From My Fish Bowl To Yours...

 Dear fishes-     Being a former military kid (saying "military brat" is really derogatory and makes me cringe when I hear it--I don't call civilian kids "domicile deviants" or other rubbish). My father put his neck on the line while protecting this country and people should show respect to military personnel for their services rendered in the ongoing fight of protecting everyone's freedoms. There are those that don't understand what it's like being a military kid--I'm here to explain.       When you're a military kid, you're forced to go to new places with new schools, new faces, and try to make a semblance of a life there. Nothing is spared in regard to expectations to thrive where you've been put for a short while. I loved living on a military base, as a kid because all of the other kids were in the same boat as you were. When we lived off base (in residential neighborhoods) it was tumultuous to say the least--you had to constantly...

 Dear Fishes-      I've been gone because I got married recently and doing all that is expected within a shared relationship. I also moved as well, so that was fun....Finally living with my husband and enjoying married life. Today, I watched something that moved me to tears. It was an old acceptance speech from Mr.Rogers where he invited everyone watching him to take 10 seconds of silence and remember those that have brought you to where you're at now. The first person that came to my mind was my senior high school art teacher that had a degree in English, Chinese, French, and was an artist as well with some training.       Little did I know that he would utterly change my life, for the better. That was the year that I decided to live with intention. I joined a bunch of clubs at school, started caring about academics, and wanted to change the direction of my future. I wasn't necessarily a rudimentary student, but I had allowed going to sixteen sch...

 Dear Fishes,         The Olympics are upon us and it's hard not to be inspired by the outstanding athletic prowess of the many athletes. Hearing the stories of how Olympians struggled with their sport and how they persevered in the face of adversity is inspirational; do we also give credence to those who are suffering on an Olympic level with disabilities? Society gives pity to those who have chronic illnesses and debilitating disabilities, but shouldn't those individuals be seen for more than they are? I think so.        Those who suffer chronic illnesses and other disabilities should be given gold medals for sticking with life despite the hell that they've been called to bare. Our society praises those who have bodies that are working in their prime and gives pity and sorrow to those who are fighting every single day of their life to live. It isn't glamorous having serious illnesses, thus why people don't feel inclined to give credenc...

 Dear Fishes-        Recently, within the last couple of months I went to "Taco Amigo" for the first time with my fiance. I had always heard good things about it, but had never ventured to its delicious locations. While we were waiting for our food, there was a man in what looked to be his 50's or 60's sitting down enjoying his food. I inquisitively asked if he liked "Taco Amigo" and he replied that it's his favorite. Our food came out and then I continued my line of questioning about the restaurant because I was curious. He was a die hard Taco Amigo consumer and loves it over Del Taco and Taco Bell (not hard to beat really).        It eventually came out that he breaks horses in and that's what he does for a job, but I could tell there was far more interesting things in this individual than met my eye. He had this gaze about him that was soul piercing and you could tell that he'd been in the service at some point, just because of how intense...

 Dear Fishes- *Spoiler Alert* Don't read if you plan on watching Bridgerton.        As most of you out there are aware, Bridgerton is a scintillating, scandalous, and addictive show....I absolutely love it. Once you jump into the story line it's hard not to be hooked on it, with all of the delicious men and tempestuous women, all in search of love and fine lineage to be had. It's a show, much like the Broadway show "Hamilton" that crosses boundary lines of race and the possibilities of what could have been if things were different during the 19th century. Hamilton was successful because it showed hutzpah by getting talented actors and actresses (who were also phenomenal singers) of different races (predominantly African American) to play people in history that were white in reality. It bespeaks of Shakespeare's "Othello" and how the main character was a Moor, which was quite controversial during that period of time and it was played by white people. ...

