Help Me Be on the Oprah Show!!

Okay, I really cannot believe I am doing this?! Those of you who know me well, know that I spend so much time on 'serious stuff' and the 'sick stuff'--I had so much fun escaping into this world of dreaming of a fantastically decorated home--especially my bedroom! It took me days to do this letter to Oprah, but I DID it even during my herx--which is still kicking me in the tooshie. Doing this was so 'out of my box.'

I did feel a bit selfish writing a letter for myself, rather than for someone else who might 'need' Nate to knock on their door more than Mom and I do--like Jeannine or Melissa. Perhaps that was part of the challenge?

I am not sure if I've ever really verbalized how trapped I feel at home sometimes and how unsettled our surroundings make me feel. EVERY DAY I wish I could just fix something or put up a piece of artwork or think about a new paint color for my room. I'm spending a lot of precious energy on this.

I just got back from physical therapy (for my bladder, no less!) and I was talking to Alicia, my PT, and she talked about how important it is to healing to reduce stress in your home, work life etc. I thought how perfect the timing was, seeing as I had just written to Oprah about creating a more tranquil home environment. We talked about how important it is to reduce stress as well as look at my illness from ALL perspectives and how each little piece of the puzzle can help. Stress is one of the big 'triggers' for both Lyme and Dysautonomia symptoms.

So, I am TOTALLY soliciting here. Another thing I try not to do on my blog. I'm hoping that ya'll will help me out, but I am also hoping that you will NOT feel pressured, because the entire purpose of my blog is to read what you want and don't read what you don't want to read.

The only person NOT exempt from writing to Oprah is you DAD!!!! Haha. This is because years ago, my dad got a call to be on the Oprah show and he turned it down and later said, "Who's Oprah?" What???? Who's Oprah??? Oh my. So, last year, when he was on Anderson Cooper for about 15 seconds (poor Dad they cut him off!) he said he had made up for turning Oprah down all those years ago. Well, as cute as Anderson Cooper is, he's still not Oprah!

Anyways, here's the way to help me get on the Oprah show. (It's almost Hannukah right?? Can I ask for this from Harry Hannukah?). You can either write by snail mail or by clicking on the links below. You never know, Oprah might just be contacting YOU! :) I am not sure how long the topics will be up, so it does need to be done as soon as possible.

Decorate with Nate (Main Topic Page):
http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/home/decorating/home_nate_plugs.jhtml

Topic 1: Nate's Ultimate Home Makeover

https://www.oprah.com/plugger/templates/BeOnTheShow.jhtml?action=respond&plugId=299700001

Mailing address:

The Oprah Winfrey Show
Nate's Ultimate Home Makeover
c/o Team JS
110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607


Topic 2: Need Nate's Help with a Room or Home Makeover?

https://www.oprah.com/plugger/templates/BeOnTheShow.jhtml?action=respond&plugId=299500001

Mailing Address:

The Oprah Winfrey Show
Decorating Question for Nate
c/o Team CZ
110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607


Recently, Celine Dion was on the Oprah show and a girl had posted fliers all over her college campus asking people to write to Oprah telling her how much this girl wanted to meet Celine. And she got on the show! So, I'm not going to be quite that bold, but I figure it can't hurt my chances.

I mean, y'all know you want to come stay in a house and the guest room that NATE has redecorated!!!

As many of you know, I love to watch the Oprah show. I love her mix of fun stuff with really great social issues and awareness. It's been my dream for a long time to actually be on her show and speak about chronic illness in young people, lyme disease, dysautonomia and all that jazz...but it's all still percolating in my head at this point. The decision to write to Nate and Oprah was more of a crazy, fun, spontaneous one.

Your note can be super short. And you can choose your 'angle' (i.e. Jeannine likes the 'pull at the heartstrings' angle about my illness and the struggles.) Or you can just focus on how happy this would make us in the midst of the illness stuff. Whatever! You all know me well enough to write what comes from your heart about the past 10 years of my life. I just figure the more people who write the merrier!

Here's a little 'starter' to help you get going (for those of you who get brain blocks on these sort of things, like my mom does!)

Dear Oprah and Nate:

My friend/niece/cousin/daughter/stepdaughter, etc, Emily [insert last name], wrote to you recently about having Nate Berkus give she and her mom a home makeover. I would like to ask you to do this for her because......

Thanks in advance for helping me out with this. I hope Nate knocks on my door and lets me live in a new healing environment.

Later alligators and many blessings!

