Reply #40: It's been a mixed bag.

[Liberty Belle]

Splurged on a vacation to Alaska, cashing in frequent flier miles. Best time I've had in ages.

Had surgery for skin cancer, but it's under control.

Steady writing work with good editors.

A bad year for unexpected expenses--medical bills, 2 kids needed oral surgery, had a lot of car problems and finally had to junk one of the vehicles, so we're in the hole financially.

My oldest kid is applying to college; other one is looking for a pair-skating partner, so we need to figure out how to boost our incomes somehow, as we've already cut expenses to the bone.

All in all, though, we're doing better than many of our friends. Two friends in particular have had a nightmare year; please will those of you who are true believers put in some good words for them upstairs?

My best friend's brother has had multiple surgeries, is in bad shape, and in November his wife died. She had a horrible infection and the doctors amputated all four limbs trying to save her, but couldn't. They have 3 little kids, no insurance, and he's on disability from Wal-Mart.

I got a call last night from another friend in Florida. Her house was ravaged by the hurricanes and now is full of black mold. She can't get a FEMA loan to fix the house, because she lost her job after getting in a 3-car freeway pileup and is too injured to return to work at the moment. She can't afford the medical treatment she needs and is at her wits end. She'd really like to come back to California, if she can find a room to lease, and would happily help out an elderly or disabled person by running errands, etc. in exchange for reasonable rent.

Count your blessings, all!