Member of the Month Feb 2016
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Hey all,
First of all, this is not a sympathy post. Also, I am aware of the kinds of tales that people spin on the internet. I haven't been a member here for too long so I will just make my post on whatever credibility I may have.
It is the middle of the night here. I am working nightshift; alone and out in the barren scrub of Western Australia.
My wife rang me a little while ago. Her grandfather, who she was very close to, has just died in Thailand. My wife had booked annual leave to go and see her family on the 20th November so she is understandably devastated that she was not there. To make the situation more terrible, he was asking for her in his last hours; this in particular has sent her into a tailspin.
The context of this is incredibly tragic. Her father and younger brother both died suddenly within the last 12 months. Her father died in an accident and her younger brother experienced the horrific slow demise from tuberculosis (yes...people still die of this in countries less lucky than many of ours). So, this is the third death of a very dear family member for her in a year and she is falling apart. She has been 'stuck' here working in Australia building a life during these events and I work away for weeks at a time for my part.
I wasn't there for her when her father died...luckily I was home and on my break when her brother passed so was able to be of some comfort to her. Now, once again I am not around and she is without family and friends to comfort her.
These things make you feel completely ineffectual and useless. Australia is going through an unprecedented resources boom...that's why we are perhaps one of the only countries in the world not to have succumbed to recession. However, this wealth has driven the price of living through the roof. Subsequently, many of us are required to work away in these shitty wastelands to just pay the bills. I am not at the top of the hill in terms of the huge salaries that can be earned out here but earn far more than a normal city job.
At what point does all of this sacrifice no longer seem worthwhile? For me, it is pretty much right now.
I know that this is a site dedicated to PE but the wonderful thing are the other sub forums which cater for all manner of discussions. So, on this occasion, my dick is the last thing that I am thinking about. I guess that it leads me to my final point; what it means to be a man can be seen in such a tangible way at this point in time. Regardless of what is happening with your wang, the good measure of a man (or woman) is their ability to stand by their partner through thick and thin. We all sacrifice something to survive in this world. However, there are some things that I will never give away; respect, loyalty, integrity, honesty, love for your partner and a desire to help others.
I've asked my boss for compassionate leave but as I work in a specialised field and like most areas of industry, they only have the bare minimum of manpower to limit costs. So, I have my doubts that they will fly me out and I suppose that my resilience will be tested. The banal and laborious weight of the cost of living, bills to pay etc. etc. will probably keep me here for my remaining week. I can't totally drop the ball and run home...we wouldn't have a home within 2 weeks if I gave up my income.
However, I guess that I just wanted to demonstrate that being a man and supporting your partner go hand in hand. The same goes for women so I am not making this a gender issue. My wife is toughing it out on her own so it just shows how emotionally tough she is...but everyone has a breaking point if they aren't supported and three deaths in her family over a year make me wonder how close she is to hers.
If you have a partner, give them a hug.
First of all, this is not a sympathy post. Also, I am aware of the kinds of tales that people spin on the internet. I haven't been a member here for too long so I will just make my post on whatever credibility I may have.
It is the middle of the night here. I am working nightshift; alone and out in the barren scrub of Western Australia.
My wife rang me a little while ago. Her grandfather, who she was very close to, has just died in Thailand. My wife had booked annual leave to go and see her family on the 20th November so she is understandably devastated that she was not there. To make the situation more terrible, he was asking for her in his last hours; this in particular has sent her into a tailspin.
The context of this is incredibly tragic. Her father and younger brother both died suddenly within the last 12 months. Her father died in an accident and her younger brother experienced the horrific slow demise from tuberculosis (yes...people still die of this in countries less lucky than many of ours). So, this is the third death of a very dear family member for her in a year and she is falling apart. She has been 'stuck' here working in Australia building a life during these events and I work away for weeks at a time for my part.
I wasn't there for her when her father died...luckily I was home and on my break when her brother passed so was able to be of some comfort to her. Now, once again I am not around and she is without family and friends to comfort her.
These things make you feel completely ineffectual and useless. Australia is going through an unprecedented resources boom...that's why we are perhaps one of the only countries in the world not to have succumbed to recession. However, this wealth has driven the price of living through the roof. Subsequently, many of us are required to work away in these shitty wastelands to just pay the bills. I am not at the top of the hill in terms of the huge salaries that can be earned out here but earn far more than a normal city job.
At what point does all of this sacrifice no longer seem worthwhile? For me, it is pretty much right now.
I know that this is a site dedicated to PE but the wonderful thing are the other sub forums which cater for all manner of discussions. So, on this occasion, my dick is the last thing that I am thinking about. I guess that it leads me to my final point; what it means to be a man can be seen in such a tangible way at this point in time. Regardless of what is happening with your wang, the good measure of a man (or woman) is their ability to stand by their partner through thick and thin. We all sacrifice something to survive in this world. However, there are some things that I will never give away; respect, loyalty, integrity, honesty, love for your partner and a desire to help others.
I've asked my boss for compassionate leave but as I work in a specialised field and like most areas of industry, they only have the bare minimum of manpower to limit costs. So, I have my doubts that they will fly me out and I suppose that my resilience will be tested. The banal and laborious weight of the cost of living, bills to pay etc. etc. will probably keep me here for my remaining week. I can't totally drop the ball and run home...we wouldn't have a home within 2 weeks if I gave up my income.
However, I guess that I just wanted to demonstrate that being a man and supporting your partner go hand in hand. The same goes for women so I am not making this a gender issue. My wife is toughing it out on her own so it just shows how emotionally tough she is...but everyone has a breaking point if they aren't supported and three deaths in her family over a year make me wonder how close she is to hers.
If you have a partner, give them a hug.
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