Friday, December 30, 2005 (ALMOST over, this year is!! :) )~

Dear Louie~

Hey! Thanks for your very newsy, happy letter of yesterday! It really made me smile! It is always good to hear from you again!

I was especially happy to learn of your daughter Ronee' 's health improving. That is absolutely FANTASTIC news! I bet living with breathing problems was scary; bet that is why your hair has turned grey! That would be scary to see your child struggling for breath like that! I was also happy to learn of Johnny's muscular dystrophy holding its own. I always was scared of finding out someone I loved would get this (or any other neuromuscular disease) because once you get it, there's not really much room for hope. I didn't tell anyone this until now, but I lost a dear uncle to muscular dystrophy when I was a small child, and I didn't really understand the seriousness of his illness, and it really bothered me when I saw that he was getting worse. I thought he had something like cancer or a tumor, but nobody really told me anything, and it was quite frightening. It's something I really don't like to talk about; it still causes tears to prick at my eyes whenever I think about this. It sure sounds like your year is ending on a high, positive note! :)

I am well, and Karla is doing better; she was sick yesterday (she had a round of diarrhea, but we think it is because she ate something that didn't agree with her), but this morning, she felt well enough to get out of bed, and she seems in a much better mood. I worry about her because when she gets sick, her blood sugar gets all out of whack, and she can get into serious trouble in a hurry if she (or I) isn't/aren't careful. I am just glad that today she doesn't have dialysis; in fact, she won't have it until Monday, so at least for a few days, she will get to be a normal kid! She just can't eat sweets because of her diabetes, and I watch her like a hawk. I have to; I am her MOTHER, for God's sake!

I have been reading about all the storms in California and all the fires/dry weather in Texas and Oklahoma, such crazy weather going on! I wonder what next year will be like: I pray it is a MUCH calmer  year for ALL concerned!! Such scary stuff going on in the world today!!

I enjoyed reading about your Christmas Day. Christmas Day wasn't near as busy (or NOISY!) for us; it was just Karla and myself, and we just got each other clothes and some perfumes and makeup. Nothing fancy; we aren't rich anyway, and living on the reservation just doesn't really hold much promise for making it unless the Great Spirit sees to it. But I really don't mind; I'd much rather live a simple, quiet life than to be caught in the mad humdrum of a busy ratrace!! I just don't know how many people can live like that...working a million hours a week, having bills to pay, never having enough time in the day to relax...that must REALLY be a pain in the neck!! I am glad I live here in Prescott: it is small, and it is the type of town where (nearly) everyoone knows your name. I like that, knowing who my friends are, and I like knowing many of my fellow townspeople! I bet Nashville is BIG; it sure seems to be for what I have seen on television! (Do you live downtown, or do you live in the suburbs? Is the traffic bad there, and do people there drive like idiots?? LOL) I may have to come to Nashville one day, just to see you, but I'd probably get lost somewhere along the way! LOL

Well, dear, I will go for now. I have things to do, and I want to get them done before Karla comes back. (She went out to see some of her friends that live close by, and they just hang out and talk for hours. I know where she is, and besides, she has a phone, so if she gets into trouble, she can get in touch with me.) Take care, dear friend, and again, thanks for your delightfully happy letter!! Hope you have a most wonderful New Year, and hope the Great Spirit brings you all that you want in life!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your Native Sister, Wyndi Storm Piestala. :D