I have a positive by extension.
My uncle has always been the silent/antisocial type. If he wasn't on the golf course he was in his chair watching a game or cooking a steak. He was finally diagnosed with depression about 10 years ago and became a recovering alcoholic. Growing up it was all girls; myself and my 2 cousins. Now he has 4 grandsons. And I think he's loving it.
He's had a few health scares. Last winter/spring he was in and out of the hospital and even our well medically connected family couldn't ever get an answer to what was causing it. They were very concerned. But he got better!
Since then; he's almost a different person. At Christmas he shocked everyone showing up with armloads of things for the boys. (My Aunt is a shopaholic...they were already WELL spoiled for Christmas.) He went to a relative's 50th anniversary party this summer, stayed, socialized and enjoyed himself. I was shocked when I heard!
But now he topped it. One of his daughters has a timeshare in Orlando and often my Aunt and my other cousin with her kids will join them for a vacation there. MY UNCLE WENT WITH THEM. Not only did he go...he went to Disney. He went to Universal Studios. He wore matching shirts. He rode rides. He was right there; making memories with his kids and grandkids. Other relatives were commenting on the ride pictures on Facebook saying "Is that ____!?!"
So it might seem odd to some people; but I can't tell you how awesome it is to see him like this. For his own sake and for my aunt, his kids and his grandkids. It's really made me emotional the last few days.
My uncle has always been the silent/antisocial type. If he wasn't on the golf course he was in his chair watching a game or cooking a steak. He was finally diagnosed with depression about 10 years ago and became a recovering alcoholic. Growing up it was all girls; myself and my 2 cousins. Now he has 4 grandsons. And I think he's loving it.
He's had a few health scares. Last winter/spring he was in and out of the hospital and even our well medically connected family couldn't ever get an answer to what was causing it. They were very concerned. But he got better!
Since then; he's almost a different person. At Christmas he shocked everyone showing up with armloads of things for the boys. (My Aunt is a shopaholic...they were already WELL spoiled for Christmas.) He went to a relative's 50th anniversary party this summer, stayed, socialized and enjoyed himself. I was shocked when I heard!
But now he topped it. One of his daughters has a timeshare in Orlando and often my Aunt and my other cousin with her kids will join them for a vacation there. MY UNCLE WENT WITH THEM. Not only did he go...he went to Disney. He went to Universal Studios. He wore matching shirts. He rode rides. He was right there; making memories with his kids and grandkids. Other relatives were commenting on the ride pictures on Facebook saying "Is that ____!?!"
So it might seem odd to some people; but I can't tell you how awesome it is to see him like this. For his own sake and for my aunt, his kids and his grandkids. It's really made me emotional the last few days.