Brief Update: Mom's Got Menopause & I'm Tired....

Here's an email I sent to my friends and family last week, it pretty much updates me. I'm very tired today as I didn't sleep until 4am and then proceeded to wake up every 20 mins or so, I HATE that! Anyhow, on the upside, my mother FINALLY admitted that she has menopause and ALL the symptoms that go along with it. DA! I love you mom, but yeah, we've ALL known that for like six months. Now that's she's admitted it, she can be active in her treatment and management of it. It must suck having Menopause, YUCK! Hat's off to you mama, I'm here for ya! Anyhow, I'll write more this weekend, or maybe later tonight if I'm not so darn tired. Hope all is well with everyone else! Ta ta for now!

Many Blessings,
SL

Hello Everyone! 5/29/05

I hope this email finds you well, in good health and happiness enjoying the summer that has creeped up on us!

First off, this weekend is Memorial Day and in the hustle and bustle of Store Sales, BBQ's and activity, PLEASE, remember what this holiday is REALLY about.....our

BRAVE, COURAGEOUS & HEROIC MEN & WOMEN who so SELFLESSLY SERVE/SERVED THIS COUNTRY!!!

The men and women who died for this great land called America and the ones who are still fighting on behalf of all of us......regardless of political affiliation, heroes are heroes...please take a moment to remember that, pray for them and give lots of thanks and remembrance!!!! I know I am!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Okay, now.....sit back, relax and know that I apologize for the length, it's been a while.....

I can't believe it's almost June already, wow, I've got just over six months left to enjoy being 21, and I AM enjoying it-very much!

My health is still touch n' go; somedays I feel great, others I feel like crap. The last few days, my neck and back has been in a great deal of pain, I'm not sure why. But, occasionally, I get this chronic back pain b/c of the rod in my back due to my scoliosis. Anyhow, I'm feeling better today, and I have NO nausea!!! Which is ALWAYS great!

I had an Endoscopy about two weeks ago, (where they go into your esphogus) and that went fine. My esophogus is a bit enflamed and they wanna run more tests, but I don't see another doctor until June 7th, which totally sucks, but hey, that's how life is.......

In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying being a nanny and starting NEXT Monday, it'll be WAY full time! I'm a bit nervous about it, but also happy....my days will be filled with dolls, makeup, drawings, reading and cartoons-complete bliss, or torture, depending on the day! LOL!

I have a WHOLE new respect for those of you who have children! Oh my God, BLESS ALL OF YOU! Whew......toughest, most strenuous, thankless, msot difficult job EVER! But also such a joy! A few people on this list just became parents and or grandparents (last month) so I'd like to say CONGRATULATIONS to those people. I'm not naming names, but you know who you are!

Next month, I'm going to take the ROAD TRIP of a LIFETIME! I'm going to drive to Reno, NV. (my hometown) and stay with my grandmother, Elizabeth and her wonderful husband, Henry. for a week or so.......

then, I'm going to continue on to Salem, OR. to see my BEAUTIFUL sisters, dad and step-mom! I positively CANNOT wait!!! I'm SO excited!!!

I have not seen my Oregon family in TWO years, so my sisters are no longer little babies, but I'm sure we'll get along WONDERFULLY! I can't wait!!! I'm mostly looking foward to seeing how they've grown, changed and remained the same! Kelsey and I are going to go shopping at the mall, (I never outgrew that phase myself), Jordan and I are going to go to the Bookstore and Joely I think wants to go to an art store! Anyone got any ideas on other activities the four of us could do together? I'm also curious to see how much they're like me, if at all, and what we can now learn from eachother! That bond is always there, even if we're not together physically.....I'm very close to them and they know that I'm ALWAYS there for them, even if just over the phone.......but NOTHING compares to seeing and hugging and hanging out together in PERSON!!!

