My little sister died yesterday. She was 58. Pancreatic cancer. I turned 65 the day before that.
Cancer has turned into a family thing. My dad died at 65 of lung cancer. My oldest brother died at 56 of multiple myeloma. A sister 3 years older than me was just treated for breast cancer. My family just seems prone to the nastiest of cancers.
Every time I had to read about an anti vaxer or an anti masker I became very angry. My 2 sisters and a brother who went through a series of strokes were in and out of hospitals throughout the worse of the pandemic. Every time someone here posted about losing a family member to covid I cried for them.
We all have our own experience through all of this. While raised to be tolerant of others, I no longer have extended it to republicans. I will be polite but I will not be silent. I hope my intolerance of republicans intolerance makes a difference. We are watching "A Small Light" about the people who defied the Nazis in WWII and helped Anne Frank and her family. It is inspiring.
My family is all democrats. I don't remember ever being told how to vote or even much political discussion in my large family of 7 kids. We were encouraged not to argue politics or religion. Raised to be accepting of others and to embrace our differences. I am lucky we have no Trumpers in my family. But I think my family has reached its limit. A few weeks ago we all got together for the first time in years. My sister wanted one last gathering. And I could feel the frustration simmering in my stoic family.
We did talk religion and politics. We are all angry about anti everything. I have lots of teachers in my family and they were telling me about their live shooter plans for their schools. We talked about Ron Johnson and what an idiot he is. We discussed Medicare for all and what a fight it is to get treatments ok'd by insurance companies. And how both sisters had to fight said companies while also fighting cancer. We talked about how hard it is for our kids to purchase homes.
And I will tell you, none if us blamed anyone in the democratic party. And my usually calm family is angry. And that anger is focused on republicans.
Thank you for letting me vent.
= new reply since forum marked as read
but if my dearest wishes can mean anything on an anonymous forum post, I do hope you find peace and comfort. I will light a candle in memory of your sister.
I lost my Grandmother to pancreatic cancer. She was diagnosed with it in September and passed away in December. So fast. Please take care of you during your grieving. It is so easy to lose yourself when you lose your loved ones. Hugs and prayers! 
We have a vacation planned this summer and will be spending a week with my MIL and SIL before doing a week at Disney with our adult kids and future DIL. It seems like on my MILs side, every single one is a Trumper, except maybe my niece and her wife. I'm going to try to be good (I plan to allow no politics, religion, or weight talk or I'll leave). My SIL is terribly caustic on her best days - and she has a history of not having many of those. I've known her since she was 11 yo and I was 13 - and we're 58 and 60 now.
On the family cancer issue, have you or others in your family ever been tested for Lynch syndrome (a genetic predisposition for specific cancers)? If the test comes back positive, most insurance cos will up the frequency of cancer screenings, colonoscopies, etc. With my history of endometrial cancer, family history of breast cancer and bladder cancer, and dad's multiple myeloma, my onco recommended that I be tested.
for your loss.
Please take care of yourself, and feel free to vent here anytime you need to.
My husband's family seems to have Lynch Syndrome, a genetic cancer. I worry my head off for my kids and grandkids. I asked my kids to get tested to see if they have that gene, forewarned is forearmed, but so far they haven't. Just mentioning in case your family might have that or another inherited gene.
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lynch-syndrome
Its so hard to lose family you are close to.....I've lost both parents, 2 sisters, and my older brother/best friend, to terrible diseases.
You just have to keep on keeping on. But I grieve for my family every day, and what could have been.
Take care of yourself, and cherish the family you still have.
She was so young.
Your stoic, righteous family fights the good fights. I hope you all find comfort in each other through this terrible time.
So sorry for your loss, BoomaofBandM.
Please take care of yourself as you go through this difficult time of stressful grief. We need your vote!
A big is coming!
That's just too young
Heartbreaking.
Sounds like your sister’s wish did much more than bring you all together physically…
Peace and strength to you, and to your family.
All of the losses. It's a lot.
I've been down over the shit to the point that I miss posts because i'm purposely staying distant from the news.
Love and peace to you and your family.
