Rolling Some Stones

[H2O Man]

My memory is not serving me well right now, and so I am unable to give the proper context to an old Irish story …..but it has to do with one of the United Irishmen, being questioned about possible regrets moments before he was executed. "No regrets," he said, "for I have sons to carry on from here." And that same belief in the "next generation" is something that I share ….not only when I read, with a delight that comes into sharp focus despite the post-surgery fog, the post "Our Father" that my oldest son placed here to let my friends know of my recent (and current) episode.

Words alone do not do justice to what I wish that I could say here and now. But, I think you know, and for the time being, that is enough for me. Not that I have the strength and ability to say much more now. I’ve got to resist the impulse to "do" something, anything, but to rest and try to gather the energy needed for all of the tomorrow’s that I absolutely plan to be a part of ….here, in my home, with my family, and friends, and yes, on DU.

My children have read a number of OPs and threads to me, and I can say that they have picked this old bag of aching bones up, much in the manner that my son Darren did on Saturday. The same strength and concern comes through. And even though it goes against my very nature to accept help – for that requires me to admit to we, wea, weak, weakn…..well, needing help – I do thank you. Your help is appreciated.

As a human being, I have some roadblocks in the way, that sometimes prevent me from doing what I need to do, to be well. And that isn’t limited to physical health. Corey read me a thread by someone, about rejection from family members, and I started thinking …..my mother, sister, brother-in-law, and a nephew live but six miles down the road. But I have not heard a peep from them ….in years ….since they last needed something from me. But, not a word in my time(s) of need. Maybe it is this type of common experience that allows us the strength to roll back some of those stones that would otherwise block our paths in life, and to find the ability to re-define what "family values" really are.

So. Back to the couch, and from there, to Ireland. My "boys" are headed there in late December – early January. Then, this summer, the six of us are going. I’ve been wanting to go there, to visit the dirt roads that my grandfather walked on, before coming to this land. We have to save up some money, obviously, but I’m not going to allow that type of worry to be a roadblock. Life is far too short. And I’ve got a lot of living to do.

Thank you, to everyone who has been taking part on the Wounded Waterman Threads.

Your friend,
Pat

[Captain Hilts]

1. Take care. Of yourself. Come back strong. nt

[JeffR]

2. Rest and get better.

:hug:

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Jeebus Pat - It's great to see you back!!

:hi:

[WilliamPitt]

4. The tomorrows are the whole point, indeed.

Take care of yourself.

[Beetwasher]

5. Good To See You, Sir!!!

Now take care of yourself and listen to your family!!!

Happy to see you in working order!

[Echo In Light]

6. Carry on, bro

[prairierose]

7. It's good to see you back...Take care and feel better soon...your voice...

is a very important one, here and in the wider world. :hi:

[lapfog_1]

8. Al Stewart put to song better than I could ever say...

Now just like you I've sailed my dreams like ships across the sea
And some of them they've come on rocks, and some faced mutiny
And when they're sunken one by one I'll join that company
Old admirals who feel the wind, and never put to sea

----

Or Shakespeare...

Once more into the breach dear friends, once more!

[Dennis Donovan]

13. ...or to paraphrase another Al Stewart song:

"...it's the Year of the Pat(O'Waterman)"

Forgive me, I'm on flu meds...:crazy:

[stevedeshazer]

9. I'm looking forward to those tomorrows, my friend.

Take care, see you again soon.

[bigtree]

10. yep, planning for the future

nice to see your children so close in your life. What a blessing. Best wishes.

[tekisui]

11. Be well, my friend. To many tomorrows, there can't be too many!

[G_j]

12. yes

Life is far too short


welcome back!

[Horse with no Name]

14. Dear dear waterman

I am sending healing thoughts for your recovery.
You have and always will be one of my very very favorites here.
:hug:

[bleever]

15. Welcome back,

and onward!

:toast:

[me b zola]

16. So glad to hear from you

Please don't underestimate what you mean to so many of us. Listen to your family and get well soon. I'm so looking forward to your writings inspired by your trip to Ireland.


Take the time to recover. :hug:

[babylonsister]

17. So very nice to see you, H20 Man! And pls. thank your sons

for keeping us posted, and your family for taking you in their loving arms and helping to heal you.

