How I LOST $10,000

Hi Dien and everyone!

> I bet my parents will love your comments! :)

I was thinking about how my mother cracks up looking at how different (and wonderful) all her children are with one thing in common: we all have our own minds which we are more than happy to express at any given time.

My eldest brother is a member of the Greens Party, for many of the same reasons I am a member of the Libertarian party....the "Big 2" here are so similar (and so ineffective!) we register in other parties in protest.

One of my favorite things about my eldest brother is when he was Vice President of an Insurance Company he turned his Corner Office into an employee room and he had a Cube just like everyone else. He figured why should he have anything different?

My second brother says he is a Libertarian, but I will not say what party he is in. He was the first brother to start racing cars at two weeks over 18...you had to be 18 to compete you know.

My sister is a very liberal democrat, and a radical Pro-Choice advocate...to the Nth degree. Why? She gave the ultimate gift: she had a baby at 19 which she gave up for adoption and when she heard the Anti-Choice people say "Oh, JUST give your baby up for adoption" she rebelled. She also didn't speak to her siblings for 3 years when she realized she was the only democrat left (we at one time had all been) because se thought we were all judging her.

Y'all know about me.

John has Down's Syndrome. He is really a lot like my eldest brother in mannerisms.

Joe, my youngest bro, was a promising athlete in high school. Three sport, all around excellent sportsman. When his football coach (and head of the athletic dept) asked him to "Stop bringing his brother" (JOhn) "to the games, cause his presence is so distracting" *GASP!* Down's syndrome people living amongst us?!?!?!?!??!!? Joe stopped competing for any Dana Hills sport. Broke my Dad's heart, but Joe never told him why. This brother is also the only person to break down and weep in my arms at my daughter's funeral. *What a guy*.

My parents allowed us to all embrace our very essence...and this is what I try to do for my kids.

Its funny, Mom subscribes to one of my ezines. She emailed me yesterday and said, "I am finally getting to know my daughter!" after nearly 40 years!!!

Thanks for listening....no clue WHY I wanted to write all this, but I did.

Have a great day!

JULIE