Summer Parkingham here.  Thought I'd let you know what is going on with us since I last wrote a little over a month ago.

As you know, my sister, Ramey Melissa, who is 11, had a stroke.  She came home a month ago, and it's been a huge adjustment on all our parts.  We've had to make our home "handicapped-accessable", to make my sister get around easier, and she continues to endure physical, speech, and occupational therapy. 

Ramey is now talking a little clearer (that is, she doesn't sound so much like having a mouth full of oatmeal), and her walking ability has improved since coming out of the hospital.  Her one side remains paralyzed, but hopefully she will gain some movement back; we remain optimistic about this, and so do her doctors.

Ramey never did return back to school upon returning home.  The other kids don't know the extent of what she went through.  She will have to make up what she missed; therefore, the school board decided it was easier for her to repeat the fifth grade.  We are disappointed; however, we know that it wasn't her fault that she got sick.

At first, I blamed myself; I know now that it was something that happened, something that was totally out of my control.  If I could, I would have done anything possible to prevent this from happening to my little sister.

I have since apologized to her about getting mad at her for getting into my clothes; she's forgiven me, which is a huge relief off my mind. 

After Ramey completes her current summer school requirements, we are going to go on vacation for several weeks; we all feel we need one after what's happened to Ramey. 

We are going to go to the lake for the fourth of July, see fireworks that night.  It's something we do every year; it's a tradition with our family.  We always have the best time:  we kids go swimming, and the adults cook, relax, enjoy the day off from work or worries.  Then we see the evening band concert, capped off with a dazzling display of pyrotechnic wizardry.

After that, we have no idea what we have planned except that I will be playing with my friends (perhaps get some serious basketball time in; I adore basketball!!) or helping out my parents with my sister or perhaps hanging out with my grandfather Ted (dad's dad), who spends the week after the fourth with our family.  (He lives in Georgia; he's in his eighties, still as spry as a young colt.)  He's a lot of fun!

Well, I have to go now; mom sees that I am up, and she's telling me to go back to bed; it's too danged early to be up (her words, not mine!).  I will write in here again another day; until then, this is Summer signing off!  Have a wonderful Fourth of July; and have a fun summer!  See ya!  Bye!

~Summer Parkingham.  :)

*To be continued.*