Smart Farkel! My dad started that alumina plant and made it run, way back in the 1960's! It was Harvey Alumina then. Right next door was Hess Oil, and all the kids from Corpus Christi and Houston whose dads worked at Hess and Harvey went to school with me. I'd never met any Texans before that and I thought they were a stuck-up bunch. And look at me now! And, after Dad quit Harvey Alumina, he started his own business and serviced the instrumentation at the Cruzan Rum Factory. We never lacked for rum when he had that account!
Yes, that's where my name comes from: I loved living in St. Croix, and a person from St. Croix is a Cruzan; therefore, "cruzanheart."
confusedjw, Jackson is just fine now. It was a temporary virus that had to run its course and unfortunately that was through his joints. After 6 weeks it was completely gone with no permanent damage, except for this: he will never forget how much that hurt and judges all subsequent pain on that basis. Even his tonsillectomy this past summer didn't hurt as bad as the arthritis. It has, however, made him sensitive to the pains of others -- in his class is a boy who has chronic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and is sometimes absolutely miserable. Jackson walked up to him and told him, "I know just how you feel," and they're friends.
Thanks for all the kind words! Yes, it's been an amazing and frequently traumatic story, but I'm married to a wonderful guy (Big Tex) and am truly blessed with him, my children, my dogs, and all of you! This forum has given me more support than you will ever know.
Nina
