Back to my ol’self again. Not sure what that is, but I’m there again, which I think is a good thing. Paid the bills, stopped by Home Depot and bought some plants (which always make me happy), looked at their patio furniture and daydreamed of BBQ’s and lounging in a screened in patio (I’ll have it some day!), scoped out the sheds and daydreamed (yet again) of an artists/ pottery studio (repeat: some day!).

Went home and did domestic stuff and then the absolutely best part of the day came: I got my Cutie from the bus stop and then got my other Cutie from soccer practice. They make even the worst days better and non descript days wonderful!

A Day

This week will be six months since my dad passed. I have been missing him all over again and last night I had such strong dreams. He was in them, but it wasn't like he was “visiting” me kind of thing. More like a dream of feelings, from memories. While I was dreaming, I knew I was asleep, but I didn’t care, I held on to him with all my heart as if he were real. But then I could feel myself waking up. I didn’t want to but I couldn’t stop it. As the dream floated away, I desperately held his hands and kissed his sweet face, and when I awoke, I cried into my pillow.

I wish I could shake these feelings of missing him so much..

motorcyclist

Saw a motorcyclist smash into a car stopped in traffic. It was right next to me on the highway. I saw him the whole time. He might have been going about 45. I'm amazed he didn't die, only a badly broken arm. But when I saw his body flying through the air and bounce instantly against the back of that small SUV, I thought he was a goner. It looked amazingly like that scene in Meet Joe Black when Brad Pitt's character gets hit by the car. I just saw that part of the film two days ago and changed the channel, but in reality there isn't much channel surfing. At least not while your driving a minivan full of kids, on the highway during rush hour traffic and you think - If this guy is really bad, I'll get out and try to save him, but there are kids in the car, I don't want them to see this, I don't want them sitting in a stopped car on the highway, I don't want to get his blood on me and have to get back in the car. I don't want to see anyone else dead because of a motorcycle accident. And if this guy is still alive, can I help him and still keep all these kids safe?

It's amazing what can go through one's mind in a few seconds.

Fortunately, he held onto the handlebars and rotated through the air and I guess it was his back that hit. I thought he might have crushed his neck, but he was conscious and could move his other arm. It didn't seem to be so bad after all, at least considering how bad it could have turned out. Makes me wonder about the "if's" phenom. One "if" and the whole story changes. If he hadn't been able to hold on to the bike, if he had hit a car or a truck instead. Every other scenario adds up to him being killed, instead of an arm that bent in three places.

When someone has been away from their blog for so long, how do they begin again. Do they do a quick recap of the last several months (Italy, Florida, emotional ups and downs), or do they ignore that they’ve been away and start writing from that point on. Perhaps I can just fill in as I go along. If it’s important I’ll mention it. If not , then let it go. Just let it go.

I'm here, for the most part, and I'll be back soon.
~L~

Carter Center!!!

“jumping off bridges”

is going to have two screenings

at the prestigious Carter Center

in Atlanta Georgia

for the Georgia Mental Health Forum.

The Carter Center!

Ya!

FOUND !

I am very happy to tell everyone that Mallorie Bustos has been found. She is safe and back home with her family. I don't know the details, but I wanted to tell everyone as soon as I found out. Thank you to everyone that searched for her in the woods, who knocked on door after door in apartment complexes and neighborhoods, put up hundreds of fliers, and prayed and hoped for the best.
This is wonderful news!

missing child

I spent part of this stunningly beautiful day searching for a missing 14 year old girl named Mallorie Bustos. She attends Murchison Middle School. She was last seen February 17^th @ The Broadstone Apts on Bluffstone road near 360 and Spicewood Springs Rd. She has black hair and was last seen wearing blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a white t-shirt. She is 5’1 and weighs 120 lbs. She also wears braces.

My search buddy and I hiked through wooded areas littered with trash, poked our poles in mounds of bushes and tree limbs, and searched in water drains caked with slime. We looked for clothing, shoes, even earrings, talked to construction workers, put up posters, and all the time thinking, what would a 14 year old girl have thought, what would she have done, where would she have gone. Where is she? I was one of about 80 people who searched, some of them the entire day, looking for anything that might help. I’m waiting to see if there is another search tomorrow. Her poor mom, I can’t imagine what she’s going through and I hope I never have to find out.

It was upsetting to search for a missing child today, but I’m so glad we didn’t find her in the woods. It leaves room for hope. Like, I hope she’s o.k and she’s coming home.

The Carter Center!!!!

I am more than happy and proud to announce that “jumping off bridges” is going to have two screenings at the prestigious Carter Center in Atlanta Georgia for the Georgia Mental Health Forum. Even though I was thrilled at the DC screening in conjunction with NIMH, I have to admit, this by far takes the cake. I’m not sure if I am able to go, but if it works out, I may get to meet First Lady Roselyn Carter.

I just gotta shout it out it - OMG!

That the film is going to the Carter Center, leaves me positively elated. Just think, I am a part of something that is reaching so many wonderful people. People that the film helps and people that see the potential in the film for helping others. Given that my late father directed his energies to helping others who were often unable to help themselves, the connection to me and this film boarders profound.

I helped make this happen. The Carter Center!

Our mouse died.

She was all white except for a bit of black fur around her back legs which made it look like she was wearing low-rider pants. She was very sweet and gentle. She’d nudge your fingers or shirt sleeve and this earned her the name of “Nudgie.” Her cage was next to my desk and out of respect for my need to work without interruption, she would quietly busy herself staying trim on the exercise wheel, or work on redecorating her living room. If there was a lull in my work though, or I just needed a break (or I had too much coffee) we would converse at length about screenplay ideas, what’s going on with the kids, different actors, or you know, girl talk.

She often liked to sit on the outside top of her cage, and watch me work or look out the window. It was just an understanding between us, without having to say anything, that she didn’t really want to go anywhere, but having a choice to stay or go, was in itself an act freedom. She was like that.

We have another mouse. A golden colored one named Sunny, who is equally as sweet natured. But for some reason, they didn’t get along. I would have thought they would have been best friends. Maybe they were jealous of each other or that one slighted the other and they never moved past it. Who knows with mice, or anyone else for that matter. The thing is, you would think Sunny would be happier to be the queen mouse around here now that Nudgie’s gone, but I have noticed she has been on the sullen side. Less wheel, not too interested in her favorite foods. That sort of thing.

I’m a little sad too.