Happy Birthday ANGIE!

Not sure why this picture comes up so small, but it is one of my favorites of Melissa and Ang.  

On my kids birthdays, I like to tell the story of the day they were born.  Can't tell you the story of the day Ang was born, but I can tell you when she came into OUR lives...when Melissa got involved in sports in Middle School. And that friendship lasted through college (where they were roommates at OU) and up until her death....and Ang remains a close friend to us still (like a daughter)...and I can't tell you how much it means to us to have her in our lives.

Happy 35th Birthday Angie...we love you and can't wait to meet Bennett!

October is a month of very mixed emotions...I love that it begins with Angie's birthday~something positive.  

It is also the time of year that Melissa LOVED LOVED LOVED. I always DID too.  Now this beautiful weather, change of seasons was the beginning of the end for Melissa.  And John Patrick's birthday.  And Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  

I know that it might be hard to understand that after almost four years, we are still grieving and some days are just as difficult as it was 4 years ago.   I can be driving and all of a sudden, my thoughts just drift to "I can't believe she's not here."  Believe it or not, I still cry every day.  

I went to the Compassionate Friends meeting last week and a new "member" was there.  Her daughter was killed in a car accident 14 weeks ago.  My friend Carolyn leaned over and said "it's painful to watch her..."  because we remember when we were "there".  And going to the meetings you can see that you HAVE made progress.  And we help each other.  Better than any psychologist or psychiatrist

could...as least in my opinion.  I tried therapy, didn't have a good experience.  I have found that people who TRULY understand where you are coming from (have lost a child) are the ones who will help you get through each day.    Another "newer" member was there with her husband and one of her children. They lost a child at birth 8 months ago.  When she said "I never heard him cry"...and she started crying, I started crying.  At first, I couldn't understand why her story made me cry after hearing everyone else's (we go around the circle, introduce ourselves and if we want, tell about our child).

At the end of the meeting, we go around the circle and everyone says their child's name again. one of the charter members, Barb, whose 8 year old daughter died of encephalitis in 1985, asked why I 

never remember JP.  And it hit me then.  MELISSA had to feel the way this young mother did, who at  8 months out, was grieving the son that she only held for a few hours.  And never heard him cry.  

That was Melissa and John.  And I think about how I wouldn't talk about JP.  I was afraid I would upset her.  Now I wish I would have.  But I did tell her that we would NEVER forget JP.  We would always celebrate his birthday, which we have.  His NINTH birthday is coming up.  I will update more on JP then.

...and Breast Cancer Awareness month...not sure why, but when I walked into Kroger and it was all decked out in PINK, I got a little sick to my stomach.   Seeing lots of pictures of survivors is hard...not that I'm not happy that they are survivors, but WHY COULDN"T MY DAUGHTER be a survivor????  I still look at pictures and can't understand how someone so healthy could get cancer and die so quickly so young.   I will never understand.

The good thing, which Melissa always stressed... B POSITIVE...suck it up...and to remember that "there is always someone who would LOVE to be in your shoes...

the good thing is I get up every morning.  Believe me, there are mornings when I don't want to get up.

But I do.

And on Mondays and Tuesdays,  I actually work.  Taking care of kids is WORK.  But fun work.

I love Mondays and Tuesdays...always trying to find something fun to do with the kids...

                                   making cookies....

                         Playing football....

                          playing hide and go seek.....

                  Pumpkin Patch at Youngs Dairy....

                  riding calves....

                    or riding pumpkins...

                    feeding goats.....

         and finding the PERFECT pumpkin!

                                              Max with his perfect pumpkin...

                   Andrew with HIS perfect pumpkin.....

           and no rest for the weary...MORE football!

