Please welcome my brother to journal land! His journal is entitled, I am better at writing than speaking....and he says the title says it all! A father, husband, cop, Christian and so much more.
http://journals.aol.com/ktmcoach/Iambetteratwritingthanspeaking/
There are so many reasons that I’ve neglected my journal lately. If I’d taken the time to write about many of the things that have been going on, I’d have some pretty special individual entries. Now the moments have passed, and I am not sure that I can recreate the enthusiasm or interest that I had at time. Rather, this will be just a jumbled catch-up of the past couple of weeks, to let my friends and family know I am okay and for my historical record.
Today begins Abs third week of boarding high school and I am happy to say….she LOVES it! Actually, in all this time, I’ve only had a few emails from her begging me NOT to pick her up to show/sell her lamb at the county fair because she doesn’t want to miss any classes! (Good Lord! My child has been abducted and just who is this cooperative little imposter?) And, she said she has “many friends” and “this place is cool…way better than home!” Score one for mom!
Parent’s weekend is October 15th and 16th and I guess that will be the first time I will see her, since she’s not coming home for the fair. I can’t wait to talk with her, find out about all her classes and meet all her new friends! I’m hoping to see a very happy teenager at that time.
I am thoroughly enjoying this empty nest and I think the best part about it is that my house stays clean! The freedom that I am experiencing is almost a little daunting. I’ve been raising kids for a long, long time and I’ve never had this feeling that all I have to worry about is me! One Saturday, I took off to Los Angeles, to visit my Uncle Lee and his stepson who’d come from Northern California to see OSU and UCLA play in the Rose Bowl. I couldn’t let them come within a few hundred miles and not be able to give them a hug! I met them after the game at the Burbank Hilton and enjoyed a nice dinner and then spent the night with them in their suite. Since they had an early plane to catch the next morning, I had the place to myself, so I propped up my feet and enjoyed the very thick Sunday Edition of the Los Angeles Times before stopping in the hotel restaurant for a nice quiet breakfast. After my meal, I hit the road and did a little shopping on the way up the mountain. Another great mini-vacation!
My Grandma Jessie is just barely hanging in there. My Aunt Mary called the other morning and said that Grandma had a very rough night. Mary is at the point that she’s staying with her constantly because she‘s told her how tired she is and “I guess 89 years is enough.” Grandma was pretty coherent yesterday when I called to tell her how much I love her. She said, “I know Lisa and I love you too. I’ve just had soooo much love in my life!” I then said, “Grandma if you go to Heaven soon, would you please tell my dad how much I love and miss him?” She replied in her sweet Okie drawl, “Oh, yes I will and your mother too!”
I just cried because I thought that was so very sweet! What an amazing woman.
More later.
The car packed was packed to it’s breaking point Saturday with nearly all the essentials needed by a 13 year old heading to boarding school. Tam, Ab and I made the best of our 3½ hour trip on Saturday to Ab’s new school, by joking and talking about the adventures she would experience in the new setting. After an extended summer that she was really getting to like, Ab joked that she’d rather stay home and eat Cheetos, than go back to school.
Especially “that one” where she didn’t know anybody!
Ab mentioned that she was glad Tam came along to help her decorate her half of the dormitory room. As if I couldn’t hang a poster of Kurt Cobain! Geez. It was my job to make the bed. I can guarantee that’s the last time it will be made for quite some time.
Upon arrival we were glad to see an eclectic mix of kids, also new to the school, as the “returning students” were not going to arrive until the following day. Of course to hear her tell it, they were all “preps!”
I knew when I saw the girl wearing way too much dark make-up and a fan-folded dollar bill in her hair as a very stylish bow, a teacher that had wide
purple stripes in her hair, and a White boy with a huge afro, that Ab would eventually find a kindred spirit. Walking to the beat of a different drum has some advantages.She wore her “You’ve ruined my life and can’t you tell I am clearly miserable here” look for the entire registration period, which had the desired effect on me. It was especially heart-wrenching when I heard that Ab’s Korean roommate ditched her after dinner for a group of Asian girls. Then Ab wandered around by herself for quite awhile.
