Who Is On Your Mind?

For me, it’s my dad.

I haven’t seen him in almost a year due to the pandemic. We talk on the phone whenever we can, but it’s not the same as seeing him in person. Since I can’t be with my dad right now, I spend a lot of time thinking about him...

I think about how he would give me full reign of his little stationary store when I was 5 so that I could pick out all the pencils, pens and markers I wanted to make drawings that he would later adorn his desk with.

I think about how he scoured multiple grocery stores for a kid-friendly hair detangler, so that when he’d try to run a brush through my wild mess of waist-length hair, I wouldn’t cry.

I think about how he lost a full day of productivity at work after I told him I had MS because he spent his time searching the internet for the latest research and treatments. Anything that would make his daughter feel better.

I think about how he has been my constant 💗 So I painted this and mailed it to him. He’s one bird, I’m the other. We can’t be together in person, but this is good enough for now.

So, who has been your constant through your life, your illness, your year? Who is on your mind?

[kitchengardener2]

What a lovely tribute to your dad. My dad also is also on my mind. He died in 1975 when I was just 23. He was so calm and gentle, taught me so much by just allowing me to trail along behind him watching and learning. He took me to the library from the age of two and read first to me and then with me. We gardened, bred rabbits and enjoyed watching horses at shows. I didn't know until I was over 60 that he had been a Japanese POW and although he was a merchant seaman was awarded the Burma Star.

[Hidden in reply to kitchengardener2]

Wow, what an amazing story ❤️ I'm so sorry that you lost him when you were so young, but I am glad that you two got to spend so much quality time with eachother.

[falalalala]

What a nice painting for your dad!

The person most on my mind is my husband.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Hidden in reply to falalalala]

That is so sweet! ❤️ He is very lucky to have you

[falalalala in reply to Hidden]

Thanks! I tell him that often.

😄

[Hidden in reply to falalalala]

😂 Good! I'm sure he appreciates the reminder

[falalalala in reply to Hidden]

👞 Like a new pair of shoes!

(finally found a use for that emoji )

ᴵ ᵃᵐ ᵖʳᵒᵘᵈ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ʳᵉᵃˢᵒⁿ

[Hidden]

We all just hold onto the memories of those we have lost....They can live on in our brain 🧠 and hearts ♥️

🙏 Selah

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Beautiful 💗

[Kenu]

Great picture 👍😌. My thoughts are always with my son Tyler. He will be 28 in March and is so heartwarming to me. We live 3 and half hours apart and with this Covid haven’t seen each other for a while. Yes it makes a big difference in person visit 🥰. Stay strong and positive attitude sure does help. Hang in there 👍🙏😉🤗🤗 Ken 🐾🐾🐾🐾

[Hidden in reply to Kenu]

I hope you get to see Tyler soon! I'm sure he's missing you just as much as you are missing him ❤️

[twooldcrows]

wow this is very special and my day was mine also...mine has been gone for lots of years but yes i do think of him and how i miss him ,,,they could always make us feel so special...i think that is what makes it hard to understand guys for they are not anything like our dads ...so much love just for being their daughter ....your picture i bet really helps him during this time ....love and happiness...

[Hidden in reply to twooldcrows]

I think about that sometimes- My dad set the bar VERY high, so my expectations of men were very high, and alas... I'm still single. But, happily single 😊

I'm so glad you had a wonderful dad too and I hope your memories of him bring you joy today ❤️ Lots of love and happiness right back at ya!

[JSSimp]

Beautiful. I would say it’s my Mother and Father that passed away in 2016. I think about them daily and how much during this time the Love and support that I received from them through all my life experiences how much I crave for it daily. Usually a few words they would say brighten my whole day. I think of the laughter and time we shared and I’m able to push through my day when I experience a bad day or bad news. Their Agape love will never be forgotten.

[Hidden in reply to JSSimp]

That was so beautiful ❤️ Thank you for sharing. Your parents sound amazing and I'm so happy you have such fond memories of them

[greaterexp]

What an incredible man you have for a father! He obviously raised you beautifully! I miss my dad terribly, though he's been gone many years. He was such a loving, gentle, kind man, and I'm sorry my kids couldn't have known him better and gleaned his wisdom. Now I have a wonderful husband who loves me unconditionally, though I don't deserve him. Your painting must be an absolute treasure to him, as you must be.

Thank you for sharing your art, your dad, and yourself.

[Hidden in reply to greaterexp]

This was so beautifully written and so kind 😊 I'm happy that you had a great dad too. Your wonderful husband is lucky to have such a brilliant wife

[DM0329]

For me, it's my brother David (he is a US Marshall) and my BFF John (he works in the semi-conductor industry). Both are "essential workers" so I frequently think of them.

Although I am "medically retired" now (5+ years ago at age 45), both of those guys will be among the first to get the Covid vaccines. Since I'm in PA, and MS isn't a major factor, I'll be among the second group to get vaccines in PA (I think?).

