September 10, 2009, written from the bedroom of Julie Torres at 14264 Haskell St., Nashville, Tn., at 9:46 a.m. in the morning~

Dear Journal~

Julie Jessika Jasmine Torres here.  Thought I'd update you on my life and let you know how things are going, particularly with my mami, who's been home from the hospital since August 17, 2009, nearly a month ago.

Hard to believe that just a few short months ago, mami was fighting for her life in Intensive Care; now she is walking (slowly, with crutches, but she is walking!) and continuing her rapid pace of recovery from devastating injuries she got when she was struck by a drunk driver while getting the mail for an elderly, homebound neighbor across the street from us.

Mami still faces a long road ahead of her; however, each day that goes by gets better and better.  She is gaining renewed strength, she is eating like a horse, and she laughs and jokes around again; the old mami is emerging; it is very encouraging to see.

Papi and the boys (Trevino, Torencio, and Tray) are their old selves again as well.  Torencio and Trev play and horse around, Tray continues to be his sweet, quiet self, and papi sings the ranchero music he loves so much, something he didn't do when mami was so sick in the hospital.  The house has come to life again; it's as if the house is throwing a welcome-home celebration for mami.

It's helped having the support of my friends, particularly Miracle and Fantazsia, who came to see me (and mami) when I was camping out at the hospital (Nashville Memorial).  The nurses and doctors took wonderful care of my mom; I am forever grateful to them, particularly this one nurse, Louisiana Sandusky, who took me under her wing and gave me much in the way of prayers and love. 

Louisiana Sandusky was very good with my mom.  She made sure she looked her best, even with all the tubes attached to her, and when she was well enough to have visitors, Louie would bring her puzzle books or books to read, just so she could while away the time when she was recovering.  She was very sweet; I owe her so much!

Now that mami is home, we can go to school and be a normal family again.  The only reason I am not at school today is because the school had a gas leak; it's to be closed until the leak can be located, then repaired.  Hopefully that won't be too long.  I also have a doctor's appointment at 1:30; it's just a regular checkup, nothing to worry about.

Until we leave for the doctor's (papi and myself; my abuela Consuelo will watch over Tray, Trevino, and Torencio while we're gone), I can just laze about and be a slug.  LOL

The weather here is partly cloudy, with temps in the mid-to-upper eighties.  We may get some rain by the beginning of next week, when a cold front enters the Tennessee Valley, with the threat of thunderstorms, including the possibility of severe weather.  Hope not, as I don't like thunderstorms very well, especially when they spit out hail or things like tornadoes!

I don't know what I am going to do after I get back from seeing Dr. Emmons; maybe I'll call up Miracle and Fantazsia and we can go to the mall, if it's okay with my parents.  Today is still unplanned; we have the whole day to figure things out.

Tomorrow is the eight year anniversary of September 11, 2001, when our country was attacked.  No doubt we will go to the memorial service the city will have, to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 men, women, and children who perished in New York City, Washington, DC, and that field in Pennsyvania.  There will be the reading of the names, the tolling of the bells, speeches, and special music picked out for the occasion.  It will be held at Centennial Park downtown; it will be going on for at least four hours or more. 

I remember the day like it was only yesterday, even though I was only a little girl of six.  I was getting ready to start the day, and I remember my teacher, Mrs. Fuddie, telling us a plane had hit the twin towers in New York City and they were now on fire.  She was very upset.  Not long after, the school was closed, and we were told to go home, to our families.  When I got home, I remember mami and papi crying and hugging us tightly.  I didn't understand what had happened, and I still don't understand now, all these years later.

Well, I have to go.  Have to get ready to see Dr. Emmons, and then perhaps go out to lunch beforehand.  I will write in here again soon; until then, take care and God bless! Say a prayer for our country as we remember September 11, 2001; pray that God continues to keep us safe from harm!  Bye!

~Love, Julie Jessika Jasmine.  :)