 Dear Fishes-        *Spoiler Alert* If you haven't seen the documentary and you want to watch it without spoilers, please stop reading for your sake as well as my own. I don't want to deal with angry people.        Recently, I watched the documentary of Celine Dion's titled "I am: Celine Dion." It was good but it was tough to watch because it was so raw and you end up wanting her to succeed, even though things don't look great for her because of the unfortunate illness that she's dealing with--"Stiff Person Syndrome." I've never seen Celine Dion in concert (I've always wanted to, but never had the chance), but I've grown up listening to her pivotal albums all throughout my life. After seeing the documentary of her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome, I downloaded a lot of her songs that I had forgotten about from yesteryears, before when I was a teenager and she was the biggest name of all of the singers at that point. Celine Dion i...

 Dear Fishes-        It's two days after the fourth of July and my body is feeling it. Just going to activities tires me out the next few days and during the activity. That's what M.S. is like. You constantly have to be reserving your energy because it takes a lot out of you because of dealing with brain fog (where your mind has a hard time thinking), loss of energy, eye sight issues, and many other fun filled exciting times that you have to get used to while having M.S.. To top it all off, I have Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder and then that makes me get weird infections that most people never get and I am like a petri dish collecting all of the illnesses like pokemon cards. It gets old, really. It's all the time.         If you didn't know this, M.S. is completely different for every single person. It's not like the flu, where you can expect the illness to follow a timeline. It's like having a real Chupacabra that does what i...

 Dear Fishes-         Today was the 4th of July and it was a lovely day for fireworks, food, family, and friends. What it is to have good friends! I am always amazed at how awesome my friends are. They have helped shape me into the person that I am today. I'm grateful and I try to bring out the best in my friends.         Besides taking in all of the accouterments of today and making an effort to stand with a humble heart to take a moment and reflect on how lucky we are to live in this land of the U.S.A..and blow up some stuff with sweet fireworks to make it a day of remembrance that freedom isn't free. People have died for this country, bled, and silently suffer the scars of war in their minds. Too many of our Veterans that live after serving tours in foreign lands and fighting America's enemies end up with what was once termed "Shell Shock" (PTSD) and sometimes end their lives prematurely due to not being able to express themselves fully. M...

 Dear Fishes-        It's that time of year again where all of the pyros come out of hiding and legally get to blow up thousands to tens of thousands of dollars and more of fireworks. Nothing says "MUR-UH-CAH!" like blowing up stuff. In all honesty, I'm grateful for those that have fought, bled, and died for this great country. While it isn't perfect, it's the free-est ( did I just make up a word?) nation out there and we have liberties that other countries take for granted and despise.         I realize that a lot of people don't like patriotism these days for whatever reasons, which is sad. It shows a lack of respect for a country that has done more good than harm for its constituents. I think of my father that served in the Armed Forces through the Army and what he had to go through to protect, honor, and cherish this country because he was willing to die for it. He later was in the government and continued his service there for a tot...

 Dear Fishes-        When it comes to sharing on the internets, one can never share too much or can they? I have this certain feel that I can share on the interwebs because I know that there are others out there hurting as well. I write mainly because it amuses me and helps me to get my thoughts out about subjects I don't feel I can fully explain in person. If you have gentle ears or delicate eyes, don't read below...it's probably for the best...for all of us.        Today I went to the urologist at the University of Utah. Going to the doctor is about as much fun as getting a shot and having hemorrhoids--but it's a necessary evil, let alone a specialist that looks at genitalia all day. Would that be considered porn? Asking for a friend...Going to said urologist in the past has involved "Urodynamics" on the bladder--which is like a track and field day for your bladder in the Olympics. I never thought I could be prostrated in such ways and be m...

 Dear Fishes-        I love how families work sometimes, with a heavy sarcastic tone. Some families work together, some play well, while others implode when something arises. I don't know about you, but my family is a lot like the latter. I've taken care of my ailing parents for 10 or so years by myself without much help from my siblings. I've done a lot of things that most kids will just turn their parents over to the nursing home to do, but I did it because I thought it was my duty to do such. I THOUGHT, nay I was expected, to be a caregiver, to my parents because that's what I watched them do with my father's mom when she became stricken with Alzheimer's disease.        I was thought of as the spinster at the time because I hadn't gotten married by my religious culture's usual preference of when to get married, which is in your late teens, or early twenties. Plus I have M.S. and who would want me, with that? Or so that is what I led myself...

