# I am an only child. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626 "2011-05-20T21:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/21 "2011-05-21T11:35:53Z")
**Shirley** , I’m so sorry for your losses. I can’t imagine the pain of it all. You and your family are in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/22 "2011-05-21T14:08:56Z")
So, so sorry Shirley. A beautiful tribute… how sad that it was necessary. Thinking of you. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/23 "2011-05-21T14:09:44Z")
Oh honey, I’m so sorry for all the devastation your family has had to endure. I’m glad your prediction at twelve was wrong, however, because you’re not going to bury your mom alone. You have created a loving family who’ll be standing right beside you every step of the way, you’ll never be alone. Thank you for sharing those beautiful words about your family. You’ll be in my thoughts as I go hug mine now. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/24 "2011-05-21T14:20:13Z")
So sorry Shirley. Some families just seem to get the short end of the stick. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/25 "2011-05-21T14:40:15Z")
Shirley, I’m so very sorry. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/26 "2011-05-21T17:34:02Z")
**Shirley** I’m so sorry for your loss. Over the years I’ve enjoyed reading your loving anecdotes about your brothers and father and have always admired the dignity and strength your family showed throughout their illnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/27 "2011-05-21T17:35:44Z")
\<3 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/28 "2011-05-21T19:35:11Z")
Four brothers gone? God, that’s horrible. John sounds like a wonderful man - and he had good taste in movies. I’m sorry you weren’t able to be there for him, but I bet he knew you would have been if you could. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/29 "2011-05-21T20:00:38Z")
Shirley, I am sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/30 "2011-05-21T21:34:52Z")
Thanks, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/31 "2011-05-21T22:40:12Z")
[His Obit.](http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailytribune/obituary-print.aspx?n=john-r-dei&pid=151178166) ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/32 "2011-05-22T00:45:45Z")
I’m so, so sorry for this loss and all the loss you’ve had to cope with. I wish I had better words that could comfort you. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/33 "2011-05-23T00:17:44Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I’m so, so sorry for this loss and all the loss you’ve had to cope with. I wish I had better words that could comfort you. Thank you. I am comforted now more than ever that he is free and out of misery. The toughest road yet will be the funeral home tomorrow and then the funeral, with my Mom. I know it will suck hard for me, but I know how to heal and feel sunshine on my face. She is emotionally fragile and I will be the one to take care of her, as I have, but now she has no one to fester over, which she has done her whole life. I won’t let her fuss over me. My children and husband won’t let her fuss over them. She’s a fusser to the nth degree. OCD is not fun at this level. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/34 "2011-05-23T01:24:51Z")
My condolences to you and your mother. I am sorry for the loss of a beloved friend and family member. I am glad to know you have memories worth treasuring. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/35 "2011-05-23T01:30:51Z")
My condolences to you and your Mom. You’ll make it through. I can’t bear the thought of how hard this must have been for you both. It’s good that you have your husband and children for support. Take care. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/36 "2011-05-23T01:47:17Z")
I’m sorry. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/37 "2011-05-23T01:51:57Z")
This is such sad news. I’m sorry, **Shirley**. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/38 "2011-05-23T01:56:47Z")
I’m so sorry for your loss… ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/39 "2011-05-23T02:28:43Z")
I’m sorry. My condolences to you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626/40 "2011-05-23T03:23:19Z")
Oh Shirley, you’ve known such loss. I’m so very sorry. My g/f’s grandmother is now the last remaining sibling in her family as well…but she’s 93 years old. For your mother to have lost her husband and all but one of her children is like wrenching out a piece of her heart each time. It’s no wonder she’s a fusser. It’s been said that no parent should experience the death of their child. Wow, just wow. If I were in her shoes, I’d have to wonder if I wouldn’t be curled up in a corner sucking my thumb with those comfy padded walls and nice people all dressed in white. Godspeed to you, Shirley. May you find comfort knowing that your dad and sibs are no longer in pain. Take gentle care of yourself. We’re here for you if you need us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-an-only-child/582626.md?page=3)