...Oh. And another thing.  Since I am now retired, I feel like I need to have "projects".  My project for the winter is to clean up the room in the basement (formerly known as the Notre Dame room)...now just a  room to put things that we don't know what to do with, or to hide when we have company.  I have given myself until March to complete this project.  Got half of the room somewhat organized the other day.  Problem is, I came across multiple things of Melissa's (sat and cried half of the day), and a box of things from my dad that my mom had saved.  Stuff from when I was in second grade (1963), mom's original S.S. card, dad's newborn footprint (which is on a piece of paper, with his mom's thumbprint next to it, and May 31, 1930 crossed out, replaced with June 1, 1930 and the handwritten statement "this baby was born at 12:06 a.m.)  We have always celebrated my dad's birthday May 31st. Same as Donny's.  We were wrong!  Also several cards that my mom saved from me and my (deceased) brother Steve.  And a letter my mom wrote to my dad after the death of my brother (April 26, 1975) and before my wedding (June 26, 1976).  Very sad. And letters from my dad to my mom; letters from former "boy"friends of my mom.  Scrapbook stuff.  So I didn't really accomplish much.  Sat and read and cried  most of the day.  But I did pull out about five boxes of stuff to take to Goodwill.  And didn't put a dent in it.  

Working on projects like this is bittersweet...while I LOVE finding things from Melissa (another card thanking me for always being there for her)...I want HER.  Also found the DVD our brother in law made of Melissa "through the years".  From when she was about five or six through the week before she passed away.  Including her toast to Nick and Meredith at their wedding.  I LOVE hearing her voice, her laugh...and love that I can share that with Andrew and Max too.

And another thing I love.  As I sit her update the blog, Andrew is sitting on the arm of the chair next to me, patiently waiting for me to read to him....and I realize he is breathing deeply...relaxed.  Sleeping.

There is NOTHING better for me right now.  

I think I'll join him....

(be back on JP's birthday, October 19).

Hug your kids today, and never forget to tell them you love them.  And don't sweat the small stuff...

pretty much everything you stress about is small stuff.  Trust me.  I know.

Fall...

To be perfectly honest, I don't even know what the date is.  I know it's Saturday, but since I've been retired, I know DAYS but not dates.  

I haven't updated in awhile, because when I post something, I want it to be something Melissa would post.  My life isn't always as exciting as hers was.  But with fall just around the corner, I know she would be posting pictures about rugby matches, football games, and always stories about Drew (and now Max too).  

Road Trip(s)

Occasionally Melissa would  post stories on the blog that I shared with her.  I think this is one she would share.  She LOVED my dad.  I think she inherited his social skills...and his love of a cold beer.  A few years ago (actually, more than four years ago), they were in town to visit some of Melissa's high school friends.  I think we had dinner and she was ready to head to Taggart's to meet her friends.  We were invited, but declined - not much on late nights any more.  My dad was here and said "I'll go with you".  He was a lot younger then...78.  He went out with them and she came home with some great videos of him singing and dancing and having a great time with her and John and all their friends.  She loved it. 

Well, he hasn't changed much in four years.  Still loves a good party.  A good cold beer.  And his place in Florida.  Especially the VFW and all his friends there.  (Remember "Norm" on Cheers?  Think "IRV" at the VFW.  That's him.  Just like "Fort" at OU.)

Ok.  Road trip.  I decided to join him on his trip to Florida this year....to do all the driving.  I-75 is not what it used to be.  It's getting scarier and scarier.  Dad has a routine when he drives to Florida.  First day, he drives to Sweetwater, TN.  Stays in the same hotel, same room.  He walks in and says "look me up.  I want the same room as last time."
Next day, we drive to Tifton, GA. Same hotel, same room.  "Look me up, I stayed here in May."  Then he visits his friends who live in Tifton.   Day three, five hours to Melbourne. 
Ran by the airport (so he would know where to drop me off) then a stop at the beach for pictures.   Then to his place to unpack.  He did "let" me go to the pool for an hour, but had to get to the VFW.  They were waiting for him.  I know why he wants to be there.  Every woman in the place came up to him for a hug and a kiss.  And in unison, everyone at the bar said "IRV!"  He loves it there.  
But he does not need to be driving on the highway any more.  (Much to his dismay).  If he doesn't fly home in the spring, I'll be flying down to drive home with him.  

