A Sincere Thank You to The HubPages Family -- You're The Best!

So often this last year I’ve pondered on how one expresses gratitude for kindness shown in times of great stress. I have been the recipient of such kindness for nearly a year now and still don’t feel capable of expressing how much I’ve appreciated every kind, generous and supporting word, action and deed on my behalf.

For those of you new to HubPages, my son and only child, Rusty, age 51, died unexpectedly a year ago this February 3^rd. It was a shock, numbing and the most in-depth pain I’ve experienced in my entire life. Only a parent who’s lost a child can even begin to understand. It’s also every parent in the world’s mortal fear and dread. It leaves the parent not only bereft but absolutely helpless for a period of time. Obviously, my family, friends and community were with me every step of that hard journey so I’ve been truly blessed in that respect.

I’ve heard comfort often comes from unexpected places and that happened to me. I’m one of those people who find if I can write it down it helps – no matter the situation. In the wee hours of the morning -- during the first, immediate shock upon learning of my son’s death -- I sat down and wrote about the dream I was having about him when the telephone rang to tell me he was dead. I wrote it as a Hub called “Riding the Snow Pony.” For me, putting it in writing was not only therapeutic but I nearly felt driven to put it on paper.

The HubPages community not only read the Hub I wrote about my strange and unorthodox dream but was immediately on the internet and surrounded me with comfort, love, prayers and blessings beyond my most vivid imagination. I knew I had friends on HubPages but had no idea how they would rally behind me, tell their friends (who also commented) and provide another “family” base of support. Eventually, it would be my HubPages family that would draw me back into returning to the human race.

I was too destroyed to even think about writing on HubPages or anywhere else for 10 months. I could not wrap my head, or my heart around what had happened, why it happened, what to do or even how to try and go forward. Common sense told me I had to do that, eventually, but I just couldn’t seem to find the right time or place to start.

I finally made myself sit down, write a Hub – which was mediocre at best – hit the “publish” button and immediately decided, once again, I’d put writing aside as my heart just wasn’t in it. Before I could carry out that plan Hubbers began welcoming me back, telling me they’d missed me and encouraged me to keep on “keeping on.” Truthfully, I didn’t think there’d be anyone that would even remember me after a 10-month absence.

Shortly after I’d published that Hub; the telephone rang one night and it was Holle – “Habee” on our HubPages site. Seems I’d remained on her mind ever since Rusty’s death and she was calling to see how I was doing (she’d found the phone number on my website). We’d never talked personally before but visited quite a long time – seems we have a lot in common – and when I hung up the phone I felt I’d received a nudge from on high. I was convinced of that phrase about “angels visiting us unaware” and that a higher power had put it on Habee’s heart to pick up the telephone that evening. I considered that telephone call a signal that it was time for me to make the effort, return to living but most of all. . . try!

So, as I said, it’s been nearly a year now since Rusty’s death and I’m finally making progress. There’s not a doubt in my mind -- I wouldn’t be in the place I’m in now without my HubPages family, their support and caring – that’s just a foregone conclusion.

I’ve had the opportunity to personally welcome a few new Hubbers here lately – just a general “howdy, glad to meet ‘cha” sort of thing but there’s so much more to learn and know about being a member of the HubPages community. It’s been my experience that Hubpages is made up of a kind and supportive group of excellent writers that I, for one now know, literally take care of their own. I’m honored to be among them.

Thank you Hubber friends –

“We do not make friends as we make houses, but discover them as we do the arbutus, under the leaves of our lives, concealed in our experience.” -- William Rader