Megan, my sympathies to you and your MIL.

Trudy, how about flowers and a really nice vase?

David, I got my hair cut too - it's shorter than usual!

Thanks for all the punctuation and ma. It's appreciated!

I also got my hair cut yesterday, to correct a bad cut I got on Tuesday. It's pretty short now! Ieeee....

{{Megan}} Peace and strength to you and yours.

I watched Lane on GG dye her hair purple...now I wanna do that. Joblessness and being economically disenfranchised should mean not having to dress like a citizen if I don't feel like it. People already look anyways, although Mom hates it when I talk about that. Like if I don't, I'm sitting in a tasteful fashion accessory. Whatever. I'm already not going to blend, maybe I should live in neon, you know?

tonight I get Perkins, juliana, a murder mystery play and booze - does that count? I'm sure there will be cabana boys basking around juliana and I can bask in her shadow.

errrr. I am going to have to be all tentatively on tonight, I'm afraid. (Juliana, I sent you an email earlier, but if it got to you too late, just let me know, and I will paypal you if I don't make it.)

Stoopid back, stoopid gravity, and stoopid me.

erika, I think you should get a custom wheelchair made with round tubing and painted in neon colors. Then, you could dye your hair to match (or in contrast; your hair, your choice) and get tattoos in random places that anyone can see. I say, if ya got it, flaunt it! Just because "it" is a wheelchair, doesn't mean you can't make a personal statement. I think there's been too much of an effort to "mainstream" many types of handicaps, as if by doing that the handicaps will just go away. They won't. So, make it a fashion statement, at least.

How do I just enjoy the time that T and the nephews are still here and not get all weepy about them leaving every few minutes?

No real advice, just {{{you}}}. It has to be hard since you and T have been friends for FOREVER and then some. I'm sorry a large chunk of your "family" is moving away, hon.

All kinds of ~ma to all that are dealing with this, Megan.

Poor, poor Perkins. We need to get you a plastic bubble to live in...

Keep reminding yourself -- Be Here Now. Enjoy the now--which is right there in front of you.

I am trying to do this. It's not working very well, but I am trying.

No real advice, just {{{you}}}. It has to be hard since you and T have been friends for FOREVER and then some. I'm sorry a large chunk of your "family" is moving away, hon.

Thanks. We are family in every way but blood. Tal and I have been best friends since we were six years old. There are so many traditions that get me through the year that I am going to miss. It just doesn't seem possible that she won't be there. My brain refuses to accept it.

David, I got my hair cut too - it's shorter than usual!

Damn. You know how much I love your hair already.

I also got my hair cut yesterday, to correct a bad cut I got on Tuesday. It's pretty short now! Ieeee....

I think we need to see pictures.

That's totally understandable, sj. Allow yourself to mope and cry at home and when you're out with them, enjoy it for what it is and promise yourself that you can cry again, should you need to, when you get home. Hopefully that'll keep the sad away while you're with them.

There are so many traditions that get me through the year that I am going to miss.

Dave's gonna have to step up to the plate... Although I'm sure he'll do a wonderful job of that.