Good night all

[Wizzard]

As a youth I was dying to leave school,
And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
And then I was dying to marry and have children.
And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work.
And then I was dying to retire.
And suddenly I realize .... I forgot to live.

Good night all ... sleep tight

[Viki.W]

Ah Ray, you're very special and we're all lucky to have you as a friend.[:I] You make me laugh AND cry. Hope you're ok. X

[chris.g]

Na-night, sleep tight, don't let the bed-bugs bite.....

[moretolife]

a "ray "of sunshine..good night

[tori]

aaw ray,your little rhymes really are the best.goodnight.[:D]x

[kallis3]

That's so true Ray!

Sleep tight.

[Abby]

oh ray
laughed when i read that, but then made me feel sad, my mum had the opportunity to retire young but thought work could not cope without her so carried on, sure she had life ahead of her within 2 months of retiring she was told she had bowel cancer had op and chemo, given all clear, to be told 3 months later she had 3 months left, 3 months was all she had.when she was gone i just thought blow it, lots of things on cc going to enjoy my life, lifes to short, but it does eventualy become reality , you cant live like that i know my mum would be mortified if she knew the debt i was in but i am glad i have realised i need to sort my life out x

[tori]

oh abby i am so sorry about your mum,that is absolutely tragic.i really feel for you.and im sure that your mum would be proud of you for finding the courage to realise that you need help with your debts and then taking the brave step of actually doing something about it.[:-)] take care.x[:-)]

[Viki.W]

Hey Abby, as Tori has said, I think your Mum would have been proud that you found your way through. I lost my Mum to cancer 5 years ago and I too spent an awful lot of money on trying to feel better, I had the same attitude, blow it, life is too short. I know that my Mum would have supported me through my debt problems. We will all be living life to the full, debt free, that has to be a good thing. X

[Skippy]

I lost my dad to cancer 9 years ago and I spent a lot to try and make myself feel better.

My dad was a lorry driver and he had saved enough money to buy his own lorry but was diagnosed with MS and had to give up work. He regretted that he had worked so much when he was well, rather than spending time with my mum and I.

Life is too short, it's just a case of getting the balance right - not easy.

[kallis3]

I think we can all equate to that.

I am fortunate that both my parents are still alive and in reasonable health, but I've not told them anything because they would be mortified.

Hubby. although retired, suffers from heart disease,angina and COPD. Everytime something happened with him, I would go into depression and spend.

Can't do that now, just have to pick myself up, give myself a severe talking to, and get on with things.

[tori]

like kallis i too am fortunate that my parents are still here,& cant begin to imagine what it must be like to actually lose a parent as both you,viki & skippy have..my own mum was diagnosed with breast cancer 10yrs ago & although after a long hard slog she came out of it 'all clear' & still is thank god,i was only young & in a terrible state,as i was convinced that she wasnt going to survive.& alot of my'over spending'was done out of trying to console myself & to help blank out what was actually happening.x

[Locko]

Hi All I lost my dad to liver cancer in November, he had been under a hospital for 14 years with a lung disease and was then admitted to hospital with an infection for 3weeks, just after the 1st week he was diagnosed with liver cancer and died within 3 days of him being diagnosed. I still feel as if a big hole is missing from my life and this has also made be re-evaluate things and have to say being in debt is nothing compared to loosing a loved one!! Chin up eveyone xx

[tori]

locko,i am so sorry for your loss aswell.reading these posts is just heartbreaking,& you are absolutely right,being in debt is nothing compared to losing a loved one.just before i applied for my iva my mum got 'the letter' to say that it was time for her routine check up.she then had to wait 3 wks to be told that her cancer hadnt come back.that waiting was horrendous & i have to say that for those few wks i didnt even think about my debts & it definitely does make you evaluate what is important in life.[:)]

[Locko]

Hi Tori glad your mum was ok. It does make you re-evaluate your life. My little brother is only 18 and my is 60 in September on the day her and my dad would have been married 40 years. Sorry just waffling as I have been thinking about him again, I go through phrases were I feel ok but then just realise how much I miss him, sorry Cathy xx