Friday night:

Did my homework for the weekend, so now I have to rest of the weekend free to read, sleep late and all that good stuff. Well, most of it free, since I work tomorrow afternoon. Am lying here in bed at around midnight with a candy bar, cup of tea, and a good book.
It's a biography on Annie Sullivan and boy, just reading about her awful childhood made me cry! I had to get tissues and wipe the tears from my eyes. I can't imagine growing up in an terrible poorhouse like that, then going through the trauma of losing her dear brother. I'm up to the part where Annie gets to the Perkins Institute now.
I'm looking at you, Journal, and thinking how fortunate I am to be able to see you so sharply. Of course, I'm wearing glasses, but that's nothing compared to what poor Annie suffered a lifetime of...near-blindness and recurring eye pain. She was one courageous woman; she had so many problems in her life, yet lived with them with a rare heroism I really admire.
It's always touching (and it makes me blubber away) reading about people in history who lived with and overcame enormous obstacles and lived successful lives. And back then, Annie didn't have access to a guide dog and women couldn't vote. Well, I'm about to read on about Annie's life at Perkins; I have a feeling that despite the problems she had, her life got better there.

Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004:

I'm on a work break now. Read more on Annie; her life did get better at Perkins, even though some stupid assholes in her class made fun of her because she was a "charity student." Why are some people so cruel to people they consider "different?" I'll never understand that mentality. Never. Well, today is the third anniversary of the 9/11 disaster back in 2001, so a lot of us New Yorkers are commemorating today. Some places are even closing early today and there'll be a memorial wreath laid on the site where the WTC used to be. So today, I'm feeling a bit emotional. I cried a little when I got up today. I gotta run, my break's almost over and today's very busy at the store; lots of students here buying books.


Monday night:

Got an ee from Claudia; her classes are going great. She also got into a program specializing in commercial art, so she'll get some hands-on experience at advertising. She says the leaves over in Minnesota are starting to change and the weather's turning cooler. Good hearing from her.


Friday:

Had a good week actually, aced two quizzes and got started on a term paper that's due in December. The weather's finally starting to turn a little cooler; it isn't so humid anymore and on the way home today, I saw a few leaves turning. Notice that the green in the trees is starting to pale for the fall also. Just another week or two and the leaves will be all colors.


Sept. 22:

Can anyone say TWENTY-ONE? Hard to believe as of today, I am twenty-one big ones! Old enough to drink "legally." Officially a full-fledged adult! Wow, it sooo hard to believe! Sharon and Dad called today to wish me a happy birthday and said they'd be coming up on Saturday night to take me out to dinner. And all my friends called or ee'd to add their wishes and today, Mona, Ran, Kristy, Greta, and Wyser are treating me to dinner. Feels a bit funny going out to dinner on a school night, but we're making sure all our homework is done and on top of that, I don't have to get up TOO early tomorrow, since my first class is later. Well, let me shower and get ready!

Sunday night:

Mom and Dad came and saw our house for the first time. They came over and they treated me to dinner, then we walked around the city and did some catching up.
"Wow, you can still see the Statue!" Sharon crowed once we got to our porch on the way back and saw Ms. Liberty lit against the night sky. She really looks beautiful. And to make the night even better, it's getting cooler here now and definitely has a feel of fall. Dad and Sharon stayed a few hours and met Wyser for the first time too. They've met Ran and Greta before.
So, I had fun taking them on a grand tour of my new home and they loved it. I can't wait until all of us in the BSC get a break and maybe I can invite them here to see this place. I got tea for them and we sat and talked for a few hours. My first time as hostess.
Wow, it was soo good seeing my folks again! Sharon is starting a new architectural project at her firm and Dad is working on a case involving business retirement settlements. That case reminds me a little of that huge mess about three years ago involving Enron where thousands of employees were drained of their retirement funds and left unemployed because of corrupt dealings and stupid mismanagement.
We also pondered about where our economy is headed and Kristy and Mona joined in. Truth is the economy is still dragging along, just getting by and Dad and Sharon say that might cost Bush this fall's election. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because Al Gore is back in the running and is neck-to-neck with Bush again. I wonder if we'll have another situation like Decision 2000; only a Decision 2004. This year will be the first year I vote in a presidential election! It's great that he's coming back; I really hope he wins this time.
So my folks, Mona, Kristy, and I talked and I think what a wonder it is that now my folks and I are like old friends. We've evolved from being "parents-child" to "adult to another adult." Kristy and Mona say it's the same way with their folks too. It's a very good feeling and I get the feeling Dad and Sharon feel the same way too.
Funny, as they got ready to leave later on last night, I was the one telling them to drive carefully. Amazing how that works; a few years ago, it was Mom and Dad protecting and looking out for me; now I often feel protective of them and want to look out for them, make sure they get back all right and everything. Well, they got back to the old town now all right because I got an ee from them this afternoon. Sharon's almost done with the screened-in porch she's building on their house. So maybe next time I go back to the old town, we'll have a talking place out on the porch. It'll make a nice addition to the farmhouse. I just heard to buzzer go off in the washer downstairs, so I'm headed down to see if my laundry is done; tonight's my laundry night.


More later!