Happy Birthday Amy Marie!!!

I'm celebrating your birth today and thanking God for giving you to our family and sharing your humble heart with the world.

You are bright, beautiful and a real babe! You are going to go far in life. You are good at everything you do... I am very proud of you.

I'll always be here for you... always.

Love,
Aunt Robyn

days 3, 4 & 5

Day 3, 4 and 5 are progressing without any problems for the kids. They stayed a full day in D.C. and yesterday and today, they will spend two full days in Pennsylvania.

They visited the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, as that is one of the schools my daughter is considering for her graduate studies beginning next year. Today they are going to Independence Hall to see the Liberty Bell.

My daughter said are having a great time. Still no word if either of them got ink. I forgot to ask them yesterday. They go to Boston next.

I'm relieved that it is all going smoothly. And that they are safe.

day two - Memorial Day

Talked with the kids this morning and they're already on the road again. Heading to Washington, D.C. and will be visiting Arlington National Cemetery sometime this afternoon on National Memorial Day 2007. They are thrilled to be going today of all days.

Their agenda also has them taking the train into the city. My daughter said they're going to walk around and explore. They've both been to Washington, D.C. with their high schools and still they are excited to be there again. I've never been... someday I hope to get there.

On a different subject, Samantha is thrilled to have a yard again. She constantly goes to the slider to ask to be let out. She's been running the fence with the neighbor dog and running around the yard in circles. Faith gets worked up also with her, but not as much.

Yesterday they both were full of it when they came inside from one trip out. They began throwing their stuffed toys up in the air and playfully growling and running around the house with them. It's amazing how fast they've become friends and how similar they are in personality.

I love it too... I no longer have to sleep alone... *lol*

It's great to have my baby home... and her sister here to keep her company. Now if it would just stop raining, I could get out on Hope today. And actually, I may just ride in the rain. It'd be another first for me... and I do so love all my firsts!

I hope all my friends and family and those I don't know personally who enjoy reading my blog have a wonderful Memorial Day. Thank you to all who have served, are serving and to the families of those who paid the ultimate price with their lives for our country and our freedom. I honor each and every one of you today and always...

I pray for peace...

day one

The kids called today. Day one of their first solo road trip together sans parents. They are making good time. Left in the middle of the night (taking after old mom there! *lol*).

They have arrived at their first hotel room and are waiting to check in. Afterwards, they're heading over to Monticello. So far so good. Safe and enjoying their time together as brother and sister.

They love the road too... my babies are all grown up.

*sigh*

I am extremely proud of both of them.

congratulations! i believe in you...

My younger sister's children passed several milestones this week.

Her youngest boy, Alan, 'graduated' from kindergarten and proudly received his first "ever" medal. Her daughter, Amy, 'graduated' from 5th grade and rang the bell to pass on to middle school. She also received the highest individual score on the TAKS/Accelerated Reader test of all in her grade. Her son, Blake, graduated from high school with honors and in the top percentage of his graduating class. He has big plans for college and his future and the intelligence to do anything, go anywhere and be whatever he chooses to be.

All three are exceptional children raised by loving, wonderful parents. All three are caring individuals full of humor, hope and honesty. All three have beautiful cores and empathic souls. I am very proud of my nephews and nieces, including these three.

As the one teacher at Amy's bell ringing ceremony stated over and over again to each child as they completed their turn and then came for their hug,

"Congratulations! I believe in you..."

Always believe in yourselves...

Love,
Aunt Robyn

:-)

having my baby home again - priceless

"You're already in Michigan?" Cathy was surprised but I had left at 1:30am. I was so ready to get on the road.

"You look really happy," commented the trucker at the rest area in the middle of Illinois on my way home. Apparently the joy shown through my smile.

"The road is home to you." Pam stated when she called to check on me and found out I was already near Memphis ~ halfway home.

Yes. Yes. And yes.

I do so love the road. Even in a cage, I love it. Oh how I can't wait to camp out under the stars this summer while riding! The road and riding... heaven on earth.

:-)

Stopped off for a day to work the info booth at the festival for my sister before heading north. A whirlwind trip. Samantha and I are home safe and sound. She and Faith are already great friends.


