So much happened at the end of the 1990's, I have decided to just list them all.

Let's see, I hardly now where to begin. I had one eye operated on for a cataract. My DEAR FRIEND Angie and her husband stayed with me before, during and after. I had oral surgery and a bout with Shingles. (No fun yet).

On my way back from our annual Christmas Gift Shop luncheon, (I was driving some of the gals, of course), I had stopped at a red light and then CRASH! A dumb woman behind me put her foot on the gas and not the brake. I was taken to the hospital with whip lash, but my passengers were ok. I knew I was insured, but the lawyers who first took the case, refused it since I had "such good auto insurance." Yes, I did suffer, and had to threaten to get a small amount from the other insurance Co. because they represented a poor Hispanic Couple. I could have received more but I didn't have the strength to go to small claims court.

Let's see, what else? Oh - almost forgot, I fell on my couch where a land phone was and hit my shoulder. I knew something was wrong and the gal who bought so many bouquets from me happened to be near by and took me to the hospital: the result? A broken collar bone. I refused to stay since I would not leave my bird alone. They put me in a tight contraption and that is the way I stayed for more than a week. Dear Angie and Mike took me for a check up while still in my brace, and I just "managed" the best way I could. Except the sleeping part. Could not lay down, so I sat for nearly ten days. Bet you think that is all! NOPE!

In the last two years before the big 2000, I kept going over my funds, or lack there of. I called a senior agency and they gave me the name of a bankruptcy lawyer. I knew I was in trouble, but he said, no - BIG TROUBLE!. So, I worked for nearly a year on figures, valuables such as they were and had to go through more emotion than I ever had in my life. My 1985 Suburu and my home were not included, but everything including dishes had to be listed and priced.

GOD BLESS ANGIE! She came with me to every meeting and when I had to go to court with the lawyer, she came along. This is the way I started the new Century. By this time Angie was slowly losing her sight, but it never kept her from doing things or doing things herself. She was amazing.

I really did not think I would make it to the year 2000, so my other friend and I went to to the New Year's party at our Village to be sure to welcome in the New Year.

It sure did welcome me. besides preparing for the bankruptcy, that is when I got the Shingles. Are you getting the picture a little?

That took awhile to get over, and I was so annoyed with my life, I decided to take the last of my Casino money and go with Angie's bus. (Shhhh I hid my Casino money!). Every time I went the slots I had won on were gone. I decided for the first time to take $30.00 and play a dollar machine ten times. It was 9 a.m. and I knew it was a long day since the Bingo players stayed until 4 p.m. The place was almost empty and I tried the machine. All of a sudden bells whistles, and loud noises arose from the machine. JACKPOT! I won over $6,000.00! I was happy , then frightened. The bankruptcy was okayed and I had to wait until November for approval. I made them give me a check for most of it, and the rest of the day played in a fog. The next day I immediately called the lawyer to find out if I could keep the check. He said even if I had won a million, it would not effect my standing. So, in the bank it went.

I took four friends to the Black Angus Restaurant for lunch and paid the whole bill. The next week, my car would not start. I called AAA (they sure knew me very well) and it was then transported to the gas station I had been using ever since I arrived in Az. The owner called me and said he had "good and bad news". I asked for the bad first: the motor was gone. The good news was he had just received a 1992 Ford from a longtime client who had just passed away with only 33,000 miles on the car. My son drove in from Ca. and looked it over. It was much smaller than my 1985 Suburu Wagon, but the a/c was perfect. There were a few adjustments, which they would do, and they handed me the entire history of the maintenance of this car. SOOOOOOO, I had the $4,000.00 they wanted (they always took good care of me) and GOD somehow got that slot machine to give me the money which was untouched in the bank. GO GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN ONCE IN AWHILE!

I had good credit before the bankruptcy, but just that word can give one a bad name. I am happy I always had a working budget and still do. The 7 years ended 11/07 and I still pay bills on time.

But alas, my physical problems did not end there. Every year there was something else. But there is no need to elaborate since they came and went just like with everyone else.

So, I will leave you with a positive happening. I was told I had cancer on my face, and I was in shock thinking I would be disfigured. The biopsy indicated it was not the kind that kills, but it would take an 8-hour day at the Doctor's office. I really was just a little scared, but good Angie and her son-in-law took me and she stayed with me the whole day.

But this is the GOOD part. It was just after Clay came into my life. My external drive was filled with downloads from his early concerts, and one song pulled me through the whole ordeal. The actual operations (there were two) lasted almost three hours and I was up the entire time, but I had a picture in my head of my Appleton version of "YOU WERE THERE" and since I watched it so many times, I kept singing it in my mind WITH Clay over and over again. I changed it to You ARE There!

So let's leave it now with this pleasant thought before I continue into the 21st Century.

Thanks for reading, Marian