Welcome to My Bumpy Ride.......

Before you all read on, I guess it is best to introduce myself to you and let you know a bit about myself. I am Susan, and first and foremost, I am a mother to a wonderful young man. Though he is grown, he will always be that three year old little boy, that asked all those questions and expected answers to them all. Though I will tell you much about myself in this blog there is no one or nothing that is as important to me as him, even if I don't discuss him much, because he kina likes to remain private.

For years I was actively trying to find myself, but that was a big waste of time, since by doing so I was not living. All my life I have always known that I was "different", but was unable to know why that was. I first thought that perhaps it was because I was adopted, but that was not the case. Turns out, I am bipolar and pretty much have been all my life. This was explained to me about nine years ago when I had a major melt down. I tend to be more on the depressive side, but have on occasion been quite manic. My last episode was early thru mid 2008, with full blown depression. For five months, I bearly left my house, let alone my bed. Why am I telling you this? I just want it out in the open and let you understand that I discuss my illness from time to time.

Present day, I am currently a full time student, studying social work. At the end of 2011 I was approached by a mentor of mine, who mentioned a new program that was going to launch here in Rhode Island. This new program called the Peer Wellness Coaching, was something that I had always wished would become a reality and to add even more excitement was the fact that this mentor was inviting me to train for a position as one of the Peer Wellness Coaches.

So currently (spring 2012) I am part of the three phases of training and should be employed by the fall of 2012. What is even more excellent about this program is that they are aware of my education goals and are willing to work with me on maintaining those goals.

Also you might hear me mention NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), because I am actively involved with them. I am a facilitator and state trainer for the NAMI Connection groups (peer run support group) here in Rhode Island, and I also help teach high school and college students about mental illness through NAMI RI's Inside Mental Illness program.

So with all that being said...I hope you read on to my daily activities and thoughts and such.




Thursday, July 19, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday – Inkie




My first attempt at Alphabe-Thursday through Jenny Matlock’sblog.  So here goes…

Growing up we had many pets.  Some we only housed until another home could be found for them.  We had those that remained their whole lifetime.  One remained most of my sister’s childhood and the beginning of mine.  She was the best beagle ever.  Her name was Inkie.  The name, like many of the name we chose, came from the mind of a really young child.  Tammy, my sister, was quite young when my parent got her.  Tammy and Inkie shared one common factor.  Both of them were firsts. Tammy was the first child and Inkie was the first dog of the household. 

Everyone in the house knew that Inkie belonged to Tammy and Inkie knew she belonged to her as well.  With so many beds in the house, it was always Tammy’s bed you would find Inkie on at night. 

For every baby animal we found in the field across our house, Inkie became its adopted mother.  Since we children were all adopted we felt as though in some way she also adopted us younger kids.  She fit into the role so easily and we didn’t need to tell her to do it. 

So when I saw that the letter was I, it only took me a second to think of Inkie.  I know this is short and there is so much more to say about this wonderful dog, but I wanted to keep this entry brief. 

Hope you all enjoy the photos Inkie in no particular order... 

She was so much part of the family that she was included in portraits 

First day at home

That is a bird on my sister's nose

Same photo shoot

In color

With Gram and Gramp and Tammy and Tommy

All pictures with my sister

There is that bird

There she sits, the always watchful mother

Last one

9 comments:

  1. Aww, Inkie is a cutie and she looks like she was certainly well loved! Wonderful tribute. The picture with the bird is hysterical!
    Great "I" post, especially for your first time!

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  2. It sounds like yours was a lively household! I liked the pic of your sister and Inkie on the stairway and had to chuckle over the hair curler ones--I'm sure I'm not the only person who is grateful for a curling iron!

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  3. A beautiful dog and a very loyal friend I am sure!

    visiting from Alphabe-thursday

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  4. You can tell that Inkie was an integral part of the family. lOVE the photo of the big on your sis's head..obviously the bird was a central part of the family too.

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  5. Well you did a wonderful job with your first Alphabe Thursday! Beagles are wonderful dogs and Inkie looks like she was the perfect Beagle! I love all the old pics you posted! TFS, Nan

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  6. what a great dog! Wonder if I could convince my daughter to get a beagle...

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  7. Firs off, I'm running really late visiting others who linked up with me on Thursday. I had my annual GYN & mammogram to scoot to, then the weekend rushed in and I just didn't have time to blog hop. Oh pooh! Anyhow, welcome aboard Alphabe-Thursday! You'll like being about of this clasroom. ^.^ Inkie looked like a friendly dog. Dogs are such wonderful pets. I'd love to have a couple of outdoors dogs. I keep hoping one day when we get our dream house then we can have a few outdoor pets. Looking forward to future blog posts. Now following...~Cathy

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  8. She looks like a lovely person. Yes, I'm convinced that dogs are people too! I know ours was...

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  9. Oh...what a lovely person. Lovely family! Lovely Inkie.

    All these photos made me smile. That was such a simpler era, wasn't it?

    Before we found out that fate is not always kind.

    And that sometimes all you can hope for is a bird to land on your head to make you laugh!

    I loved this post!

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