Dear Friends,

I'm sorry I've been lax at reviewing your work, as well as posting my own over the last several months.  This past year has been an exercise in...well..I'm not sure what exactly. 

First of all my beloved Uncle Gene died, followed by my sweet Grandmother.  Then 33 days later in June my father died...I felt like a huge chunk of my life died too.  Then in November Dad's sister, my Aunt Elizabeth died, followed by my kitty of 16 years Pusscat who died one week later.  If I was a suicidal person, I'd have shot myself.

I suppose some folks would have just shrugged it off as a bad year.  If I were only THAT lucky. 

Instead I'm one of those artistic types who feels everything intensely.  And I've been rather overwhelmed.  My husband said that "life ended in our house on June 27th when your father died".  Harsh words, but I guess that's been true enough.  I've been fighting my way back to normal, but 10 months after his death, I still wonder what normal without him will be like.  I certainly haven't felt it yet.  Not that I haven't had good days in the last 10 months.  But when I hit the low days, I'm lower than a snake's belly.

I spend alot of time sleeping on the weekends.  I figured out early on that it's the one place I can go that doesn't hurt. 

And I've been going to grief counseling from time to time, which helps me feel less oddball-like.

So there you have it.  Each day is getting a little better, with a set back here and there.  Eventually my muse will bloom again, larger than life and you won't be able to get rid of me.  I'll be posting, reviewing, and making a general nuisance of myself, just as I did before all of this crap happened.

Thanks for understanding guys.  I still tune in and read, and comment when I can.  I love AD and the amazingly supportive buddies I've found here.  AD is a special place.

Love to all,

Michelle