Catch-Up

Okay....I know that it has been forever since I have posted anything new.  I am beginning to think that the Blog gods are against me.  At the first of May, my computer was hacked/had a virus/you name it....it happened.  Now, it is still "toe up". As I read through my last blog, I realized that a lot of things have come and gone, but so many things seem to remain the same.  I did get a pink wig to wear around town, and holy smokes that was controversial!  It was a serious lesson in sociology for me. It has been my experience that people DO treat you differently depending on hair color, but pink is a conversation starter, for sure. I learned a lot about people and their thoughts and I can pretty much put them into categories.  What follows is a total generalization....when I talk about a certain group, I don't mean everyone was like that, but the majority certainly was.  I learned that women/girls love pink hair.  Little girls think you are an automatic celebrity/super hero if your hair is pink.  Old ladies really love it (maybe they are tired of blue being the color of choice for mature women)  and all the women in between think it is okay (this is with the exception of my mother, mother-in-law and some female relatives who did not like it)  Apparently, if you are related to the person with pink hair, the "cool" factor goes way, way down.  Young boys are fascinated with it, men from 16-approximately 30 thinks it's hot, 30+ are indifferent after the first look, and old men hate it.  When I say they hate it, I mean they HATE it!  They become very vocal and obnoxiously rude about it, which on one level bugged me, but on another, cracked me up.  I now have a sedate brunette/red wig and I find it to be rather boring, but apparently more socially acceptable.  Since Shea's hair is growing back, I am also letting my hair grow, so in addition to the wig, I have a boys hair cut.  I had to laugh because a few weeks ago, Shea was lamenting the "look" and she told me, "I hate it .  I looked in the mirror and I look like Brandon".  I laughed and said, "Yeah, I looked in the mirror and I look like Grandpa Walt."  We had a good laugh.....if only it weren't so very, very true.  I look totally 'butch'....another hard adjustment to make.  Nick told me I look like a mean Marine.  I told him I am a mean Marine....but it sure made me sad to realize that I was more feminine looking in boot camp....oh well, just experiencing a different kind of boot camp...and this too, shall pass.  Shea has been on the new regimen for a while now, and it has been decided that it isn't being as effective as we had hoped.  The study was pulled last week and we are waiting to do additional scans on the 4th to determine which direction we are going to go next.  So much of this is truly in God's hands.  We talk about what we are maybe supposed to learn...and we admit we have learned a bunch....I just don't think we realized just how long and draining it can be. Shea went last week and found some wonderful books called Smash books (look them up, they really are fun).  They are a cross between a scrapbook/diary/photo album.   She plans on being busy with those, and she wants to plan on learning how to crochet some simple things, as well.  She is doing everything to help keep her spirits up.  I am so, so proud of her!  I has been a difficult couple of weeks for Shea.  One of the people who has encouraged her and cheered for her passed away from cancer this last week.  It was hard to watch all of the wind go out of Shea's sails.  He was such a wonderful example to her and was always such a loving and caring friend, that it was gut and heart wrenching.  She is beginning to move forward, but it is obviously very difficult.  We are kind of in a limbo state until we know the next moves to make, but we are very sure that Heavenly Father has a plan....even thought we really don't know what that plan is.  We continue to feel your love and support and prayers.  Thank you for all that you do for us....we feel your love.