Wednesday night's pottery class went better than I remember! Perhaps it's my new dedication to getting down to perfecting the basics and my dream of really making it as a potter that has fueled this amazing improvement. I'm excited. More cylinders!

Thursday was start the dreads day! I now have nappy, temporarily waxy, dreads. It took 5 hours and a lot of Knotty Boy dread wax. I'll tell you one thing, it absolutely hurt more than getting my tattoo did. The sectioning and backcombing took the longest and was a bit sensitive, but when it came time to pull and twist the wax into the new dreads from the ROOTS to the TIPS - my sensitive scalp was screaming. It's still tender. So for now, they're waxy and soft... but I'll continue my maintenance of rubbing and twisting them whenever I get the chance, and in a few months or so, I'll have nappy-happy dreadlocks!

If anyone wants pics, I haven't taken any yet - but I could be inspired by email/irc/icq/posting in my guestbook... ;-)

So the news that floored me yesterday afternoon at around 4:20PM... My birth mother would love to meet me - and so would her whole family - they all know about my existence! I have a full sister who is 29, a half sister who is 21, 2 nieces 10 and 8 years old and a nephew 1 1/2 years old!! There is still some legal paperwork to go through on BMom's end before we can have contact, and I'm absolutely, completely, totally stunned.

I still haven't taken it all in - but I remember every detail of the conversation I had with the wonderful Nila in Family Services. I'm going to take this slowly and try to savour every detail... I don't want to rush anything and I want everyone involved to know that. And yet the other part of me is wild with wanting to up and drive to wherever they are and meet them all. The slow side wins, for now. ;-)

It's my last day of work here... and I don't know what is to come... I have my first pottery class tonight, dreads tomorrow and then the dentist on Friday.... (just to return to the mundane). ;-) I'll be dropping by work here on Monday - show off the dreads, drop off the corporate credit card... all that stuff. Wow. Bit of a let down... now that it's almost 4:00PM... Ross the boss told me a few days ago he'd get a cake today and it didn't materialize... he did come over and apologize - he says he feels bad about it - he asked me if we could do it Monday when I come in. Sure thing. I'll have my dreads, then... freak everyone out!

What a crazy, crazy life. Time to design (get help designing? *wink* *tickle*) a new web page and host it on epona.com again... Create! Create! Create!

Life is upside down and sideways and I'm loving it. The official word went out today at work - I'm leaving - won't they all miss me?! Wednesday this week will be my last day of work, that night I have my first pottery class, Thursday I have an appointment to start some knotty dreadlocks in my hair... and life goes on! I'll be back in the office for a short time on Monday - to sign some paperwork, show off my knotty new look and then mosey over to storage to see what can be sorted for donation/home/M's place. Then... I'll think about getting a job someplace. =) Home depot? Restaurants? I'll find something!

The letter I sent out to people here at work:


Hi everyone,

It is with only a slightly heavy heart that I write this. As you know, I am moving on to explore the possibility of a life outside the box. Though I never felt completely suited to the work here, I definitely enjoyed working alongside all of you and it is this aspect of leaving that tempers my joy with sadness. As cheesy as it sounds, I learned a lot during my time here - about life, about people and about myself - and I'm grateful for it. Thank you all for being part of that, I'm going take it with me as I enjoy this next adventure.

I don't have any definite plans, yet, but I do know that the future holds much more music, art and creativity and no more pager shifts. ;-)

Thanks again,

May whichever deity or belief you hold to be true give you strength and comfort.

//Heather




I was contacted the other day by Family Services... these are the people who have been searching for my birth mother for me. When I called them back, I found out that they think they've found her. I spoke with a wonderful lady named Nila who is going to be initiating the contact with her. The way it works is, they send her a letter asking her to call them - telling her only that they wish to speak with her about a person born in 1972. It is up to her whether or not she is okay with making contact with me. In the worst case, she will say "no" and I will then be able to go on from that point. Hopefully she will not say no... but if she does I am ready to deal with that possibility - I'm also ready to deal with the possibility of meeting the woman who gave me life so long ago ~ and being able to thank her for giving me life. What a life!! So many possibilities. So much to do! Fantastic!