tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post3606556963267371537..comments2023-04-01T11:07:41.484-04:00Comments on Tea With Ren: Old stuffRen Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12017460071971677808noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post-34068761679505393272011-08-08T12:42:43.325-04:002011-08-08T12:42:43.325-04:00Hi Ray! It's really cool to re-connect with y...Hi Ray! It's really cool to re-connect with you after all these years. I remember you being exceptionally hilarious in school. You took my best friend from HS, Stacey Biggers to prom...where she swallowed a goldfish live. :) Crazy times eh?Ren Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12017460071971677808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post-62319489062542605792011-08-07T14:00:37.452-04:002011-08-07T14:00:37.452-04:00I remember you now. I remember. And my heart is si...I remember you now. I remember. And my heart is simply overwhelmed.Dr. Raymond H. Rufen-Blanchettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13675716183311722018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post-13838373094842765322011-08-05T15:32:15.329-04:002011-08-05T15:32:15.329-04:00Ren,I loved reading your blog posting. It was extr...Ren,I loved reading your blog posting. It was extremely powerful in its clarity and emotion, and rich with your heart felt struggle juggling poignant relationships and the grieving of loss. As a pastor and psychotherapists so many things opened up intellectually and emotionally as I read it, and as a graduate of West Valley High School's Class of 1986 I feel a dynamic kinship with you. I have a profound understanding of all of the things that you've written about in your posting, and I hope that I have the opportunity to talk to you about them one day soon. Keep loving everyday and the door will open.Dr. Raymond H. Rufen-Blanchettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13675716183311722018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post-81730678001104656242009-10-26T01:54:47.603-04:002009-10-26T01:54:47.603-04:00My deepest sympathies for your loss of your Mother...My deepest sympathies for your loss of your Mother (((HUGS))).<br />Your words,thoughts in this piece,are so close to my heart.My Dad passed away this past July.I live 1400 kms away,drove 16hrs straight through with my family and had two days with him before he died.Not two full days,as he was in the hospital.My parents divorced when I was 12yrs.(He remarried in 2001).I have two younger sisters.We all have young children.My Dad loved his grandchildren.I wasn't close with my Dad,but we were getting closer in the past two years.Closer emotionally.My Mom visited him in the hospital the day before he passed,at first she said she wasn't going to.They spoke words of forgiveness.It was so powerful,so important,to both of them and for my sister's and I.<br />I have two DD's,(9yrs & 4yrs).My Dad only saw my youngest DD once,when she was a few weeks young.And then not again,until those two days before he passed.That is what hurts me the most now.That I didn't visit him more when I had the chance.That he loved my daughter's so much and I kept that precious time/visits from him.I wasn't doing it purposely.We had actually planned on being with him for two weeks at the end of August/first week of September.But he didn't make it to then.Why didn't I just go and visit sooner?What was I waiting for?<br />Now there is no time.No chances.To pick up the phone and call and talk.No more time.Not one more chance.<br />Pick up the phone Ren.Don't be like me and wait.I have so much regret in waiting...Chaseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post-54055797329321736092009-10-04T00:13:36.630-04:002009-10-04T00:13:36.630-04:00Thanks so much for sharing that, Ren. I take so mu...Thanks so much for sharing that, Ren. I take so much courage away with me after reading your thoughts.vertpaixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092204457845496192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34836258.post-49158398408785113962009-09-17T13:41:41.417-04:002009-09-17T13:41:41.417-04:00Sometimes I feel like my own self is expressed thr...Sometimes I feel like my own self is expressed through your words because I just don't seem to have the words most of the time. All the bad and good, sorrow and joy, pain and happiness, neat and messy all rolled up into one beautiful life. Learning to embrace change as it can bring lots of wonderful new experiences into our life. Sometimes it's so hard to let go of the familiar. I guess some of it has been easier for me because it has come in stages and I've been able to let go of one little thing at a time where you've been unable to go through those stages because you live so far away from all of it. And no need to make excuses for who you are- without ALL of it you wouldn't be you! I'm getting much better at accepting that about myself:)Heidi Snavleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11954842963823414136noreply@blogger.com