She did not want to have to take care of anyone on her time off. Paul explained the food and everything was taken care of and because of the wildlife ...ears, coyotes he would help keep them safe on hikes. He was a specially trained dog Paul said and smiled. What did that smile mean Melissa thought? Khan trotted over in front of the fireplace and laid down. Whatever Melissa thought. Khan turned out to be a very well-behaved dog. Most of the time it was like he was not even there. He sat around. Powerful, certainly. But it’s no nameless force, no almighty independent power in itself. It is me. Part of me. All of me. By what right can you claim that a part of me that defines who I am is separate, an illness, a sore to be healed? I know what I feel. I know who I am. Can you say the same? Unlike you I can see where this ends. The waves I ride get higher, deeper and harder to survive. Recovery (your word) is longer each time. The further I go, the harder it is to come back. And why do I,. " Whispers a friendly voice as you feel a hand placed on your shoulder. You open your mouth to speak but quickly close your mouth and tap on the hand twice before getting down on one knee with your back flat against the wallYou then feel the friendly do as you did quickly and quietly behind you. Moments later, you hear grunting and groaning as something limps across the surface you are hiding under. You stay still and control your breathing until the noise of the footsteps disappear."Alright.. "My wife had been furious when I had laid out my plan to her. Everything that I said we needed to cut, she said was a necessity. Everyone absolutely had to have a cell phone because in the modern world a cell phone was a necessity. Life without cable television wouldn't be worth living. She didn't like the idea of having to drive a compact car when the lease on her SUV expired. She refused to sell the house because the children needed the educational benefits provided by the schools in our.