It's my birthday...

and I will play if I want to... I woke up ready to hit the road getting ready for your Disney World trip - completely forgetting it was my birthday! How special it was when Liz called and told me happy birthday, followed shortly by Shari and even Dee :-)

Finaly we were off on our way to Micky Land. As we got closer and closer to New Orleans, the converstation between Steve and I got quieter and quieter until we finally silenced. Abandoned cars by the dozens on the side of the road reminded us of what was to come. The closer we got, it became more apparent by the lack of life how serious New Orleans was. There was an eerie lack of traffic and people scurrying about the once bustling city. The only store we saw open was Home Depot and it had an 8' fence surrounding it with razor wire on top, the few buildings standing were still boarded up, and huge piles of debris were everywhere with trash and debris strewn for miles and miles.

In New Orleans east my tears finally started pouring. Everything we heard became etched in our hearts for all eternity. There was literally nothing left. Hundreds - probably thousands of homes distroyed. New Orleans east is a ghost town. There was no traffic, no one milling about, and no life to speak of. Shells of homes and businesses standing are missing walls or roofs, and most of all missing the life that sustains it. How can life rise from this rubble... or will it?

As we drove through the New Orleans garden, everything seems to move in slow motion and we don't miss one iota of the devestation we have only heard about before. This part of our garden is not only in shambles, there is nothing left - it really IS destroyed. Never in all of my life have I seen such destruction for so many miles. Slow motion instant replay keeps repeating when I close my eyes.

My birthday started with warm fuzzies - with people I cherish holding me close. There was a somber ending to this day - and ending that reminded me how fragile our gardens are and how special each day spent in them should be. Gardens can be rebuilt, but it takes years for the trees to grow strong and tall again, and for the plants to once again share their blooms. Right now this garden is just trying to survive and find the sunshine that will nourish it back to health. Time will mend the roots and strength will return - but today, this garden is wilted and broken - piles of rubbish - that were once pieces of peoples lives.

In ending, I recall seeing billboards posted by the Beau Rivage Casino on our trip through Mississippi - who was also severely ravaged my Katrina. We passed several billboards with recovery sayings on each of them. I wish I could remember what they were, but the last one says "we will recover - together"

Please remember the thousands still displaced by the hurricanes - and if you can buy an extra gift or two to share - do it to nourish the garden.

Life's update

Where oh where do I begin? I got through the Patterson cop bs - and I got apologies to boot :-) Some things are worth the wait.

Steve made it home just in the nick of time to go to California with me. I went to meet him in Laffy and he landed in New Orleans! His plane had been diverted and diverted because of the fog. So he finally gets off in New Orleans, rents a vehicle and we meet at home, throw his laundry through the wash and repacked to race out the door for our trip. The important thing was HE MADE IT!

We got to visit with Aedan, Cheyenne, Marcus and Jeremy. I love them all! They are a great addition to our family :-) Now if we just lived closer. Aedan has perfect red hair and I love it as much as I did Jeremy's. We bought the little guy a crib, but Jer has to go pick it up and assemble it. I wish we could have seen it but at least he has one now!

Steve is due to go to Mexico again, but his VISA for it is difficult to get. Hopefully he will get it soon and get this next job behind him. He needs to go to the Dr to get his thumb looked at (he broke it seriously in Brazil) but he wants to wait until he has time - haha!

Court - yeah, we went again, but who cares, right? I do - and the kids do fyi! They are no longer foster kids! They are mom and kids; single parent latchkey kids, but they all seem to 'belong' together and they seem happy. I am glad for them. Finally our healing can begin, but more importantly - so can theirs.

Disney World is next week! Can you imagine? Two oceans in one month! I cannot wait to go, but I have so much to do it is starting to worry me - then Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so I have to get ready for it as well. Luckily, it is only Steph, Steve and the punkin, so it should be easier than ever. I do wish we had more, but I will be good this year - I need to be packing anyway!

I quit my medicine - you know the one I am talking about. I just cannot do it. I hate the way it makes me feel, and I hate being sleepy all the time. 5 weeks was long enough to 'give it a try'. It is outta here and I am going to be fine come hell or high water, I will be fine.

Well, that is my update. I will be keeping this more up to date after the first of the year.

Hope you have a great holiday. Enjoy your garden and the petals that bloom this season. Gardens are a way of getting back in touch with your soul. My garden is flourishing now and spring is just around the corner with new beginnings... what is in store for us is hidden in the soil of winter.