Emily (who's feeling a bit koo koo la la today!)

P.S. If you write to Oprah, feel free to cut and paste and post it in the comment section so that others can see what's being written!

More About Oprah! :)

Here are the topics I replied to on the Oprah website. Okay, so I couldn't quite decide which topic we fit best. I already got an email back saying "Oprah.com has received your email."! Yippee. Yes, I've lost my mind, but you already knew that about me and still love me! Haha. I still can't quite believe I did this, as I've never done something like this before!!! I'm pooped from writing my letter, but will post more soon!!! :) For you non-Oprah folks, Nate is the cutie guy who does super cool home makeovers for the Oprah show.

Topic 1:

Do You Know Someone Deserving of The Ultimate Home Makeover by Nate? Is their current home falling apart or virtually uninhabitable? Has this family suffered some sort of heartbreak or setback in life and you believe a total home makeover would make a world of difference? Are they people who give and give and ask for nothing in return? Have they opened their hearts to others and now it's time for them to receive? Please tell us why Nate should transform this family's house or your house into a dream home. Describe the condition of the house and tell us how the family's needs are not being met by their current home. Are there too many people and not enough square feet? Does someone in thee family have a disability and in need of better access in and around the home? Have they started a project and not finished? Are there major repairs needed, but no money to fix them? Is the home in such bad shape, it's dangerous? Is this family about to lose their home? Send us a photo of yourself and the family you are nominating today. Be sure to include LOTS of pictures of the house you would like to see Nate transform. All photos and a copy of your letter should be sent as soon as possible to the address below:

The Oprah Winfrey Show
Nate's Ultimate Home Makeover
c/o Team JS
110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Topic 2:

Need Nate's Help With A Room or Home Makeover?
Need Nate's Help With A Room or Home Makeover? Do you have a burning decorating question for Nate? Does your house look like a decorating disaster zone? Are you clueless about color? Don't have the faintest idea about furniture? Is your bedroom a total bore? Does your couch clash with your curtains? Is your kitchen stuck somewhere in the past? Or are you still walking around on that shag carpeting you've had since the 70's? Do you hate to have friends over because you're embarrassed for people to see how you've decorated? Is your house stuck in a time-warp and you need help bringing it up-to-date? (Avocado-colored appliances, anyone??) Do you dream of having a home - or just one room - with style, comfort and pizzazz? If you - or someone you know - is in desperate need of a visit from our designer Nate Berkus, the Oprah show wants to know! Please respond to this internet question AND please send us a photo of YOURSELF and of your home or room and a letter telling us why YOU NEED NATE, and all your contact information to:

The Oprah Winfrey Show
Decorating Question for Nate
c/o Team JS
110 N. Carpenter St.
Chicago, IL 60607

I Wrote to Oprah! I Can't Believe I Did This!!!

Dear Nate and Oprah,

Knock, Knock Nate! Are you up for a challenge?


Mom and I are longing for a home that feels like a sanctuary for both of us—a place that blends what we both love, expresses our deep love for each other, and provides a place of peace, comfort and respite.


After college graduation, I became chronically ill with a ‘mystery’ illness. For the past nine and a half years I have been living at home with my mom. With her being my primary caregiver and me being sick, we have little time or energy to put into creating a home that we love. We find ourselves overwhelmed by the task. Dealing with the medical issues at hand, the care giving, my inability to help out with shopping or home projects, etc. leaves little time for us to work on creating what we need so much—a home that provides us with a place of rest and comfort.


I spend 24 hours a day, every day at home, leaving only for outings to the doctor. I would like to have a place that: encourages healing of body, mind and spirit, provides peace and sanctuary in illness, and provides a warm welcome for friends and family who go out of their way to travel long distances to spend time with us. I want my friends and family to love our sanctuary so much they keep coming back for more! Because I am at home ALL of the time, I somehow need to find a way to ‘go on vacation in my own home.’ Is this possible?


I realize, of course, that having a home we love cannot cure me or take away the stresses of care giving. But I DO know that it can help us feel more peace and comfort--that having a home we love is a tangible thing in the intangible world of illness and healing. Having our own sanctuaries as well as a place for visitors would create a better environment for both of us. I long to have home that fills us up rather than sapping us of our limited energy. And I know my mom wishes for this too.


We are challenged as two adults with two very different styles of decorating and living to create a space that we both love and agree upon. We have lived in this house since I was nine months old! Now, we need to create a space for two adults. Often, I find that our differing styles, lack of ‘separate spaces’ and room set aside for visitors adds unneeded tension to our household. I don’t want to spend this extra energy on feeling overwhelmed or disagreeing on things anymore.


