I have often wondered how people recover from such a horrific tragedy... hurricane, tornado, fire... What happens when that tragedy is over and the dust has settled and you look around and what you are left with are remnants of your life... a book here, a blanket there, a childhood memory destroyed. Your clothes tattered and worn. What can be salvaged? Anything? I went and looked at some pictures of the chaos and debris that Katrina had left behind... The lives destroyed and misplaced. I went and also looked at what has been rebuilt since Katrina... What emerged through that tragedy...I found that buildings were built stronger, testimonies of those affected showed strength they never knew they had. They were broken, the whole city and it's people... but they rebuilt and they moved forward.
I can apply this in my life... whether it be my RA or the loss of Jeff... I did stand in the debris for a while. Standing there in the midst of what I could not control and broken. What did I do? I made the decision to use some of what I had left, and to use new people to help rebuild what was broken. I am forever grateful to be where I am now. I am strong. I did build myself over again... I am stronger for having gone through the hell.
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With that ability to rebuild I found my happy. I am so excited to report that we had an amazing time in GA. We got to do some of my favorite things and the best part was sharing it with Josh. I get to see everything he grew up around and with living here in Defuniak. Taking him HOME was a blast. We went to Helen and got to drive through the mountains and experience some iconic Atlanta sites. The vortex was awesome. He really enjoyed it. The food was amazing too. We got to see so many people and they all LOVED us. It was an incredible feeling to have that much love in one space. I am so excited as we plan the Wedding and make our future plans.... One of the gifts we got was a window with pics in it. I could not wait to get home and hang it proudly in our living room.
And.................... we have a dress...................... It will still not be anything typical of a traditional wedding gown. It will have my Michelle style with it and of course boots... We ;just need to nail down the date and location and then we can get this thing moving along...
Treatment has not been kind to me once again. I did get out of the house and try to function. We went shooting and that always cheers me up. It just has taken more time to recover again. Hopeful we find a solution to this. I do not like being down for too long.
Love the one you are with, always say I love you, Live... Laugh... and Love... and be KIND...
From us to you,
Love MWah
Michelle the gang of H's and the Ptaks
