My deepest condolences on the passing of your father. There are no words that can said to ease your feelings, those who have had similar experiences will empathise, and wish, as I do, all the best for you and your family at this time.

There is no need for you to apologise to us in any way. Your contribution to Traveller and the community stands on its own without need to comment on just how large it has been. If you never published another issue of Freelance Traveller your contribution will still have gone above and beyond.

Thank you for letting us know. If or when you feel ready please let us know because I’m sure there are those, like me, who would be more than happy to help or contribute in any way.

All the best,

Ewan

Hi Jeff,

First, please accept my sincere condolences. The loss of a parent is devastating regardless of how it happens and there really is little I can say other than my family will keep yours in our prayers. You have nothing to apologize for with regard to not publishing the issue because you have far more important things to do at this time. Please sing out if there is anything you need help with.

Sincerely,

Chuck McKnight

On Oct 29, 2018, at 5:04 PM, Jeff Zeitlin <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

It is much against my preference, and with my deep regret, that I must

announce that there will be no November/December 2018 issue of

_Freelance Traveller_.

The past few weeks have been a trial for me. At the beginning of

September, my father was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, and

within two weeks of the diagnosis, it was confirmed that it had gone

metastatic to the liver. Without treatment, the prognosis was no more

than six months; with the most aggressive treatment available, the

prognosis was no more than seven. My father has always preferred

_quality_ of life over _quantity_ of life, and elected to decline more

than palliative care. Rehabilitative placement followed, and was

showing good progress, but after a week, there was a marked decline,

to the point that the rehabilitative facility could not handle my

father's needs and conditions.

Just over a week ago, hospice placement was approved, and my father

was tranferred to Calvary Hospital's hospice facility in the Bronx

(NYC). Their personnel were mostly wonderful when it came to

addressing my father's needs and wants - our family tend to be poor

patients at best - and there were no indications of any problems or

misinterpretation that could not be quickly resolved.

Throughout this, my sister and I were providing administrative and

emotional support for my mother, and for each other.

At 6:15 EDT Saturday morning (October 27), my sister, my mother, and I

received telephone calls from the doctor at Calvary, telling us that

my father had passed shortly before, in no pain and at peace while

asleep.

As we are Jewish, burial is to be at the earliest opportunity, and

that was today.

My parents were married for 56.5 years, an amazing record when you

realize that it is unremarkable for more recent marriages to end

before the tenth year. There is more than the emotional aftermath to

deal with, however, and my sister and I are still "on duty".

Unfortunately, the level of stress and call on my time means that

_something_ had to give. I thought perhaps I could manage to get the

issue out perhaps a week late as I have done in the past, but it's

simply not in the cards this time. There will be no issue 90 of

Freelance Traveller; the next issue of Freelance Traveller will be

issue 91, January/February 2019. Unlike past issues where there has

been a gap followed by a "double issue", there will be no extra

material in issue 91; it will be the usual 64 pages.

I would have preferred not to have been forced into this evaluation of

my situation, and would have preferred not to have needed to come to

the conclusion that I have, which hurts you, the community, due to

events beyond your control, and because of my personal weakness.

Nevertheless, I would rather this than "lead you on" and then publish

an inferior product, or silently fail to publish.

You have my profound apologies.

--

Jeff Zeitlin

Editor

Freelance Traveller

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