I’ve had a lot of experiences that nobody could ever believe or see. A lot that I didn’t even mention. You can’t change those. I used to think that it was a pain moving. I used to think that was terrible.

I happen to think now that every kid ought to be required to change schools once just to see what it’s like so they wouldn’t be so clicky. So they’d learn what it’s like to have to have to make that change. My kids happened to have gone to the same school for all 12 years. In some ways they are lucky. In some ways they missed out on a lot. It’s really something when you have to change schools. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.

It’s always hard going in. I don’t care if you are the head cheerleader; you’re not going to be the head cheerleader. I mean, I wasn’t that type, but whatever you were you are not going to be. You are going to have work back into it and hope you can get to where you were, and you might now. Like I said, being the preacher’s kid everybody had their eye on you. You know, having two girls I think my mother probably sweat our whole time in Pemberville thinking, “Okay, who’s gonna come home pregnant?” We didn’t. I have to admit there wasn’t a chance that I could have been and I don’t think my sister either, but I’m sure my mom worried.

My sister was pretty quiet. I was pretty gutsy. I am pretty outgoing. My mom probably never knew what the heck I was going to come home…what it was going to be next, and that’s true even now.

I tell people I am getting an assistant dog, “What for? What are you going to do with it? You already got a dog and two cats! What do you need something else for?”

“Cause I’ve got the opportunity to get one and I’m going to!”

If it helps, I mean, whatever helps this disease at this point. I’ve told my doctor right out our insurance went to hell this year, find me a clinical trial. I want to be a guinea pig. I told my family every time they’ve operated on me; I’ve had pacemakers, I’ve have a pain pump implanted that feeds morphine to me. I told them every time there was surgery and something happens then donate my body to science. God, let them find out what the heck really is wrong. Maybe somebody else can benefit.

I guess it’s a dachshund. You know, it’s kind of interesting. I wonder what the heck they can do for you. We have a cat named Mr. Attitude, I’m kind of worried about because the name fits the cat, and the cat happens to think she belongs on my lap. So, somebody’s gonna have her nose out of joint.

Oh, I know, but she’s not going to necessarily love Mariah and it’s going to take us a few days to convince Mr. Attitude that Mariah is OK.

They will. Well, you know, I think Mr. Attitude suddenly senses there is going to be a change because she’s found a new home on top of the freezer and she climbs on top of the freezer on a box and that’s where she sleeps. If we can’t find her any place else, that or on top of my computer monitor.

So, that’s where she’ll be a few days when Mariah gets there.