5 Days, 9 states, 3000+ miles = Road Trip

Having my baby home again with me after three years = Priceless

the eyes-scoop and a very short ride report

"I wouldn't touch them," he stated to Dr. N while he looked at me and said, "It's like a whole new world for you, isn't it?"

Oh Dr. Lipsky has the most gentle disposition! He has the most perfect bedside manner. And that smile warms you up immediately.

"To take a negative six/seven and have her seeing 20/20 is a miracle. You don't want to do anything. Nothing."

He was talking about my "wrinkle" and the apparent "normalcy" of such things. He explained that when they cut the flap it flattens out. When they lay it back down it needs to sort of shrink wrap back around the eye, which takes time. Eventually, the little wrinkle will disappear.

He told Dr. N that it wasn't near the pupil and it didn't affect my vision. No worries. It's all good. We talked about my dry eyes at night. He asked how old I was... to which I giggled. Terribly.

He asked me if there was anyone I had to look good for at night... was I married... a boyfriend?

OMG... *LMFAO*

I put two fingers together in the shape of a cross and said, "Bite your tongue. It took me 23 years to get rid of the last one!" He laughed.

Of course, he was simply asking so that he could mention that if someone else was in the home, then they could watch to see if I sleep with my eyes open. That's a no-brainer. I told him I'm sure I do. He gave me some extra strong gel drops to use at night. That should fix that problem.

Now, the other tidbit I learned today is that you can force yourself to go near-sighted. Didn't realize that. Dr. L told me to get a pair of readers at the 1.5 range and use them. If I don't, then all his good hard work could go down the tubes.

I told him I have 2.5's from before surgery but he thinks those will be too strong. I had no idea that reading without readers when you need them will make your close up vision worse. I don't really need them but Dr. L says I do, and I always do what the doctor orders. He said your lens naturally ages and straining it to read will only make it worse. Interesting.

So I'll be off to buy some readers... which does not worry me. Glasses to read with is no big deal. The driving was the big deal. The riding was the big deal.

Which brings me to my very short ride report:

For the first time, on Sunday I not only did 70 mph but I ran out of gas while going that speed... *lmao*

Yes. I did not know for sure that is what was happening but Hope started to sputter and lurch a little a few times so I pulled over (as I've never switched to reserve before) and she died on me. Switched to reserve, headed to the nearest gas station, and was all good for the rest of the trip back from Kemah.

Had a great time riding with two others. They told me on the curves to push the handlebars the way I wanted to go, which sounded strangely familiar, as if I've heard that before but I can't remember from where............ maybe the class... or the DVD...

They tucked me right in the middle and I felt very safe with them as we went on down the road. Watched the hand signals but had no idea what they meant. Watched how they watch traffic. Learned a lot actually. It was a very productive ride.

Not to mention the company was great! Thanks guys... for the ride... and the lunch... and the riding tips... most appreciated!

So my eyes are good. The new home is good (still a mess but good). Hope is good. Faith is good. Samantha's almost home. The new job is great. Car's running wonderful. My kids are healthy. My family is also well.

Got flowers today (woo hoo!)... *lol* Beautiful pink roses in a gorgeous crystal vase. Thank you, Tommy... you shouldn't have, but I love them! *kotc*

What more could a girl ask for?

Nothing... it's all good...

:-)

20/20 plus 1 letter each, baby!

Eyes Update:

Yes. I am officially 20/20 plus one letter in each eye as of today. There is a little "wrinkle" though. In my left eye where the laser cut flap lies down. I have to get checked out by Dr. L next week just to make sure it's insignificant.

Probably nothing, but Dr. Nuygen simply wanted to make sure. Other than dry eyes at night, I have zero complaints.

20/20 baby! Oh yeah...

:-)

and the Angels were named Michael

"Sure a lot different from the "girl" I met on a raining night at the Ford lot in Yucca Valley. Darn, that wasn't that long ago either."

Moon!

God it's so good to hear your 'voice'. Thank you so much for the e-mail. I do remember that first time trying to find you and Susann - in the rain, up the mountain... ok... the high desert... *lol*

I had called the night before from a little mini-mart type store right off the highway in Victorville. When you heard where I had stopped you told me to get in my car and lock my doors and start driving. Now.