Field Trips

If its not a road trip, it's a field trip with the boys.  I have found that Mondays and Tuesdays are a lot more fun if I have something planned.  So far, we've visited Boonshoft (local children's museum), Cox Arboretum, Air Force Museum, and several area parks.  They have a LOT of energy.  Got to visit them at school for my FIRST Grandparent's day too.   

 Having fun at Cox Arboretum...

         Exploring (Drew found a frog!)

 Beautiful flowers at the Arboretum...

and a Butterfly House, that was unfortunately closed! (but we could 
still see all the butterflies inside!)

not GREAT pictures, but got to see LOTS of Monarchs!

 I was reading and Drew took my camera out of my purse and said "SMILE Pamma!"

Then he took a picture of me and Max....

so of course I had to let Max take a picture of Drew...

SO.  Guess what they are getting for Christmas....(got Melissa her first camera when she was in high school.  She LOVED it.  I am so thankful for that and for all the pictures she left us!)

 Grandparents Day...Pamma and Max  (the couple behind us in the picture?  Their daughter played basketball and with and was a friend of Melissa's from grade school.  Small world.)

                    Mimi and Andrew

Road Trip II

I'm kind of liking this retirement thing.  Road trip II.  Left Thursday morning, right after Grandparent's breakfast for Martin, Tennessee.  Donny's nephew (Melissa's cousin) Ryan plays for Southeastern Louisiana.  They played UT Martin.  One of his "close" games to Ohio.  So I went.  Seven hour drive to watch a three hour game.  Got up the next morning for the seven hour drive home (and exciting ride home at that...got run off the road by a semi! Donny's brother Mike was with me and stayed VERY calm.  I was driving partially on the grass/partially on the road for about 100 yards!  Really need to keep BOTH hands on the wheel when you are on the highway - you never know WHAT'S going to happen!)

 Jan (Donny's sister) and Ron (Ryan is in between them on the sidelines ~ #6)

Missed the Fairmont game (a little tired), but did make Coach Fortener's game on Saturday morning...FORT would be SO proud of her dad.  He's the head coach of the JV team this year...

Coach Fortener on the field with his offense...

Stayed til halftime, had to get to Eastwood Park for the Cincy/Dayton rugby match.

Saw lots of Fort's friends.  Dave and Edie (Kyra's parents), Jen, Tess, Curt,
Pauly & Luke, Eva and Jaiden(?),Sam, Netti's mom.  Several of her friends are
STILL playing...Netti, Elizabeth, Philly, Bea, Crazy Legs (Kelly).  It is SO 
nice to see her friends.  Oh.  And she was there too.  Saw a couple butterflies
flying over the field.  She hangs around still.

Pauly and Luke, Eva and Jaiden


Boy do I miss her.  Every single day.  There is something EVERY day that reminds me of her.  And as good as it is to see her friends, I can't help but wish that she were still here too.
I miss that laugh.  (oh I miss her rolling her eyes at me too. Really.)  I miss taking care of her.  But I am SO glad her friends call and remind me of games, or just stay in touch. 
I know SHE KNEW her friends  would be there for us.  She picked GREAT friends.

And ANOTHER great friend was next on my list on this busy Saturday.  Angie.  Went to her FIRST baby shower.  Bennett Thomas is due to arrive November 12.  Hard to believe.  
She's excited and happy and looks great.  One more shower to go - next Sunday.  She's just about ready for his arrival!

Ok. So I saved the best for last.  

Monday after a busy day with the boys, we came home to relax, maybe even take a nap.
I was reading (yep, in that picture up there).  Max LOVES to work on puzzles, and I have lots of them.  He went out to their little table, picked a puzzle, came and sat on the floor next to me and said "I'm going to do this f*n puzzle)".  I THOUGHT I heard what he said, but wasn't sure...so I asked him.  "WHAT did you say Max?"  

He looked up, innocently, and said "I'm going to do this F*n puzzle."

