Well, against all odds, I was able to get my shower and wash my hair spontaneously this morning! That might seem like a small accomplishment to most people, but it was huge for me. I didn't have an appointment to get ready for, or anything else that required bathing at a particular time, I just "ran and got a shower" as my husband suggested. (His showers take ten minutes – mine take at least an hour – just for the shower part.) I take ritualistic showers and that's why it takes so long and why I've come to dread them every day.

I've also managed to tactfully avoid getting in the middle of a "cat fight" in my husband's family. My sister-in-law, Debbie, thinks that for some reason, she and my brother-in-law, Tim, are now the head of the family and are to be consulted about family matters first. This even though my husband is actually the oldest and the one his younger brother calls all the time. To make a long story short, Debbie is all bent out of shape because my husband was called first when his younger brother was hospitalized, even though both brothers live in Florida., and we live in Ohio.

Debbie hopped right in the car with Tim and my other brother-in-law to go "straighten things out and see what was going on." I suggested to my husband that it might have been wiser for her to stay home and let the 2 brothers go visit their youngest brother because there had been some harsh words spoken already by Debbie. My husband responded that Debbie was neither wise nor able to keep her mouth shut and she would do what she would do. The only thing to do was control how we reacted to her! Hurray! He finally admits that "Debbie has a 'smart mouth and doesn't use her head'"! I've tiptoed around that for years now and it was a huge relief to know that my husband recognized Debbie for what she is – AT LAST! I feel vindicated! I knew that about Debbie years ago, but my husband always told me I was too sensitive. I feel better! Now, if I can just get to my dusting without dragging my feet . . . maybe a 15 minute break first?