Some Great News

[ML]

This feels so incongruant frankly. To be faced with making ends meet and havng to give up retirement while at the same time given the opportunity to take a cruise! My mom and brother want to pay for us to take a trip. Brother is great with manster and will give husband and I lots of time alone. So we will have this brief interlude with the lifestyles of the rich and famous before coming back to hard reality and wondering if we'll keep the house.

We're flying into Newark on Oct 27th and sail out of the Bayonne port on the 28th. It will be a Halloween cruise. I want to feel good about this and I do, but I also feel guilty. Luckily my mom gets a lot of perks because she cruises almost every year and plays in the casino and mostly wins (I mean big jackpots) and they comp most of her trip many times. But part of me wants to ask her "can't I just have the money" but I know she wants us to take this trip. She was originally going to go with us, but step father's health took a turn for the worse (he has interstitial lung disease) and is getting less and less mobile. The docs just told him he has about a year. How can there be so much sadness at the same time there is this celebration of life. It doesn't seem right to be taking a vacation somehow.

OK, I'm going all dime store philosophy on you all again. Maybe I just need to be thankful for the good stuff and realize it's never going to be a continnum of either good or bad and it's up to me what to focus on.

ML -- who is thankful there even is a cup (and realizes she's crazy).

 

[trinityroyal]

ML, what a wonderful opportunity. I don't think you should feel guilty at all, just fortunate.
Sometimes the good and the bad all show up at the same time, one to act as a relief from the other.

Take the cruise, spend some wonderful time with your husband, and thoroughly enjoy yourself.

 

[TerryJ2]

Go for it!
It's all about taking care of yourself, and being there for your husband, brother, mom and especially father in law, who won't be around much longer.

I know EXACTLY what you mean about the $. My crazy cousin is the same way. She keeps taking me shopping for little baubles I do not want, and frankly, hate, while we need money for the house repairs (we had enough for the roof and siding, but it turned out that the walls and subfloor were rotted ... and now the kids' tuition has hit my email "in" box) and I just want to scream.
I do my best to complain about the repairs and talk about money and she's getting the hint. Barely.
I once returned a really ugly coat that was a gift from my cousin, from PVC HPC whatever that shopping network is, and traded it for a cover for our grill. My cousin told me she hated me.
She forgave me a wk later but she'll never forget it.

Life is strange.

But frankly, it's not your money, nor is it mine. It's theirs. We're stuck.
So, don't worry, be happy.

 

[ML]

Thanks ladies. I love you both and appreciate your understanding and support.

 

[hearts and roses]

You just never know ML.

There may be a higher power at work in all this-and he/she knows you and H and Manster need this brief interruption to 'real' life!

No matter, enjoy and be grateful. Hugs-you're such a dear person and deserving.

 

[klmno]

I think like you, too, ML. But it will probably do you and husband a lot of good to get a break and have some special time together. And Manster will be there taken care of so you won't have that worry. Congratulations! Go and and enjoy yourself!

 

[crazymama30]

Go. Enjoy. Life will happen no matter you do, so enjoy it while you can.

 

[1905]

Don't you dare feel one second of guilt! You go and have fun! Of course you could use the money for other things, but THIS is what she wants you to have. A gift of pure relaxation and enjoyment. Just tell her thank you, and look forward to your trip. How many times in this lifetime will you be able to do this? We only live once and we deserve some fun.

 

[Wiped Out]

Go and enjoy!!!!!!!