Well, chapter 1 is finished!  It has been edited and reworked and is now in for the final editor's ok.  However, I am sure he is going to approve since we went over the needed changes last week.  One chapter down 17 to go.  Actually I have already written chapter 2's rough draft.  I am on a 3 week cycle.  I will need to write and edit one chapter every 3 weeks to meet my deadline of Oct. 1 of next year.  That is when we would like to send my manuscript out to publishers.  If anyone has an in with a publishing company let me know.

My dad is going to be moved into the Alzheimer's unit tomorrow.  I guess he is failing quickly now.  He does not communicate too much anymore and rarely leaves his room.  I am looking forward to seeing him when I go up for Thanksgiving, yet I know it will break my heart to see him like that and worse yet, I don't think he is going to know me.  I know this will be painful for me because he has always recognized me before.  I am going to fly in and my nephew Don and his 2 little ones are going to pick me up and we are going to go have lunch and then he is taking me over to see my mom and dad.  I look forward to seeing Don and Devon and Vanessa since I have not seen them in months and they change so quickly.  I am also looking forward to spending some one on one time with my mom, she is very anxious for me to come and see her too.

I went shopping with Emily and we managed to get some of her Christmas and birthday gifts bought.  We had a really nice day.  We spent the whole day together.  We haven't done that in quite a while.

  I am not looking forward to Christmas.  I know this holiday will be hard for Emily and Kyle as well.  Craig was like a kid during Christmas.  He had to have the biggest tree, the outside lights had to be perfect, he had to shop on Christmas Eve, he just loved the holiday.  It is going to be rough to start traditions without him.  I dread finding our First Christmas Together ornament, his stocking, decorating, sending cards with just my name on it.  It is just going to be a difficult time.  Emily and Kyle are going to help me put up the tree this year so that will be a huge help.  They also promised to help me take it down....even a bigger help!  I would like to take it down on Dec. 26 like Craig and I always did, but Emily said she is just promising before she has to go back to work.

BELIEVING....Shelly

Greg:  Thanks for the note.  The weather here has been great the last 2 weeks.  I hope for a little snow while I am there.  Say hello to Mel.  Love, Shell

To the Shanty Gang:  Thanks for writing me about your night out.  I know Craig was with you in spirit.  He told me MANY stories about the Shanty and I also had the privilege of visiting that fine establishment myself.  I hope you sang "Moon River" loud and clear as I know Craig said that was a Shanty must.