It's kinda good as I'll have "two guinea" pigs to provide lots of feedback. When I hear on the news about the shot side-effects, I think "those wimps" as I've been suffering from those shot-side effects for 23+ years on Avonex. LOL

[Hidden in reply to DM0329]

Right?! Side effects be darned. We eat side effects for breakfast. Literally. 'Cause that's usually when we take our meds 😅

I hope David and John remain safe and healthy through all of this 🙏 God bless every essential worker. When you get the vaccine, please keep us updated with any side effects you experience (if you are comfortable with that). Thank you so much for sharing all this today ❤️

[mm1527mm]

This is beautiful. For me my great grandmother. I think of her often and remember playing the piano for her. She loved listening even though i was not too good lol. She lived with us until she passed at age 89 when i was in 8th grade. Nice memories. Hope you can see your father soon

[Hidden in reply to mm1527mm]

I'm sure you were spectacularly talented in her eyes 💗

And thank you for sharing this because it just reminded me of my great grandmother! She was a really cool lady. What I remember most vividly about her was that she had tattooed sleeves of Hindu gods on both arms( she was born in the early 1900s in Fiji, so you know all that work had to be painful). She also had 11 children, and even outlived some of them. But through everything, she was always quick-witted and feisty 😊💪

We are so lucky to be descended from such amazing women!

[Ali_B62]

How lovely!😊

[Hidden in reply to Ali_B62]

Thank you so much 😊

[kwhompus]

My wife has been my constant.She has always had to do the lions share throughout her life and now she has this added burden with my PPMS. She never complains about any of this and she still has time to help others So yea, even though I see her everyday I never stop being thankful for her being in my life. On another note CJasmin, I would like to see more of your art work. It's creative and original. I've recently started painting with water colors myself and enjoy looking at others to learn techniques. FYI, MS society is having an art contest until Dec 14.

[Hidden in reply to kwhompus]

Aw thank you for sharing this. I'm sure you are the light of her life and you both are so lucky to have eachother 💗

I will try to post more art, but I am terribly shy about it (this is the first time anyone other than my dad has seen one of my paintings!). I will do my best to be more confident though. I am so glad to hear that you are getting into painting 😄 It's a fantastic outlet. Acrylics are my medium of choice, but I also love pencils for sketching and charcoals (it's so fun to smudge them across the paper!). I have never been proficient with watercolor, so that is something I can definitely learn from you.

Thank you for the info on the art contest! I have never entered one because I am convinced that every single person on this planet is a better artist than me, but your kind words of encouragement may change that😊

[kwhompus in reply to Hidden]

When first diagnosed with MS I was self conscious about outward appearances. After 15 years of this when someone stares at me walking with my forearm crutches I'll approach them and ask if everything is all right. Long story short, you'll be surprised what a strong person lies within you. I'm glad you are reaching out here, I believe you will find out how much you have in common with others.

[cindyrn68]

What a lovely thing to make for your dad. 💕

[Hidden in reply to cindyrn68]

Thank you! ❤️

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Welcome to the forum, CJasmin Your painting and tribute to your father, are wonderful.

Yes, I think of my father often as I haven’t seen him in person for over a year because of this pandemic. I do see him when I call him but it just isn’t the same.

I am hoping for the time to return so that I can hug him.

Keep Smiling

[Hidden in reply to carolek572]

We share the same hope- To have this pandemic be over so we can hug our loved ones 💗

Thank you for the welcome and the kind words 😊

[Dolf]

Hello CJasmin, a beautiful tribute! You are an engaging writer. Please share more of your thoughts. (Fellow Californian) Dolf

[Hidden in reply to Dolf]

Hello Dolf! And thank you! I will share as often as possible 😊 So nice to meet a fellow Californian! Hope your day is going wonderfully

[mrsmike9]

I've been thinking a lot about my mom. As she died last July and this is the first Christmas without her it's understandable. I picked up the necklaces for myself and 2 sisters that we'd ordered. It's her fingerprint on the front, first name, birth and death dates on the back. My one sister lives in Boston so I wrapped it using obviously used gift wrap (my mom would make us be careful opening gifts so she could reuse the paper) and tagged it: "To Betsy ... Love Nan". I have to get a padded envelope so I can send it to her.

[Hidden in reply to mrsmike9]

I am so sorry for your loss though. It can't be easy... But you really outdid yourself with that gift idea. Your sister will love it ❤️

And honestly, what is it with parents always wanting to save the wrapping paper! That was my job on Christmas morning: Gather up all the paper after gifts were opened and fold them nicely to store for next year 😂

[mrsmike9 in reply to Hidden]

If it's off a new roll and on a larger package I make my kids save it!

[Hidden in reply to mrsmike9]

😂👍

[Iona60]

The painting and story are so beautiful. I really miss my Dad. He reminds me of your dad. When I was growing up, everything that I learned, he learned too so that we could share it together. From twirling a baton, to typing, to shorthand, to speed reading, to painting, to learning to quilt with me when he turned 80 (he made at least a dozen quilts before he died at age 85). I was his shadow when he worked on the car or went bowling on his Friday night league. Cherish your time with him. It's never long enough. I'm sure that your dad loves you very much, is so proud of you, and can't wait to see you again.

Just keep looking and you will find someone. And because of the love shown to you by your dad, you will make someone a wonderful wife and maybe one day a wonderful mother.

[Hidden in reply to Iona60]

Aw thank you for sharing this! I am so happy to hear that you had a wonderful father 💗 He clearly loved you very much. And wow- So many quilts in just a few years! You two were quite an accomplished pair!

Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it very much 😊