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11 Comments

  1. jude
    October 2, 2022 @ 12:34 pm

    so brave and brilliant, Gerda….and as for your choices of art illustrated…who’d have imagined you could find such a choice which would be so eloquant – – evermore thanks for your invaluable voice…

    I wish you could/would say which way you and/or your husband might choose to lighten the load of the last hours of life’s sunlight alive on this sweet planet — how would you, I wonder?

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  2. Caroline Forsman
    October 2, 2022 @ 12:56 pm

    After I spent this morning in the bathroom cleaning up what is now referred to by my husband and me as “clean-up in aisle 2”, I accepted that it was beginning to be time to restrict my life to staying home. A quiet sorrow descended and led to thinking about the next worsening stage when I would want to make my exit. When I just now read your blog, you can imagine how comforting it was not to feel isolated in my shame-producing condition with its accompanying responses and decisions. Gerda, I thank you, deeply, and also for enlightening me as to various separate maladies being linked.

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    • Gerda Saunders
      October 18, 2022 @ 10:57 am

      Dear Caroline thanks so much for your wonderful message__Peter and I have now adopted “Clean-up in aisle 2) in our daily vocabulary. I’m so sorry you are a fellow sufferer–it is a comfort to me, too, to know there are others who know exactly what I mean…but I wish you rather didn’t know.I have to stay home a lot more, but fortunately I’m on a medication (Linzess) that very often ensures a bowel movement in the3-4 hours after I take it first thing in the morning. On the days when that fails, I can be reasonably sure nothing will be happening that day. Therefore I have from about noon onward go go out. But I never go anywhere whithout knowing where the nearest bathroom is…I hope you will still find a way to be out and about for a lot longer. Thinking of you and SO happy you wrote. Thanks for your support–and you have mine too.

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  3. shen
    October 3, 2022 @ 11:46 am

    There is an article in the New York Times today about a young woman’s year (so far) of constipation and her trying to get medical relief– how the condition is consuming and ruining her life. This is a subject that before you began talking about it I had no clue how life altering it could be. So you have spoken about another issue here that has been one we need to talk about , share, and understand better as fellow humans. And hopefully to get more scientific research for medicine
    to aid these difficult symptoms.

    Reply

    • Gerda Saunders
      October 18, 2022 @ 10:53 am

      Thanks for always writing such nice comments on my blog while you could just tell me when we have coffee. But you know how special writing is to me, so thanks for all the messages. Coffee next!

      Reply

  4. Joan Wright
    October 4, 2022 @ 12:22 am

    Delighted to have heard from you. Have a beautiful day. Friends forever.
    Love you lots.

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    • Gerda Saunders
      October 7, 2022 @ 12:35 pm

      How lovely to hear from you, dearest forever friend! I think you there in Simonstown in your lovely house. Glad you feel it’s home. You’re truly one of the person’s whom I’ve known for the longest–so many phases of life together. High school, more education, falling in love with our soulmates, marriage, children, now grandchildren. We’ve come such a long way and I have learned so much from you about every aspect of life. Love you very much.

      Reply

  5. Joan Wright
    October 8, 2022 @ 12:00 am

    Thank you SO very much. I have shared so many happy memories with you and especially
    the very special trip Derek and I did to SLC to spend time with you and Peter.
    Loved the walks ,the Great Salt Lake with so many Grebes and the bison. Everything was made so special by you and Peter.
    Although I was very poorly after Derek died ,I am now back to my normal self. It took a long time and Lisa was phenomenal at helping me recover. Michelle too ,but she was always in Jozi.
    Your grand kids must be quite grown up now as Michael will be 9 at Christmas. He is a lovely boy. As he does not have a sibling I bought him a Frenchie and he loves this doggie.
    So much love to you and all the family. Joan.

    Reply

    • Gerda Saunders
      October 18, 2022 @ 10:51 am

      Thanks so much for the lovely memories, Joan. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like after Derek’s death–like Peter and me, you and Derek “grew up together.” I am so proud of you and happy for you that you have recovered with the love of Lisa and Michelle–and of course the lovely Michael! He is almost the same age as Dante, who will be 10 in January. So lovely to see them grow up–and how they love their animals: Marissa, Adam and Dante have 2 dogs, one old but with new life after they got a puppy. The same goes for Newton, Cheryl, Kanye, and Aliya–their older dog is also in its last days and the puppy has made it move so much more. So glad you gave Michael a playmate! Love you so much. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year (Time goes so fast, it’s almost upon us…)

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  6. Joan Wright
    October 18, 2022 @ 11:39 am

    Thank you so very much . You too have a fabulous festive season. Lisa and I are going to Cape Point park for a very relaxing picnic.
    Michelle is going overseas with young Michael.
    Lots of love to you and Peter.

    Reply

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