Thank you Carla, this has been a very unusual summer. It has been nice but I'm sure next year will be back to normal, hot and dry. Luanne, thanks. The smaller bourbons do real well here in the heat of summer, MC no exception. Me thinks Carol(ina) definitely has two right hands! Linda I do not have Jennifer Rebecca but I do have one that looks exactly like her. It was supposed to be Prissy Miss but doesn't look like the photos I've seen. Strangely the rebloomers hardly ever rebloom here in the south or not for me. Hey Frances, thank you. If you could see my whole garden and the things that I've kilt you'd rethink that comment about being a master of the garden. It is fun though.

Yes, situations as have experienced happen all the time, with friends, relatives, coworkers, and recently in various internet forums. People can be inconsiderate, nasty and mean. You do get the feeling that graciousness and courtesy have gone out of style. When that happens to me, while it annoys me to no end because I am only human, but still I try to look at things this way: When stressful situations as you have described happen, it could be: Your friend might not be socially cultured in just that one aspect of behavior, but otherwise completely normal, or your friend could be an inconsiderate SOB on purpose in all manners. You will have to the only one to make a decision to cultivate your friendship further or not, because there are so many other factors in friendship maintenance. However, not to disagree with you, it can also be a matter of perception. I remember in General Psychology 101, there was a topic, which I canâÂÂt remember the technical name for. If you are waiting for a bus on a two ways street which also has a bus stop going the other way. You will always feel that there are always more buses coming from the opposite direction. As humans, we seem to remember adversity more than good times. Off-topic?: There is a couple, good friends, who I try not to invite to my parties. Each time they come, they would come with may be a variety of 7, 8, or a doz. bottles of very expensive wines. That always turns my parties into more of a wine tasting theme party. dcarch

Hello all... thanks for all the kind words. I am still trying to struggle through the day. Somedays I am ok, but others not that great. It was her birthday on October 20th. She would have been 64 or "39" as she would have said. We went to the park and fed the ducks... she always liked to do that. I also brought daisys and popped the tops off and placed them in the water. I miss the way that I would call her and she would be willing to go with me on what ever adventure I wanted to go on that day. She was always there for me. I know I am lucky to have a person like that and that it was my Mom, but it hurts no less. I am trying to build a new "normal". It is rough though because everything I do reminds me of her. I started to move around furniture in our house and I was thinking that everything I touched we bought together. She was a great decorator and I have no decorating sense at all. I just wonder when the feeling that I am completly lost and alone will go away. The holidays are coming and I hate it. I think we are going to plan a vacation at Christmas so I don't have to think about it. I don't know about Thanksgiving. Mom used to make the best mashed potatoes. This is so freaking hard. I think I am going to check into counseling again. It is so hard because I put on a strong face when I am out, but crumble when I get to my car or at home. I talk to my husband, but I don't think he really understands. What do you all do for the holidays?? Any ideas on how to get through them?

I'm a 28 year old only child (not a parent yet, so I can't speak from that perspective).Here is an inside perspective of the good and bad of being an "only". One thing I will concede, is that a child with atleast one sibling probably does develop better socially. I've always felt rather "socially awkward" around peers w/few exceptions,and tend to relate better to older people. I don't see it as a negative, but just the way it is. I was never the "bratty" type, I suppose because I was taught good manners. However, I do NEED privacy. I never had any desire to live in a college dorm for instance. I just couldn't handle someone always being present/no personal space, sharing a bathroom, etc. I have not married yet, I suppose a husband would be the exception, though even then I'm sure I'll need alteast some time/space to myself. At the same time, I also lack the concept of "divided attention", so I dont do well in groups, tend to only go out with one friend at a time, and usually have few friends. I suppose I get a bit obsessed in romantic relationships, and even in platonic friendships,can't understand why I'm not someone's "best friend." I have gotten better handling this with age, as I realize that most ppl don't want to feel suffocated. So, I guess I'm one extreme or the other, I either want total alone time, or I want your undivided attention (as I always give my attention undivided). There is also the issue of caring for aging parents one day alone (mine are divorced yet...), though siblings don't always guarantee help with these things. So, those are the biggest quirks/negatives, but otherwise, I feel it's a good thing and wouldn't want it any other way. Being that my parents are working class ppl, I know I have a ton more materially/financially then I would if I had siblings, however i'm sure not as much as "kids" from wealthier homes have. I also received a ton more attention growing up, and was quite overprotected, which when I was a child felt was a negative, but now I see it's bc my parents love me so much, and if anything happened to me, they have no other children. Well, I hope this provided some perspective, good luck regardless of your desicion.