Fort Worth, Texas, February 17, 2012, 5:52 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear All~

Howdy from the Lone Star State, aka Fort Worth, Texas!  It's me, y'all: Medusa C. Jones.  Hope this finds y'all well; as for me, life continues to be nothin' short of amazing!!  God has been so good to me!

I still have my place and my job at the bookstore.  I'm now an associate manager, which means more money and hours, and I enjoy working with people.  My employer says I am very sweet and kind.  I try to be; not always successful, but I try to be like Jesus: show His love wherever I go.

I have finally gotten in direct contact with my family!  Willie is back in my life and so is my beautiful, headstrong daughter, Turquoise LaDeena, and her children, Grafton, Cymberli, and Cymphoni, who are six, two, and five months.  Beautiful grandbabies!  I last saw 'em at Christmas; it was a happy, joyous reunion full of kisses, hugs, and lots of tears!  

Willie is amazed at how I've managed to turn myself around.  I told him it wasn't just me: it was all to God; I give God the credit.  He got me a box of Lady Godiva chocolates and twelve red and white roses (six of each) for Valentine's Day, as well as a diamond necklace.  He even preposed to me, asking me to marry him a second time!

Well, now!  Ain't THAT fancy!!

So it looks like a weddin' might be in the offing for me and Willie!  We will become a family again!!  It's like God's pleased with how I've managed to get off my ass and off the streets, so He's gonna reward me big time.  All I can say is this: Thank You, God!!!  Thank You for your mercies upon me and the lives of my family!  I don't deserve what You have given me!

The wedding will probably take place in October, when it's a lot cooler, for one thing.  Not smart to get all fancied up in wedding duds in the middle o' June and getting sick, y'all!   And with my own health problems, I can't take too many crazy chances.

I have been tryin' real hard to monitor my health.  Diabetes ain't nothin' to mess with, y'all.  I have the bad kind, the kind that's hard to control, but by God, I'm tryin' to control it!  I take insulin shots five times a day and have to watch what I eat, so that means no junk food or regular sodas.  I have to drink water or diet sodas instead and no sweets unless they're sugar free.  I have to watch my carbs and fat intake and I have lost a ton of weight: I'm a shell of my former self.

I do feel a ton better, but it's still hard.  My blood sugar levels can be so moody: one minute they're fine; the next, high or low, and I could run into trouble if I don't take measures to get it straightened out as quick as possible.  I have to carry a blood sugar testing device and juice (or candy) to ensure a quick pick-me-up if I have a low, but I've been known to pass out a time or three when my blood sugar really dips or soars.  Then I wake up in an ambulance or at the ER and I'm like, "What the  hell? ..."

I gotta take care of my feets and if I have any problems, I go to my diabetes doctor's.  If I'm not extra careful, I could lose body parts, and I'm sorry, but Medusa Jones, she ain't plannin' on goin' to Heaven with anything missin'!!

Well, I hate to run, but I gotta finish up straightenin' up at the store, then go to my other job, where I work 'til 11.  I work in Burleson, at the H-E-B store; I work from 7 to 11.  I have to get somethin' to eat too, besides, so I don't get into a diabetic crisis.  I will write in here again soon; sorry it's been so long, y'all!  Take care and may God bless y'all good!  Love y'all!

~Love, your friend, Medusa.  :)