Apparently, it wasn't the best place make a call. I noticed people looking at me strange as I walked in to get a water but didn't think anything about it. After all, my car had out of state plates. I got looks all along the way from Michigan on that Route 66 trip.

Driving in the rain and blackness there were these signs that I couldn't quite comprehend at the time on the side of the road. A "watch the decline" type of sign with swerving squiggly lines. Obviously, signs that were significant in California.

Slow down is what they meant. I wondered why they were posted when all of the sudden it felt like the road went right out from underneath me. Abruptly, I was on a rollercoast swerving crazily.

It was pitch dark out even with all the cars. My night vision is horrible anyway. In the rain and after sunset, I'm basically hard pressed to see ten feet in front of me. So as the others drove like crazy past me and the brake lights ahead glowed red off and on, I went down down down this sharp quick curving road wondering where the hell this road would take me.

The ride was harrowing and slippery and a few times I thought I had lost control. At the turn to the next highway, I decided to look for the first motel visible from the road. There was no way I could go any further that night. I'd hit Yucca Valley the next day.

The Motel 6 was a few more miles down the road. The bars on the office window worried me but I was done driving for the night. This would have to do. The woman behind the protective metal-framed bullet proof plastic took my money through a drawer and placed my key in it's place. "Down at the end," she stated.

The room wasn't much but neither was the cost. It would do. Exhausted, sleep overtook me.

In the morning I opened the curtain slightly and looked outside. Omg... mountains. There are mountains near L.A. I had no idea what California looked like and this surprised me the most. I had driven down sharp curving roads out of the mountains in the midnight rain. Blind.

The thought brought shivers down my spine. If I had realized, I'm not sure I would not have been brave enough to conquer that road in those conditions. What one doesn't know doesn't hurt them.

So it was with the rain continuing that I came through Palm Springs. Stopping at the visitor's bureau, I picked up a few things. Since I collect shot glasses and playing cards, those were my first California purchases completed. Postcards came afterwards.

My son had left his cell phone at my mom's home after a visit. The post office was the next visit. I mailed his phone and the postcards and then headed up the hill to the high desert. Yucca Valley.

Yes Moon. The girl you met that evening at the Ford dealership was much different than the one you've read here. You and Susann took me in and cared for me those days prior to Jeannie's memorial tribute to LT. I'll never forget what you did for me when the only thing I could do was cry.

You two sat on your couch to my right and shared your life with me. Took me to your favorite Asian restaurant (a first for me!), your favorite little bar, and in the mornings to the cute little diner where they knew you by name.

You gave me a home to stay in with my own room. We had long talks with you chronicling your histories and past marriages. How the two of you moved forward from devastation. More than once. How you came to meet and marry. Everything. You shared an intimate part of yourself with me. I will never forget you two. Never.

Thank you, Moon, for all you and Susann did for *me*...

Which brings me to all the other angels named Michael.

In less than seven months, God brought five into my life. Five Michaels who were honorable, caring, strong, loyal, big-hearted, protective and committed to helping me. Five men with no agenda. Five men who simply cared... for another human being.

I wrote about Michael C. yesterday. Moon's name is also Michael. God showed me how a man is supposed to think, act, and be - through all these men who share a name. He gave me angels' wings.

When I was stranded in Chicago for two days, Michael (Mike) and Liz owned the shop next to where the tow truck driver dropped me that one rainy night. All alone and scared, I slept in the middle of a place the driver said he wouldn't leave his mother and waited for the transmission shop to open.

Strangest thing... the transmission shop never opened. At about 9:30 in the morning I went to the mechanics shop next door and asked the man if I might use his facilities. It had been a long day and a half since I had left for my road trip home. When I came out he told me the cops would be towing my trailer. I started to cry.

The u-haul held all that was left of 23 years of my life. All I owned. One bed. A washer and a dryer. My computer and some supplies. And then -- my most prized possessions -- my books and my pictures. The history of my children's life and my early childhood. The only material things in life that I ever cared about... my kids' mementos.

