Ruke 5 -- Juliana Moreira!

Rule 5 Lauren Bacall!

With a little help from Hoagy Carmichael and Andy Williams...

New Year's Words of Reflection, Wisdom, and Resolution (stolen from a complete stranger)

*1. As I let go of my feelings of guilt, I am in touch with my inner sociopath. *

*2. I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia. *

*3. I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault. *

*4. In some cultures what I do would be considered normal. *

*5. My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of wisdom and judgment. *

*6. I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper, and complain. *

*7. When someone hurts me, I know that forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit, but not nearly as rewarding. *

*8. I am at one with my duality. *

*9. Blessed are the flexible, for they can tie themselves in knots. *

*10. I will strive to live each day as if it were my 50th birthday. *

*11. I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws. *

*12. Today I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so!" *

*13. A scapegoat is almost as good as a solution. *

*14. Just for today, I will not sit in my living room all day in my underwear. Instead, I will move my computer into the bedroom. *

*15. I will no longer waste my time reliving the past; I will spend it worrying about the future. *

*16. The complete lack of evidence is the surest proof that the conspiracy is working. *

*17. Before I criticize a man, I walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot. *

FINAL UPDATE...

Patricia Sweeney McEnroe passed away today peacefully  in her sleep, less than an hour after I posted the previous update.


Thank you again for all your prayers and kind wishes; I'm sure they lit her way home...

Pat McEnroe, a last photograph

LATEST UPDATE:  As I was leaving to fly back home, the doctors discovered that her trouble breathing came not from the COPD as previously assumed, but pneumonia, picked up I guess while she was lying on the bathroom floor before I found her.  They're treating that now, too.


UPDATE: Mom has stabilized.  Her blood pressure is back up, respiration and heartbeat are closer to normal, she's lucid and eating.  My sisters, both medical professionals, are optimistic.  Now it's watch the kidney function, and a long period of convalescence and physical therapy.

Thank you so much, everyone who answered my request for prayers.

Flew home to NY for Christmas with the family.
Woke up Saturday morning to find my mother on the floor.
She's in ICU now with sepsis and undetermined cardiac problems complicating pre-existing diabetic and COPD conditions.
All the prayers you can spare will be greatfully accepted.