Louisiana emails her friend in far, northernmost Alaska, trying to offer her comfort in the midst of her grief over the death of her beloved mother.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005, 12:58 p.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Sikik~
Hello! I was so happy to hear from you at long last; it has been a while, hasn't it?? I am so sorry about the death of your mother; please accept my deepest, heartfelt sympathies (and prayers) over your loss! God be with you during this incredibly sad time in your life!
No wonder I haven't heard from you! When did your mother die, exactly, and were you there with her when she died? I certainly hope that she didn't suffer in any way, and I hope that you and your family were by her side when she died! Please, by all means, if there is anything, anything at all, that I can do for you and your family, please let us know as soon as possible, okay? Thanks!
BRRR!! That sounds cold, from the way you described the weather action in Alaska! I think you made my blood turn to ICE! LOL I hope it warms up somewhat for you guys up there in Barrow; that is tooooo cold for my Louisiana-Cajun blood to handle! YIKES!! (That would NOT feel at ALL good on my arthritic joints! *OW, OW, OW* PAIN LINES!!) I am glad I am here in the hills of Tennessee; I LOVE it here, and it is fairly cold but nothing like what you guys are experiencing way up there in northern Alaska! BRRRRR!!!! :0
We are all fine, but alas, I am not...I have to have back surgery; when, I don't know when, but as soon as I find out anything from my neurologist, Dr. Stryker (it is he who will be performing my surgery), I will be sure to let you know, pronto! I went to the doctor's yesterday, because I have been having a lot of sciatic-related pain running down my legs and settling in my lower spine, and it has gotten to be more difficult for me to walk. I am walking on forearm crutches now, just like I did when I hurt my back when I was a little girl, and every step has been pure agony! Well, I had x-rays and an MRI, and the results showed that I have a prolapsed disk in my lower spine; and it is pressing on the nerve; this is what is causing the intense pain I have been having as of late; and the only effective remedy at this point seems to be surgery. If I don't have anything done before the year is out, I could become permanently paralyzed and depending on a wheelchair; that is how serious this is, and I am afraid that I have no other option. Such as life; things happen, and you just gotta' roll with the punches that life sometimes gives to you (although, at the present, I'd much rather NOT, thankyewverymuch!)! (I will probably have the surgery sometime in a month or so; but as I said to you earlier, as soon as I find out when I am going into the hospital, I will be among the first to let you know! So stay tuned~)
I just got back from Sri Lanka last week; it was quite an eye opening experience, and you wouldn't believe the devastation! Such power in those tsunamis, and the damage that they can inflict just boggles the mind! I saw so many broken bodies and people devoid of any expression, and it just absolutely broke my heart! I was there as part of a relief team of medical workers, and we were there for a week; it was quite a moving and life-changing experience; I don't think I will ever forget it as long as I live! At last count over 200, 000 people have died in the tsunami, and the threat of disease still hangs heavily in the air! But I WILL tell you this: I am glad, very glad, that I could make some difference in deserving people's lives; and if I had the opportunity to do it again, believe you me, I'd do it in a heartbeat!
Did you know that Bill and I have applied to adopt again (even after having adopted 50 kids already! Either we are flat out crazy or we have tons of love in our heart!)? I saw a little baby boy of six months named Arjun, and a little girl of five named Rani, and both lost their families in the disaster; and when I first saw them, I just fell in love with them, and now I am starting the ball rolling in obtaining these precious Sri Lankan children who lost nearly everything but their own lives. The little girl is still recovering from a coma that she was in for several weeks, but the boy was apparently unharmed; and he appeared to be okay when I saw him at the makeshift hospital that I was working at. I will let you know as soon as we find out anything from our adoption lawyer, and as soon as we find out things from the people we are currently working with in persuing the adoptions of these two children!
I have some good news concerning my daughter Ronee': she was chosen to be one of the kids to make it to the tv show on PAX, "America's Most Talented Kids"! She had her audition the Saturday before I got back from Sri Lanka, and out of several hundred kids who tried out, 12 were chosen in the final decision--and Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux, my daughter, was chosen to be one of the kids! I am so happy for her I could just BUST! I pray she does well on the show, and I hope that the judges (and the audience) love her too! We will be flying out to Hollywood, California, sometime in March to tape the show, and it will be on probably during the summer. So be looking for her on your tv in the summer!
Well, I will write more later; I have to clean up the mess that my dog, "Cajun Gold", made: she just yakked up on the livingroom rug; hope my little Pomeranian isn't coming down with something...I just stepped in it; GROSS! Until later, 'bye!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tn., Louie Sandusky. :)
P.S.: Enjoy the pic of my dog I am enclosing on this letter! She is so cute; she has been a wonderful little friend!
An excellent write--well done! Love the pic, too *awwwwwwwwww*
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :)
Reviewed by Judy Lloyd
1/25/2005
I like the dog too and a friend has one named Nugget because of the gold color. Keep up the good work. And the good news is the baby is improving thank God for that. Spotslyvania County baby.
Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005, 12:58 p.m., C.S.T.~
