Family therapy increases my HP 10

It’s been a rough couple of days.  Ever since Saturday, I’ve really been struggling with a lot of thoughts of self harm and suicide at first, and then later just plain old apathy.  This morning we went to the doctor about a dark spot on my face, and she recommended we freeze it off.  I was so apathetic I couldn’t bring myself to care about freezing it off or not or doing anything else.  Brad had to do a lot to help me decide (and you may notice the even darker mark that is now on my face where they froze it off).

My birthday was yesterday, and so Brad’s family threw me a birthday party today.  I was feeling so distanced from everything that I even thought about cancelling it.  But then Brad’s mom called a half hour before we were to leave to wish me a happy birthday.

Brad’s mom is like sunshine.  She is always happy, cheerful, and wanting to make everyone around her smile.  Hearing her voice made me feel a little better, so we got ready and went.  Turns out it was the right decision!

All of Brad’s family are very happy people.  When we arrived, I couldn’t help but smile to see all of them there.  It was Brad’s parents, brother, Aunt Nancy and Cousin Tam (all of whom live in the Rock Hill/Charlotte area), and as a surprise Aunt Linda and Uncle Rocky came down from NC!

The first thing I noticed when we entered the house was that it smelled like curry!  Brad and I love curry, but it’s not his family’s fondest desire.  Turns out mom bought yellow and red curry paste to make red and yellow curries!  Yes, she made two!  That made me smile, it was totally a surprise.  When she had asked what I wanted for dinner, I had said Thai food would be awesome, but since she has never cooked it to my knowledge I figured she would just make something else.  So it was awesome that she made Thai curries!

We had a lot of fun talking before and during dinner.  As the time wore on, I started to feel more energetic, brighter, and started to care more about what was going on.

Then it was present time!  Mom, dad, and Brad all got me Harry Potter related items!  Mom and dad bought me Hufflepuff leggings and a Hufflepuff blanket!  Brad got me all 8 movies on Blue Ray (they were on super sale!).  So Harry Potter is one of the meanings of HP in the title of this post.

HP also stands for hit points when you are playing role playing games.  The more hit points you have, the healthier you are.  So Brad’s family gave me double HP– Harry Potter and hit points 🙂

Mom made blondies for dessert, in a recipe that is free of all our allergens and refined sugar!  So I could eat it!

I was sad when it was time to go, because the party was such a nice break from the apathy and depression that I have been in for the last few days.  Like I said before, Brad’s family are all really happy people, and it’s hard for that to not rub off on you, however you’re doing.  When we got home, I made Brad take pics of the Harry Potter gear I got!

Whew, after all the excitement, editing pictures, and finding a sun hat (the blotch on my face that had to be frozen was of a different texture, so now I am at greater risk for skin cancer), I am exhausted.  But mostly feeling happy.  It was a good party.

Closeup of Veronica’s face with her red square glasses and a happy birthday tiara on her head.

A picture of Veronica with the happy birthday tiara from farther away, so you can see Hestia, a small black and white dog, and her yellow dress.

Veronica in her yellow dress with black and yellow Hufflepuff leggings, a Hufflepuff blanket around her shoulders, and the 8 movies in her hands.

Closeup of the Hufflepuff leggings. They are black and yellow striped, and the thigh has a big Hufflepuff emblem on it.

This is the Hufflepuff blanket! The crest for Hufflepuff has a badger on it, and is all in gold and black. Beautiful.