The end....

I'm not quite sure how to start a final entry....

It's been a great ride here in j-land. I've met some spectacular people and have made, what I know to be, lifelong friends. We have become like a family....sharing tears, laughter, joys and hurts. We protect each other's kids like they are our own, and laugh at inside jokes as though we've known each other all our lives. I've learned that online friends are just as true as "real life" friends. I will never forget the outpouring of love from all of you when my father died, and even when we lost our Percy. I have an entire scrapbook of cards and e-mails from people I've met in j-land who cared enough to send their sympathies. Now if that isn't true friendship, I don't know what is. I know so many of the people that read my journal....but there are many that I do not know. I'd like to ask, if you have been reading and never commented, please do now so I know who you are! I want to remember all of my friends....

You know,  there comes a point in which you just need to move on. Lives change, people change, priorities change. Things in my life are changing so rapidly, I can barely keep up. And when it's no longer a joy to write every day, but a chore....it's time to stop. Kinda like Seinfeld....it was a great run but stop at the top of your game, leave 'em with something to laugh about. So that being said....here is what I did on Thursday....

This is the right side of my knee. I had another "golden retriever/laundry basket related injury". The first, if you remember, was back in '99 when while holding a basket of laundry, I tripped over Percy, catching myself on my hands and somehow breaking my elbow severely enough to need surgery and pins. This time I was stepping over the baby gate set up to keep London out of the dining room, whilst trying to miss tripping over the laundry basket I had just set down. Unfortunately, I caught my foot in the plastic squares of the gate, and caught my leg on a metal antique grocery basket (hey, it looks really nice in the dining room!). It started out as a scratch then turned into a scrape....ending up in a 1/4 inch deep by 1/4 inch wide gash.

My mother was over when it happened. We had been in the pool and I suggested we go to lunch. We got out and she left through the garage, at which time I attempted to climb over the gate. I don't remember much....however I found myself on the floor in searing pain. I heard her open the door and ask if I dropped something....she didn't hear me (because I couldn't talk) so she left again. Then she decided she had better recheck....and found me on the floor. She took one look at it and said we had better go to the emergency clinic. So, being the woman you all know I am....I hobbled into the bedroom, changed clothes, did my hair, put on fresh makeup and set out for the doctor's office. Seven stitches and a tetanus shot later, I was all fixed up. Of course, now I have a saucer sized bruise on my left thigh, a bruise on the toe I got caught on the gate, and bruises all up and down my left arm. I'm not sure what I hit on my way down....as it all happened so fast. I'm on antibiotics now, since the metal was old and we don't want an infection. I'm sure I'll be fine but I think I'll be taking the gates down. Today Betsy's boyfriend was over and guess what he did? Yeah....tripped over the gate. I'm also thinking that maybe next time I should go with a different breed of dog....and perhaps hire someone do do my laundry....

 "I'm out baby....I'm out!"