 Dear Fishes-          Today was a good day. It was again a lovely shining day with the sun brightening up the world yet another day. I got to take my bridal photos--which is something that is particular to Utah. No where have I ever been to a place (and I've been to lots of places) such as Utah, that has its own set of cultural norms/vernacular as pervasive as Utah. To take "Bridals" in Utah means that a bride, in addition to engagement photos, takes pictures in her wedding dress before she is married along with her fiancé to be able to have said photos at the wedding reception on display. Granted while most brides are in their early twenties, I am not. Due to having been sexually abused as a young child, by a babysitter's husband, I have had problems with relationships with men in the past. I've not picked out great men before, until now. The man that I'm marrying is an amazing man that understands me and still loves me anyways. lol     ...

 Dear Fishes-        Today was a beautiful day for a few reasons; the sun was shining gloriously, I got to hear from friends and see their talents being displayed, as well as my own. Today I woke up late (also because I deal with with M.S. and all of its side effects daily) because I work late and so it wasn't until the afternoon when I got together with a friend to go sing at a local nursing home, called Stonehenge in American Fork.        Whilst at Stonehenge in American Fork, my friend played her violin with earnest (and if I knew by which magic how to place videos on here, I would have. She's that good.), we sang together (sans violin and con violin) and I read Harry Potter to the residents in different accents--people may say that's racist, but I call it hogwash. When you're reading, you're trying to get the character down and sound like what they would in the book, given the intonations and dialect of the character--that's part of the m...

 Dear Reader (to your fish bowl from mine)-         Tonight I went to get my hair cut, along with seeing four friends of mine. Upon arrival to the salon, I was warmly greeted by my close dear friend and hair stylist, who also procures the title of being a therapist as well as being a close confidant. We may be a few decades a part but our hearts and spirits are the same. She's the younger version of me; twice have we gotten the same phone case without the other one knowing what the other one was getting. It's always pretty spectacular spending time with her. When we see each other it appears that no time has elapsed and we pick right up where we left off.          Upon seeing my "hairuhpist" she was with another client/friend that I then was chatting with. This lady was telling us that the "mob" had infiltrated her husband's company in Ohio and that people were dying off like flies there a few years back. I won't say what company because...

      Dear Reader (from another fist bowl)-                 Whilst eating a mango black bean salad with steak at Kitchen88 in American Fork, UT tonight with my fiancé, I couldn't help but notice these two ladies to my right, at another close table. I engaged in pleasantries with them and then it came out that they were there for a business meeting. One was from Denver and the other was from Washington state. We continued to talk and I find out that one is the boss of the other lady, but they seem to chat like close friends.                  We continue to talk and I find out that they work for a plasma company. I have M.S. along with Common Variable Immunodeficiency and am on a plasma product that is also called IVIG therapy for six hours through IV, once a month, from the company named "Gammaguard." I tell them that the medicine that I get is from Gammaguard and then they both said, "Tha...

 Dearest Reader (from another fish bowl)-         I must confess. I know how to play chess, but do I do it on a regular basis? No. I prefer checkers because it's easy and without strategy for the most part--it's based on luck and whether or not your opponent is paying close attention or not. Chess requires finesse, audaciousness, practice, and all things I'd rather not do because it takes so much time and I'd rather be doing things that are more fun than plotting my next move, yet we all play chess in life, whether or not we realize it. We're constantly devising our next play and all of our contingency plans, based on whether or not we do this or that "one thing" that will ultimately be a deciding factor as to whether or not we get that raise, buy that house, fall in love with the person of our dreams, or be the best version of ourselves that we possibly can. (Squirrel!) I have two nephews that are chess champions and then they got so good that it no longe...