Unknown to me, Mike called his wife, Liz. She came and the rest is history. She had her husband fix my little taurus for free. They cared for me while I slept in my car. Knocked on my window and told me, "Dinner's ready." They had gone out to get chicken dinners, set up a table in the office with a paper towel tablecloth and yellow paper tulips as a centerpiece.

The office had scriptures quoted all about. They were devout catholics. Liz was also an empath, though she didn't know the label for how she knew what she knew and why she was the way she was... why she could feel other's pain.

Mike sat quietly in support of his wife as we talked. He was my Chicago angel along with Liz. By the time my sister and her husband came to get me and tow me home, Liz had come back in the middle of the night to watch over me while I slept one more night in their lot. She had also called the police who made rounds every fifteen minutes to check on me. I knew none of this until they told my sister when it was time for us to leave.

Mike and Liz, my angels, took care of a stranger... took care of me. Just as the story of old has said to do -- they did unto me. They had almost nothing. Their business was going under. And yet, they had joy and contentment knowing that other things were meant to be. They lived their faith through actions. They had true peace.

Thank you Mike and Liz... I've been back to visit since. I think of you both everyday and what you gave to me. Liz, it was so true... all you predicted for my future. It has been almost four years and it's almost exactly what you said it would be.

You told me, "Go home. Be with your family and rest." I did. You told me five years... it didn't take that long. God spoke through you both to me...

Fast forward back home. Another Michael was waiting for me. A specialist in fixing transmissions. He helped my car make it another year somehow... and didn't hardly charge me anything. He stopped the smoking a few times. He took care of my automobile for me.

Thank you AT Michael... for giving me a dependable ride long past when it seemed meant to be.

Then there was Michael O. You came into the room that first time and smiled and melted my heart in one beat. That tilt of your head and the way you'd look at me with a true gentleness I've never felt from a man made me feel truly special.

You have a heart of gold, Michael. Any woman would be lucky to be loved by you. I want you to know that. It just wasn't meant for us to be...

Oh, and btw, I've never told you this but --

You have no idea how much your daily notes meant to this girl. Every day I'd look forward to coming into the Legion and reading the thoughts you wrote about me the night before when you were in the office after hours. Oh how special those notes were to me!

You made me smile and gave me joy when there was no joy to be found in my world. When there was very little good for me on a daily basis. I still have the birthday card you gave me that one January when you were the only one other than my nine year old nephew, Chase, who remembered the 2nd was my day.

And, you don't know this either, but I've kept every one of the notes you wrote to me. They are in a safe place... they'll always be with me. Your words, well, they mean the world to me.

Thank you, Michael O... for wanting to show me how it feels to be cared for from the heart of man who loves deeply... unconditionally.

There are other angels of other names and those stories will be written in time. Many were along the path helping me move forward when all I wanted to do was quit. I remember all of you. Every one. And thank God every day that through it all, you were there for me.

This day is dedicated to the angels called Michael in my life. Biblically, the Archangel Michael is known for his great powers of protection. His mighty sword cuts away anything which no longer serves: cords and bonds, astral energies, etc.

Up until this year, I trusted unconditionally anyone who was named Michael because God had given me so many with huge hearts to help and care for me. I believed that those who bore the name were honest men of great depth of character. I still think most of you are... there is no doubt the ones in this post live their lives with honor and integrity.

I believe these five were sent from God to me... my Michael angels....

They have a core of strength.
They follow their caring hearts.
They tell the truth and live honestly.

They gave me hope and brought me peace.

They gently gave me wings and showed me how to fly free.

remembering another move

I knew exactly where I had put it but you know how your memory goes sometimes... I had to go look to make sure that mine had served me well. It had.

In the closet of my second bedroom at the townhouse was my old shower curtain rod. Old in that it was the first thing I bought for my first ever rental home for the first time on my own two June's ago. I remember it as if it was yesterday.

A very good friend told me that I needed to have a home again now that I was offered a full time job. Living out of my car and sleeping on my mother's couch had to end. Nine months was long enough. It was time.

He gave me money and said, "Go and buy some necessities." I knew what I was going to buy. A shower curtain.

