I am getting stronger, each and every day.  

I was on vacation in Nashville, Tennessee, with my brother, Galveston; was having a marvelous time, but then I got sick while at the Grand Ole Opry and ended up in the hospital later that night, after the show.  

I don't remember anything after that.

When I woke up, I was surprised to find myself in the hospital.  I was in the ICU, with all sorts of things attached to me.  I couldn't talk because I had a tube in my throat.  I am sure my brother must have seen my confused look; he then went on to explain what had happened to me.

 Apparently, I had a reaction to a couple of the antibiotics they gave me for my pneumonia, and I crashed.  I nearly died, not once, but twice.

What was even more surprising was this: I was in the hospital for three weeks when I finally awakened.  I had missed Christmas and New Years!

I am happy to say I am back home here in Galveston, but the illness and the complications I suffered really knocked the stuffing out of me.  I felt as weak as a newborn kitten.  It has only been since Monday where I have finally felt strong enough to return back to work.  

I work at Murdochs here in Galveston, Texas, which is where I, my brother, and his lover, Steve Michael Cutler, live.  We live in the area known as "The Strand".  We all work:  as I just said, I work at Murdoch's (have worked there for fifteen years and love my job!).  Gal works in Houston for a attourney.  As for Steve, he's an architect/designer , but on weekends, he works at the local RainForest Cafe' as a bartender (but managed to get the night off tonight, which is why he is home)..

In fact, while I was in Tennessee, in the hospital, Steve pulled a real number on me.  For Christmas, he totally redid my room into a beach wonderland.  He also did the ceiling to where it looks like the stars are shining in the sky.  In addition, he had a sound system rigged in to where I can play my relaxation tapes, be it the sound of rain falling, thunder rolling, or best of all, the ocean waves pounding.  It truly helps me to sleep after a particularly stressful or physically demanding day at Murdoch's!

It's as if he brought the Gulf or the beach inside my very own room!  It's awesome!!

Anyway, for a proper introduction, my name is Marina Hope Ryan.  I am 50 years old.  I have lived in Galveston all my life; I am a native BOI (Born on Island).  I lived on my own for a while, but then moved in with my brother (and Steve) to save money; living on the Strand is not cheap, especially to a single person like me.  I work at Murdoch's as a cashier.  

In terms of looks, I have short, dark chestnut-red hair that is curly, big, grey-green eyes, freckles on my face and arms, and am very tiny in size: I don't even weigh 95 pounds.  (I am healthy, just little in size.  Right now, though, I probably weigh 80 pounds due to being so sick; Gal and Steve are doing their best to try to fatten me up somewhat.  My normal weight is something like 92-94 pounds.)

Gal looks a lot like me, but his hair is black and he is dark-skinned with hazel eyes.  He takes after our dad in looks; I look more like Mother.  Built just like her, too.  Steve, meanwhile, has long, white-blonde hair, ice-blue eyes, and is built like a brick wall: he is huge!  He also has a very strong "Aussie" accent: Steve was, in fact, born in Australia and goes there at least once a year to see his family and his "mates" (friends).  This year he has promised to take Gal and me with him, so we both have something to look forward to.

We are planning to shoot for June to go to Australia; we have been saving our pennies for such an occasion.  :)  (Only thing is this: while it will be summer here in America, over there, it will be WINTER.  Their seasons are the exact opposite of what ours are!  Hmm ... wonder if it will be cold there ... )

Well, I am going to go.  Steve has made supper, and it smells "bloody fantastic" (as he would put it!); he made New York strip steak coupled with lettuce-and-tomato salad, scalloped potatoes, and for desert, pecan pie.  Steve is an amazing cook; that man is so talented at so many things!!  I love him as much as Gal does!  

And after dinner, we will go on our daily stroll on the beach, to walk off the food we ate! :)  Nothing like the sound of seagulls crying overhead or the waves lapping at the beach!  Ahh!! Pure bliss!!  We all just adore the beach so much!!

Until later, this is Marina Ryan saying so long; take care and I will write again!

~Marina Hope.  :)

~To be continued.~