I looked at Andrew, like I couldn't believe he said THAT, and Andrew said
"He said he's going to do that F*n puzzle".

Before I went outside to laugh, I looked at him and said "If your daddy said that, I'd have to put soap in his mouth.  That is a DIRTY word, Max."  

His bottom lip went out, quivering, "Are you mad at me Pamma?"

It was SO innocent.  
So while I was on the deck laughing, I was also dialing Nick.
"You need to stop dropping the "F" bomb in front of your kids!"

They are working on it.  

Hopefully, MAX won't drop the "F" bomb at school.  If he does, HOPEFULLY
they won't understand.  

We'll be working on it here too.  

(I can actually HEAR Melissa laughing at this one.  How I wish I could pick up the phone and call HER so SHE could post this.  ANOTHER thing I miss every day....)

Have a great fall.

Love you and miss you every single day Melissa.

Grief is....

this subject never gets old for me.

Just when I think I am "making" it, I have a setback.  Usually I can figure out what "triggers" it.  Right now, it's my birthday.  Tomorrow.  Last birthday with Melissa, we went shopping.  Me, Melissa and Mere.  Kohls.  She wasn't feeling good THEN.  She would sit down every couple of minutes, out of breath.  In August.  I was looking at jewelry and saw a ring (costume jewelry of course!) that looked like an engagement ring.  She asked me if I liked it.  I said yes, so she said "I'll buy it for your for your birthday, but you know we'll be engaged".    And I have worn it ever since.  My last birthday gift from her.

I haven't been able to sleep lately.  Actually, I cry myself to sleep...usually 3 am before I finally drift off.  You see, the grieving process is NEVER ending.  Especially when you lose a child.  So when I was reading the Compassionate Friends page yesterday and I came across GRIEF IS...  I had to share it.  It really explains not just what I am going through, but what a lot of bereaved parents are going through.  As always, it's one day at a time (some days one MOMENT at a time...)

***

Grief is:Swollen eyes,confusing,feeling of no connection to anything,good times can make you feel guilty,isolated,ashamed,migraines,no energy,loss of interest,feeling fear constantly,racing thoughts,an internal sadness,desperation,overwhelming fear that you will lose another,feeling of all your dreams are over,a feeling of I should not feel good or have any pleasure since my loved one can’t, happy one minute in complete desperation the next,a desire to die to be reunited with our loved ones.So when you ask me how I feel? I am unable to tell you all this…..Its hard to describe something when you are full of all this.So,I thought I would write you to let you know,it’s not you.I’m just grieving.Thanks for all you’re support.Please give me some time, how long I’m not sure.My heart is broken and my life is upside down.I hope you can understand,if not,that makes me sad.I have already lost enough,I don’t want to lose you…..

Angie Cartwright.

***
While I have been struggling to get through the last few days...Andrew and Max have been keeping me PLENTY busy on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Yesterday I went to their house first thing in the morning.  They played in their new sandbox, rode their new bikes, played some hoops on their new basketball hoop and a little t-ball on their new t-ball set, then met PopPop for lunch at McDonalds.  Today we went to the Air Force Museum, visited all three hangers and had a picnic lunch outside the museum.  They were both sound asleep when we got home.    The good thing is, I have lots of fun things planned for Mondays and Tuesdays.  Like Field Trips with Pamma, every time we're together.  Fun for all of us.  

And of course, I will close with photos of Andrew & Max.  Fort wouldn't have it any other way...

                                 Max with his new T-ball stuff...

 Max and GG (Great Grandma Fortener) and his new Thomas blanket (made by GG)

                              Drew with HIS blanket from GG

                                       New bikes

                            The BIRTHDAY BOY...Maxwell Irvin "3"

                                       New sandbox....

                        Lunch at McDonald's with PopPop and Pamma

                          Max with the astronaut @ AF Museum

                                                    Pilot

                                                Co-pilot

                                            ....WORN OUT!

