Nick will be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks. I was asked today how I felt about that. I said that I’m excited about it. When you have a child that was as sick as Nick when he was born you see every milestone as a plus–an achievement. I’m not sad that my baby is growing up but happy that he did. Graduation is just another amazing step in living. 

I love a good “love” movie. And more than one showing in a day is like a cherry on top of an ice cream sunday. The Lifetime channel showed love movies all day long today. It was raining outside so I didn’t feel guilty about watching too  much TV. I enjoyed the movies for themselves but I also use them to improve my writing skills. I study the movies to better my understanding for goal, motivation and conflict. I have to be careful not to let the study of the story ruin the movie for me. When you write romance, watching love movies can be just an extension of the process.     

I hate them but I do see their benefits. It is an opportunity to compare my writing to others. I feel like I get the most out of the contests that give me good feed back. The ones with forms that let the judges grade and make comments on what they like and didn’t like help me improve my writing. One day I hope I have that feeling of adulation that you get when you final or dare I dream -win. Until that happens I will keep at my writing.  

The other night the children that had been transplanted at Egleston attend a Braves baseball game. The children all got to walk around the field before the game. Each year the group gets larger and it takes longer for them to make the walk.  The first year Nick was just old enough that he could make the walk without either his dad or I going along. This year he had grown to where he could walk around it with his girl friend. Nick yelled “War Eagle” (the Auburn war cry) to the Braves’ pitcher Tim Hudson. Tim went to Auburn so he responded back with another “War Eagle.” It was another great moment in a transplanted life.     

April is designated as National Organ Donor Awareness Month to encourage organ donation. Giving the gift of a organ is the greatest tangible gift someone can give another. Nick was given this gift and 17 years later his new heart is still beating in his chest daily. Our family will always be indebted to Nick’s donor for Nick’s chance at life. If you have never thought about donating your organs I hope you will do so during this month.