Dear Elizabeth,
Grounding is over.

It lasted for three days ... and then Barb and Luke said I had learned my lesson. (I have. I really have. So has Nan. So has Hannah.) Hannah's parents and mine had a meeting with Hannah and Nan and me, and then, believe it or not, they all decided I could still go to the lake with their family for a week ... so I went. But there's no computer there, so I couldn't get or send e-mail. I did send a postcard. (Remember the "old days" before e-mail????????)

Anyway, I did not get back until late last night (very sunburned) and didn't read my e-mail until this morning (very tired).

Elizabeth, your news is sad ... and very very angry-making!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish someone would just take your father and put him in some place where he could "dry out," get sober, grow up. Maybe he should go to the place that president's wife set up, the Betty Ford Clinic. (I saw something about it on TV.) A lot of famous people go there. And then he would leave you and your mom alone. I hope you don't mind my mentioning this, but that same TV show mentioned AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the AA groups that help the family members of alcoholics. One group is called Alateen. Maybe you should see if there's one near you. That may help. And there's one for your mom. Don't get mad that I mentioned this. I know that sometimes you think I get too dramatic about stuff, but I don't think I'm doing that this time. I'm really worried about you. I do think it's good that you are SO angry.

I'm glad you have Howie and Susie to talk with. To be honest, it was kind of hard to read that you told them what was going on first ... but I'll get over it.

I'm not sure which Langston Hughes poem I like best. Maybe the one about the caged bird. What do you think of that one???

About visiting at Christmas ... thanks for letting me know it's a possibility. Sometimes I feel really closed in here, thinking about the baby. Am I going to have to take care of it a lot? (I know that Barb said no ... but she works and goes to school. Duh.) I've thought about what you said. It would be nice to have a little nerdlet in the house who absolutely adores me ... which, if it is a girl, I can teach to accessorize. And now that I'm getting older (and so are my parents), I feel like Barb and Luke are getting stricter. Maybe with the baby they won't have as much time to worry about me. (That's sort of a plus and a minus at the same time.)

I'm going to go peel some of my sunburned skin off right now. I know that sounds gross ... but you should see me. I look like my body is unraveling. I love peeling skin off. I try to take it off in long strips. It's soooooooooooooo disgusting. Is it weird that I like doing that????????

With my sunburn ... and all the books I read while I was at the lake ... I am not only well-read, I'm well-red.

Love,
Tara*