Be well, find your strength, and that trip to Ireland sure sounds like something to save your strength for. :hug:

Your friend,
Ruth

xoxox

[EFerrari]

18. We have an old family joke, "How many Castanedas does it take

to get one Castaneda to the doctor's?" that came out of the day five of us drove about an hour from different cities to encourage my favorite uncle to go to the hospital. There was nothing virtuous in it whatsoever. Everyone of the five also has a reluctance about doctors and hospitals that may now be genetic.

lol

Good to see you, Pat.

[Rhiannon12866]

19. Welcome back!

It's obvious that your wit and humor are still intact... :hi:

[blm]

20. Our sincerest love goes out to you.

.

[Ignis]

21. Welcome back, and feel better soon.

We're looking forward to having you back at hurricane strength in no time. :hi:

[livetohike]

22. Good to hear from you!

:hi: Sending positive thoughts your way for a complete and speedy recovery.

[hootinholler]

23. It's great to see you on the mend, my friend.

Rest and recover there will be fires to be sat by.

-Hoot

[byronius]

24. You are required to live forever.

Sorry. It's a burden you must bear.

[highplainsdem]

25. Welcome back! Prayers for your quick recovery,

and best wishes for that trip to Ireland you're planning.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be ever at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And may God hold you in the hollow of his hand

[CatWoman]

26. Pat

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

Missing you :loveya:

and get well REAL quick :hi:

[Lochloosa]

27. You sound like a stubborn asshole

and we love you for it. :toast:

[Bluenorthwest]

28. So happy to see your words here again.

Take good care, allow good care to be given you. Peace to you and to yours.

[northamericancitizen]

29. Don't let ''impatience'' take control ...

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Welcome back and now back to bed with you

get the rest you need. Oh and do not get a case of the stoopid again when it comes to health Okay?

And chiefly, TAKE CARE Pat.

[cali]

31. So very , very glad to hear from you

get your rest and be a good and patient patient.

fondly, cali

[OneGrassRoot]

32. Ahhhh, there you are!

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

:grouphug:

Be well....rest. :)

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

This week is our fourth quarter 2009 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
to cover our costs. Please take a moment to donate! Thank you!

[CatWoman]

37. see

you've even got Grovelbot all excited from seeing a post from you!!

:)

[myrna minx]

34. May the road rise with you, friend.

Thank you so much for checking in with us. :hug:

[joeybee12]

35. It's your Inner yankee fan causing you problems...

You need to have it exorcised!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!!!!!!

[brer cat]

36. Good to "see" you again!

Listen to your family, and take care of yourself. DU will still be here waiting when you recover.

:hug:

[bridgit]

38. Rest is good

:)

[redqueen]

39. I hope you're feeling better... and please take care of yourself.

I also hope you're not watching the match right now. It'd probably have taken a year or two off my life anyway. And it's still not over...

[spanone]

40. the Guinness alone will heal ye...

:patriot:

[redqueen]

41. It's true...

a pint of plain is your only man.

[Joe Chi Minh]

49. Ah. Uncle Arthur's...

[immoderate]

42. Save your strength...

Do not read this post!

--imm

[Hissyspit]

43. Only ever flew over Ireland.

But it was amazing from the air.

Heal up well!

[LiberalAndProud]

44. Lovely to see you!

Get better soon.

- Heidi

[Political_Junkie]

45. Gone away for a few months and

come back to find you incapacitated. You are absolutely not allowed to frighten us that way again. You have always been the voice of reason here at DU. Your style of writing, your wit, and most of all, your ability to see to the core of the problem and get people to talk some sense on the issues are what make me keep clicking on your posts. I may not always respond to your posts, I'm not all that talkative, but I always enjoyed them. Glad you're feeling better and resting so that you can get your strength back. We need you here.

[xxqqqzme]

46. I understand - I really do.

A few years to I had to get over my stubborn independence. I literally could not get out of bed w/o assistance getting into a brace to support my back. I had a long talk w/ myself, took a deep breath and turned the corner. It isn't so bad. I got to know people I otherwise would have never met. People I barely knew did wonderful, delightful things for me. It was and still is extraordinary. It might feel like a set back but it is a step forward in many ways. You sound like you are on your way. The weakness will fade, your strength will return, just maybe not as quickly as you want.

[mod mom]

47. So glad to read you're back. Wishing you a speedy & full recovery!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

48. Have a Guinness for me in Dún Laoghaire

We spent many a Sunday having Guinness and crisps at my Uncle's ("Wheat That Springeth Green", "Morte D'Urban") home there back in the 70s.

