third times the charm ... and then panic set in!

Its freakin' official ... i am a LICENSED cosmetologist! In February of 2007 i started my 'hair school' apprenticeship with one of my very best friends Lanna, thanks to her none of this would have been possible. Two years later, a fabulous job at an AVEDA salon, an awesome group of girls, a successful practical state board (passed the first time), THREE attempts and THREE HUNDRED dollars later .... i PASSED my written state boards! hallelujah!!! (is that how you spell that?) I seriously can not even begin to explain the amount of relief lifted off my shoulders, i feel like i can actually breathe without this enormous cloud hanging over my head 24/7. The first TWO attempts I thought i was safe to take the exam WITHOUT any studying ... well had i of studied i would have saved myself, well my Dad 200 dollars! So on Monday i sat my butt down for a good ten hours, with a break of course ... my own tour of the new and fabulous Nordstrom, four more hours of studying on Tuesday morning and ... it payed off!!! Who knew, studying really does work! So after two long days and a family dinner celebration i was ready to hit the sack. Thats when the drama began ... for those of you who don't know, my Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers a little over nine years ago and put in a home three years ago. Anyway, last night my mom went missing from her facility. The nurses called us after almost forty minutes of her begin gone, they explained they had checked all three floors, under beds, in closets, cabinets, showers, everywhere and they had done it three times, they contacted the police and then us. My family and I headed straight there around nine and did the same thing, checked EVERYWHERE over and over. By now my aunts were there, Tad's family and about 12 cop cars along with K9 dogs, we contacted the media who put out an Endangered Persons Alert on FOX a little after eleven, so almost three hours and no signs of my Mom. I think thats when panic started to settle in. For the next few hours everyone was in their cars driving around looking for her, remind you she had on a black jacket, jeans and no shoes, not to mention she weighs a little under 100 pounds, so the thought of her being outside alone was terrifying. She has no clue who she is, where she belongs, where to go, how to get help, nothing. So now that this post is miles long, i will wrap up quickly. The K9 dogs and officers found her ... on her floor in Barbara's room, room 248, between two beds, behind a recliner, shoved to the side of a night stand, a drape over her, curled up in a ball, sound asleep! i love you dearly mama but thanks for the scare! i guess she just wanted to have a little slumber party with Barbara! So there you have it a day that started out great, got a little scary, but ended great! i now have my license and still have my mom, what more could i need?!