[chrisy]

Joy,
Thank you for posting - I really miss you when you're "gone", then again I disappear from time to time myself. But it's different when it's YOU! Just when I'm thinking of going into hiding, you put something out there I just HAVE to respond to!

I have to say I love the descriptions of your hair devolution! Did you bypass the cindylou who look? I'm fashion challenged enough without having to keep up with your hair haute couture - I swear I saw myself on "what not to wear" recently.

But you sounded SO cute as each of those things... and I know how hard it is to laugh at that when you feel like crying. You're awesome, girl.

And I have been trying to get the new year started out right. Hubby has been hiking in the Grand Canyon the past few days, so I spent new years eve eating junk food and watching "dog the bounty hunter" (ring out the bad!) and the past 2 days, getting my head straight to face the new year.

My sister gave me a Rascal Flatts CD for Christmas which I've been listening to today; cranking up the song "STAND" which reminds me so much of you, and so many of our friends here...with apologies to the copyright holder, here's the chorus:

'Cause when push somes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend 'til you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you STAND

That's you, dear one, and all the rest of us!

Much love and wishes for health and happiness in 2009!
Chris