Well, I hate to admit it, but I have jumped on a bandwagon of sorts. I’m not really a “joiner” type of personality, I usually watch trends come and go from the comfort of my own stubbornness.  But, there’s been a popular thing going around the mansion and a lot of LA, from what I understand.  So, I went out and I got me a cold.  A nice, snotty cold with a head full of OW and my brain suspended in some dull, gooey stupid juice.  Call me a poseur, but I just couldn’t let this little virus go by me without getting me a slice.

Today is my big brother John’s birthday. He is a big teddy bear of a foul-mouthed, long-haired rocker of ages and I adore him. He, my brother Henry, and I, bore quite a bit of burden growing up. Through all the drama of life growing up with a mentally ill parent…we all grew close and strong. John, especially, was a substitute dad for a spell – I even called him Dad once in while. Our father was trying to hold down the fort with three little ones, a job teaching and coaching high school kids, and a wife constantly in the hospital. I love my Dad SO MUCH and we have come so far in our relationship, but I dedicate this week’s blog to my big brother John. Maybe it’s not very rock n’ roll or cool…but at the moment I am sick in bed, thinking about my family and how lucky I am to be alive. John was my protector counselor and comic relief in the worst of times (not to be detailed here…) And I’m not certain that I would be as able to do what I do had he not been such a powerful force in my life. He smashed my Bee Gees records and made me listen to Kiss and Led Zepplin, Aerosmith and The Who. He was always in a band, and all the girls I grew up with were in love with him. When mom died suddenly a little over a year ago, he gave a stunning eulogy replete with tears, laughter, the book of Job, and Monty Python quotes. My brother John rules.

When I was really down, recently, the stress was getting to me…Dilana gave me a card to cheer me up and it said, “The most beautiful flowers had to grow through a lot of dirt before they became so beautiful.” OK – now I’m all snotty and crying…Happy Birthday JERN ! Your little rockstar sister loves you! XO.

PS: All that drama last week with Dilana? Please know that she is an awesome lady and I love her.  Dilana is a friend and I stand by her – she did nothing wrong. Let’s all get over it, and XO….Move on to the ROCK!