Jane, Thank you for letting us know. What a sad thing for everyone in the family--it is especially devestating when one is taken at a young age when needed so much... I am sure you will fill some holes for this family as best you can and expect you will have a tremendous impact on the recovery of these little girls. Hopefully their impact on you will help you recover from this shock as well. We'll be happy when you're back--you are missed! - Magpie

So happy to hear you've been blessed with your DM's and DGM's collection of Haviland China. I would be concerned with the hot and humid climate you mentioned. Sounds like this collection was well taken care of and it would be a shame to see mold start growing or cracking from the heat. Is there any way to set up fans for circulation up there during the extremes? Sure hope you come up with a solution and your able to enjoy this the rest of your life. Hope you will keep us posted on what you find out. Punk

Thanks mav.So sorry to hear about your husband.I dont know how you do it.I cant imagine not having my husband with me.Yesterday we had to take the car to the garage to get the brakes fixed so we used my mothers car which my dad now drives.When I got into the passenger side of her car I started to cry hysterically.My hands were shaking and I was gasping for breath.I hadnt been in her car without her ever.I was having a panic attack.Luckily,we didnt have far to go so I was home in about 10 minutes.I really feel like Im falling apart.This was a huge setback for me.Im really sorry to be whining but I cant help it.I just miss her so much.I dont think I can go on for much longer.

Luann - exactly what happened with Hitchcock. Things are only going to get worse in this global recession. Polly - my BIL grew up on Long Island, his family has $$$ (though sis is scared to ask how much they lost last year). I hosted her bridal (and her bridesmaids couldn't help financially) and her baby showers, so don't know what anyone there might have given since her MIL and SIL came to the showers here. I think her MIL had bridal shower there, and remember a baby shower that I didn't travel to, one of her friends went totally over the top with baby clothes (all designer) on a clothesline she kept pulling out of a basket. Her MIL was very nice and even sent me some RL clothes, blanket and a bear for my dd. Much different from here (my kids are 5 years apart, different genders, and much heartache and medical bills in between but my family says only the 1st kid gets a shower, and my cousins with girls won't even give me handmedowns b/c they're saving them for their 3rd, 4th kids). Spitfire - sounds like us - I have an MSEE but quit my job when dd was 1 yr old b/c she needed me (and my supervisor who was promoted while I was on mat. leave told me to choose - not a hard decision!). We have always helped our parents, helped siblings when we could (even went without Xmas gifts one year, asked my parents to send the $ they would have spent on us to DH's db when his teenage son died, we gave them everything we could spare for funeral expenses, plus some of my mom's siblings sent donations). It's harder now that we've got 1 income and DH's company has been in the news about going bankrupt, being bought out - all rumors, but the stock price is crazy and they had layoffs in Nov. B/c of our background (MIL grew up in Great Depression), we've always been frugal - short of houses, cars, and education, we don't borrow for anything and we try to get the lowest interest rate/shortest term possible. We paid cash for the last 2 cars, DH is still driving the oldest of the 3 (1996 model with 175,000 miles) but we felt we needed another 4WD and more reliable so bought Subaru in 2006. I'd love to have a plasma TV (we have a 27" TV now, bought new in 1999 to replace the one he bought in 1989 for the barracks - forgot about that since he took it to college with him, we got rid of my old 1986 wood cabinet TV in 1999 as well). But not high on our list of priorities - let's hope the new converter box works next month! My DB is asking for $ help after a divorce (his ex earns 6 figures, he's unemployed but has to pay her $800/mo in child support) and I just don't know if we can afford to help. Maybe if he could pay it back, but he never does and we've got a big credit card bill due in May (financed building materials, carpet, etc. on HD card 0% for 1 year). We already skipped buying each other presents this Xmas, and didn't spend as much on the rest of the family. Wish I hadn't bought that crystal in October but back then I thought economy had hit bottom - even bought some stock for my IRA and of course now it's just come back to half of what I bought it for. Didn't think that a month later DH's company would be laying off. Sorry, way off topic. I don't want to make anyone feel bad no matter what your circumstances.