I went on a mission to find the oldest post by me and was denied...I was able to find the oldest one currently on record and it's one of my first post's on the PTR forum..it was the start to my Feb 08 trip in August 07
August 24th, 2007
Can a PTR be therapeutic?YUP!!Addictive?**2/14-I'm home...**
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The Good
I have had some great things happen this year. After years of denying my calling in life, I have decided to pursue a career in ministry. My dad was a pastor, as was my grandfather and 2 of my uncles. If you know any PKs (Preacher's kids), you know I was very rebellious as a child. That trend continued as an adult even though I had success in my career in restaurants. Finally, at the young age of 43, I decided (maybe God decided for me) to grow up and heed the call. I've been back at church for 2 yrs.
I don't think I will be a senior pastor, but will probably work in the area of church administration (training, equipping, discipling). I currently work at our church as an paid intern and may be permanent staff soon. Oh, in case you're wondering, I still have that rebellious streak...which I think drives the church staff a bit bonkers. Hey, once a PK.... Just kidding...I think.
I also took my 13th trip to WDW in June. I was one of 14 travellers. I also had the opportunity, for the 2nd time out of 13, to have my own room. I wasn't sharing a pull out bed w/ a niece or nephew and I wasn't sleeping on the floor. I could snore and drool freely. I wasn't on anyone else's sleep schedule. I could leave the TV on WDW TV channels all day w/o once having to get a glimpse of reality. It was a little slice of heaven.
The Bad
It started late last year. The father of one of the women in our small group Bible Study died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 84, but still in fairly good health.
A few months later, my aunt died. She was in a home and was really in poor health for a long time. It was a relief, but still sad.
A month later my cousin committed suicide.
Then in May, my cousin (63 yrs old) died suddenly while go karting w/ his son.
On the way home from that funeral, I called my roommate and she was crying. Her brother (43 years old) had died in his sleep.
2 weeks ago, I attended a funeral for the brother (41 years old) of another woman in our small group.
Yesterday, my dad emails me and tells me that my mom's sister, another aunt, had, passed away. But wait there's more.....
The Ugly
At the beginning of June, my mom, dad and my SIL's brother and mom and I were attending a seminar at church. My SIL's brother gets a phone call from my brother, Jon saying that my SIL had collapsed at home. A few hours later, we get another call. My SIL had had a massive brain hemmorrage and was in ICU and it didn't look good. My family and SIL's family all drove from So Cal to Northern Cal to be with my brother and my nephew. We waited in the ICU waiting room and went through many ups and downs over a 5 day period. My SIL, Gail, finally went home on June 7th. It's been a devastating loss for the entire family, especially for my nephew Devon. He is the only child and is special needs. He is having a hard time processing Gail's death. He has no filters so he pretty much says whatever is on his mind. He goes from being fine to being extremely mad to being extremely sad. Pray for Devon and my brother Jon.
Even with this loss, I went to WDW. Although it was a great time (more on that later), I had to cut my trip short to come back for the memorial service and throughout the trip my SIL, my DB and my DN were constantly on mind.
I am still grieving the loss of Gail. She was more than a SIL these last 23 years; she was a listener, friend, backrubber, great cooker, great mother and wife and a great role model of a person who loves the Lord and in turn, loves others unconditionally.
The Therapy
After hearing about my aunt's passing yesterday, I took the day off from work and needed an escape. I have another trip planned to WDW in Jan/Feb 08. I use the DIS Boards and a few others to help me get the latest and best information about WDW. So yesterday I am on the DIS (my crack addiction) and I come upon the Pre-trip Forum. Now I had seen the trip report forum and read several great reports over the years--most which either make me laugh or make me cry. I had never seen the pre-trip forum.
I spent a good 8-9 hours (no lie) reading both pre-trip reports and trip reports w/ occasional side trips to the resorts forum.
I don't know what happened, but at the end of the night I felt better. I needed to know that good things still happened. I needed to laugh; I needed to cry tears of joy for a change. Believe it or not reading these reports made me step away and regain a little perspective.
Therapy. Healing.
So as a way of giving back to the DIS Community of "imaginary friends", I thought I'd do a pre-trip report for my trip in Jan/Feb. I'll be listing the Cast of Characters tomorrow or......later today as it is already 12:50am California time. Good night.
11/23/08
Did you at least get them all answered? 
You got some great advice in that thread.
What were you thinking?!? 
Now I definitely am going to have to go back and read all of your PTR's/TR's...when I have a few free days. 
on 1 year with the Dis. I have been on since June of 2005 and I don't know what my first post was about. I found my May '08 PTR/TR all 9 pages of it........
