Just thought I would write; think an update is in order.  I last wrote the day before September 11.

We made it through that anniversary-day with little fanfare, but it was sad to remember the horrors of that day.  I was only five, just a little kid.  I remember mami and papi crying and telling me that some bad men had hurt and killed some people; they wouldn't even let me see the news.  When I first saw the images of the twin towers falling, I cried.  I couldn't believe that some people would be so cruel to do such a horrible thing!

School is closed this week:  some cases of the swine flu; the school will remain closed until it is thoroughly cleaned/disinfected from top to bottom.  About seven kids have it at my school; the school board doesn't want to take any chances.

So I get a little mini-vacation this week.  (My brothers still have to go to school; their schools are okay so far.)

Hee!  I get a break from Torencio, Trev, and Tray!  LOL  This is going to be great!!  LOL

Mami is continuing to make strides in her recovery:  her speech is clearer, easier to understand, and she just might be getting rid of the crutches by next week.  She's really been coming along.  She does have some memory issues, but time will help that; we just have to help her remember.  (Her long term memory is great; she has problems with her short term memory.)

Papi has been really good helping out with her care (and taking care of us kids). 

I am very blessed to have the parents I do.  I'm even blessed to have my brothers (even though at times I'm more than ready to ship 'em off to Alaska so they can play with the polar bears)!  LOL 

God has been very good to our family, especially lately with mami.  He let her live; it's been nothing but miraculous!!

I have since forgiven the kid who hit my mom.  He's in treatment for his drinking; I pray he recovers!  He did spend some time in jail; he's now out on bail, and had to go to treatment.  He also has to spend some community service time once he completes treatment.  Maybe they'll make him help out at a nursing home, or at least let him see what he nearly took away when he got drunk and then drove. 

That would change his tune ...

I have been praying for the kid; God put it upon my heart that I should do this, so I do.  I pray for the kid every day.  I also pray for the older lady who probably witnessed the accident.  I also pray for myself, to help me deal with the memories of seeing mom lying broken and bent on the sidewalk, like a discarded child's plaything.

It is an image I'd love to erase from my memory.  Right now, though, I can't:  it haunts my sleep just about every night, especially when I hear about drinking and driving on the news; it just opens new wounds.

I am going to see if I can ask daddy if he can join MADD (do they even have a male chapter of this organization??  He's not exactly the female type, if you know what I mean!  LOL).  I'm also going to see if they have a kid's branch; we have to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol mixed with driving.  Not a good thing to do; it's rather stupid, if you ask me!!

We need to have the law enforcement people crack down on drunks who get behind the wheel of a car; too many lives have been altered forever!!  Too many broken dreams, too many broken hearts; too many families have been affected, more than you may realize!  (We are just one of millions of those families that drunk driving touched!)

I am going to go back to bed; I'm up waaaay too early!  (Will go to church tonight; this morning, however, I am sleeping in; I don't plan on rising before noon!  LOL)  So on that note, goodnight; it's back to dreamland (and warm sheets on these chilly Tennessee mornings)!  LOL  Until later, this is Julie Torres signing off!  God bless!

~Love, your friend, Julie.  :)