Nancy Jo  

I remember when I was 10, our family went to Disneyland .  We took my cousin Becky who was visiting from Utah ( we lived in Northern California)  She was a few years older and I wanted to do everything she did... She took me onto the spinning teacups.  Oh my freaking goodness gracious, I thought I was going to DIE!  I was screaming "stop the ride" and I was crying and getting horrifically motion sick... I think I was as green as the teacup and barely able to hold on to not throwing up .  When things get "bad" I remember how traumatized I was as a child by that spinning ride....and I get brave and know I can do what it takes.  My daughter sent me a postcard one day a few years ago - when things were really tough and she said  " Hang in there Mom, when its over we will ride the tea cups, get sick to our stomachs, throw up and then laugh our guts off "  It was such a terrific thing to say !  Ya, you can do it... ya some thing just make us sick ! so throw up and get it over with... then we can laugh out loud.   I feel that way with my oldest son who is leaving tomorrow to move to California for his job.  He is a serious alcoholic and has struggled with sobriety and terrible illness, he has lost his home and his family.  I worry that he will not be able to do this on his own.  And it's OK if it doesn't work out - he can always come home and try again... and again... and again.  Because that is what starting over is all about.  You fall and you get up, no matter how long it takes.  Never, never, give up.  God Speed, my beloved - I pray for you.