We have been able to start work on many rooms, but never finished them; they remain without the accessories, art, pillows, rugs, and photos to complete the room. For example, four years ago we were able to have our living room painted and buy furniture (and rid ourselves of the 1970s wallpaper!) but we still have not been able to bring the room together. We love the color and the furniture in ‘my den’, but it currently doubles as a guest room and has little functionality for my needs.


Both of us really need bedrooms to retreat to. I’m ready for ‘grown up furniture’ rather than the furniture I got when I was in first grade. And, I’m ready for a room that reflects who I am now. I spend 18 or more hours a day in my bedroom. I often just lie and stare at the white ceiling and the lavender walls, dreaming of ways to make this space restful and healing again. Mostly, I associate this room with the worst times in my illness. I spend many hours of the day ‘being’, rather than ‘doing’ (since I am not able to ‘do’ much!), so I’d like to feel a lot more ‘Zen’ in my room! Nate, if you can only help with one room in our entire house, please help me with my bedroom. I need a sanctuary for healing.


Watching the wear and tear of care giving on my mom breaks my heart. Plus, she just retired (largely because of the demands of caring for me) and ended up needing rotator cuff surgery! So, she’s down for the count in the lifting department for a while. She always puts others first, so her room is the most unfinished room in the house. I want her so much to have a place that she loves to go to and can relax and get a good nights’ sleep!


Lastly, we need a great space for visitors! The love of friends and family is what sustains me each day.


We have more than enough space for two people in this house—it’s just finding a way to best utilize the space and to create spaces we love and function for our needs. You’ll notice we have a LOT of recliners because I spend most of my time reclining or lying flat.


I know that I want spaces that reflect the following:

1. Love is in abundance here at the ‘[last name removed for privacy purposes on blog] B and B’ (“We Are All Welcome Here” –Elizabeth Berg—)
2. Hope abides here (“Hope is the thing that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all” –Emily Dickinson--)
3. My spirit dances even though my body cannot (“Dance is the hidden language of the soul” –Martha Graham--)

My mom is simpler in her request for our home: Peaceful, restful, comfortable, tranquil. I couldn’t agree more with her choices!

For the first time in all these years of being sick we find that my doctors may have found the cause of my illness, but the treatment is, to say the least, extremely unpleasant. Even with the blessing of the best doctors in the country fighting their hardest to solve my medical ‘puzzle’ the world of medicine and mystery illnesses is intangible. We do know that I have a severe and disabling form of Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction/Dysautonomia, and are currently treating me as if it could be caused by chronic Lyme Disease.

This means that on a daily basis I deal with debilitating symptoms of extreme fatigue and pain, an inability to regulate all of the ‘automatic’ systems of the body such as heart rate and blood pressure, as well as many, many more symptoms including difficulty with sleep and concentration. Most of my energy goes towards the most basic activities of daily living. On a good day, I use my precious energy to talk to a friend or have a visitor over for a couple of hours (I will give anything to be with those I love even though I crash with exhaustion afterwards), spend time writing/blogging, listen to books on tape (as I can no longer read), cuddle with my pooch, or listen to music. In my pictures, taken on a ‘good day’, a few strokes of blush make me look fairly ‘normal’ and ‘healthy’, but those who know me quickly see the color in my face fade to ashen and my energy level deteriorate. For the most part this is an ‘invisible’ illness to an outsider. I honestly cannot remember what it feels like to feel ‘good’ or ‘alive’ in my own body. This means that we do need a home that accommodates my disability.

Obviously, I desire abundance in health and love more than anything in the world. A home can’t cure me. I do believe it can facilitate healing for both mom and me. Even without a healthy body, I work hard to find and create contentment, love, peace, and healing in all aspects of my life. A home, in which I spend every hour of my days, can have such power. I think Oprah and Nate have the power to give us a fantastically magical home—a tangible in our world of intangibles and uncertainties. While I wait patiently for healing, I seek some tangible sources of peace, tranquility, comfort and contentment. I think that Oprah and Nate can do this magically and fantastically for my mom and me!

“Many people think of home as a place to stay…it is more than that. Home is a place to be…a place where we can most truly be ourselves.” –Anonymous--

We both know that if our home felt more like, well OUR HOME, we would be overjoyed!

