October, for me, has been both a highlight and a lowpoint in my life.
My second son was born on the 12th and almost exactly 8 weeks later, my mother died. That began a very difficult year. Every first of his was also the first for me without my mother.

Since then, the time from about September 11th until December 7th (the last night I spoke to my mother before she died the next morning) is a depression filled awful time in what used to be my favorite time of the year.

In 2009, I was gifted with a trip to North Wales by my best friend, so that I would have something to look forward to during my “dark time”.

In 2011, I spent a week in Denver with my good friends while my husband held down the fort.

This year, I cannot afford to go anywhere.

I fell apart last year after I got back from Denver (you will certainly here about all of this in good time) and continued to fall apart emotionally and physically until finally being diagnosed in January with severe depression.

Somewhere after adjusting the right medicine I decided to virtually go away for a week. This is my virtual Wales. Finding Tulsa (which will need explaining later) .

Recharge.
Renew.
Focus on my writing and my blotting and start marketing myself so I can eventually make money doing what I love.

Tomorrow is the first day of this – sabbatical? I’d like to come up with another name, but I will share my daily renewal with you, here with my writing, my checklists, my photographs. Feedback is welcome and encouraged.

See you tomorrow.