Less than a week

I made it to Mobile after a night's stay in New Orleans (thanks Helen!) and it's been a whirlwind.

I've already had the chance to visit with so many missed friends. I also already have two job interviews I am very excited about. I've even test driven a couple of cars, although I still have no idea which vehicle to choose!

However, my trip back hasn't been all good. I am fairly sure my grandmother, the only living relative I really have, has completely disowned me for my inability to be the perfect granddaughter. I have tried to take one big lesson from that heartbreak: Try to be a better person and a better, more accepting friend. I hope to never be like her, rather distant and detached with an unappealing way of holding her love/acceptance ransom based on how well you meet her standards (which, painfully, seem to be much harsher for the females of the family).

I want to try to be a more open, forgiving, and available to my friends, the real family in my life. It's rather timely, actually, this lesson from loss. I was learning while in Washington just how much I missed my friends and how much I wanted to be a better friend in return.

I am also so very thankful for all of the people I do have in my life. I have found unconditional support and acceptance...something I did not realize I was missing in my "family." I hope they all know how much they have come to mean to me in this crazy life of mine.