...with new book on "Airplanes" FIRMLY in his hands! 


~~~~If you haven't been there, and you are ever in Dayton, be sure to visit the Air Force Museum...it is one of the very few FREE museums you can see.  Definitely worth your time. 

Have a good one...

Still playin' after all these years...

...and we WON.  League AND tournament!  Sponsored the last two years by Angie's Firehouse Tavern, this year we were in the over 35 league.  I KNOW Melissa would be so proud.  I think she was amazed that I was still playing at 50.  (that was the year I tore my hamstring, last game of the season against the BEST team in the league.  Thought I could beat out the throw to first from the best shortstop in the league...NOT.  I didn't, took a HUGE stride to beat out the throw and tore the hamstring, fell to the ground in a heap.  The other team thought I hit my head, so someone on their team called the squad.    Donny yelled "She's fine.  Get her off the field."  ME.  His wife.  Get her off the field.  Really?  Nick AND Melissa were BOTH at the game (Melissa had a treatment the next morning and was spending the night.) They ended up sitting in the emergency room with me (after following me in the ambulance to the hospital).  I thought I might have broken some ribs I hit the ground so hard.  The doctor in the ER actually told me "you are too old to be playing softball."  I don't know how to say this and be nice, but she was probably over 300 lbs....I wanted to say to her "and you're too *** to be a doctor."  But I didn't.  Why would you tell someone who is still ACTIVE to stop being active?????? Donny, Melissa and Nick ALL gave me a hard time, but NEVER told me to stop playing.  So I showed her...six years later and I'm STILL playing.  Kind of.  Me and Susie (one of our pitchers) will never let the team forfeit.  I did play in a few games this summer.  Not a great game for me tonight (0-3), but not too bad at first (for the two innings I played).  I'll do the same thing next year if Donny coaches.

So, summer is officially over.  Softball season is over and school has started...without me.  Making lists of lots of things I need to get done around the house.  It's hard to change things from the way they were when Melissa was here.  I know she would approve, but it's comforting to have things JUST the way they were when SHE was here.  One thing at a time....one day at a time.

 Drew and Max - getting ready for a visit to their new preschool

 Me & Mike Fink - good friend from high school in for reunion

Coach Fortener with trophy, and the 2012 Angie's Firehouse team -
League Champions AND Tournament Champions!

HEAVEN

I think we have an idea what Melissa is enjoying in heaven…we had a piece of it on our recent vacation.  We went on our first cruise with one of Donny’s fraternity brothers and his wife (Curt  “Mange” and Mary Clifford).  Haven’t

Seen them but once a year at Homecoming at Wilmington…until last year.

Their daughter, Courtney, died of ovarian cancer a year ago February.  She was 27.  Too young too.  We have a lot in common. 

Actually, our daughters had a lot in common too.  Both very outgoing, athletic, energetic and competitive.  Always played (or fought) to win.

They were GREAT travelling companions (I hope they felt the same way about us!)

The cruise was to the Carribbean – Grand Turk Island (Turks & Caicos), Half Moon Cay (private island owned by Carnival Cruise lines) and Nassau.

My favorite – Half Moon Cay.  I am not an ocean swimmer.  I’m an ocean wader.  Ankle deep.  Don’t like swimming where there are fish bigger than me that might want me for lunch. At Half Moon Cay, I felt like I was swimming in a POOL!  The water was beautiful.  Did a little snorkeling there too.  We were in the water with Mange and Mary and I said “I think we have

An idea what Melissa and Courtney get in heaven.  Only they get it EVERY day.  Forever. 

I can honestly say that this was the first time in three years that I didn’t think of anything for an entire week.  We had fun every day.  Seven days.

It CAN happen.  And the nice thing?  We could talk about our daughters

As much as we wanted.  And we did.  But we got to know EACH OTHER too.

Funny story.  What we found out was Mary and Donny are a lot alike.  Both organizers.  Both keep very busy all the time.  The first morning at breakfast in the dining room, Donny & Mary BOTH brought the itinerary for the day (they put an itinerary for the day under your cabin door every morning).  As they were reading over the itinerary, they both got excited about a meeting in the Paladium (theatre) at 9:45 – it was all about all the activities for the day.  They thought we really needed to go to the meeting…