My dad and I are doing great as well! That's been really nice, and we're friends, I'm looking foward to getting to know him as an adult. You know, not just father and little girl, but father/daughter as adults. That'll be really nice. I also want to see how much I've ended up looking like him, that will be REALLY cool! We're gonna go to dinner just the two of us, like we always do, but mostly, I am looking to foward to simply HUGGING him! My dad's great, and it's nice that he's supportive of my trip and desire to see all of them! Thanks, dad!

I don't get to talk to Kim very much lately (she's always busy-three kids, & full time work, yeah, I understand why) but I know we'll have a great time! We always have such fun talking as girls! Kim is SO cool, I'm very lucky to have a step-mom who allows me to see, love and be a huge part of her family.....and who loves me back. Kim rocks!

I'm really looking foward to seeing my grandma too, it's always so great to go home and know that I have a home to go home to! I'm gonna eat myself SILLY up there and enjoy some normal summer weather, instead of living on the sun (literally) at 110* in Vegas! LOL! Actually, I've gotten used to it and I like it, I know, call me crazy!!!

I'm basically getting prepared for my trip, there's SOOOOOOO much to remember, pack, take, think of.......whew! Safety, comfort, things to do, oh my gosh......I'll be gone a MONTH!!! Whoa! I don't even wanna think about unpacking when I get home!!!!

Like I said, I'll be gone about a month, and boy am I gonna miss my BED, SHOWER, MOM and Hugh. I usually miss my cat, Nellie, first, and the most though. LOL! I really feel this will be a great experience and a chance for me to figure some stuff out and be near family and friends.........I'll have complete computer access at my grandma's, but not so much at my dad's, so just be prepared to not hear much from me around the end of June, begining of July!!!

If you're in Reno, please, write me back and let me know when we can meet up!!! I'd LOVE to see YOU.....Uncle Bob & Aunt Rosemary, Mr. Towell, Tessa, etc.....

Anyhow, I'm leaving Vegas on the 17th of June and will be leaving Reno on the 25th or 26th.....and continuing onto Oregon. I'll be in Oregon until about the 9th or 10th of July, maybe the 12th at the latest! I have to be back by Saturday, July 15th, b/c I'm due back on the 18th...and I need at least three days of driving in between...whew.....this really is an adventure!!!!

My mama says that I'll "find" myself on this trip, I think we all find a bit more of ourselves each and everyday, but maybe she's right, my point is, at this time in my life, I'm NOT lost! But, I can understand what she's saying....what do you think?

How lucky am I that I get to take a month off? It's SO cool! I'm a little nervous about driving all this way, but I'll be FINE. I just know it. I have faith, God will take care of me and with ALL of YOUR PRAYERS! (please) I know it'll work out just great!!!!

I'm stopping halfway between Reno/Salem in Redding, CA. to see a dear friend, Betty, who took care of me when I was a tween (pre-teen). So that'll be good. It's exactly half way between the two cities, so it'll be a nice rest!

My mom is doing well, she's still looking for another job and still seeing her boyfriend. As for us, we're getting along better, I realized that parents are people too and we all make mistakes. When it come right down to it, she's been AMAZING and STRONG and LOVING and SUPPORTIVE my WHOLE life! I don't look at my mistakes as mistakes, I look at them as lessons, and if you took one of those lessons away, I wouldn't be who I am today.....same goes for my mom, and I love and adore her just the way she is. I don't have to agree with everything she says and does, but I can love her and be there for her just the same!!! Just like she is for me!!!

She, and my dad, Joe, are REALLY nervous about me going all that way, driving by myself, but hey, you gotta live life right? I mean, I could die tomorow, we just never know. I might as well take a chance, if nothing else, life is an adeventure right?!!! Right!

Please pray for me and my safety and security on this trip as well as the improvement of my health. I want to be healthy enough to enjoy this trip, but either way, I'm GOIN'!!!!

You each are in my prayers EVERY SINGLE DAY and I think of you all very often!

Please, feel free to write back and let me know how YOU are!!!!! I look foward to it!

Have a safe, happy, fun and WONDERFUL Memorial Day & Summer!!!

Thanks for listening, I so appreciate it!!!

Many Blessings,
-SL