Waiting for your knock,

Emily (and Woof! Woof! From Asher)

P.S. Beware Nate! I’ve seen your dogs on the Oprah show and I can tell you that our Asher Noam is JUST like your pooches—a barker and a jumper (just in case you ‘happen’ to show up on our doorstep!)

P.P.S. Since I hear you can’t even boil water, my mom will surely cook you a wonderful meal as she is a marvelous cook.

The Simple Joys: A Romp in the Neighbor's Yard

On Sunday, we had a cold, but sunny day. Our neighbors (Anne, Scott, Alexandra, and Hunter) have a fenced in yard and have invited us to come over any time to use their yard and run Asher. Asher LOVES to go over to their house. Not only does he love them, but he loves the freedom of running in their yard without being hooked to the tie-out at our house. Anne and company were out of town for Thanksgiving, but we took advantage of using their yard on such a beautiful day. Asher wasn't sure what to think, as he kept running up to their front door looking for them (and perhaps looking for that signature bowl of water they always bring to him). He pulled the whole way to their house and was soooo excited to run.

For me, it was so healing. I have been herxing so badly and have been feeling that this herx would never end. It's still kicking my butt and I'm frustrated. I'm tired and cranky and sick of feeling like CRAP (and CRAP in this case does not stand for Anne's delicious CRanberry APplesauce). But, I'm at least getting back to blogging a bit and I got outside in the sunshine. This blog isn't all about Asher--the joyfullness in him and his freedom to run in their yard is how I felt being with him and being able to get out of the house. He's so healing for me (when he's behaving that is!) and he motivates me to get outside even if just to walk to the mailbox or throw the ring for a few minutes on the days that I am able.

Oh, to find such joy in the simple things. He has so many 'outside toys' to choose from, but he only likes his tennis ball ring. :) I tried taking a little video and downloading it onto the blog, so we'll see if it works. By the time I thought to take the video Asher was getting pretty pooped out!

Erika, these pictures are especially for you. ((((HUGS)))).

Blessings,

Emily

I'm ready! Throw me the ring will you?

Here I come!

This is my favorite toy EVER. And I NEVER tire of it.

(I don't care if it's falling apart.)

Aahhh, the freedom to run and the feel of the wind in my hair!

Thank you for the sunshine and this wonderful yard.

All tired out. Time to head home for a nap--a nap for me and a nap for Emily!

Weekend Lyrics: Turkey Trot Blues

Turkey Trot Blues

Gobble
Gobble, Gobble
Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble with a Wobble
Turkey Trot, Trot, Trot
Across the Lot, Lot, Lot
Feeling Fine, Fine, Fine
Until Thanksgiving Time
Trouble
Trouble, Trouble
Trouble, Trouble, Trouble, Trouble on the Double

Why I chose these lyrics: I knew I wanted to choose a song for Thanksgiving. Then, lo and behold on NPR I heard a story entitled Thanksgiving Music Gets its Due. My friend Marla had just emailed after Halloween, "Why oh why do we skip right over Thanksgiving and go right to Christmas?" So, when I heard this story, I knew I had to have a Weekend Lyrics dedicated just to Thanksgiving songs!

Marla is right of course. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday: all religions celebrate it, it doesn't involve the pressure of gift-giving and receiving. How many holidays (or how many times a year for that matter) do we simply take time to rest in gratitude and spend time with those we love?

The Christmas music has already started. Oh how I dread this time of year! I thought, "Well at least I can avoid it by listening to NPR--but it's even invaded their airwaves. Oh Good Grief!

Allyson Ledoux, the 2006 Vermont educator of the year, shared several Thanksgiving songs all worthy of 'Weekend Lyrics', but I chose the Turkey Trot Blues because, well, quite simply the song is hilarious! I really needed the humor this week. The song cracks me up every time, and now those of you with kids will NEVER get them to stop singing it if you listen to it on NPR and teach your kiddos. I've been singing it all day!

On a more serious note, Ledoux also chose the gorgeous melody "Come Ye Thankful People Come" as well as "Over the River and Through the Woods." She mentioned that many folks debate the latter: is it a Christmas song or a Thanksgiving song? Ledoux insists that it is a Thanksgiving song. If you've watched "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" a time or two, you may remember all of the Peanuts gang piling into the car to head to Thanksgiving dinner and singing just this song. "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go..." they joyfully sing. The Peanuts gang tries making they're own Thanksgiving dinner (Chef Snoopy on hand) of toast and popcorn and pretzels and everything NOT Thanksgiving. Then, they pile into the car with invisible 'parental units' to head to a 'real' Thanksgiving dinner.