Mange said “I’d rather go to the bar”.  I said “I’d rather go to the casino.”

So it was decided that Donny and Mary would go to the meeting and plan our day.  As we were returning to our rooms, Mary turned around and said

“What time did you want to meet me in the shower?”  Needless to say, we all stopped in our tracks, looked at Mary with our mouthes dropping – What the…?????  And laughed until our stomachs hurt.  One of those “why did I say that” moments. 

It was a great start to a great week.  And it got better every day. 

I can honestly say that I didn’t think that a week like that would ever happen again. 

What I know is that while I will never stop missing Melissa, EVER, and the pain of not having her here will never go away, I know that there will be good days woven into the bad days.  Sometimes bad moments woven into good moments. 

The timing of this vacation was perfect.  With the approach of fall, which Melissa LOVED LOVED LOVED, I have a little ache in my heart when the leaves start changing.  It’s painful knowing that we will never share the beauty of a fall day again in my lifetime.  Rugby matches, football games, Halloween.  Fall walks.  I love the fall too…but with the arrival of fall, the holidays are not far behind.  I’m pretty sure that Nov/Dec/Jan will never be the same for me.  Donny and I will celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with Nick, Mere and the boys in some way…because we are making memories for our grandsons.  And I want them to be happy memories.  But those three months bring back some very painful memories.  No matter how hard you try,

Every day, really beginning with October 19, JP’s birthday, brings back a memory.  Flashbacks.  So I do as much as I can do, but it isn’t much.

I’m thinking about maybe doing Christmas cards this year…but even thinking about it is hard.  Really.  Will just have to wait and see how I’m feeling then.

On the Compassionate Friends page on Facebook, they posted a comment from a newly bereaved mom.  She is wondering if she will ever “get better”.  Over 200 responses from people who have lost a child or children…and one really hit home with me.  Her daughter died 28 years ago.  She said “in the beginning I had a hard time just getting out of bed…after a while, I realized that all I had to do was deal with each day, one day at a time.  I couldn’t face a lifetime without her”….wow.  That is exactly how I feel… I can’t face a lifetime without her…so I will take ONE DAY at a TIME.  And get through each day the best I can (until I see her again!)…that doesn’t make a lifetime seem so overwhelming…sometimes I might even get through more than ONE day.  A little slice of heaven is good for the soul…especially when  a piece of your heart is missing…

And HERE is a little slice of heaven…

                             After dinner drinks...lemoncello...yum!

                               Heaven...on the beach

          Disembarking...onto Grand Turk Island

 My masseuse, Megan, who I found out lived in Centerville (a few miles from Kettering!)

      Nope, this is not a pool...the beach at Half Moon Cay.  Heaven.

 Mange and Mary with our waiter Oneisimo (from Honduras)

 In the disco for 1972 night (the 3 1972 graduates)...we were the only ones there...funny!

 Even had a library on the ship....heaven for a librarian!

 Enjoying Ft. Lauderdale before heading home...

Donny and our "former" neighbor Mike (his mom and dad are still our neighbors.

Now the Marriott on Ft. Lauderdale beach.  Formerly...I can't remember. But it is the same hotel we stayed in with the kids in the summer of 1982.  Donny worked for NCR at the time and had to go to Ft. Lauderdale on business.  Instead of flying, he decided that he would take all of us and we would drive to Florida.  He had never been there, and was VERY excited to see the ocean for the first time.  At the time, we had a Fairmont station wagon. Silver woody wagon (if you are as old as we are, you know what a woody wagon is)...NO air conditioning.  in the 60s and 70s, not all cars had AC.  

Melissa was around 3 1/2, Nick was probably 18 mos then.  No car seats either.  

So we are driving to Florida, and Donny decides that we can drive straight through.  He wants to GET THERE.  Fort Lauderdale.  That is a 19-23 hour drive straight through.

