October 29, 2010

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    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I want to clear something up so no one misunderstands.  I have a great deal of sympathy for the families of people that commit suicide.  Losing a loved one, no matter how badly relations with that person might have been, we all live with the hope that things will change and get better.  I know because, don't forget, I have a daughter that has not been a part of our family for many years now due to her drug addiction.  Yet, somewhere deep inside, we all harbor a hope that she will one day choose to leave drug addiction behind her.  Not for the sake of the family even, but for herself.  Then, perhaps, the family can be healed and we will have our missing one back.

    But the chances of that happening are small.  We all know that we might one day be contacted by the police because she is found dead...either murdered, suicide or even exposure to cold.  The thought is almost too horrible to envision yet, due to the lifestyle she lives, it's entirely too real.

    Do I hurt for those families who have loved ones that take their own lives?  Yes, I do.  There is no way that they won't keep thinking ..*If only...* or * maybe if I.....*  There will always be that unspoken thought that they might have done something along the way to change things.  So, when you lose them, there is that deep ache that there is no hope to have that happen nor can you tell them that, despite it all, you never stopped loving them.  You just didn't like the path they chose.

    There's no real way to convey the sympathy and sorrow you feel to them.  All you can do is give them a hug and say a few prayers for them in the hope that they can find some peace for themselves.  And that is what I wish for all the victims....and trust me, they are victims in their own way.  Victims of the terrible effects of drug addiction on more and more families all across the world. 
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    Tomorrow is the Halloween Party for the preschool kids and, wouldn't you know it?  I won't be picking up Chewlee so I don't know (and won't) if the Princess is going to send Chewlee dressed up for it.  I heard a lot of parents discussing the costumes their kids will be in so I know some of them plan on it.  One of the teachers joked and said to me, *We are going to sugar them all up and send them home!*  I laughed with her on that one.

    We have a few young kids living around us now (on the circle, I mean), but I have a feeling they won't be making the rounds on Halloween.  They have special things going on at the malls for the kids and there's usually a gathering at one of the local motel meeting rooms sponsored by either the firefighters or the police for them.  But, if they show up here, at least I have some candy for them.  The Beast may not be happy but I have more than HIS stash, thankfully.

    Through some sort of screw-up, Chewlee ended up here until 8pm when Johnnycakes finally came to pick her up.  I have no idea what the problem was, although the Princess said she didn't feel good and he said he would get her.  I tried to feed Chewlee but the Beast had made his sausage and country gravy and Chewlee refused it.  She just shook her hand out in front of her in that refusal motion kids use and said she would eat with *mommy and daddy*.  She told me a little later that her tummy hurt so maybe whatever was bothering the Princess was also bothering her.  I kind of figured Chewlee wouldn't want the sausage gravy because she won't eat mashed potatoes or anything else that even vaguely resembles it.  I don't know why because the rest of the family loves them so she hasn't seen anyone refuse it.  I think she just must not like the texture of it in her mouth.  I hope she gets over that as she gets older but all we can do is wait and see.  She just limits herself in food selections since there are so many gourd and root vegetables that are fantastic mashed.

    The weather has definitely started on it's downward temperature trend so our days and nights will be heading toward winter, I'm sure.  Love you all and I wish you great weather even if it's cooler.  Keep warm (or cool, depending on where you are) and take care of yourselves.

    Here's a thought for you...it's actually a proverb from American Indian culture.  ***Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's learning to dance in the rain***