Hello catrules,

I guess for me, my life took a turn. I had a beautiful baby boy late in life. Wasn't supposed to be able to have children but he was my blessing and I love him so much. His father and I divorced when he was three. He and I moved to Arizona and I remarried. At age 14, he decided to move back to Kansas to live with his father and go to high school there because he has two half siblings who live there and he's very close to his half-sister and her husband. He is an excellent student and is a wonderful young man. His brother-in-law is like a combination big brother and father figure to him because his own father is not very skilled as a parent.

So, I found myself in an early empty nest situation with a husband who is preparing to retire. I had lots of time on my hands to bemoan all the things that my illness had cost me (and it was plenty) and in all honesty, it did benefit me to work out some of the issues. But I finally came to the realization that what is past, is past and I cannot do a thing about it.

So, I decided to take stock of what I am and who I am and what I can do. When I got truly honest about it, I was surprised. So now, I am looking forward to some projects I have planned for the future including speaking as an advocate for the mentally ill and mostly, I am looking forward to entertaining in nursing homes with my guitar as I was once a "professional" entertainer (put myself through college singing and playing guitar and banjo). This I will do for free. I have always enjoyed seniors and being with them.