2004 Good Riddance

Last year brought domestic violence, sleeplessness, epilepsy, moving twice, ugly divorce, and cancer to my home. Nothing pleased me more than to be surrounded by people I loved watching the 2005 New Year begin. God only gives us what we can handle - and thankfully He has also given me the blessing of good friends and family to help me through what has been an unbelievable year. A couple of shining moments, though, made all the drama worthwhile...and more importantly, gave me hope that there could be a better life ahead.

So far this year has been pretty tame, the unnamed lump my dad has, found a name, and now we know what to do about it. That is a good start. This weekend we are headed to Florida to see the sun and walk along the ocean - seems like a good beginning to me.


Adapted from the "Social Readjustment Rating Scale" by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe. This scale was first published in the "Journal of Psychosomatic Research", Copyright 1967, vol.II p. 214. It is used by permission of Pergamon Press Ltd.)

STRESS EVENT VALUE
DIVORCE - 60
SEPARATION FROM LIVING PARTNER - 60
SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS - 45
MARITAL OR RELATIONSHIP RECONCILIATION - 40
CHANGE IN HEALTH OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER - 40
CHANGE IN HEALTH OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER - 40
WORK MORE THAN 40 HOURS PER WEEK - 35
GAIN OF NEW FAMILY MEMBER - 35
BUSINESS OR WORK ROLE CHANGE - 35
CHANGE IN FINANCIAL STATE - 35
CHANGE IN NUMBER OF ARGUMENTS WITH SPOUSE OR LIFE PARTNER - 30
SLEEP LESS THAN 8 HOURS PER NIGHT - 25
CHANGE IN RESPONSIBILITIES AT WORK - 25
TROUBLE WITH IN-LAWS, OR WITH CHILDREN - 25
CHANGE IN LIVING CONDITIONS (visitors in the home, change in roommates, remodeling house) - 20
CHANGE IN PERSONAL HABITS (diet, exercise, smoking, etc.) - 20
CHANGE IN WORK HOURS OR CONDITIONS- 15
MOVING TO NEW RESIDENCE - 15
CHANGE IN SCHOOLS - 15
CHANGE IN RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES - 15
CHANGE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (more or less than before) - 15
MINOR FINANCIAL LOAN - 10
CHANGE IN FREQUENCY OF FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS - 10
VACATION - 10
PRESENTLY IN WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON - 10
MINOR VIOLATION OF THE LAW - 5

TOTAL SCORE ____690_______________________

This should be enough to kill me - but instead, it seems to have forged a bond between the kids and I that is stronger than I had ever imagined.