About turning 26

Turning 26. This year has been the craziest ever.

My grandpa always tells the story of how when I was born (almost 3 months early) he knew I would live because I gripped on to his little finger. The roles were reversed this year with him being in the hospital. I knew he would be okay when he held my hand and said "My grandbaby". I have learned a lot in my 26 years of being alive. Many of them I learned this year.

My grandpa did not take being stuck in a wheelchair for 6 months very well. He was all of a sudden stuck. in the house. with. The Women. You can take the man out of the military but you cannot take the military out of the man. He never really had much patience to begin with but it REALLY was non existant now, he would bark out orders all the time. My grandma was very unsure of herself at first. For so long she has always been the one we worry about. She was diagnosed with early stages alzhiemer's. Since then, her confidence has been shaken. When papa came home she was so scared she wouldn't be able to take care of him. But that changed after awhile. One day my grandpa was being a complete JERKFACE. Auntie was asleep. I was kinda in and out. The dogs were snoring. I see her wheel him into the den. And she took his remote. She closes the door. I asked "where is papa?" She says " oh dont worry, he's learning to say please and thank you in the den with no remote"

Even with Alzheimer's my nana is still the smartest person in my entire family. Lesson learned.

Even with all of this going on, life goes on..drama still ensues. We started having problems with my dog Bella. We go back and forth to UC davis. We get no answers and no one answers us back. Finally my papa said "ENOUGH". And we went back to our regular vet and we have since started her on prozac and she is okay. She still has seizures but they aren't nearly as much.

Even though he was stuck in a wheelchair, my grandpa can still put the smack down and bring us back to reality. Lesson learned.

My sister is far away, but never too far that a text or a phone call from her can make me smile. Or a facebook chat at that matter.

My auntie is my best friend. She always has been. This year her world was rocked. In my 26 years of breathing- I have never seen her go through so much before in such a short amount of time. I have never been as proud of her as I am now. She recently became one of "Those" teachers. The displaced teacher due to schools closing. In a blink of an eye the school she taught at for 12 years, the teachers who she teaches with who are her best friends, the students she adores- GONE. We aren't a family that does particularly well with change. This was a biggie.

Auntie can still laugh it all off. I don't have to worry about her anymore. Lesson learned.

My uncle scotty..aka my other dad. - He has been with me every day of the 26 years of my life and that will never change. This isn't something I learned this year. But I've felt it more this year then any other year.

My family all talk to each other about once a day. I wouldn't have it any other way. My grandparents have gotten very use to seeing us every weekend since my papa's ladder accident. We haven't been up as much since he can now walk around a bit and he can drive again.

They recently called and mentioned we should come up for my and nana's birthday. It doesnt matter if things are already planned. If they say they miss you and want you up there with them- that is what you do.

Family is most important- lesson learned.

My friends- I'd be completely lost without their love.

I honestly can say I've never been happier. I have changed jobs, gone through every emotion possible this year. And it's only July. But it's been a long 26 years as im sure my family can testify to. I don't think we'd have it any other way.

I have cut all my hair off. All 8 inches.

I have learned the forgiveness can sometimes be about the OTHER person. I recently forgave the woman who gave birth to me. After she got out of prison she called me a couple months ago. She now has no excuses in front of her. It's up to her to get her life together. I want no part of it. I'm 26 years old, the last thing I need is a crazy mother calling me every day. I've never had a mother. Im okay with never really having one. It's cool. I forgave her for HER. not for me. I've been over it for a long long time.

Yay for turning 26.