Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. I really appreciate it. And to those who read my novel up there, thank you for your patience.

I know I am right, and I am going to hold my ground through this ordeal, but deep down all I want is to be close with my mother, who always seems to be pushing me away unintentionally. My mom is not in the best of health and is going to need surgery this summer. I hope I can amend things by then so I can be there for her when she needs me. I hate that she is being so judgmental. It makes me feel like a monster.

I really hope my dad can talk some reason into my mom. As I was leaving to drive back to Chicago, I heard them yelling inside.. it sounded really nasty and I knew it was about me. I know my dad understands I am an Adult and I am going to do what I want. He just wants to make sure I am being safe, which I most definitely am!

I hope at some point I am able to share this awesome hobby with my family.. but it doesn't look like that will happen any time soon. Most of my family is accepting, it is mostly my mother who has completely overreacted. She has even suggested cutting off my cell phone service even though I have insisted multiple times in the past that I can pay for my own phone (they always insist on paying for it).

I mean, I can think of 100 other things that parents can reasonable be angry at their children about. But this? Having pets that you love to take care of? I know I have a lot, but it is nothing like having 20 cats. People don't even notice I have snakes until I point it out.

Sigh...