So glad to see you on the board! Best of health to you and all your loved ones. :toast:

[rosesaylavee]

50. Glad to see you back!

Be well and don't ever doubt that you are well-loved. Your son was so nice to let us know - and those threads were amazing. Keep them handy for those days this place gets you down. I don't think I have seen that type of sustained concern here for a long long time... if ever.

And the naming of the series 'Wounded Waterman Threads' made me laugh.

[GliderGuider]

51. Namaste!

It's so good to hear your typing!

May you heal fast and well, and may life treat you kindly.

[Uncle Joe]

52. Take care and get your strength back.

Peace to you and your family.:hi:

[many a good man]

53. We are ALL sons of H20 Man!

It's great to hear you're on the mend. We'd all love to hear a lot more from you while you're convalescing because you have a lot to impart to us. I know I speak for many when I say you are a tremendous inspiration. It's always good medicine to read you and I'm sure it will all come back to you to heal your body. Thank you!

[Hepburn]

54. Yo, H20....

...{{{{{{{{{{{{ HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} :hug:

[barbtries]

55. take it easy

get yourself well. and thank you for being such an important and intelligent voice on DU, my home away from and at home. :)

[mistertrickster]

56. Welcome back.

There are good ships, and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea.

But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.

--Irish saying

[David Zephyr]

57. Well, I think you know that you are loved and respected here.

It sure was good to hear from you today. Your son did you proud, but you already know that.

I hope you can walk those old dirt roads. I've got Sullivan blood running through me, so I know what you are saying.

It sure is good to get your message!

[bertman]

58. Sometimes it takes experiencing the weakness to understand how to regain the strength.

Here's to many better tomorrows for you, H20 Man.

[annabanana]

59. Fight the impulse "to do" and just concentrate on the need

"to be" for a while, dear. You are far too valuable an asset to us here.

[merh]

60. Just heal. Relax, recharge and heal.

You make it very easy to care and we do care so very deeply for you. :hug:

:loveya:

[Bobbie Jo]

61. Hang in there, H2O!

:hug:

[malaise]

62. Wishing you a speady recovery

:grouphug:

You have wonderful children.

[nankerphelge]

63. Get well soon.

nt

[grace0418]

64. I for one can't wait to hear about your travels. Because that will mean you're all better.

And that will be a wonderful thing! :hug:

[donheld]

65. All the best to you

[cal04]

66. Welcome Back H2O Man

It's great to see you.
:hug:

[intheflow]

67. I'm so glad you're back home where you belong.

Both in the real world and here at your DU home. Your posts have meant a lot to me over the years, Pat, and my dearest hope is that your posts will continue to inspire me for many years to come.

Top 'o th' hat to ye, Lad! :hi:

[stlsaxman]

68. Ah, my dear Waterman- you truly ARE the fighting Irishman you display in your avatar!

So float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!

If you get to County Cork, kiss that sweet ground for this decendant of the Carroll clan, please!

[Odin2005]

69. Take care!

:hi:

[patrice]

70. From one Pat to another, be well Friend and see you around here later!

[maxpower]

71. Get rest and Be Well

The world is a better place with you in it.


Peace,
Max

[havocmom]

72. Those kids are remarkable

Apples and trees.

Behave and get stronger. Know you are loved by this crazy family known as DU.

Two families in life: the one you are born to and the one you create with your life. We have no say in the former, and the latter says much about us.

Lament not, dear Patrick. For the Family you have built in your life is amazing and much larger than you know.

Cue the music, Sly....

[BrklynLiberal]

73. What a wonderful surprise to find you back here!!!

Welcome back to the internet!!!!

Your upcoming trip to Ireland sounds like a dream come true.
Can't wait to see the pictures you take.


:hug: :loveya: :yourock: :woohoo:

[Peacetrain]

74. Pat...

Good to see you posting.. I can't wait to read your reports from Erin..But glad to see your input back on the board.. Emily

[NYC_SKP]

75. So glad you're back. Thank you for writing.

And thank you to Corey for keeping us apprised during your absence.

:toast:

[FirstLight]

76. from Wounded Waterman to WELL Waterman!

so good to see you post, now get back in BED!