Don't ask me why that was the first thing I thought I needed, it just was. I wanted a theme too. I'd never decorated before. All of my money went to the kids and the ex when I was married. Their needs came first. I never bought more than a picture for the wall or towels or sheets.

I never "decorated" a home like most women do. All of my homes had glass doors on the showers & baths. There wasn't any 'needs' in that room for me to spend on. Nothing necessary. Decorating wasn't a necessity...

Walking into Walmart, I went straight to the bath aisle and stood there for the longest time. What did I like? What did I want? Omg... panic set in. I had no idea. I had no idea who I was.

I started to walk towards the exit as the tears began to flow. I didn't know. I didn't know who I was or what I liked. My head hung as I crawled into the car and picked up my cell. I made the call.

"I walked into the store and walked right back out," I sobbed. "I have all this money you gave me and I walked right out. $500 and I bought nothing. I don't know what I want. Something as simple as a shower curtain, and I don't even know what I like."

I was scared. Petrified of making a choice. I was confused. I had no idea what to choose.

"It's ok," he said soothingly. "I knew this is what would happen. How are you supposed to know what you want or like? For over twenty-one years you were told what to think. You were told what to like. This is part of the process of your growth. I never said growth would be easy. It's hard. Sometimes it hurts. But it's necessary."

"But how do I find *me*?" I softly cried as the tears slid down my cheeks. I felt so young and silly crying over something this simple. I should know...

"Just look until something speaks to your heart. You'll know when you see it..." he replied.

After a few more moments of support, he figuratively pushed me out of the car and back into the store. "You can do it... you will be fine. Trust me."

I wiped the wetness from my cheeks, took a deep breath, and stepped back into the store. Then I looked. And looked. And looked.

Suddenly, something surprising happened... I saw what I wanted and knew it.

The curtain had shells. Sea shells. A mauve, soft gray, soft blue patterned curtain with shells. Omg... I love the beach. I love the water. This was perfect. The colors were peaceful. I could almost hear the waves in the shells standing in that aisle holding the curtain in my arms.

A huge sigh of relief went out of me and I smiled through the left over tears. I knew what liked... where my core was at peace.

The water is home to me.

After finding the shower curtain, everything else fell into place. The shower hooks, the toothbrush holder, the soap holder... everything. Including the rod.

When I moved a year later from the little house in League City and onto the island I didn't need the rod. I remember telling him I had no use for it as there was a permanent one up in my new place. He told me to hold onto it anyway. Who knows? I might need it again someday.

Someday came this past weekend. I've found a place that I now call home. It has everything I need and more.

I have been blessed with my brother giving me his extra furniture for my living room, kitchen and patio. I have been blessed with a stove and refrigerator. I have been blessed with Faith, my newest member of my family, and a fenced yard where she can roam. I have been blessed with a garage for Hope.

The list is lengthy of my blessings. Including my brother and his friends moving me all weekend. Over the past two years, people have given to me tremendously. The move this time was overwhelming. I own 'stuff' again. Amazing.

There is much to be thankful for but I am most blessed for that man who walked with me and held my hand as I began the journey of finding out who I am. I wouldn't be here without him. I couldn't have done that first move on my own.

Emotionally, I was torn into pieces. Financially, I had nothing. Spiritually, I couldn't breathe. My core was broken. My heart wounded. My mind couldn't think.

He walked with me as I slowly found my way and, for that and so much more, I will always be grateful. He gave of himself and his resources because he believed in me. He believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself.

This time, I had help with the actual physical moving but I did everything else on my own. Totally on my own.

He'd be so proud of me.

Thank you, Michael C. ...

Thank you for caring for me...

please keep Tom in your thoughts and prayers

As I lay down to try and get a little sleep this early morning, I pray for my daughter's boyfriend's father. Tommy's dad, Tom, is having heart surgery early this morning. Quad I believe is what she told me yesterday.

For those who believe in anything, please say a prayer or send healing thoughts to Tom and thoughts of peace and calm for his wife Lynn and the rest of the family. The kids are holding up... as best as they can.

Thank you...

Hope's new home

Picked up the garage key to mi amó poco casa today and couldn't wait to get Hope out of storage and into her own room. Cathy met me at my new home so I could leave my car there and drove me to storage. Stopped at the townhouse to pick up my little pack for the ride back along the seawall.

