The World According To Madeleine

I thought this deserved it’s own post.

Recently, my step-brother Robert broke his neck while swimming. Since he was paralyzed, he drowned, luckily, a neighbor’s friend was over who performed cpr and saved Robert’s life. Robert can’t move his legs or fingers yet, but has been making so much progress from where he was, and has feeling everywhere. The doctors are expecting lots of progress. He has been in very high spirits and has been working very hard and everyone is very proud of him.

I’m not sure who it was, but wristbands similar to livestrong bracelets to support Robert have been handed out. They are blue and say “Unleash the Warrior Within” on the outside, and his name and football number on the inside. The first time I ever wore it I had to run a little more than four miles, which is the farthest I’ve ever gone before (not that far, but still). I was hoping to go at least half-way without stopping. I think that the bracelet must be good luck and very motivational, because I went the whole way without stopping once. I hope that this is the same for Robert and everyone else, that they feel motivated and have a little luck on their side when they need it most.

I guess I better get going, because so much has happened since the last time I updated. I don’t know where I should start though.

This summer I only went to one horse show. It was very fun, and my first show in the main ring. I did amazing schooling with Katie, exept for when I fell off and broke the fence. oops. Once it had been fixed, I started again and was fine. Showing was pretty good, Alaska spooked at a fence because she had to jump into shadows, but I got her over every other time. We only got one 6th place ribbon, but I was proud of myself and got several reserves from the judge.

On another riding note, I went to the chiropracter and my back has been feeling much better and I’m riding pain-free, which has made so much of a difference in being able to ride correctly.

Marching band has also started, and band camp was very fun, except that I was sick for the first couple of days. I ended up puking at arby’s, and once in the dorm after breakfast. Aside from that, our show got put together very well, mostly due to the fact that our director changed the way she teaches. It’s nice to actually be good at our show, but seriously,  I don’t think she had to change everything that was possible. I hate it, and so do a lot of other people.

I also dyed my hair purple after waiting the whole summer for the blue to wash out. I would have a picture, but my computer is being very annoying and not letting me upload it.

We also went to Arizona, and that was very fun. We spent a lot of time just around Nanny’s house, and explored a creek we never had been to before. We also spent a lot of time kayaking and on the quads, which I got to drive a lot more this year because I have my permit. We were going to try to go to mexico, but climbing through the border had to suffice. And sadly, I don’t know if wee’ll be able to do that anymore, because there is going to be a virtual fence put in.

School starts on tuesday. I’m excited because my classes are pretty good, and this is my last year before I can go off campus to take and EFE or EFA. It will also be very cool to get to see everyone everyday, and I can’t wait for PAC to start. I’ll have cross country practice everyday after school for a while, which I actually get to run this year.