Day 4: Your parents

Wow, what can I say about this one without being too harsh? My mom had it rough growing up, as a result she was always kind of overbearing; that's where I inherited bipolar disorder. My dad, well, he is a Navy Veteran, spent eight years on submarines. When I was five, they went through a very messy divorce. If you can get past the personality disorders & alcohol abuse, my parents are lovely people- just definitely not right for each other.

I guess if you are seeking to ascertain who had the most influence on my life, it would be my grandmother. Dolores taught me everything about what it was to remain independent. When I would go stay with her, she always made sure there were things I loved in the house- specifically Jif Extra Crunchy peanut butter & white american cheese. Any other food in the house was there to teach me to cook, and everything she taught me has proved to be invaluable information. She lived on her own up until she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2009, which is amazing to me as she lost her sight in 1987.

When I moved in with my Gran in May of 2009, she still wanted to help as much as possible, which led to some funny & scary situations. I woke up one morning to black smoke filling the house when she tried to make me bacon & pancakes. Or the day Amanda, Dustin & I cut the massive tree limb down that had been hanging over the house & as it crashes to the ground, Gran yells "I see the light!." She was one of the smartest, strongest and most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I gave up everything to be with her & I don't regret a second of it.

There's not an hour that goes by where I don't think about her. Love you Gran, wish you were here.