Monday, January 26, 2009

Scary News ........ Happy Ending

It's amazing how one phone call changes everything. For my large group of followers (haha) that know my boyfriend Jon, you know he works insane hours and cares a lot about his job. Well the big President of the entire company was coming in today (at 7:00 tonight) to see the restaurant. For Jon, that meant a 17 hour day yesterday. No, that's not a typo, 17 hours my boyfriend stayed at work to make sure it was perfect, 10 am to 3 am. So he crawls in bed a little after 3 am with me this morning to get a phone call from his step dad at 6:30 am (which is ok because he had to be back to work at 7am anyways, crazy I know!) We assume that it's about his grandpa. Quick side not on grandpa... he's a quadriplegic, he's been bed ridden for 10 years. He can not eat, can not talk, can not move a muscle... what caused this you ask? His terrible ex-wife who tried to kill him with arsenic... she failed and he suffers everyday. Jon's AMAZING mother (I'm talking saint people, takes care of him. She's never drank, never smoked, she's healthy... this is important... stay tuned) She takes care of him every morning, every night, and every second that the 9-5, M-F nurse is not there.

So, back to the story. We assume the phone call is about grandpa, which we would have been saddened with grief, however accepted. But no, it's his MOTHER. He shoots up out of bed like a cannon ball leaving the cannon. I now wide awake with pain in my chest am freaked out. Ever been the person next to the person on the phone getting bad news?? It's really tough! I don't know what is being said, but facial expressions are not comforting! It appears she's been rushed to the hospital by ambulance. At first, sounds like appendisitis; odd for someone who is 53, but still possible. Jon gets up, goes to work, we think positive... everything will be ok.

It's now 11:30 am and Jon tells me he's heard back from his step-dad... it doens't look like apendisitis anymore... it looks bad but he doens't want to talk about it while still at work. Tells me he's leaving in an hour to be up there (in Maine... precisely Waterville) and would very much like me to be there. I say of course, I love you, everything will be ok.

I send emails and make phone calls.. I have two graduate classes tonight, my very first sessions.. dear professor... family emergency... sincerely apoloogize... you get the jist... I call my mom crying, tell her what's going on and beg her to please take care of herself. Yes people, I'm legitamtely falling apart! So I decided I need to know exaclty how bad things are. I call his step-dad's cell, no answer. I pack, I stay positive (with tears streaming down my face).. I've been with this man for 4 years... I love her like my own mother, I can't bear to think she's in pain and I can't phathom what could be wrong?? She has NEVER smoked ANYTHING, NEVER drank a drop of alcohol, of course she's never done drugs, she eats 3 meals a day, she exercises, geee she even flosses every night! Why is this happening???

This is an appropriate time for another quick sidenote. I know mother and sons are generally close, but that does nothing to explain the bond between this mother and son. Jon is an only child. Jon almost died of leukimia at the age of 9. See where this is going?? These two are inseperable!!! When they are together it is the most beautiful thing. We laugh, we love, we play... it's amazing. His relationship with his mother is part of what I love so much about him!

Ok, back to story. I call Dave (Jon's step-dad), "please tell me what is going on?" He explains it looks worse than appendisitis... it was explained to him as something that is similar to "a heart attack to the colon". My stomach sinks more. He says that they were going to start with a laprocscoy to see what's going on and from there probably need to cut her open and proceed. It was possible that she would need a colonoscopy and all these other things that just did not sound great. While we were are conversing, I hear the doctor say, "Dave we are finished". Stomach is now down in my knees. I can hear everything as if I'm standing in that waiting room. The doctor says, "It was her apendix after all. We've removed it, she did great, she can even go home today!" I heard the whole thing with my own ear!! It was like angels playing music... I of course call Jon instantly and I almost cry to his reaction. He's (what I'm pretty sure was) hugging the guys around him and excitedly saying "thank you god, thank you god". I tear up just from the emotional roller coaster of the event and sigh with relief.

One phone call... one phone call can change your entire day, life, and your world. I wanted to share this with you because I believe the power of prayer will truly get you through many tough circumstances. There are happy endings, and good things do happen to good people. So for my dear friends who follow and each have their own very saddening and difficult situations; I pray for you, I have hope for you, and I beleive that everything will work out!! Love you guys!!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

People who talk shit

Just getting home from a day at the office (haha, wish I could say that... instead it's a night on my feet at the o'wonderful world of Longhorn).  Don't get me wrong, I like it there the most part.  I've met some wonderful people (my one great follower included.. soon I'll have a couple more!!)  It also pays for me to go to school so I can hopefully live out my dreams.  However, it also pisses me off some days, I'm sure you know that feeling.

