Friends and friends and MORE friends!

Those of you reading this likely remember my friend and former boss, Nina.  Nina did a wonderful thing this month - she invited me and two of her other friends, women I had never met, to visit her at her home on Cape Cod.  We all have many things in common, not the least of which is our love for Nina.  But to hear her tell it, we also are very strong-willed, independent, and intelligent women who have in one way or another faced great adversity in our lives and have overcome it or have come to terms with it.  We all four are the better for our trying times.  I made new friends yet again, thanks to Nina's generosity of spirit, friends for life, I think.  As a side note, we spent a lot of time at the beaches, attended a great Oyster festival, and ate like pigs every single night.  What a great time I had!!!

I've also been appreciating the friends who have left such uplifting comments on this blog for me to read and re-read, especially if I've had a trying day with the mom.  Those friends are also friends for life, even if only via cyberspace.  Sandy and Sue especially, thank you for your prayers and support.

So, the mombat was overjoyed to see me upon my return from the Cape.  It was the first break I've had from her since mid-August.  I thought about her every day, but was secure in the knowledge that brother Tom was doing a great job in my absence.  Mom is still losing ground daily, but remains adamant that she will never leave her home, and that if anyone tries to "put her in a home" she will "run away from home."  Straight from the horse's mouth, I guess.

I'll end this now but will be back soon, I have much more to say.  So here's a picture to make you laugh.  Aren't we a couple of pearls?