Josie Josie Josie

Because I am a glutton for punishment, I asked Josie to interview me. And believe me, Josie knows how to ask the questions, as I am sure many of you already know. I am under alot of pressure here folks, I have been reading all of your answers and you are all so eloquent and honest. Hopefully, I can measure up. So, without further ado, here goes:

1. As I follow along in your blog day by day, I am amazed by your determination to keep going when most other people would have long since given up and stayed home. Where does that strength come from? Why is it important to you to keep dealing with life on your terms instead of letting the pain and illness define you?

All of my life, I have had to fight. I have had to fight to be thin, I have had to fight to be sane, I have had to fight to be respected, I have had to fight to be understood,I have had to fight to be taken seriously and I have had to fight to be healthy. I cannot give in. On any of the above. I will not be "that sick lady". Or "that crazy lady". Or the "fat lady". No matter what we do in this life, the things I describe above ARE the things that define us. And I will not be defined by anything so negatively. It matters to me, not only how i am viewed by others, but mostly how I am viewed in my own eyes. Jos, if I ever gave in to this illness of mine, I think I would surely die. Seriously. And while the years and my age have certainly taken a toll on me, and I really have nothing left to prove to myself or to anyone else, I have gotten myself boxed in financially---I have taken on so much for so many that I can't let them down. My kids, my mother, my sister....the list goes on. While I am alive and able, I will do all I can. Yes, I understand that I don't have to do all that I do. I want to. Otherwise, why are we here?

2. I know that you love dogs, and even reacted compassionately about the pitbull that attacked you. Where does your affinity with dogs come from? Tell me about a couple of the most beloved pets you've had.

I think most of you have read about my beloved Snowman....my Sharpei that died on March 22, 2005. He left a hole in my heart that can never be filled. And really, I don't think I would ever want to love another pet like that again. He meant way more to me than any dog should.

Growing up, we had cats and dogs, and I loved them all. Way back, when my real father lived with us, he had a German Shepard that he loved more than life itself. It was the only thing he ever really loved, although I thought he was mean to it, too. His name was King, and I loved him very much. My mother won him in the divorce, then gave him away as soon as the divorce was final.

I think that will do for the first installment. I will finish tomorrow!