That is a great post. I’m so pleased that your daughter is improving and just as pleased that you decided to leave the post up. Take care.
I agree mate, we took for granted what we had. I think we were on the cusp of success, but were badly led by Byrne & Co, and this caused it's own frustration. When we do get back up there, we need to enjoy the moment, and probably realise that 10th-13th isn't a bad place to be. The last 5 years in the Premier were a perpetual struggle, and not much fun mind. Firefighting and short-termism being the order of the day. We still had some good days though. When we do get back up, we need to remember these times and appreciate where we've come from, unlike most Man City Fans I've met.
Just reading people’s own testimonies of their experiences bring home how common this situation is for families. My own experience was a strange mix of emotions and at the time very very personal and difficult thing to deal with. You feel that no one would understand but more people do than you realise. My youngest is an identical twin and we had some idea that his brother, Lewis may be unwell. Unfortunately Lewis didn’t make it and was ‘born asleep’ his twin Max did make it (very much so) and starts secondary school next year. So as you see a strange mix of emotions having got Max but loosing Lewis. The hospital were just going to take Lewis away but we said no because we wanted his brother to know exactly what happened and where Lewis was. So we have a plot for him in our local cemetery and we visit him regularly so Max knows how much we value him. This brings me to possibly the most difficult part of all this situation for me. I carried his little blue coffin to the graveside in the torrential rain. I am filling up now just thinking about it. Just me, his mum, gran and brothers were there. We know where he is and he is always with us. I see his twin every day and it brings a lot of comfort.
Having somewhere to visit like that and reflect is important and I suppose is some kind of comfort. After my dad died, I found out that my mam lost a little girl who was taken away from her and from what I gather, she never saw her again. So when it came to putting my dad's ashes in the cemetery my mam added a small headstone with my sister's name on it next to him. Now with both parents have gone, I've found that when I feel seriously down, it's a place to go and for them to catch up with what's going on with me.
Is our takeover a bit like the USA election? The incumbent has lost but will not admit it... he s clinging onto power, lying all the time and doing anything disruptive or damaging he can, until the next owner comes in?
That is possibly one of the most raw yet uplifting texts I have ever, ever read. Thank you for being so brave and posting this, this may indeed help someone else down the line. Once again I applaud your bravery and I wish your daughter, yourself and your family all the very best in life. Thank you
Wow, I am genuinely choked at that. Thank you so much for the reply, I really appreciate it. Thank You.
You know what ? I do the same. I’m not a believer but on the few occasions in my life when I’ve had a crisis to deal with, I go to the headstone of my Nan, who I lived with. I talk to her and ask her if I’m doing the right thing.
Having read the reccent emotionally raw postings on this thread, their acceptance and responses has made me realise something that hopefully our current and future owners will appreciate. The uncertainty over this takeover has deeply bitten into the mental and emotional wellbeing of us fans. It has made us much more vulnerable to the knocks and niggles of everyday life. The backbiting and the anger that has sometimes exploded on here is now more understandable. I am proud that the outpouring of emotional vulnerability on this thread was given acceptance rather than abuse. We are building something rather than tearing it down to hoy at one another. We are Sunderland at heart and we care deeply for our club. We aren't entitled, expecting silverware and expecting success week in, week out. All we expect is that the players give their all on the day. If they don't, if they don't pull together as a team, then they steal from our hearts and make our lives that bid harder to endure. Not because they have failed but because those we care so passionately about, our chosen family, didn't care enough about us to do their best for us. And that hurts. We know that ultimately, whether it is TV, sponsorship, advertising or gate money, that the money that pays their wages rests upon us, the fans. One day, when we are once more able to do such things, we should all book in somewhere together to celebrate this in the time honoured tradition but until then, I salute you one and all. We are Sunderland!
