22 March, 2008, Sydney, Australia~

Dear Journal~

G'day!  T'is me, Bobbo (Bob) Brighton!  Hope this finds y'all in fine fettle!

Sorry for not writing; things have been crazy-busy with me job with the handicapped children--and dealing with me own brother, Teague, who, as you know, happens to be autisic.  He may be a grown man to most people's standards; however, there are times where he acts like a young child!  You never know when he is going to go ballistic; anything can set him off!  It's really frustrating!

Things between Tottie and meself have been fantastic; things couldn't be better.  In fact, I've asked her hand in marriage; we are planning to have our wedding sometime later this year.  Tottie is one of the sweetest gals I've ever come across: she's sassy, brassy, smart, funny, just an all-around great person to be around.  The more I'm with Tottie, the more I love her; she's my everything!

T'is just turned autumn here; the hot, dry days are now history.  Days getting shorter, leaves just starting to turn color on the trees.  There were some grass fires about; some got fairly close: you could smell the odor of smoke in the air; it was a most frightening, uncertain time!  Sometimes you could even see the flames in the distance; very unnerving, that!!  Glad that's overwith!

Tottie and I are moving: we're moving to a bigger place.  The place we're at now is too croweded, what with me three sisters, two brothers, me mom and pop, and Tottie (and all her medical equipment) living together in one, small, cramped space.  Not good! 

Another thing I've been doing is looking into purchasing a vehicle equipped for disabled drivers (i.e., hand controls, wheelchair lift, that sort of thing), so Tottie can drive again.  She hasn't driven since her accident over two years ago.  I've had to run her everywhere.  It's no wonder I'm so bloody knackered all of the bloomin' time!!

Tottie has her good days and bad: most days she's very accepting of her amputation; however, there are those nasty days where she wishes she could throw her bloody crutches (or her wheelchair) into the garbage; she turns belligerent, mean-spirited: it's on days like this where I've learnt to stay away 'til she cools off!

Tottie is prone to attacks of "phantom pain", where her leg (stump) will start throbbing with pain; it's like her mind is playing bloody tricks on her, and it's quite disconcerting.  She'll scream out, "Oh, oh, OH!! Me leg, me leg, O, me leg!! O, God, it hurts, it hurts!!"  I will then have to hold her, rub her back, her shoulders, anything to try to quiet her down.  It's really unnerving, that!

Well, I have to go: Tottie's screaming at me; seems little brother Teague is wiggning out again; have to see what's going on.  I tell ya, life is never dull around Casa Brighteon!

Toodles!

~Bobbo.