If anything the Turkey Trot Blues ought to give you a chuckle. And I bet it's one you haven't heard before. The other songs, well, you've heard them, and may just find yourself humming them for a few more days before you are ready to take all that Christmas music.

To hear Annie Ledoux sing each of these songs and discuss Thanksgiving songs, go to www.npr.org and search for "Thanksgiving Music Gets its Due" or go directly to the link to listen to the story at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16404393.

The NPR story ended with the following thought:

"Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings."

--J. Robert Moskin, American Writer--

Hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving,

Emily

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."

--J. Petit-Senn--

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude."

--Karl Barth--

"...the thankful heart...will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings."

--Henry Ward Beecher--

Okay, I admit it, I LOVE the cartoon Mutts. As most of you know, reading is incredibly difficult for me, but Mom often clips or marks interesting or important things for me to read from the newspaper. Sometimes Mutts falls into the 'important' category! This week Patrick McDonnell, author of the Mutts cartoon, shared these quotes. The first quote was Mooch's Thanksgiving thought, the second was Earl's, and the third was Woofie's. Of course, Mooch is playing with his 'little pink sock' while thinking about abundance! Wonder if Asher ever has such deep and profound thoughts on life? Haha!

I thought the quotes perfectly summed up Thanksgiving.

Recently, after my birthday, I remarked to Jeannine that I often felt overwhelmed and humbled by the abundance in my life. Awestruck, Jeannine just said, "Yeah, I'm not sure if I could do that in your situation." She then told me the story of another close friend of hers who said, "I have suffered so much in my life, that the joys are so much sweeter." I said, "Yes, that is so true."

Some days it is much, much harder to hold on to these feelings. And I don't always do the best at it. Sometimes (okay, often) I want so much more than this life has given me. Still, I am always able to find 5 things to write in my 'grateful journal'. Today is a good reminder to keep trying to see the abundance and the blessings and to keep being thankful for what I do have.

Blessings to you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Emily

Photos: Mums by the mailbox

"Crazy Uncle" Visits!

Here it is Uncle Stan! I am sorry it has taken me so long to get this post up. Oh, and by the way, YOU told me to title my post "Crazy Uncle"!



As you can tell, I really like visitors! And, I'm a bit behind on blogging about them--so I figured I'd better get on it and finish blogging about this year's visitors before the holidays and a new year arrive!





Uncle Stan came to visit August 6Th through the 8Th. Diane and Michael were actually also supposed to visit then too (because he was staying with them for part of the week also), but I wasn't up for that many visitors at the time due to another one of my med disasters (this time around it was the neurontin).



I had not seen Uncle Stan for five years, so I was very excited to see him. It was different too, because without Aunti Vicki here it was the first time I had really spent any one on one time with my Uncle in my whole life. Sadly, I haven't spent as much time with my mom's side of the family over the years as I wish I would have. And now, I can't...so that makes me sad. I missed being able to visit Vicki before she died, going to her funeral, and going to my cousin Stephen's wedding. Obviously, we can't make up for lost time but I've enjoyed getting to know my family better.



My mom's side of the family consists of her brother, Stan and his two children Stephen and Dana (both of whom are each at least 8 years older than I am). Stan is 13 years my mom's senior. So, he really, really, really likes to pick on his 'little sister' even after all of these years. I like to pick on them both because they are becoming more and more like my grandmother every year (that means curmudgeon for you Uncle Stan, and you know it!). They are even starting to look like her! Oh, did I have fun teasing them. I suppose it will all come back to bite me one of these days when I realize I look just like her too? I hope I don't turn into a grumpy old lady though like she did! Oh my!



The rest of our family includes Vicki and my grandma--who died just one year apart from each other, Stephen's wife Beth (whom I haven't even met yet!), and Diane and Michael. This is much easier to keep track of than my Dad's side, which I think includes over 140 members if you include aunts, uncles, cousins, my cousins' kiddos and everyone's spouses! We don't require a family newsletter on my mom's side!



I've been noodging Uncle Stan to come for a visit for a while now, so I suppose he finally caved in. I kept saying, "So, when are you going to come for a visit?" I can be a bit of a pain sometimes (okay, there I am turning into Grandma Helen).






Right before his visit he fell and broke his wrist and almost didn't make it here! (I don't know what it is with this side of the family injuring themselves). We had a very quiet, relaxing visit in which I felt for the first time that I really got to know my uncle better. He isn't much for talking on the phone.

