I am telling this story because it is important.My friend Sophie is currently is a ward for psychiartic patients in seattle.It wasnt suppose to be this way.Sophie had a very hard life and I suspect that she was the victim of abuse 75 years ago.I cannot prove this,I only think it because anyone who visits her little house there absolutely no pictures of her father,but a lot of her mother.She has got a shrine to her and her mother died in the 1950s.But she told me something about her life and asked me to tell her story so other people do not have to go through this.Sophies father was a very hard man and she tried her best to please him.But in those days there wasnt any foster care and she was terrified of him.From what I gather if he were alive today the state of washington wound not only take his children but he would be in jail for 20 years to life.Sophies problems began years ago and I did notice this when we went food shopping.One day I went shopping with her and I was in the car,she took a box of chocolates and walked out of the store.I told her that in washington things are different.You see in a shoplifting case here the police arrest you to.Shoplifting isnt a kind matter here.You really pay.This was the first instanct.The next situation happened when she told me that one of the people in her group accused her of stealing.But in fact,she did because she has got a bad habit of going into other peoples purses and taking change without asking and when she did this to me,I told her.I used to do this all the time,she said and I said well,because you did this all the time doesnt make it right.It is none of yournbusiess what is in my purse.She did not know what to say and the other seniors were silent.She gave me the 20.00 back..but still why didnt she ask? But the next situtation happened a few weeks ago.The apartment manager called me.He told me that Sophie hasnt been seen in two days and wanted to know if it was okay if he would check on her.I came over there and there was a bunch of us.As he opened the door..we were confronted with a bad smell.Sophie was on the floor and her head was bloodied.She probably fell and hit her head and was bearly in and out of it..on the bed was the body of a large dog.You could tell that this dog was dead for a long time.We never knew that she had a dog..but apparently she told noone and it was on the verge of decay.We called for aid for Sophie and I called her sons.She has 6 sons and none of them are speaking to her.They do not get along and all of this stems from the fact..she did not approve of her daughter-in-laws religion.The oldest son hasnt seen his mother in 10 years and did not know if she was alive or dead.He came over with a little bag of coffee for me and thanked me but he told me that under no circumstances will he care for his mother.The 4 other sons came over to the coffee house and thanked me for being nice to their mother..but they also told me that they did not want to take care of Sophie and as of now,they cannot afford it.None of them speak to Sophie and they feel that they have got the right not to be strapped.I told them of the other options but they refused.I asked them about the dog and they did not know.But why did she keep the body of a dog in her apartment? I also found out that Sophie told people that she did not wish to be friends with me and the others in the group anymore.She felt left out and she felt abandoned..But I am sorry..life is what you make it.I lived in my house until I was 48.My mother and brother gave me their blessings.Their is just so much that you can do and I know in my heart if my mother only talked all of this could have been prevented.After I lost Frank..I found out that certain people that I know do not approve of my Xmas job of working as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army.They think that this is degrading work and now let me ask you this..Where can I get a job doing what I do and not work on Sundays? It is not begging in what I do because William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London in the 1800s.And Readers Digest recently stated out of all of the charities..That The Salvation Army is one of the best.We give 85% to the charities and the rest is for the up keep.I still do not know what happened to Sophie and neither do her sons.And in2009..I turn the magic age! I will be 62 years old! And I am going to plan it and do stuff and since Brad is in recovery,things are so much different.But remember..life is what you make it and you cannot always blame parents or such.Life is fluid.Life is like water.And let me say this to all of you who are nursing broken hearts..Some people just arent meant to be together.You cannot mourn a broke romance.Life goes on.Move On.You will feel better and remember kiddies..love is different for men.They arenot romantic at all.Thats movies.This is 2008.The 21st century.It is time for me and everyone to get real.Vader.