Hang in there, dont forget there are always better days ahead.

Philip,
You are always in my heart and I never would have made it through my drama without you. You have not lost me. I am only a plane ride away

Your friend always,Good Cop, Sad Cop

Angie,
You are my hero.

Hi Angie,

You are my hero, too!!! You are SO inspirational. And beautiful at that. Take care.

Gwen

Philip,
Please post this if you can...

To everyone who has supported me:

Thank you with all my heart:

First off, without Philip’s words of wisdom and telling me to move on and to pick myself up off the ground when I wanted to give up, I probably wouldn't be the person I am today. I have changed in so many ways. I don't think Philip realizes how much he had to do with that. Tough love really works, even though it is tough to hear sometimes.

I am in San Diego now, with a man I love deeply. Oddly enough, he embraces my Bipolar disorder. His father who passed away suddenly a few weeks ago and worked for a mental institution his whole life. I never had the honor of meeting this man. At his memorial, a co-worker spoke that he was adamant about having grass in the courtyard of the institution because the patients deserved to see grass. I felt at that particular moment that I had missed out on meeting a man of honor and integrity that clearly my boyfriend inherited many of his wonderful traits from.

Could we only be so lucky to find others in administrative roles that would treat us with the same respect? I can only hope.

My case has changed dramatically. Maybe Philip will allow me to write a short synopsis about what has transpired. It is not pretty. It is much worse than the original article and you will be upset when you read it. Though I remain strong. Thanks to my friends. And particularly Philip. Through all the rumors of he and I dating (LOL) we were always a support system for each other. Though I have moved, that support system will remain. That is one thing in mi vida loca, I know for sure....

I find your story compelling and outrageous at the same time inspiring, and would like to know how it unfolded for you.
I find it a wonderfully inspiring part of your post here, regarding the grass in the courtyard. I have had the privilege and I mean privilege to be inside 4 psychiatric hospitals the last 11 months,visiting my daughter. 2 of those did not have access to a garden or grass for the patients.
When my daughter went to Western State Hospital, and had outdoor time beyond a cement patio, she literally hugged a tree. She touched the grass, and looked up in awe at the blue sky filled with white clouds. In one of the most elite places she was in, she did not have access to nature at all.
Once at Western, I spoke with a patient who told me about their love of gardening. It was Spring, and the daffodils were amazing outside of the hospital. I thought about how the patient showed me the lovely blooming trees outside of the windows,we admired them together.Being a person who gardens and loves flowers, I was always so aware that I could go home and go outside. The next day, I took a full blown planter with soil and all,loaded with growing and blooming daffodils and bulbs and motioned for the person to come see it.
This patient looked at the daffodils, touched them, smelled them, and looked at me and said :
"They are perfect."
It is one of many moments I will never forget.
It is the kindness and restoration of human spirit and dignity that can be given back to patients, and I feel your boyfriend's Father was indeed someone who made a difference this way, and this inspires me even more.
Thanks for sharing and good luck.

Hi Stephany,

What do you mean by "privilage"? I'm confused. I thought all psych hospitals were bad. What do you mean?

Also, what do you think of Western? Is it good? Bad? What do you think?

And do you like going to parties as much as I do?

And don't you think it would be a good idea for my doctor or for Philip to try strangling people so they could be locked up all night and see what it's like? What do you think?

Dear Gwen,
By using the word privileged, I mean it was an honor for me to have spent time with the patients in the psych wards. Remember, that anyone inside a hospital, are people like you and me. They are just getting better, and I was happy to have spent time getting to know them, and seeing them get well, and seeing many go home.
Sometimes being in a hospital is what is needed for medication adjustments, and to what I like to call "coasting". Getting well.
Western is a big place with many different people on different wards. I can assure you, that staff watched over my daughter and kept her safe and happy. I made sure that happened.
I love music, and having fun just like you.
I am looking forward to reading posts from you when you go to college. I hope you know that many people find your entry into college an inspiration.
Take care, ~stephany

Gwen,
I want you to know that my daughter is doing good now. She is out of the hospital. It was very hard, and yes she endured being locked down. I sat outside her door all night, many nights while she was locked in a seclusion room at one hospital. I want you to know that she made it through that, and is now happy.
I understand very much how hard it is, and I want you to keep working hard for college prep and don't ever give up.
You can do anything that is before you.~stephany

Stephany,

Ignore the above questions.

Gwen

Gwen,

To quote a favorite song: please never forget, you are a shining star among us.

"Because We Believe"

Guarda fuori è già mattina
Questo è un giorno che ricorderai
Alzati in fretta e vai
C'è chi crede in te
Non ti arrendere

Once in every life
There comes a time
We walk out all alone
And into the light
The moment won't last but then,
We remember it again
When we close our eyes.

Like stars across the sky
E per avvincere
Tu dovrai vincere
We were born to shine
All of us here because we believe

Guarda avanti e non voltarti mai
Accarezza con i sogni tuoi
Le tue speranze e poi
Verso il giorno che verrà
C’è un traguardo là

Like stars across the sky
E per avvincere
Tu dovrai vincere
We were born to shine
All of us here because we believe

Non arrenderti
Qualcuno è con te

Like stars across the sky
We were born to shine
E per avvincere
Dovrai vincere
E allora vincerai "

Andrea Bocelli