I cannot believe that it's 2009 - yes, everyone thinks the same thing, I realize that. But in 1964 I connected to my wonderful one ... 45 years in July! I believe that some people are meant to be together ... me and WO were meant to be together and we have stayed the course even when the outside worlds we live in got tough ... we never blamed each other, we never took it out on the other. Yes, we are human and we were touchy and sometimes had no patience ... but knowing each other so well, we let the other get to a different place before we "discussed" anything. It has worked.

Putting the other before yourself is hard sometimes ... especially as a caregiver. But if you truly care for that person, it's what you do. It's not heroic, it's not "so nice" ... it just is what it is. And what is isn't always wonderful ... so you need to grow up, deal with it. And you do that in stages like grief ... it takes a while. So you just continue doing what has to be done and hoping and praying all the while.