I don't get people who feel the need to talk shit.  I've come to the conclusion that if you are talking shit, it's because you are insecure with who YOU are and by trying to be big or talk someone else down, it makes you feel better.  That to me is just sad!!  Don't waste my time talking crap to me about the people in my life because when all is said and done, I'm going to think less of you and have to come home to blog about it, haha!!

Ok, enough with that.  I wish the world was different.  I think of this time to time and occasional things will set me off.  Yesterday, Jon and I went and watched a very powerful movie "Grand Torino".  If you haven't seen the movie or have no idea what it's about, basically it's about gangs, race, pride, hate, and things that make me sick to my stomach.  I guess now that I think of it, it makes sense that I wrote about people who talk shit bothering me; I don't understand why we can't all be equal.  Why do people have to be mean to one another, why is it that one color thinks they are better than another, why are there gangs, why do these gangs kill each other???  These questions really bother me; watch the movie... while it portrays very realistically what still goes on it parts of the world, it also gives you hope and makes you think.

I was able to find a preview of the movie and I have embedded it into this blog so you can take a peak if interested.  I know we have made large leaps and bounds; I mean look at our 44th President of the United States, that itself shows the progress this nation has made.  However, unfortunately, that's not enough in my heart.  I pray for less violence and more compassion and understanding in our world; our home.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Inspiration & Hope

For those of my friends who may read this, you know that I watch all kind of "girly dramas".  I love to watch One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, 90210, etc.  However, you may not know that in the mix of those, as my mother calls them "teenie bopper shows" I also love to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  There is something about hundreds of people coming together to help a family that they don't even know that warms my heart.  For those of you who know me, you may know that I am a big softy and super emotional; so yes, I cry during practically everything.

Tonight's episode was really special however.  It was about the Grys Family; a family of 7.  A mom and dad who have helped over 250 children by providing foster care.  The family makeup is mom and dad and five kids.  Two of the five are biological and the remaining 3 adopted; 2 girls with down syndrome and a very very special little boy; Jake.  He was born with two incredibly difficult challenges; dwarfism and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones).  He breaks bones every month and at the age of 8 years old is about the size of an 18 month old. Watching the episode tonight and listening to his little voice and all his hope and faith brought tears to my eyes.  I think about the things I take for granted and the petty things that I complain about..... then I watch this little miracle of a child who wasn't supposed to live long after his birth, but instead he is a miracle.  I found a great video of him that was on a petition website to help him gain independence (a new home) and am posting it for your joy. 


I said when I started this blog that it would contain various thoughts, ideas, and day to day happenings... tonight I really wanted to share the hope, inspiration, and joy that I gained from watching this story and remind everyone to cherish everything they have; it could always be worse.  And don't forget.... miracles really do happen!!!


Saturday, January 10, 2009

Leaving Home

So finally, after a few months after signing up for the blog; I've decided to start writing.  The delay was the fact that I couldn't decide what to use this space for.  The last few days however, I've decided it would be a nice place to vent... not just the negative...( I promise).

I'm currently in Maine on vacation visiting family.  My mom and step dad live in Levant (right outside of Bangor) and Jon's family lives in Unity (near Augusta and about 45 minutes from my parents).  Anyways, tomorrow I head back out to Jon's parents since I've been at my mom's all week and she goes back to work tomorrow.  I hate leaving her because she gets so sad and it makes me feel guilty.  She is my world, my best friend, and all I want is to see her happy.  I feel terrible that I don't leave near her anymore, but Maine just isn't the place for me.  I know that she's ok, but I can't help feel bad and guilty that I make her sad.

On a completely different note; we watched the movie The Freedom Writers tonight.  I've seen it before, but I wanted my mother to see it.  For those of you who have not been lucky enough to watch it, I strongly recommend it.  When I watch it my heart breaks; the world is still broken in many places and I wonder if racial hate will ever be truly abolished.... then as I watch Ms. G (played marvelously by Hillary Swank) I think to myself how amazing it would be to make such an impact on the world... it's really an amazing and inspirational movie!!

Anyways, I should sign off now as my room is a mess and I have a lot of packing up before leaving home (again) in the morning...

Why at the age of 23 does it still hurt so much to leave home?? Why can't my mom just live in NH near me??  Like mom tells me, if we lived near each other we would still be busy with our own lives and wouldn't see one another as much as we think we would.  Maybe she is right... but I still miss her everyday......