Hanging with the girls this weekend. Iffy weather in the area so I'm thinking games, movies, shopping; cooler, too.

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Today is the last day to submit to the flash exercise, so if you haven't posted, get busy and join in the fun with the many other members who already have.

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Most important, a warm welcome to all the new members who have said hello and posted a discussion. Glad to see you engage at an early stage. Look forward to more in the future.

The earth shifts and quakes

Upset tea kettles and flower pots

Shifting footbed making it hard to stand

Still. And yet

The rest of the burb is quiet

Noisy neighbors notice nothing.

It must be local and present

Here in this house, this family

Pieces stepped on, hearts of glass broken

Crazy-glued but never the same.

I hope all is well with you, TraumaGirl.

Are you where the fires are? Here, in our bowl between the mountain ranges, we've got fires to the north of us - Walker, et al., and fires to the south of us, and for almost a week the sky has been "white" and the air hard to breathe for some. It's unhealthy for sensitive groups, of which hubby is one.I can't actually smell the smoke, but the air feels close and heavy. I hope they get those fires under control, but even then, we have a summer of dangerously crinkly-dry grass to look forward to.Needless to say, no fireworks for this family.

(Haven't heard from you in a while, T/G - missed ya).

Hi West. The fires have made this geographical bowl an ash-soup. The sky is a dirty gray, the humidity is through the roof (ever try to breathe wet soot?) and the moon shines blood-red every night. The air quality board determined our range as 'purple.' What is purple? Way, way past red! We aren't supposed to go outside, sensitive or not. Of course, our Emergency Department picnic was today and we played softball in the park while barbecuing...go figure a bunch of docs and nurses would ignore what's good for them! Everyone seems to be okay, though. (For now...wait until we all come up with some sort of strange new disease from all the particulates!)

As for your other question (which I thank you for asking); No, I am really not okay. This giant roller coaster of life has really been rough on this little family of late and it would be so kind if the ride-master would pause just for a sec so we could jump off! We will survive, albeit somewhat different than we were yesterday, but survive we will and perhaps even better than before, God willing.

Be well, sleep well, and Be Good To You. Kelli

Hey TG and West,

I hope you are doing well there.

If it gets too bad welcome to the Gulf Coast girls, with my son leaving tomorrow morning there will be plenty of room in the house. Not that our air is easy to breath with the heat and humidity but at least there are not that many particles in it. I am sure you will have good time here.

You both have my prayers.

Love ya

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LM, you must be proud with how fast this group is growing and there are so many posts, I had hard time to find our daily diary.

Enjoy the girls and your time with them.

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Today is my last day with my boy. I am sad and scared and proud and if I could hold him again in my arms as I did when he was little, and never let him go or grow up...

Have a nice day my friends

All prayers and best wishes to your son, and you too, PG. Do you still have your daughter nearby at least, to commisserate with?

TG, believe there is a "plan."

Thanks, West...I do.

PG, thank you so much for inviting us both to the Gulf Coast! Can you imagine how much fun that would be? We could stay up all night drinking hot chocolate and telling ghost stories and breathing clean air! What an adventure!

Speaking of adventures...how fun and exciting for your son, PG and how bittersweet for you. Hang in there, sweetie. I got past my sadness when my firstborn (the airman) left by writing him silly little letters EVERY day and then mailing them about once a week. He told me later that he held on to those words with all his strength and knowing how much we cared and loved him got him through boot camp. I know yours isn't in boot camp, but it helped me to stay connected in that silly little way. And when they return...wow! How wonderful to see how big their wings really grow and how wonderfully they grow up! Oh, and I'm always here to chat with, too. Be Good To You and BIG HUGS from me!