I wonder if anyone can imagine that I was a girl guide and loved learning about knots and fire starting and all those things. Interestingly, I still use a lot of those little skills to this day. The rope ladder reminded me of all this. My children sometimes ask me how the heck I know something, and I just say that I was a girl guide and our motto was "be prepared" so then I teach them as well.

I wonder if you know, Abbie, that I'm really sorry to hear that your friend is away right now. Sometimes when I get in that darn hole, I have to build myself an imaginary rope ladder as well. I have my old aches and pains and they feel bad enough some days, but I don't have really severe pain like you would and I hope that can be a priority when you're a little stronger ... to try to find someone or something different to help you with that pain management.

If you're feeling really badly during the night, please please phone a hotline and talk to them.

(((HUG)))