shunned.

Today was a lovely day. I had a grand picnic, raided the Bargain Shop, soaked up some rays on a beach, and enjoyed a scrumptious home-made dinner, with cheesecake to boot. HOWEVER, my day of jolly unicorns and butterflies ended rapidly as my dearest mother saw my hemp bracelet. Upon noting my handcrafted piece of jewelry, she proceeded to call it a 'barnacle', and laugh at my artistic talents. You see, I made a funky bracelet out of ultra-size hemp string. The only problem was that the ends are easily frayed, and the knot at the end was of a super-sized nature. So I hot glued the ends together. But, as most of my artistic attempts go, my idea in mind didn't turn out quite as I had planned. The 'joint' of my bracelet, if I may call it such a thing, is a rather large and bulbous glob of... glue. Or a barnacle, if you enjoy fraternizing with my mother. Either way, my heart was deeply cut by her remark, and therefore, I have thrown the idea of a becoming a custom jewelry designer out the window.

Eleven nights till I'm officially out. 11. I have waited so long to get here, and it has finally arrived! I can hardly recognize the person I am now - I love it, and how I can finally just be me, after all these years. I found joy in life, what I love doing, what I am not so hot at, and what makes me who I am. Things I can live with, and things I can't live without. The necessity of God, and the incomparable value of family and friends. I am so pumped for fall, I can barely wait. I won't look back, not for a second.

Peace,

D.

ps - would anyone like to donate to the 'Danielle Would Like Another Tattoo, But Is Too Poor' fund? If you too, get ahold of me. Stat.