Well, sheepers, I decided to share this with all. I had to go to the doctor on Thursday, and after his "tentative" diagnosis, I had to have time to recover before sharing...it is his opinion that I am suffering from congestive heart failure due to a substantial number of factors. Since that is still a "death sentence", I told him that I wanted all possible tests to be done, and would insist on at least two other opinions. He was pleased to see that I was thinking "out of the box", and agreed to refer me to a coronary specialist for an echo cardiogram. Now, at this point in time I will certainly not "throw in the towel", nor even be condescending to a "death sentence". While I had never expected to live to be 60, I still figure I have a great deal more misery to inflict on humanity before I agree to accept my eternity in Hell! But of all those with whom I currently correspond on-line, those in the BS site feel more like the family I have never truly been able to relate with. After all, all of us have at least that much in common...being black sheep! Over the short period of time that I have been involved, I have come to realize that many of us have a great deal in common with each other, even though few of us are actually, documentably, related to each other. That doesn't matter! You fellow sheep ARE my family. And that fact is something which I will take to the here-after with me, regardless if it is to be soon or many years distant. In short, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, lest I find myself not able to do so in the future. Now, please don't get maudlin on me...if I have anything to say about it, I'm going to have at least another century to inflict misery on my fellow man! Mike IBSSG --- Shuler Michael --- grinch42@mindspring.com --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.

Michael, We all have a death sentence. Some dates are just closer than others. My father's stepmother lived 15 years after she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She died while I was pregnant with my daughter...Kristine is named after her middle name. If your time is short I hope you cram all you want to do in that time. Don't leave regrets. If no one else wants it, I'll take your research...just kidding. EdrieAnne IBSSG

Hi, Mike! Well, I for one am looking forward to more misery which you will inflict. I definitely have not suffered enough yet to make up for past sins, so keep that stuff coming! As I read your note, you haven't yet had your other evaluations? Your diagnosis is still "tentative"? I would like to hear more, and I promise, no maudlin stuff or meaningless platitudes from me. Just my best wishes and caring thoughts coming your way. Sharon IBSSG ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shuler Michael" <grinch42@mindspring.com> To: <BLACKSHEEP-CHAT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 10:18 PM Subject: [BSChat] To All My Fellow Black Sheep! > Well, sheepers, I decided to share this with all. I had to go to the > doctor on Thursday, and after his "tentative" diagnosis, I had to have time > to recover before sharing...it is his opinion that I am suffering from > congestive heart failure due to a substantial number of factors. Since > that is still a "death sentence", I told him that I wanted all possible > tests to be done, and would insist on at least two other opinions. > He was pleased to see that I was thinking "out of the box", and agreed to > refer me to a coronary specialist for an echo cardiogram. Now, at this > point in time I will certainly not "throw in the towel", nor even be > condescending to a "death sentence". While I had never expected to live to > be 60, I still figure I have a great deal more misery to inflict on > humanity before I agree to accept my eternity in Hell! > But of all those with whom I currently correspond on-line, those in the BS > site feel more like the family I have never truly been able to relate with. > After all, all of us have at least that much in common...being black sheep! > Over the short period of time that I have been involved, I have come to > realize that many of us have a great deal in common with each other, even > though few of us are actually, documentably, related to each other. > That doesn't matter! You fellow sheep ARE my family. And that fact is > something which I will take to the here-after with me, regardless if it is > to be soon or many years distant. In short, I want to take this > opportunity to thank each and every one of you, lest I find myself not able > to do so in the future. > Now, please don't get maudlin on me...if I have anything to say about it, > I'm going to have at least another century to inflict misery on my fellow > man! > > Mike > IBSSG > > > --- Shuler Michael > --- grinch42@mindspring.com > --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet. > > > > ==== BLACKSHEEP-CHAT Mailing List ==== > Creative use of your delete key is encouraged. If you disagree with the subject, CHANGE the subject. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

"Shuler Michael" <grinch42@mindspring.com> wrote.... " ....it is his opinion that I am suffering from congestive heart failure due to a substantial number of factors...." Gosh, Mike, that's fairly depressing news! :-( For what it's worth, I have a biological uncle (the youngest of my birthfather's siblings) who was in line for a heart transplant back about the time that I located the family in 1984. They subsequently found the right combination of medications for him while he was waiting for his donor heart and he's still doing well. Of course, he's following Dr's. orders and behaving himself. I'm very flattered that you consider our select little group as family and felt like you could share that very special news with us. I think alot of our members come to feel that way about us. We are all pretty special folks, after all! :-) Sending healing thoughts your way, bud, and looking forward to more inflicted misery from your direction! *big grin* Best, SueB