My Aunt Diane

Diane Lee Danehy passed away on June 16th, 2011.
Their are no words.  But I'll give it a shot.
She was beautiful, funny, sarcastic, intelligent, thoughtful, generous, elegant and clever.  She was a mother, or a "second mother" to at least a dozen people, including myself.  If I myself have humor, intelligence, generosity or cleverness, it is most likely because of her.  I love her so much and, frankly, I'm quite pissed that she's gone.
A few interesting and wonderful things have happened since - or because - of her passing.  I've gotten the chance to reconnect with family members I haven't seen since the '90's.  I've been jolted into a world of clarity in regards to all things related to fitness and nutrition.  And I've decided that, like it or not, we have to spend even less money on this already-on-a-shoe-string-wedding of ours.  Needless to say, we've made some big changes - just check out the new and improved budget column!
I want to try my very best to be happy and healthy.  And part of being happy and healthy is being free of debt and financial worries... or at least as free of debt and financial worries as life will let me be.  It makes no sense for us to max out credit cards - or worse yet, have our family members max out credit cards - for "the big day".  A day that will be special and lovely even if we get married in a backyard instead of a chapel.  Or if we have baby's breath in the vases instead of roses.  Or don ring pops instead of platinum.  A wedding is supposed to symbolize a new chapter.  I'm in a broke chapter right now, and I want the next chapter of my life to be better for me, my family, and my future unborn and hopefully soon-to-be-born (but not too soon) family.
What do you want the next chapter of your life to be like?
~ the green/green bride