Diane answers her friend's latest letter after she wrote back to her.

Friday, November 19, 2004, 2:40 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Louie~

Thank you for your encouraging email; it really lifted up my dragging spirits! I loved the picture of the eagle you put on your letter, and I loved the things you said to me.

I am still having problems, but today, we reapplied for Humberto's disability claim; and I also got in touch with one of the lawyers that was on the list that you faxed to me. Thank you! Hopefully something will happen; I hate worrying like this, and my husband IS unable to work; so I don't see WHY he can't get his disability back!

Rosita had another spell today; she is in the hospital now as I speak, and I feel so horrible because I can't get down there to be with her. My mother went to Austin, so she could be with my daughter, and she will get in touch with me to let me know how she is doing. I pray all goes well with her; she has been through so much with her health it isn't funny! My other kids are fine, but Humberto, Jr., has pink eye: his eye is all pink, swollen, itchy, and teary, and it is really a struggle for me to try to keep him from rubbing it or touching his face! I feel so sorry for him; his eye really looks horrible! And he is so miserable! Chico had a seizure today, so he is in bed, sleeping; seems that our troubles never end...

I am not going to worry about Christmas; I hate seeing the ads on tv or seeing all the happy people going out and about as they shop for their families. I used to enjoy Christmas; now I can't stand it! I am just going to shut the door, shut off the radio and tv, and just have our own little family Christmas. We did go to the Salvation Army and to the other charitable places you told us about and applied for gifts; but I am not all that hopeful. There were so many people there, and just about all of them didn't speak a word of English. I felt so sorry for them! I don't know how they get about their lives when they can't even speak English; at least I learned English as a child, and I speak it just as well as I do the Spanish! Did you know that the schools in our area are teaching little kids Spanish? It's true ! My kids who are in school are taking Spanish, and they really enjoy it! But I think it should be required that those who choose to live or work here SHOULD at least learn at LEAST the BASICS of English! It would make things so much easier for them!!

I hope that my upcoming MRI shows nothing wrong; but I am so worried about it! I have never had an MRI, and I am severely claustrophobic! What if I have a panic attack while in the MRI, and what if something goes wrong? I am so scared about this test it isn't funny! Have you ever had an MRI? What was it like? Did they knock you out for it, or were you awake? (I pray to God that you were KNOCKED OUT! I would be having a panic attack if I were in the MRI machine!!) Keep me in your prayers about this; I am scared to DEATH!

Got some sad news today: my mother's best friend, Goldie G. Huerta, died of breast cancer. She had been sick a long time and had been undergoing treatment; but it didn't seem to be doing her any good. She was only 65. She died yesterday, and I am still reeling from the shock. She will be with her parents after she gets done visiting Rosie in the hospital. She will be there at least a week, until the crisis that Rosie suffered has passed, and also to help out Maria and Lamarzo Gonzalez, Goldie's parents, who are both elderly and frail. My mother was the one who told me about Goldie, and I have been crying ever since, it seems. Then this with Rosie...ay yi yi, I don't know if I can take any more bad news~

Please keep me in your prayers; thank you again for writing! I am sorry to run off like this, but the phone is ringing; it may be Mami calling about Rosita! I pray things are okay; please keep us in your prayers! I will write more later!

(((HUGS))) and love, your Texas amiga, Diane Renee' Aguilar. :(