Just My Luck

I bought "Smile More" stickers for my daughters and I to put on our cars, just like Davy had on his. I put mine on the van a few days before I found out she was totaled. My timing of pulling the trigger and putting that sticker on the van could not have been worse! Luckily, they don't cost much ... and I'll get another one.

Davy's "Smile More" ...

Somebody Was Pretty Proud of His Tower

And that same somebody was crushed when his little sister knocked it down. Siblings are fun, aren't they?! lol

Good-bye, Savannah :(

My driveway is uphill and curvy, so I had to move Savannah to the street to make it easier for the insurance company to pick her up. I feel so sorry for her. Other than regular maintenance, and the occasional non-essential feature that quit working, she's been very reliable.

I know cars, don't "feel", but I feel sorry for her. If she could feel, I'm sure she'd be wondering why I'm suddenly making her sleep on the streets ... or that I'm casting her aside like a man that leaves his old wife and for a younger one. She'll be going to auction somewhere, and someone will buy her, fix the deer dents and the automatic locks, and she'll be like new again ... and whoever buys her will get a very loved, reliable vehicle. The kids and I took so many fun vacations and made so many wonderful memories in her. I needed a new vehicle, but it's still hard to let her go.

I get way too attached to inanimate objects, especially vehicles. Every time I've gotten a new one, I think about the episode of Wonder Years when they got a new car. The whole neighborhood was checking out their new car, while the family was standing on the sidewalk, their back to their new car, sadly watching their old station wagon get towed away. That's how I've always felt when I bought a new car and had to say good-bye to my old one ... and that is definitely how I'll feel when they come to pick up Savannah.

I Fnally Bit the Bullet

And bought a new car ... and EcoSport Titanium 4WD!

I had planned on driving Savannah (my van) until she died happily in her sleep, but the damage (in dollars) of that deer running into the side of my van last January, bouncing and making dents all down the side, well ... the damage exceeded the value of my van. It still mechanically sound, but the power locks and rear defrost no longer work. It really was time to get a new vehicle, but I didn't want to let go of Savannah!

As lame as it sounds, I LOVED my van! The kids and I took spend a lot of road time in her driving to the beach or taking short adventures all over the south and mid-west. Once my kids were grown and all driving, a friend excitedly said, "Now you can get rid of your van!" I told him, "I don't want to get rid of my van! I love her!!!!" He look at me like, "Why? Why would anyone drive a minivan if they didn't have to?"

The kids and I made so many happy memories in that van. There's a shark lost somewhere in her depths ... the Van Shark, as the kids called it. I think we bought it as a souvenir on our way to or on Ocracoke Island one time. Somehow, it got lost in the van and we've never been able to find it.

I get way too attached to things ... I'm still mourning the round brush I lost in the early 1990's ... and getting rid of every car I've had has been emotional. But, if I was able to find the strength to let go of Davy's car, I suppose I can let go of Savannah (Davy named her).

I don't know what I'm going to name this vehicle, but I'll think of something. Right now, I'm more worried about learning what all the buttons do and how to customize the dash settings!

Naming Dogs

My youngest daughter has a German Shepherd. Being of "German" descent, she was named Heidi. She goes to Doggie Day Care a couple of days a week (and LOVES it). Here she is in a picture with a bulldog. I would have named him/her Helen or George or some other old fashioned name.

Are you ready to hear the bulldogs name? FLUFFY! I think that's hilarious!!!!

I Love the Colors of Spring

I wish the trees and plants that only flower in the spring could bloom until winter. They're so pretty!

10 Months

Davy, I miss you more every day.

Davy's Babies LOVE Their Easter Cards :)

I don't know which is cuter ... the stickers all over Sweet Pea's face ...

Or the sweet smile on Super Why's face because he got a "Dino" card ...

My Daughter's Don't Think This is Funny

But I think it's hilarious and I laugh every time I see it!!!

 

Funny How Easter Shopping Can Be a Trigger

Davy LOVED tootsie rolls. I don't know why, but he did, so he always got them in his Easter basket. I've always given my kids gifts on all the holidays ... Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day, etc ... and Davy's almost always included Tootsie Rolls.

I had to fight back tears when I saw Tootsie Roll Eggs. I've never seen them before, and Davy would have loved them. Shopping for the holidays is so hard right now. It doesn't feel right not buying anything for my son.

I keep a spreadsheet of everything I buy for Christmas, Birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. I can't bring myself to remove Davy from them ... but when I'm adding what I bought, it breaks my heart that Davy's boxes are now empty.

Burning Bush

I don't particularly care for fall. The days are nice (sometimes), but it's cold (meaning it's below 70º) in the morning and the evening. I may not appreciate the cooler temps, but I do enjoy the colors of the foliage.

I had to go to the east side of town one day last fall, and passed a brilliantly red burning bush ... it was spectacular!!!!

Another One Gone Too Soon

I went to the funeral home yesterday for the 21 year old son of one of my high school classmates. I haven't seen or talked to him since high school, and I didn't know his wife at all ... but I felt compelled to go. He didn't recognize me and I wouldn't have known who he was if I didn't know he was the father.

As I waited in line to talk to them, I realized how far I've come since Davy's showing and funeral. I've still got a long way to go, but I have made progress. The pain of losing my son is still raw, but I don't feel the way this man and his wife now feel. They are in shock, just as I was. The first few weeks and months you're numb with disbelief. You walk around in a fog. You're on autopilot. For the life of me, I can't remember much from last summer and fall.

I don't know how this young man died, and I didn't feel it was my place to ask. It doesn't matter really how he died ... he's gone and there will be a hole in the lives of all those who knew and loved him. My heart goes out to his family. I wish I could say I can only imagine their pain, but I don't have to imagine ... I'm living it.

Haha!

Multi-tasking

Babysitting two stuffed cats, a baby doll, all while holding Super Why's hand. He is such a sweetie. I love Saturdays! 💓

Flowers

I planted this in a concrete container on the steps to my front porch last year. I don't remember what kind of flower it is, but it flowered all summer and into the fall ... when the squirrels ate it ... but isn't it gorgeous?

I Got Most of the Tree Cut Up

There are still logs to cut into firewood, and the biggest part of the tree is untouched, but I got enough removed that I could at least cut the grass. If we have a pretty weekend, I'm hoping to finish the job.

Before ...

After ...

A VERY Sweet Gift

My daughter-in-law gave me a memorial bench for my yard. She a post I wrote about butterflies (you can read it here). The bench she bought me had butterflies on it, so when she saw it, she knew I'd love it. I sat it by the tree we planted in Davy's memory a few weeks after he was killed last summer.

Here are a few pictures of it. Nevermind all the wood and giant tree that fell in my yard ... I'm working on cutting it up so that I can cut the grass!

 

 

I had originally set it beside the tree before moving it behind the tree. The tree is just starting to bud. Once it's in bloom, I plan to sit on that bench and marvel in it's beauty. We sprinkled ashes into the hole before planting the tree, so it's not just a memorial tree for Davy, he is actually part of the tree. You can read about planting the tree here.

According to Davy's Son ...

This is not a Dragon Fly ... it's a Dino Fly ...

Feeding Time at the Zoo!

Anybody Remember Sugar Toast?

And still make it for yourself as an adult?!!