I'm now stayin' at a halfway house for homeless people who are ready to go livin' in a house or apartment setting, but we're not quite there yet.  We're workin' on it, though.  It's not much, but it's better than livin' off the street, diggin' in trash cans for substanance!

It helps sleepin' in a nice, warm bed instead of sleepin' in the rain or snow, or if it's cold/hot out.  Less chance of gettin' sick that way, and believe me, I don't need that!  Have more'n enough health problems already, what with my diabetes, high blood pressure, bad legs, etc.!

Unfortunately, some of my friends have since gone to meet their Maker:  Joe, he choked on his tongue in a seizure, and Eek got hit by a car.  Tyrell got shot by a rival gang member (he was all but fourteen), and one of Rica's boys, just a li'l thing, got kidnapped and there's talk he might have been raped.  They found his body a few days after he disappeared.  Rica, his mamma, has been beside herself with grief, especially now with Christmas comin' and all.

I miss 'em.  Bad!!

I am still tryin' to manage my health, thanks to that mobile health unit that comes and checks up on us every month.  It's not easy, but I am managin' somewhat.  I have the Good Lord to get me through the rough patches.

Seems my whole life lately has been one neverendin' rough patch!  I need someone to smooth the road for me, get rid of the ruts and potholes!!

Christmas is always a hard time for me.  It's hard not to get sad when I see all these people goin' by in their nice, fancy, shinin' clothes or cars, an' they never give us street people a second glance:  if they do, it's usually looks of disgust on their faces.  That is another thing why I am glad I'm no longer on the street an' livin' in a halfway house.  Don't have to look at that anymore.  Too upsettin'. 

Aren't we people, too?  Or are we dogs that have been kicked to the curb?  I wonder about that sometimes ...

Now that I live in a halfway house, I am tryin' to take care of myself better.  Don't look so much like a wild woman, with my hair floofin' out in a thousand different directions, grime coverin' my body, or wearin' anything I can find in the dumpster.  I look like a pretty decent person.  An ol' lady perhaps, but I'm still kickin'!  (Barely so!  LOL)

I wish I could still kick:  alas, my kickin' days are over!  LOL  (Kinda' hard to kick with two canes!  LOL)

Oh, if someone bothers me, I can cane 'em to death.  LOL  Gotta pertect myself somehow!  LOLOLOLOL

I see Kenna sometimes.  She's a right smart girl.  Still helpin' the homeless, as only she can.  Her parents ought to be proud:  they done raised her right.  I know that she is my 'dopted granddaughter; I've claimed her as my own.  :)

I don't see Kenna nearly as much as I used to:  she has her own life to live; yet she always remembers us street people/poor, especially at Christmas time.  She has the Christmas spirit all year long!

More people can take lessons from that young lady.  I just love her to pieces!

Goodness!  I thought it was later than it actually is: it's not even six out.  I usually don't get out of bed before seven!  No wonder I'm so sleepy this morning!  LOL  I am going back to sleep; don't plan on risin' before nine.  I will write in here again soon; please remember the poor this season, and not just the children:  there are plenty of poor/struggling adults who can use a helpin' hand this Christmas!

God bless you and keep you well, and Merry Christmas to you, too!

Love, your friend in Texas, Gracie Milsap.  :)