"Uncle" as he calls himself (he doesn't sign his name, just "uncle"), brought me four new CDs (ah, yes, the way to my heart)--Lee Konitz, Stan Getz, Joshua Redman, and Brad Meldhau. I used to play saxophone, so he bought the first three as an education in saxophonists and the progression of jazz over the years. All of the CDs are mellow--as I don't care for the 'heavier' stuff in jazz. Brad Meldhau is one of Uncle Stan's favorite jazz pianists, so he threw that one in for a bonus! I have really enjoyed all four of the CDs, and especially enjoyed the fact that Uncle Stan taught me so much about the artists and why he chose each of the CDs. That is what makes music so special to me--sharing it with others and learning about it from others.

It is now Monday the 26Th of November, and I started this entry over two weeks ago. When I started it on Sunday, I did not realized that I was typing all about Uncle Stan and he was in the ER the whole time. I was hoping to get this done in time for his homecoming from the hospital. I didn't, and now he is back in the hospital AGAIN and the doctors cannot figure out what is going on. They're just shaking their heads in bewilderment. I told him one mystery illness in the family was enough. I can hear Grandma Helen saying "Knock it off already, will you?" Haha!

Anyways, I hope that he will get to see this blog soon and that when he does, he'll be feeling back to his old self again--back to doing the things he loves (and of course full of himself too!).

Lots of love to you from across the miles "Crazy Uncle"--you WILL be crazy if you are in that hospital much longer, eh?

Blessings,

Emily



Photos: Sister Renee and Brother Stan. Do you think they look alike???; Uncle Stan sporting a PINK shirt and a broken wrist--he has a look on his face that reminds me so much of Grandma Helen here. And, if he could punch me right now from his hospital bed he just might for me saying this!; Me and 'Uncle'; Mom and me.

Diane and Michael: The Comfort of Family (and Really Yummy Food!)

A week ago today, Diane and Michael travelled here for an afternoon visit. To us, although we are not 'blood relatives,' we are family. Diane is the sister of my Aunti Vicki, who was the wife of my Uncle Stan (my mom's brother). Are you keeping this all straight? My Aunti Vicki is no longer with us, as she died in 2003. (May her memory be a blessing.)

Our Jewish side of the family is very small, so we hold onto those we have. In typical Jewish style, Diane arrived with TONS of food! She kept us fed for an entire week with the most delicious salads--tuna and salmon, both of which were the best I've ever tried! (Sorry Mom!). She also brought us salad, turkey, and soup! We were well fed this past week. Diane worked so hard to make food that met all of my dietary needs (and did a great job)--I think she's the first person to attempt to provide us with food given all of my food restrictions!

We hadn't seen Diane and Michael for two years, when they came for a visit with my cousin Dana. At that time I was still so incredibly sick from the gallbladder surgery and still had not started treatment for Lyme disease. I remember visiting with them, struggling through the hour and a half I spent with them during lunch.

This time they were here for almost 4 hours! I hope that they enjoyed the visit as much as I did. It was so wonderful and easy to be with them. And Mom and I really appreciate the effort people make to travel here despite their already busy schedules.

I think my mom actually pooped out before I did! Ha! I was pretty wiped that evening, but I always feel that the price is worth it. They came right in between my cycle of increasing antibiotics, so it worked out perfectly.

Thank you Diane and Michael for a wonderful, wonderful visit!

Blessings,

Emily

P.S. Uncle Stan, I promise that YOU will be next on my blog!

Photos: Diane and Michael, who have been married almost 40 years!

Diane, Mom (the one-armed bandit) and I.

Me and Mom--both on the 'Disabled List'!

Fall is Finally in the Air!

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf."

--Rabindranath Tagore--

Fall Back . . . Into a blanket of leaves!

(Oh and don't forget that extra hour of sleep we got this weekend! Yeah! I LOVE "Fall Back")

Our neighbors observed that the leaves in our yard created the 'perfect picture', blanketing the entire yard.

Alexandra took her very first photo with a digital camera--and this is it! Pretty good for a first try! She really enjoyed trying out the camera and then watching me download the pictures on the computer.

I'm sure the cars driving by really wondered what I was doing the way I was lying on the ground trying to get a good picture.
On the way home from school one day several of the boys ran through the leaves, fell down into the crisp leaves, and began making 'leaf angels'. It looked like great fun.

Happy Fall !!!

Emily