It is going to be a bright, sun shiny day!

I subscribe to two sites where the majority of the conversations deal with our diseases and symptoms and possible ways to improve our quality of life. These folks are willing to address all types of situations in a positive manner in hopes of helping. For me, these gentle, generous peers are like a life line. Forget about Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Winning a million dollars can't heal your soul, a broken heart, or the fact that you have two rare diseases. I've always said that if you don't have your health, you have nothing. You can say it, but living it is quite something else.

Michelle, who also has PH like me, built a website for all of us. She is amazingly talented from designing websites to painting. If you check out the Awesome Art section on my blog, you will see first hand just how incredibly talented Michelle is and continues to be despite dealing with a debilitating disease as PH. Her paintings are phenomenal.

Michelle phoned me from California to chat and what a great chat we had. It is so nice to be able to verbalize how you feel with someone who understands what you are going through. You are at liberty to say how you really feel, your worries, your problems, your fears, the change in family and friends' relationships due to your medical condition, the joys when you improve, stay stable and so much more. Michelle's site that she has created for all of us, allows such positive support for each other.

As we were chatting about this and that, Michelle mentioned that she can't go outside because of the smoke in California. The wind has blown the smoke her way and when you can't breathe that well to begin, you can imagine what it is like to contend with trying to breathe when you are surrounded by smoke.

Have you ever experienced walking into a hospital while looking for the entrance through the veil of smoke? It is amazing to me how the health care professionals in all capacities smoke. There they are in groups just outside the entrance doors in a huddle puffing for all they are worth. Meanwhile, yours truly is trying to not inhale this haze of smoke. I can't run as fast as I can through the smoke since my lungs barely function enough for me to walk at a snail's pace. I so badly want to say to them, "Look at me. I can't breathe. Please stop smoking so that you don't end up like me." Mind you, I never smoked a day in my life.

My students in school always asked me if I had ever smoked or tried a cigarette. My response was always the same, "NO". They told me that they didn't believe me. So, I shared a personal story with them from my childhood. I explained that my father, who was diabetic smoked for a long time. Due to complications from diabetes, he knew that he was going to die and wanted to come home to die.

As children, we were not allowed to visit him in the hospital in those days, so we would stand out in front of the Sidney Hospital on the sidewalk and wave to him. He was on the top floor, third window from the left. He would come to his window and we would all wave at each other. Obviously, this particular way of visiting a loved one in the hospital is no longer this way. Thank goodness.

My mom, who is so incredibly strong, did as my father wished. He came home to die. He had oxygen and my mom told my dad he could no longer smoke because he could blow up the house, us, etc. So, my dad went cold turkey. And I saw first hand how he suffered, never complaining (unlike me) and right then and there, I made the decision not to smoke because it sure hadn't helped his health situation.

You can imagine the sound of my classroom after divulging this type of information. The room was silent. Not only had my students learned French that day, but they learned about the hazards of smoking. If I contributed to one child not smoking, then my personal experience was worth sharing.

So, if you are a smoker, please stop smoking for yourself and your loved ones. They need you here with them.

Michelle still is unable to go out this week because of the predicted smoke index. So, smokers please don't add to the wildfire smoke because both Michelle and I need fresh air.

Here's a song I found just for Michelle and my wish for her. Also, for you.