Slep is for the weak
Day before yesterday, I got all of 2 hours of sleep. I then proceeded to get up at 7am, to leave to go to Virginia. 3 hour drive there, 3 hour+ stay there, 3 hour trip back.
My time in Virginia was very interesting to explain the least.
Allow me to explain the story of my cousin Amber. (who now goes by her first name, Crystal.)
I won't go into the whole thing. Basically, what I will say is that my cousin and her brother were very poorly treated when they were children. I think he managed to keep himself going down the right path. Crystal however, was not so lucky. Her pre-teen years were nothing but a terrible downward spiral of self abuse. And the abuse of others.
At 12, she was found in her front yard, passed out. She had to be rushed to the Emergency Room. She had alcohol poisoning.
At 13, she was found messing around with some 18 year old man.
At 14, she was mixed up in a terrible event involving a 40 year old man who had a bunch of girls her age drugged up and was abusing them all. There were wild parties. All involving little girls. And several other men.
At 15, we found out she was pregnant with the baby of a 28 year old man.
I could go into a big lecture about her looking for some sort of love that she never recieved from her parents. That she recieved from very few.. but.. I think everyone that reads this can see the patern there.
Part of it was due to her needing medication, and her mother not caring enough to see to it that she got help.
But. Everything in this world has a reason. And the latest events seem to have completely turned her around.
The 28 year old man? Married her. Although there was a collective pained groan from everyone in my family, we have all kept our fingers crosed.
I did not know how I would react to meeting this.. man. who had knocked up my baby girl. I mean. I changed her diapers practically. She's been like a little sister to me. To think of a 28 year old man witn MY 15 year old cousin...
But. I decided for Crystal's sake, I would hold my tongue and go into this open mindedly. And I will admit, I was somewhat refreshingly surprised. James was actually a mannerly, and seemingly affectionate father and husband. Crystal is doing far better than I have seen her in quite some time. She went and got her GED. She's working. She looks well fed, and well loved. She is healthier than I've seen her in a long, long time. She hasn't been able to kick her smoking habit. But. She is off the drugs. Off the alcohol. And she is a very, very proud mother.
Our little Staley is only about 6 pounds. He is tiny. Holding him was like holding a baby doll you would see a child carry.
Crystal is doing what we had talked about when I first found out she was pregnant.
"Honey... all the love you never had. All your hopes, and dreams, and heart.. pour into that baby. Remember that the curse of this family can end with us. Don't let that little boy live the way we all have."
I am proud of you, Crystal. Very very proud. I wish things could have been different, but.. you have done the best you can with what you have been given.
This is a HORRIBLE picture of me... but. Here is me and Staley. He's only a week or so old. Look at the TINY.
After all of this... I did not nap when I returned home. No. I showered, downed some red bull, and got ready to go out with friends. We went to see Blade Trinity. Which... I was amazingly sceptical of. And it was actually a really good movie. I reccommend it. It's fun.
THEN, We sat around here for a while.. Dennis came over. I sat up until 4 am before finally falling over dead.
I am so glad yesterday is over. It was fun. But. I don't care to do that again for a LONG time.
My time in Virginia was very interesting to explain the least.
Allow me to explain the story of my cousin Amber. (who now goes by her first name, Crystal.)
I won't go into the whole thing. Basically, what I will say is that my cousin and her brother were very poorly treated when they were children. I think he managed to keep himself going down the right path. Crystal however, was not so lucky. Her pre-teen years were nothing but a terrible downward spiral of self abuse. And the abuse of others.
At 12, she was found in her front yard, passed out. She had to be rushed to the Emergency Room. She had alcohol poisoning.
At 13, she was found messing around with some 18 year old man.
At 14, she was mixed up in a terrible event involving a 40 year old man who had a bunch of girls her age drugged up and was abusing them all. There were wild parties. All involving little girls. And several other men.
At 15, we found out she was pregnant with the baby of a 28 year old man.
I could go into a big lecture about her looking for some sort of love that she never recieved from her parents. That she recieved from very few.. but.. I think everyone that reads this can see the patern there.
Part of it was due to her needing medication, and her mother not caring enough to see to it that she got help.
But. Everything in this world has a reason. And the latest events seem to have completely turned her around.
The 28 year old man? Married her. Although there was a collective pained groan from everyone in my family, we have all kept our fingers crosed.
I did not know how I would react to meeting this.. man. who had knocked up my baby girl. I mean. I changed her diapers practically. She's been like a little sister to me. To think of a 28 year old man witn MY 15 year old cousin...
But. I decided for Crystal's sake, I would hold my tongue and go into this open mindedly. And I will admit, I was somewhat refreshingly surprised. James was actually a mannerly, and seemingly affectionate father and husband. Crystal is doing far better than I have seen her in quite some time. She went and got her GED. She's working. She looks well fed, and well loved. She is healthier than I've seen her in a long, long time. She hasn't been able to kick her smoking habit. But. She is off the drugs. Off the alcohol. And she is a very, very proud mother.
Our little Staley is only about 6 pounds. He is tiny. Holding him was like holding a baby doll you would see a child carry.
Crystal is doing what we had talked about when I first found out she was pregnant.
"Honey... all the love you never had. All your hopes, and dreams, and heart.. pour into that baby. Remember that the curse of this family can end with us. Don't let that little boy live the way we all have."
I am proud of you, Crystal. Very very proud. I wish things could have been different, but.. you have done the best you can with what you have been given.
This is a HORRIBLE picture of me... but. Here is me and Staley. He's only a week or so old. Look at the TINY.
After all of this... I did not nap when I returned home. No. I showered, downed some red bull, and got ready to go out with friends. We went to see Blade Trinity. Which... I was amazingly sceptical of. And it was actually a really good movie. I reccommend it. It's fun.
THEN, We sat around here for a while.. Dennis came over. I sat up until 4 am before finally falling over dead.
I am so glad yesterday is over. It was fun. But. I don't care to do that again for a LONG time.