Are you feeling any better?

-A

P.S. A new picture of Ax is attached.

From: [email protected]

Date: February 17, 2009 4:15 p.m.

To: [email protected]

Subject: Diarrhea like a trumpet

Aaron,

I don’t know what to tell you about my heart thing. So let’s settle on :) :) :). Thank you for caring. I promise I try to take care of myself. It’s rare I’ll get an arrhythmia in the future, but if it happens, they can fix it. I’ve lived so much of my life with everyone else making a big deal about it… making me worry and be more scared than I should have… making me double think everything I do…. I’m trying not to let it control me so much anymore. You should have heard my mom when I started taking aikido. Remember when I told you about how I’ve been to Disney a bunch of times with my family? For years I couldn’t get on hardly any of the rides because everyone worried. Even now, we go to take my niece and I only get on the little kid rides. I’ve always wanted to go skydiving, but I haven’t, for the same reason. I’ve built it up so much subconsciously that I’ve gotten scared to do things for the last ten-plus years that I think me as a kid wouldn’t have thought twice about.

I’m sorry if I make you feel like my therapist. Let’s continue.

My aunt is the biggest drama queen in the world. She genuinely kind of scares me, Aaron. My older sister and I think she’s bipolar. She left me a voice mail yesterday telling me she’ll “think” about giving me more work soon but she’s “really” upset with me. Honestly, I want to quit. I’ve wanted to quit for a long time now. I’m tired and her attitude bothers the hell out of me. I figure if I do quit, I can probably pick up more random work that I usually turn down to keep up with her projects. I’m going to think about it.

Diarrhea? In a porta-pottie? No. Once, we were on vacation and we all got food poisoning. 8 people sharing two bathrooms. Never again. I almost threw up from the smell alone.

Har har har. I’m back up six pounds. Still feeling like road kill and I have zero energy but better. I have a few ice-skating dresses I need to finish that I’m going to try and survive through. Wish me the best.

No, still haven’t finished my online profile, but I will. What is with you and me going to church? Have you ever been to church? There’re no single guys there. I’m going to pretend I didn’t read your suggestion about volunteering at a shelter either. Now I know you’ve never done that before. Finding a decent guy is a lot harder than it seems. Half the time it feels like they’re all already in a relationship or they’re just scrubs or players. (No offense. You’re not a scrub or a player.)

I’m sorry, Aaron. That blows you can’t leave, but it’s really admirable of you to be so selfless. Most folks wouldn’t. I’m sure the next months will go by fast at least. Do you have anyone picking you up when you land? Am I jumping the gun by asking? You said you wanted to go on vacation, did you have somewhere in mind?

I’m feeling a lot better but still not anywhere near 100%. I pricked my finger ten times yesterday just sewing a few beads. That’s a record, and not a good one.

I can’t stand how cute Ax is. Has anyone started the paperwork to get her to the States?

-Ruby

From: [email protected]

Date: February 17, 2009 11:50 p.m.

To: [email protected]

Subject: [no subject]

Aaron,

I’m sorry for bothering you, but I want to throw up and I don’t know who else to talk to.

My mom told us all today that they found a lump in her breast and they’re going to do a biopsy. They think it might be cancer.

I want to cry.

That’s a lie. I’m crying right now.

-R

From: [email protected]

Date: February 18, 2009 3:15 p.m.

To: [email protected]

Subject: Sorry

Aaron,

I’m sorry about that e-mail last night. You have enough things to worry about, and I’m supposed to be here for you, not the other way around. You were just the first person I thought of to tell.

Forgive me for crossing the line.

-Ruby

From: [email protected]

Date: February 20, 2009 2:22 p.m.

To: [email protected]

Subject: Stop

Ruby,

You didn’t cross any line. Don’t apologize. We’re past being pen pals. I thought we went over this already? :]

I am so damn sorry about your mom. When are they doing the biopsy? Did she tell you out of the blue?

I’m going to respond to your first message.

No, I don’t have anybody coming to the base. It’s fine. I’m used to it. It’s funny you ask about a vacation because I just wrote back an e-mail about it. Max, Des, and I just started making plans last time I e-mailed to go to Scotland since I couldn’t get my RR. Max’s family is Scottish, and he’s been talking about going for years now; this deal popped up for a tour and he invited us to go along. His little sister, her friend, and another guy we all know are going too. The more people, the better the deal. Have you seen pictures of it or been there before? It looks amazing. We might stay at a beach house for a week after that in Florida, but it all depends if they can get the time off.