With a 3 year old and a 1 year old....When I took over the driving, I told him we WERE stopping to spend the night some where.  The kids needed to sleep AND needed baths.

So we stopped at the King Frog Hotel in Georgia.  I think you can still find it on I-75. We got there around midnight, Donny called for a wake up call at 4 am.  Really.  He wanted to get back on the road ASAP.  So the kids got a bath, and about 4 hours of sleep.  Good enough for Donny.  Of course we couldn't stop for breakfast because we had donuts in the car, they could eat those.  About the time we got on the Florida turnpike, Nick started looking a little green.  He was sitting on my lap, cuddling and gurgling....and he threw up.  All over me.  All of our luggage was packed on top of the car.  All I had IN the car was an extra pair of jeans.  Long jeans.  And we were headed for Ft. Lauderdale...in JULY.  We pulled off the road, I changed clothes on the side of the road, put the puked on clothes in a bag and put on jeans. With no AC in the car...

No one was happier to get to the hotel in Ft. Laud than ME.  

We had an awesome room with a view of the ocean.  Donny was working every day, I was at the pool every day with the kids.   With two adorable towheads, I had no trouble making friends at the pool... two couples - one from Pittsburg, one couple from England, AND the pool boy who sold suntan lotion by the pool.  Heaven.  During that week, the aircraft carrier INDEPENDENCE was in port in Ft. Lauderdale.  It was anchored about 3 miles out on the beach.  The two couples I met invited me and kids to go out and tour the aircraft carrier.  All we needed was a sailor to give us a pass, which we had no problem finding.  They thought we could get there on a helicopter, which would have been awesome, but instead we went over on a Liberty boat.  Standing only.

With a one year old and a three year old.  But I did have four people to help me.  It was incredible.  Unfortunately Melissa and Nick were too young to remember, except for the photos I took.  I remember though.  

That trip ended up being a TWO week vacation because Donny had to work there an extra week.  A great vacation for a family with no money to take their kids on a vacation!  

The kids remember I KNOW because we talked about this vacation so much when they were little.  The vacation they remember was our 3 1/2 week trip out west.  Driving.

But that's ANOTHER post.  

And of course, a little Drew and Max are good for the soul too....

                                        Andrew

                            Max 

Retirement begins next Monday.  Teachers go back the 13th.  I will go to the breakfast, 

they will go to their buildings after breakfast...I will do whatever I feel like doing...for the first time in 26 years.  It feels good.

If you have kids going back to school, remember that those kids (1, 2, 3 or however many are driving you crazy at the end of the summer) are going back to a classroom with 20-25 (or more) kids...just like YOUR kids.  You had a couple to deal with, teachers have 10 times that...remember that when you think teachers have a cushy job. 

OH...and one more thing.  I was on the softball team again this year.  Only played if we didn't have enough players...our team will never forfeit a game because we don't have enough players!  

They did need me last week, so I played.  First base.  (When you are married to the coach, you get to play any position you want.  First base is the only position I can play).

So fast forward to the bottom of the sixth.  We are ahead, 8-0.  I get my first hit of the game (I was 1 for 3).  Two batters later, I am on third base.  Donny is coaching first base. Two outs.  

Here is how Donny coaches ME at third base.  "You really look good.  You have nice legs.  etc etc"...he forgets to tell me that I can't step on home plate.  

So I don't just STEP on home plate when the next girl up gets a GREAT hit...I JUMP on home plate with BOTH feet.  The umpire yells "OUT".  Donny looks at him and yells "WHO IS OUT??? They didn't even make the play at first!"  He looks at Donny (we know the umpire) and he says "Pam is out.  She stepped on home plate."  

Fortunately the team we were playing did not have a good last inning, and we won the game.  Actually, won the league.  And if we win again next Tuesday, we win the tournament too...no thanks to me.... (but I AM still playing at 56...something to be said for THAT)...

And enjoy the fall.  

I'll be back.....

(Love you and miss you EVERY day Melissa....)