Help!

I am trying to be calm and rational. I am trying not to overreact, yet am. I just got some news that shook me to the core.

My Niece is....... I can't say it!.........is......oh the humanity!..........in love with a R E P U B L I C AN!

My brilliant left wing beautiful niece that I adore is now telling me I need to be open minded to her Republican boyfriend. I wonder if she had the same converation about me to him. The difference being I didn't choose to be gay or part of any organization that not only is destroying the US, but causing death and turmoil all over the world. An organization whose very platform says Emilio and I should never be considered a family with the ability to enjoy all the rights and privileges they enjoy.

To put the icing on the cake this kid joined the military and is going to Iraq. It just breaks my heart how stupid that political party makes people, to the point they are still signing up for the insane war on Iraq as an act of misguided patriotism. I am sending her a copy of "The Deserter's Tale" by Joshua Key.

The Good and The Bad in Easton PA

Update- Dad's out of the hospital. He's home on blood thinners hoping they will make the heart beat normally again. If not in 6 weeks he they will shock his heart with the paddles.

First the good. Our friends from Pennsylvania Dennis and John spent the weekend with us. We started up where we left off with them. We had a great time hanging out together and proudly showing them our new city and desperately trying to convince them to move here. I love being with them because they bring out the comedic fun side of me. Sometimes we're pretty immature but we laugh our assess off. So I was bummed as I said goodbye to these dear friends at 10am on Monday for their long drive home to Easton PA

Late afternoon the same day my brother calls. Mark is one of the nicest guys and I can tell when he has bad news. He never comes right out with it he just kinda hems and haws so when he did this my heart began to sink. He told me my Dad's heart is acting up and he was admitted into Easton Hospital with Atrial Fibrillation. My Dad already has a pace maker so this latest event is a surprise and a risk for him to have another stroke. So they have him on extensive blood thinners trying to get his heart to beat regularly. The worst thing about moving here is not being able to be there when my family needs me. My initial reaction was to race down. Emilio cannot come with me because he cannot re-enter the US yet, so it's sucks even more. Plus he just started school this week. We decided I should wait and see. I talk to my Dad every day and my Mom each night getting updates on the progress. I am still deciding if I should just go down and be there for them. It really is painful indecision....do I go...what if he gets better quickly... then gets sick again in a few weeks.... can I go back and forth...what about work....the pets....etc?

So I am just trying to keep my sanity and not doing a very good job of it.