Later, during the dorm meeting, she made sure to stand away from the group of giggling and happy girls who were there to introduce themselves. I watched her from my perch on the hearth of the fireplace and breathed a little sigh of relief when I saw that Tam had forced some interaction with Ab and another new girl who was also off on the sidelines. “Tansy” commented on how cool Ab’s Slipknot shirt was and I think they found some common ground.
I am hoping by now that she’s found a group of kind girls that will welcome my shy one into their fold. My parent’s handbook says it takes about 2 weeks for the kids to workout their social circles, before they can start settling into the routine of school. First things first, I guess.
Their schedule is so full for the few days that I haven’t heard from her and I am just beside myself. I can’t wait to hear how it’s going and I am praying that she’s doing better than when I left her. It’s so tough, but I know I did the right thing and I am betting in a few months, she‘s going to love it there!
Today for the umpteenth time in so many years, I presented myself at our Superior Court for my civic responsibility.....Jury Duty.
In my opinion, considering my background, I'd make a hell of a juror, but for some reason, those defense people just don't like me in the jury pool. I was excused and out the door with the second preemptory challenge. Thanks but NO thanks, they say. So, I will see them again this time next year for more of the same.
Time for some awesome news...............My girlchild was accepted to the Arts Academy High School as a Visual Arts student and awarded.......ahem.......$25,270 in scholarship funds for this school year! I couldn't believe it! This is a dream come true! She had to have an additional telephonic interview with the Dean of the Visual Arts department, which was the clincher. He indicated that her artwork was very "fresh!"
I think she's going to love it there and really discover her true talent and passion in the various art forms that she'll have a chance to study. This is a college preparatory school with demanding academics, but small enough that they will keep her busy and on track with her study skills, in a positive environment with kids that have similar interests. I am praying that she makes some awesome friends this year.
We are currently in the process of packing and getting everything together for her arrival at the school this Saturday, with classes to begin on Monday! Today I bought her a desk/study lamp, and colorful new bedding for her dormroom. And a flashlight, because classes go until 6:30 pm. Yesterday I filled up a new fangled plastic footlocker with new shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, new jammies, socks, writing materials, a laundry bag/soap, etc. Thank goodness I taught her how to do laundry because she's on her own there with that! We still have to shop for some new clothes and a "fashionable" backpack, by Friday. Yikes!
My personal and professional life this past week had me spinning 90 miles an hour (a poor choice of words, all considered) and I am ashamed to say I didn’t realize the magnitude of the destruction and devastation caused Hurricane Katrina until Friday night when I finally sat down in front of the television and watched the benefit concert, Dateline and 20/20. Nothing drives a point home like seeing video and hearing the horrific stories.
I am heartbroken and saddened for the sea of precious humanity awaiting help from a government who has been slow to respond to this overwhelming natural disaster. Our government’s tunnel vision focus has been on possible terrorist attacks, when in fact, “Homeland Security” is so much more. We can only pray that this is a significant wakeup call for all of us when it comes to the power of Mother Nature and the appropriate response in the aftermath.
Once again, I will try to prepare my home and family for “The Big One” that California is predicted to have one of these days. My previous efforts at ensuring “earthquake preparedness” have diminished greatly over the years. Supplies must be rotated and replenished. This disaster has reinforced the fact that a family must be self-sufficient for quite some time before expecting help. I vow to make this a priority over the next few months.
My daughter in law, along with 2500 other soldiers from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, have been deployed to Louisiana to assist in the relief effort. According to Fly Boy, she was very excited to go, despite not knowing how long they’d be there. I hope they can provide a lot of assistance and that they find it to be very rewarding. I only wish I was in a position to help. If I were retired, I’d make my way there to assist in any capacity needed. Instead, I will provide my assistance via a monetary donation to the Red Cross and pray for strength for the victims of this deadly storm.
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