Only $8 for the prorated rent and Hope and I were on the road. It was almost dark. First time I've ridden that late in the evening. The ocean was mesmerizing as we glided along. Barely a breeze. I had attached the windshield before I left Hope the last time so that I could ride with it and see how she handled.

Beautifully. She handled just beautifully.

Maybe it's true... the more you ride, the easier everything becomes. We rode silently hearing only each other's heart beat. True peace...

Ok... here's my 'knock on wood' or 'eat my words' or "sheesh! what was she thinking???!"! *lmao*

When I looked over the garage to make sure it was secure, I noticed that the workers still had a ladder and some other things left inside. They had only given me one key even though they installed a new lock just this morning.

Now I'm worried about leaving Hope. My thoughts go to what should I do to secure her since I'm not yet moved in 'bed'-wise. I won't be spending the night there tonight.

Then I remember how I've listened for years to guys from Hawg's talk about having their rides in their living rooms when there isn't a garage to be had. *Light bulb* moment! I'll park her in the house.

I know the workers don't have house keys anymore. At least, they gave two sets to me of every key. Of course, four out of six of the keys don't open anything but that's another story for a different day.

I jump back on and ride Hope through the garage and out the back door onto the brick basketball court. No problems getting her through the small doorway. I had lots of practice at storage doing that and got really good at whipping her in and out with out a hitch.

I've already opened the slider all the way in anticipation of moving her in. Only a little bump. I can jump that! All I have to do is maneuver her from the brick court to the cement patio slab by going over a few ornamental bricks.

Now here's what I didn't plan on... grass.

*LMAO*

Soft grass. Wet soft grass. Wet soft ever-so-pliant grass. The kind that when a tire spins in it, a hole begins to shape around the bike without it moving forward. The more gas you give the bike, the lower it goes in the ground.

Yep. Slow motion sideways action and we were down in the backyard after failing to make the jump over the ornamental bricks on the first try.

No problem. For some reason I was able to pick her right up. It's all good.

We tried it again. And again. And yet again. I couldn't get her over those bricks and onto the patio. I looked at the slider and the actual entry into the house was even higher than the bricks.

Ok. Re-evaluation time. Better just park her in the garage and hope the repair men don't mess with her.

Only problem now is that I can't go forward or backwards as I'm stuck in between one brick and the patio with dirt in the middle and also on the tail end rear tire. I finally 'jump' her out of there with all the strength I can muster only to find a huge dip in the yard. Why I hadn't noticed it before I have no idea but as soon as Hope hit the side we were down... again.

I suppose that's why I could lift her the first time. I was able to get underneath her on the incline. This time, she sat right in the middle of that huge dip. No matter how low I got, I couldn't get low enough to walk her back up again.

Sweating and heaving for about a half an hour, a neighbor let her dogs out and saw me. Jennifer is graduating from medical school. She is going on to her six year plastic surgery residency. Nicest gal you could meet and ever so helpful. Right away she went inside and asked her 6'4 tatoo'd big brawny built husband Justin to come to my rescue.

Even in my backyard, there's help for me! *woo hoo!!!* *lol*

After Justin lifted her (without any effort I might add!) I sat down on Hope and spent the next fifteen minutes trying to turn her back towards the garage and out of the grass. They stayed the whole time with Justin behind me, pulling Hope back a little every so often when I shifted into neutral so I could try and turn to corner her around.

After parking her back in the garage for good, I returned to the backyard fence to say my thank you's. Looks like I'm going to be baking a lot of my special homemade chocolate chip one-of-a-kind cookies for quite a few people here shortly. The list keeps getting longer by the minute.

Thank you Jennifer and Justin! It's too bad you're moving in two weeks... I understand why though. I wish you only the best of luck in your new home and with finishing your medical internship. You go girl! I always wanted to be a doctor. You are living my dream...

Oh, and it's great to know that the doctor I'm renting from is a top notch plastic surgeon. His strength of character shines through all that you told me about him. Donating his time and talent to operate on children at Shriner's Burn hospital is beyond admirable in my eyes. The respect I have for him has grown from our conversation tonight.

