I realize that I have written some rather depressing columns during the last several weeks.

Believe me, it was certainly not my intention.

And I apologize if anyone is sick and tired of reading about my weekly problems.

I usually just sit down at the computer a few hours before deadline and write.

For the most part, I don’t even know what I am going to talk about. I usually don’t even realize what is coming out of the keyboard. My fingers just fly across the keys while my brain is focusing on something else entirely.

It’s as if I am reading it for the first time, too, when it comes out in Sunday’s newspaper.

Several people have approached me or written during the past two weeks. They wanted to let me know that they faithfully read my column. And that I also make them cry.

For that, I truly apologize.

Again, that is definitely not my intention — at all.

I just write about life and what I happen to be going through at the moment.

Of course, I don’t write about all of my problems.

Some things are meant to remain private.

So, for the sake of my mother, who told me not to write any more sad articles because she is always crying, too, I will attempt to focus on a positive.

(This is the most difficult column I have ever had to write.)

I have already been through three different columns entirely and hated them.

It’s hard to think of positives sometimes.

OK. I got one.

I did have a really nice weekend last week.

My boys all came home.

To have all three of my children in the same place was perfect.

It was amazing.

The house was full again, with the exception of our dogs.

But never-the-less, it was a blessing.

Dylan had come home from Kent (thanks to my mother for going to get him) and Noah flew in from Texas.

My brother even came back from Florida.

And it was at that point I realized something was definitely up.

Because unless we were having a surprise intervention for someone, there had to be a hidden motive which no one was telling me about.

My brother never comes to Ohio.

But no one had wanted to tell me anything. They kept the secret among themselves because I had just lost my dog and my arm had been broken.

It’s as if they said, “Don’t add more stress to the old lady,” or something to that effect.

My thinking is that if you are waiting for a good time to tell me anything, you may as well just hold your breath indefinitely. Because there will never be a time when I am not going to be having some type of difficulty.

I was finally told the reason everyone was returning home is because my handsome, thoughtful, sweet son — the baby of the family — has to go overseas.

And he will be gone for 10 months. This will be the first time he will not be home for Christmas.

But I am not going to turn this into a depressing column.

I will instead tell you that I had a wonderful time seeing my boys again. I even had the opportunity to watch Noah play blackjack at Mountaineer. He is good. And so adorable. It was almost as much fun as when I watched him play basketball when he was little.

It will be a memory that I will always carry with me. And another good moment I will add to the scrapbook I keep in my mind.

(Stenger is the Community editor for the Herald-Star and the Weirton Daily Times.)