Just a small example of my upbringing

Just spent a few days in Edwardsville with the fam. I have a 7:50 am flight. The plan was to leave for the airport about 5:45 am--alarm was set to go off at 5:00.

So I'm in the middle of this incredibly vivid, amazing dream when I hear, "Nickie" "NIIIIIIIICKIE". My eyes open. My mother is standing over me. Have I regressed to my freshman year of high school???? "It's 4:45." Your point, woman???? "I thought you wanted to leave by 5?"

I start to question her obssessive-compulsive, neurotic, controlling behavior, but I know there's not point in it.

Until I was twenty, I actually believed that if we didn't get to the airport at least two hours prior to departure, we were doomed. My mother convinced us that this was the ONLY way to fly...ever. And I BELIEVED HER!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't even begin to know the liberation I felt when I discovered truth....and the luxury of flying solo.

Anyway, mom walks out of my room--leaving the bedroom door open and the hall light ON! She knew exactly what she was doing. She was winning. There was no hope of going back to that amazingly vivid dream (with a very hot man, by the way), so I gave up. My sister and I learned a long time ago that when you're in Carol's house, you kind of get trapped in Carol's rules. I've been at this airport since 5:50 waiting for my flight. It's 6:10 in the morning, by the way....for the love of God.

Looking at this picture makes it all better though, because this is what I'm going back to. Ah, freedom. Did I mention I love life? It's a beautful thing :)