Day One

My name is Colleen English.  I've been encouraged to start a blog for some time, now, from so many...figured I would give it a whirl.  I'm 41 years old.  I have two amazing children.  David, my little miracle, is 22.  An animal enthusiast, a hard worker, easy-going, fun kid.  Danielle (Danii) is 20.  Another hard worker, with the fashion skills of a New York designer - she can look at what you're wearing, today - go home and make it the same day!  I'm very lucky!  (You'll probably hear that repeatedly).  At birth, my parents, were living in a small apartment in Barrington, IL - I was actually born at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, IL (the original - not the new one) in 1969.  One of my favorite stories of my birth (not that I remember) was that on the way home from the hospital, my parents stopped at the Elgin Kmart for diapers.  I later worked at that Kmart...it always comes around FULL CIRCLE!  My parents are amazing people that have done everything (and then some) to provide the best life possible for my sisters, brother and I.  I wish that I could have been half the parents they are! Is there still time?  Not that I'm horrible, but they set that bar pretty high.  Again, lucky!  I have three siblings.  My closest (by age) sister is Heather Jeanne...2 1/2 years after me.  A super-strong mother-sister-fighter!  I often wish for others the silliness that Heather and I share, with just a glimpse, we know exactly what each other is thinking and can't stop laughing about it.  A precious sister gift.  Next is Meaghan Jill, six-ish years later - what a great joy for Heather and I to continually torture and love (at the same time - I swear) that if I don't talk to daily wonder if I might have missed something.  The one that got the voice our Father should have shared with more and so should she!  Finally, the boy that all thought would never come...Brendan Lacey.  Eleven years behind me...the Kevin we were all to be and became the most talented of us all!  I had a most amazing childhood, a family life that most should be jealous of.  Two wonderful parents, family vacations that mimic brochures and an extended family that isn't interesting enough to make a reality series but still colorful.  My father is a Funeral Director ( a mortician to the lay person) and all that you believe it to be.  Although we grew up with a Dad at the Funeral Home, it was nothing eerie or ghostly, ghastly or gross.  It was all we knew.  I believe this made us all as real as we are, today.  In addition, my father also worked additional jobs to make it possible for us to always have what we needed, wanted and desired.  We all have an incredible work-ethic and that came from Dad!  My parents ran a convenience store for more than ten years in the hopes of a better life, UGH! and did all that they could to live that American Dream.  Still, to this day...