To: sandintoes who wrote (158887 ) 2/7/2008 8:27:44 PM From: Naomi Read Replies (5) | Respond to of 225578 <JOY, HELPFUL, OPPORTUNITY> Yep, perfect words for me today. Thank you so much. I am feeling joy as I was in the hospital Tuesday and came home yesterday. Had an episode Monday night and had not changed by Tuesday morning so I went in for a cat scan and an x-ray. Everything was clean and clear and my cancer surgeon feels that lesions from my four surgeries back in 2001 and 2002 are creating these problems for me. He wanted me to have surgery soon, but not an emergency situation. Told him no surgery as I belong to two bowling leagues and just getting back to where I was in bowling six years ago and using a new heavier ball knew surgery would set me back again and I would not be able to pick up that weight for quite some time. I love bowling and am in a group that are quite unique. Also my husband had lip surgery, had a SIL in the hospital and my DIL's Mother is also hospitalized with Liver cancer. My SIL's sister is in ICU in Los Angeles, Ca. from having had lung cancer surgery and our family plate has been too full at this time with unknowns. She is the only relative he has in the U.S. Small world it seems as this sister does the choreograhphy for the Los Angeles Ballet. She was a ballet dancer for them and blew her knees out so could not dance any longer and they hired her to be their choreography director. We know her surgery went well, but she has a build up of fluid on that lung. Her doctors expect her to recover and that also is a joy for us. I am taking care of a cyber friend's granddaughter this weekend who is coming to Houston Saturday evening to audition for the Houston Ballet on Sunday and her Mom is not able to get off work to come with her so am meeting her at the airport and bringing her home with me for the night and then get her to her audition on Sunday and then back to the airport homeward bound Sunday evening. She graduates from high school in May and her Mom does not want her to miss any school as her standing is high. This gives me the opportunity to help my friend make sure she is safe while here. So my words are just perfect. The Houston Ballet Studios are about five minutes away from our home and everything should go smooth for her. She is 17 and has been dancing since she was 4. A beautiful young lady, so brilliant and talented. This will determine her staying out of college to dance with a National ballet company for at least a year or two and help her decide what her future holds with regard to being a professional ballet dancer or hit the road for college and keep up her training so that later if she decided ballet IS her future it is still possible. She is very dedicated, practices seven days a week and youth is on her side. She needs to do this so she does not regret she had the invitation and didn't take it. It is a big decision for her. She certainly has the talent and will do well no matter what she decides. She has wonderful parents who have done a great job parenting her, supporting her and having them let the reins go just enough and them watching the apple fall close to the tree. To me that is one of the hardest things to do with our young ones and she shows such appreciation and determination along with her ambitions. Other than all of the above, Whew! I am so happy with my words and thank you again. Never a dull moment around here. <gg> I was hoping 2008 would be a calmer year, but doesn't appear it will be.