts mean a great deal to me.

evil chef mom, I really appreciate the sentiments -- the joy of blogging is that we really are here for each other, virtually and otherwise.

Judy, thanks -- I'm already in a such a good place of spending lots of really good time with him. These moments do mean a lot, and will continue to do so over the next few months, I know.

Lea dear, thanks so much. I'm really glad to be in your thoughts right now.

Ms. Bakie, I'll see you soon.

Dear Jenny, when we get Red home I'll certainly try out some brandy milkshakes on him.

[Ivonne]

Julie,

I'm thinking of you.

[mari]

Julie, you're in my thoughts and prayers. Enjoy every second with your father with as much joy and peace as you can muster.

[Zarah Maria]

Oh Julie. You're in my thoughts.

[Niall Harbison]

Hi There

Sorry for writing this in the comments but as I am compiling a list of all the food bloggers in the world it would take too long to find all the e mail addresses. I have 2 things that are of interest to food bloggers 1)The comphrehensive list of Food Bloggers from around the glode we have compiled at http://ifoods.tv/site/blog-links.jsp As this list is massive can you check if your blog is correctly linked and you are happy with it. Secondly we are offering food bloggers free advertising banners on www.iFoods.tv as part of a initiate to drive traffic to food blogs. Could you please email us if you wish to participate. Once again sorry for writing in the comments and hope to hear from you soon. Cheers

[Bunni]

Ah what would a poignant blogpost be without a touch of spam commenting?

Just want you to know that I am thinking of you. Anything you need, just let me know.

[Julie]

Ivonne and Mari and Zarah, thanks so much for your kind words and your good thoughts. I'm hungry for them as for nothing else right now. Sometimes I feel as if I am adrift, about to float away on my own sorrow -- and it's the comforting words of friends and loved ones (even the ones you've never met!) that really do bring me back.

Bunni-girl, yes, at this point I can actually laugh at Niall Harbison and his flunkies. They sent me a bunch of apologetic emails, but I carefully pointed out to them that contacting bloggers can easily be done through email, if that's one's purpose. However, if the purpose is to shill for one's own business, then of course leaving comment spam is so much more effective -- no matter if the post is about someone's dying relative. So despite their apologies and offers to "donate to a charity of my choice" (how about the Julie fund? It's always open, and has no funding cap. Please send cash), I decided to leave their comment up, just as a pleasant demo to the world of what they're all about...

[The Yummy Mummy Cooks Gourmet]

Julie -

I came to read and write a foodie comment but was so saddened to hear your dad is sick. I lost my dad a year and a half ago. It's terrible, isn't it?

I will say this - the last few months were a time we got to spend together and just "be", and since my dad was a man of few words, just express everything we needed to say to each other wordlessly. It was sad but also poignant and something I'll remember forever. I also will never forget the sight of my littlest napping next to him in his hospital bed. He kept one hand on her back the entire time. Okay, I'm crying now...

Just know I'm with you and your dad in spirit and keeping you both in my prayers.

Kim