Very few people have been able to make me feel much better about my life and myself lately, so you can imagine my surprise when my cousin Eric called me. He had heard about all the different items going on in my life and he just wanted to see if I wanted to talk about anything to get it off my chest. He was hoping to be able to make me feel a bit better and to make plans with me to celebrate my birthday because after everything that has been going on, he realized that I probably was planning absolutely nothing for it, which is the truth.

We talked for a long while, about so many things, about Dad's growing depression, about Mom's alcholic tendencies, about Marissa's psychotic manuevers, and about my sadness. He comforted me, because I knew that he had been in this exact position before in his life. He went through the fighting at home, the sadness of losing people you love, the sadness of watching people you love so much leave you.

It's good to know you have someone to rely on when you are down and out. Thanks for being there for me Eric.

yesterday - tomorrow