Now that I've had my eyes done, the whole tummy tuck/butt lift thing is my next wish list project... another great perk due to renting from a talented plastic surgeon! *gg*

Tomorrow is going to be a bear of a day with Saturday being even worse. I don't mind though --

I'm finally moving home...

:-)

and then there was sight

Lying back in the chair shivering, I asked the assistant why it had to be so darn cold in the surgery room. "The laser," was her reply. She wrapped me in three blankets for the first part and then, when I was moved to another chair, they wrapped me in a thermal covering that heats up.

The procedure began without a hitch. I was so ready. Somewhere in between though, when they said "suction" my world went dark. I must have started to shake as they asked me if I was alright. "No," I barely whispered in a shaken voice as I began to weep.

It must have been the Valium is all I can think when I started to cry. Suddenly fear overtook me as the darkness engulfed my world. I was a little girl lost and alone. Frightened. My heart hurt as my mind searched for security. Somewhere. Where was my safe place? I couldn't find it. No one was there with me. I couldn't be brave alone... or so the voice in my head made me believe.

I'm not sure if the doctor instructed her to come to me but one of the nurses moved to my right hand side and slipped her hand under my blanket and grasped mine firmly. "It's alright," she calmly whispered. "You're doing fine."

I held on to her hand for dear life. For some reason, all of my resolve and strength left me and all I could do was shake. After the first eye was done and I could see light again, I relaxed. The second wasn't as bad. I was ready for the darkness.

When it was all done, they made me lay in a dark room for awhile. Going home, the instructions were to sleep the rest of the day. I had things to do though. Stopped at city hall to get my water deposit paid and the water turned on at my new home. Went home and to bed only to wake up three hours later to go sign my lease. Stopped by my rental to check the keys. Then back home.

I couldn't have done any of this without my good friend, Cathy. She not only took a whole day off of work to chauffeur me around and wait for me in surgery, she was my voice of strength. Thank you so much for being there for me, Cathy. You have no idea how much your love and care and support meant to me. I love you, girl... and you never have to be alone. You are my family. My sister. My friend. Remember that always. Never forget.

As for my eyes, ten minutes after surgery I was at 20/70! Yesterday, one day post op -- 20/25 for both distance and reading!!! OMG! The doctor said the results were better than they expected. You see, my vision was so bad that they couldn't use the normal 20 whatever numbers... you know -- 20/100, 20/200, etc... the tests only go up to 20/400.

Your vision is measured by feet with people that have as poor of vision as I did. My eyesight pre-surgery was recorded as four feet. After four feet, I was legally blind. That doesn't mean I could see clear at four feet. It simply means I could tell there were two fingers held up at that distance. Blurry, but I could tell they were there.

Dr. Lipsky said my vision is going to get increasingly better as the swelling goes down. That means I'll probably have better than 20/20 vision eventually. That first few minutes after surgery he apologized that I couldn't see very well. I looked him in the eyes and teared up and told him, "Oh, but I can... I can see your eyes!" He smiled the warmest smile and at that moment all the love inside of me went out to him for what he had done for me.

Yesterday after he examined me for my one day post-op he said, "You're looking good." I giggled in that little girl space I go to when I'm carefree and happy and replied, "So are you..."

He laughed then and said something about my eyes needing more work. I made him laugh. He gave me joy. It was a beautiful day.

Anyone who wants or is thinking about laser surgery -- I highly recommend Dr. Lipsky. Though the resident did my actual procedure (they gotta learn somehow and that's why the procedure was half off), Dr. L was there the whole time. He is calm. He is caring. His smile melts your heart.

I cannot say enough good about him or Dr. Nugyen (pronounced 'when'). They are both awesome. I was thrilled to be Dr. Nugyen's first ever patient. Dr. Lipsky said they never forget their first. I feel so special being able to have given him something in return for what he has given me.

Since fourth grade I haven't been able to see. I have been limited in what I could do. When I could do it. I have been tied to glasses or contacts just to function on a daily basis. They have given me a new life. There are no words for how I feel for what they have done for me.

Thank you both, Dr. Lipsky and Dr. Nugyen.... thank you both.... for everything......

http://www.doclipsky.com