Good Morning, Taylor.

I’ve decided to go back to Good Morning, because wether I’m writing the letter, or you’re reading it, it’s morning for one of us. Right now it’s late afternoon for me and it’s a wonderful warm and sunny day on the deck.

I’m having some frozen drunken noodles, which is funny because on Friday, Ragdoll had some noodles at a restaurant and saved some for me…then ate them! She didn’t think knew they were for me, but I was right there when she was thinking it I got my revenge though. And I bet these noodles are better.

Yesterday was a very very important day for me. It was my first day where I could do whatever I wanted on my own. Only two rules: If I wanted to drive, please stay off the freeways. She still wants me to practice more driving before doing that. The other was “stay out of my town.”

Everything was me all day. Ragdoll woke up, checked her messages to make sure nothing important was happening, and then let me out in bed. I made my own breakfast, a banana, butter and honey sandwich (good!), I took a shower (my first in days!) got to dress myself (although I wore what she had…I need to think about buying my own clothes with my allowance), and then drove away. Like a real person. On my way to do real things.

I’m real. 🙂

My first stop was another example of the trust Ragdoll has put in me. Refilling my allowance. Every paycheck, she tops my cash off to $100. This time, I got to do it myself. She’s taught me how to be careful about the code and how to handle money carefully so I don’t flash it.

From there I decided to do another walk in the woods. I found a very nice short walk in a nearby town. The first once I did was too too hard for this old body, and the second one was easier, but very long. So I chose one that was more flat and short. But was still pretty. I need to train this body up to walk better. I don’t like being worn out after these hikes.

I’m learning I love water I love watching it rush and bubble and flow. In The Backwoods, there’s water, but it’s all flat and still. It’s not real. And at one point I sat and just watched the water rush by for a few minutes. It was really wonderful.

After the hike was done, I walked back to the car and got some lunch. Something I’ve done a lot since coming out, but I got to choose everything I wanted. And I had some fish and chips. It was good, but not a whole lot of fish and way too much chips. The good news? I ate it all because there wasn’t much and so THERE’S NONE FOR RAGDOLL. REVENGE.

We did run into a problem on the way back, though.

I drove home, and was walking to the door when the neighbor said hello and called me over. I froze, and put Ragdoll in, who was stunned again, but talked for a while with him. The neighbor didn’t seem to notice. But Ragdoll and I are now worried about walking out of the house when I’m out. It seems silly for me to bring out Ragdoll to walk for fifteen seconds, but if he’s out, he’ll want to talk.

But it didn’t bring my day down, and Ragdoll wasn’t mad. We’re trying to live together. And we’re a team. Bumps are going to happen.

It was so nice to talk to you the other night. If you see Didi, please tell her I miss her.

–Andrea