The "more later" that I promised....

It's the middle of the day and I just left the dentist for my 5th and final visit...thank goodness. It only took 3 tries to get me numb this time. If anything else like this happens, I wonder if they would listen to me if I suggested just putting me to sleep and doing it all at once! It's a good thing that this was the last encounter with my dentist for a while, because my patience is running paper thin when it comes to dental work right now.

This summer has flown by it seems. The first half of the summer I was in classes and voice lessons...then I was in between home and Boone for various reasons. I've gotten a lot closer to some members of my family over the past month or so. I think a lot of it had to do with my recital. There was a lot of preparation for it. Not just musically, but with the invitations and the reception. I needed help with it, and my family stepped up to the plate! I got to have a few nice lunch dates with some people that I hardly get to see. It's amazing what you can accomplish and how many different levels you can connect with someone just by sitting across from them chatting for a few hours. Rehearsals with Carol for the recital were just wonderful. She is one of my favorite people in the world. We have such a great time...her talent is amazing, and her wonderful personality always puts me in a wonderful mood...and keeps me calmer and in better spirits in a performance setting (which is important)! Anyway, I'm really going to miss seeing her and working with her every week. It's the same story with Steve and Mary. I spent some time at their house this summer rehearsing my closing piece that Steve played with me on the piano. We would practice for maybe 15 or 20 minutes and then talk for an hour or so! I don't get to see them very often, so it was nice to spend some time getting to know them better this summer.



Another place that I've been a frequent visitor over the past few months is my Aunt Alda's house. She is Grandpa Lewis' sister. Lately I've been going through some of the old family pictures that she has. This has been so much fun! I love seeing pictures of my aunts, uncles, and cousins when they were young. Looking at the pictures together always sparks a conversation about the day it was taken and what was happening then. I absolutely LOVE stuff like that! I've been spoiled and gotten used to seeing Aunt Alda pretty regularly in the past few months...I'll miss it when school starts!

I wish camp meeting happened more than once a year. It ALWAYS draws the family closer because we're all together so much during this time. It's nice to sit there without distractions of technology (there are no computers, tvs, etc) and just visit! I'm sad that it's going to be over!

I realized how lost I am without my parents and little sister around last night. Katherine's boyfriend and his family went to Topsail beach for their vacation. Katherine couldn't ride down with them because of a cake decorating class and senior pictures, so Mom and Dad took her down yesterday after she was finished with everything. They stayed the night because it was too much driving for one day, and I was all alone!! I survived (although I slept with a couple lights on inside and outside of the house) Ha :)

Well I guess I had better close. I'm at my parent's office making copies of sight-singing music for a high school kid I know that needs some. AND my mouth hurts! My gums back where the work was done are black and blue...and I'm in some pain...The numbing is wearing off and I'm not a happy camper! Hello Orajel and Advil!