Mary Lake:  

Hey Y'all, I do hope that God and life have been kind to you and yours over the years. Me? Life is good. Not quite what I had imagined a lifetime ago...but good none the less! Not real sure how this "Story Wizard" is supposed to be helpful, but I'm gonna run with it anyway. I would hope & pray that old friends would remember me as kind hearted...although I'm not so sure I was always. To those that I have hurt please accept my most sincere apology. I always wanted to be a wife & mother when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a good idea. As it turns out, they were pretty darn right. If you count homeschooling as an additional occupation, you can count me in on that as well. A decision that I/we never looked back upon. Idea #3 from "The Story Wizard"...favoritve way to relax? A good glass of Merlot while melting away in a bubble bath...if the Merlot is good enough I don't even need the bubbles;) Wildest thing I ever did in high school? I already went to confession for that one! If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have Strabucks , a killer pair of pumps, and a phone call from home to be able to deal with the day-to-day. My hero is my husband. Without him I would not, could not be the woman I am today. I have been blest for 26 plus years. I know it sounds like an insane cliche...but we truly are Soulmates. I am now blissfully living "out in the country". We are living at the base of Palomar Mt. A mere 5 acres but it feels like heaven. A dream I've had since a little girl. Although my parents aren't real sure where I got it from! We have chickens (fresh eggs), pigs & a steer, (currently in the freezer). I know more more about the raising, slaughtering & preserving of an animal than I ever could have thought. Wouldn't trade it for anything. The fires of last October hit us hard. Our son & daughter-in-laws, as well as my parents homes were completely destroyed. Somehow, by the grace of God our home was saved! Do I want to leave here? Not a chance in hell! I'm happy right where I am! The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Tom Cooper, because it seems as if he has vanished from this Earth:( Obsessions??? Love, faith, family, friendships...if I say truth & justice it's over the top right?!?! So I'll just stick with love, faith, family & friendships. Life's biggest surprise, without a doubt, was my husband becoming disabled. Didn't see it coming. Not at all. Freak accident...crazy actually...didn't make sense.(still doesn't) Most definately, others have far greater difficulties than we...but when the one you love more than life itself is hurt your entire life changes. It's true what they say, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." If I could improv...Expand for more