Teeka DaSha'e Daniels here.  Sorry if I haven't written; writing has become a chore for me.  Ever since JaVonte' (my littlest brother; he died over two years ago due to complications from the swine flu; he was only six years old when he died) passed away, I just don't feel like doing much of anything.  JaVonte' 's death really hit me like a ton of bricks!

I am in the sixth grade now.  Or was.  School just ended a few weeks back; now we're having summer vacation.  We don't go back until September, the day after Labor Day.  I'm so glad I passed; and I'm so glad school's over!  It was beginning to drive me crazy! Ever since G-Man died back in the winter of 2009 (February was when he died), people have been treating me strangely, and it made me very uncomfortable.  They were feeling sorry for me and I couldn't take it any more.

At least now I can sleep in and go swimming or go to the beach.  I like going to the pool or to the beach, away from anybody: sometimes I need to be alone and think (or remember JaVonte' when he was alive; I still miss him so much!).

July Fourth is coming up in a few weeks, and that was JaVonte' 's favorite holiday next to Christmas.  I can't hardly believe he's been gone for a little over two years now, but he has, but it doesn't really make the pain or sadness any less.  I still have my moments where I will see a picture of JaVonte' or see my remaining brother, Tyler, and remember how close he was to his younger brother': they were the best of friends besides being brothers.

And, as you remember from the last time I had written, JaVonte' loved the Fourth of July.  The fireworks and firecrackers were his favorite, as were the blaring police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks during the parade.  Last year we went to the parade and fireworks show, but it wasn't the same without JaVonte'.

I hope the National Hurricane Center is wrong this  year about the number of storms they are predicting.  They are saying that this year could be a bad year for named storms, and quite a few of them could turn major.  Great!  Just what I did NOT want to hear! After (Y)Ike and Rita, I have had more than my fill of hurricanes!  

I hope I never see another hurricane for the rest of my life!!

Galveston is still recovering from the effects of (Y)Ike.  It will take years before Galveston is returned to her former glory.

The weather now is hot and sunny, perfect beach weather.  Maybe I can talk mom into going to the beach, now that she's not drinking nearly as much.  (She's going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the Baptist church near us, and I hope and pray it's helping her.  Mom was scary when she got drunk: she'd turn mean and hit us kids like she was a bowling ball and we were the bowling pins!  It was awful!

Well, I gotta go.  Guess we're gonna go to the beach: daddy has the cooler and portable hibachi grill and he's putting it in the trunk of our van.  He's also bringing the picnic basket, blankets, and towels.  (Hope he didn't forget the mosquito repellent or the bug spray or the sunblock!!)  I will try to write a lot sooner than I had; please forgive me!  Take care and talk to you again! Bye for now!

~Love, your friend, Teeka.  :)   

 ~To be continued.~