We can be patient till you get your wits about you and some strength back. Your son definately did you proud.
And DU looks forward to keeing you occupied and staying still for a while, we have much to talk about, as usual ;)

I Love this 'family' too, for sure... good vibes and healing angels sent your way...
:grouphug:

[TroubleMan]

77. Glad to see you back, and I hope everything is okay.

nt

[BobTheSubgenius]

78. May you always walk in sunshine.

May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

My peeps left Ireland in 1534, so I'm not sure how Irish we remain. But I'll claim a bit, just for now.

All the best to you!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

79. :)

:hi:

I love how you bring people together at their best.

feel better!

[horseshoecrab]

80. Great to see you posting H20 Man!

Ah -- to get to Ireland. :-)

Get well friend.

:hug:

horseshoecrab

[Raster]

81. Bless your heart.

[intaglio]

82. Be careful and enjoy your Motherland next year

But be warned they have (gasp .... horror) national healthcare! and they use Euros not punts ...

Well enough of the sarcasm, enjoy yourself for it is a beautiful land - tho' you might find most of the dirt roads are now paved!

Get well and come back fighting

[ClayZ]

83. Irish Eyes are Smiling

Glad you are firm footed on the road to recovery! :) The Blarney Stone awaits you!

[democrank]

84. Stay strong..........

~PEACE~

[DemReadingDU]

85. Wishing you a speedy recovery

You have raised some fine sons and daughters.

[blogslut]

86. I would call you a lucky man

...but love isn't about luck. From what I've read of your home life it's obvious the love you're shown is a result of the love you've given. I hope you continue to allow yourself to be healed by the wonderful people that surround you. :)

[leveymg]

87. Kiss Old Blarney for me.

There's a bit the Irish in us all. Heal up and give 'em Hell, again!

[pleah]

88. Get well soon. :)

:hi:

[shadowknows69]

89. Damn, sorry I'm just seeing this Waterman. Welcome Back.

And stay well my friend.

[Soylent Brice]

90. *tips hat*

:hi:

[grantcart]

91. missing you - missing you and next time . . .

next time you read something of Palin and desire to get something all twisted up we recommedn panties instead of intestines!


get strong you have many more promises to keep . .

[tavalon]

92. It's good to see you typing again

Take your pain medicine. Take any of it they will give you for you will heal better if you have less pain. So, basically, if you want to stop relying on people and speed your healing, no stoic crap, okay?

[JNelson6563]

93. Rock on Pat!

I look forward to seeing pics of your trip to Ireland. In the meantime I will look for OPs filled with your usual brilliance.

Julie

[tavalon]

94. I went to Scotland right out of college

and I came back and told everyone I had been to Ireland. Geography has never been my strong suit. Civics wasn't either but DU fixed that right up for me. Let us help you fix yourself right up so you can go to the real Ireland!

[Ghost Dog]

95. Girl singing Sean Nós

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTj8yMK6HE8

[azul]

96. Thanks for the humanist, and human voice

that helps to set some of us straight, or a litte straighter.


"Well, I aint always right but Ive never been wrong.
Seldom turns out the way it does in a song.
Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right."

-Scarlet Begonias R Hunter, J Garcia


Keep on trucking,
Tom

[woofless]

97. SO good to hear your voice.

Hang in there Brother.

Woof

[sellitman]

98. Take care of yourself

You have a family that deserves nothing less.

[Kajsa]

99. Pat, it's so great to hear from you!

Get some rest, renew, and feel much
better soon.

:hug: :)

[Nothing Without Hope]

100. The "Wounded Waterman Threads" were wonderful

They were so full of love and humanity they also lifted many of us on the other end of the ether. Even though we know, we need to be reminded. Sounds like you were reminded too. You've got yourself some wonderful kids there.

Be well. And if that doesn't come quickly enough for you, be patient....just for a while.

[Vinca]

101. How great to read you're on the mend!!

[Garbo 2004]

102. So good to see your post!. Now rest and heal. nt

[tblue]

103. Glad to 'hear' your voice again. So glad you are recovering.

I have been dying to go to Ireland for years, though I have no Irish blood that I know of. Have you ever read Paddy's Lament? Oy gevalt, you should, if you haven't, in preparation for your trip.

I hope you can forrgive the ones who've let you down -- everyone has their own demons nesting in their head -- and no good can come of making their demons yours.

Live like there was no yesterday and love like there's no tomorrow. I wish you so much happiness, health, and love, Pat! :hug:

[rasputin1952]

104. Welcome home...

May you heal quickly and enjoy your trip to Ireland...O8)


ETA: your sons did a fine job keeping us informed of your situation...you should be proud...