The Eyes of Texas

Youngest grandson - lives in Texas and visiting for the summer.

Nine years old (he will be ten tomorrow) and a non-stop bundle of energy. I always said that the only two things I wanted to bring into my old age were flexibility and stamina and he is a good test of both. He wanted to see "Evan Almighty" so we did. He talked non-stop through the movie but we were the only ones there so it didn't matter. No "shushing."

He's staying with us for the weekend - birthday party at our place tomorrow. We're ready!

Aunt Sandy

That's me, the stick figure slightly off-center with my hoop earrings. Didn't have my ears pierced until I was well into my 30's - against husband's wishes who thought pierced earrings were for gypsies or something. Obviously he never wore clip-ons - my ears would hurt until they got numb and then hurt all over again when I took the earrings off. Besides, I was born to wear hoop earrings.

Politics, Love and War

Having just made my first contribution for the '08 presidential campaign, I now have a dog in this hunt.

When we lived in Washington my candidate was an ultra-liberal that my husband was adamantly opposed to. I wasn't "gainfully employed" at that time but he was always very generous with the household money and there was never an issue as to whether or not it was "his" money or "our" money. Until I made a contribution to the candidate he didn't like - then it was "his" money. S'funny now because we seem to have met somewhere slightly left of center. The most poltical fun I have now is to casually mention the name of our current president because I know his reaction - that G#% D*%^# S%* of a B*%^&! With him it's personal, with me it has to do with policies.

The oldest boy has an interest in politics - especially with recruiters actively pursuing him. Even the younger one has started to pay attention. Look at all the little minds I'm molding!

Wednesday Family Meeting

Tonight our grandson will be going with us to visit his mother at the re-hab facility. It is family meeting night and this will be the first one he's attended. The meetings are very honest with lots of sharing and he is ready to participate. His garage band was asked not to play so loud the last time they got together. He was stunned, absolutely stunned that their music wasn't appreciated. Ah, youth. It must be served.

And On And On...............

Japanese Gardens, site of our niece's wedding

These past few days have been some of the most relaxing I've had for a very long time. With our daughter in re-hab, we are now at long last looking forward to a time when she will be able to take over her responsibilities and we will be able to march forward with our own plans.

The program she's in offers a sober-living option after she completes her ninety days (she is almost half-way through) and she has very reluctantly signed up for it. Her reluctance is for several reasons - uppermost is the fact that her oldest son will not be able to live with her since he will be 18 soon and they don't allow 18 year olds. The fact that he won't be able to stay with her has made her realize, really realize, how much time she's lost and can't get back since she had always hoped they would all be able to live together when she was clean. Her 13 year old will be living with her though.

On the plus side for her, the amount of rent she pays will be proportionate to the money she earns. She will need to get a job and is nervous about getting one as she has been out of the job market for years and has no marketable skills to speak of. This area offers job training and that's a possibility but she is interested in driving a city bus and wants to apply there while she's still in re-hab. I'm sure she will need to take drug tests often as a bus driver but she says she is sooooo through with drugs that that doesn't bother her in the least. This program she's in tells her to remember her last day using and to realize that if she ever uses drugs again, it will be even worse. I saw her on her last day using and she said she felt like she was dying.

She is now getting healthy, both physically and mentally, has gained ten well-needed pounds and is learning how to think and live without drugs. She laughs easily now whereas a conversation with her in the past would mean walking on eggshells or putting on boxing gloves. We didn't see her often while she was using but when we did it never went well and usually ended with her storming off because of some perceived slight.

So on we go, doing it one day at a time but doing it. Thankful she is in re-hab, thankful she still has a relationship with her boys, thankful for all the wonderful people that are helping her learn how to live, and just thankful.