Video Stores

 

I watched "The Last Blockbuster" on Netflix this afternoon and it brought back so many memories. I'd all but forgotten all of our trips to the video store! When video stores were on every corner, the kids and I would rent video's pretty much every weekend. It was a fun family outing. In the early years, I could only afford to rent one video for all of us and I'd order a pizza when we got home. But, as my income grew, each kid got to rent a movie of their choice. We'd buy candy and popcorn, stop for fast food afterwards, then head home.

Sometimes there was a specific movie we were looking for., and later games (once they started renting them). Other (most) times we'd all just wander around and see what struck our fancy.

Once we got home, the kids all had smiles on their faces. They were happy, which made me happy! The kids got to stay up past their bedtime eating junk food while we'd watch our movies. Half the time one (or all) of them would be asleep by the time it was all said and done. I'd have to wake them up, and they'd all stumble up the stairs to go to bed. In the morning I'd come downstairs to one of the movies or game being played. 

As much as I enjoy the convenience of streaming services, I feel sorry for the families that no longer have that option. It was something to look forward to and do together as a family. It was fun! 

The kids and I did everything together, and it was wonderful. I loved making them happy! Even so, I was overwhelmed as a single parent and longed for some "alone time". Now they are grown, married, and have families of their own with which to make their own traditions and rituals ... and all I want is to go back to the days I struggled to make ends meet and spent all my days and nights making memories with them.

I guess they're running out of unique ways to say "A man was shot Tuesday"

 

Ummmm .... I'm gonna need to see the math on that!!

From an online article ...

"At least three children in U.S. immigration custody died from flu infections during the 2018 flu season. That’s nine times the mortality rate of the general pediatric population."

Thank You to All Veteran's, Past and Present

I've always stressed to my kids the importance of the sacrifices of the men and women in the armed forces who fight to keep us safe. My father fought in the Army Air Force in the Pacific Theater during WWII, one of my brother-in-laws fought in Vietnam, both of my brothers joined the (Army and Marines), and another brother-in-law and one of my nephew's were in the Navy. My nephew spent eight months in Afghanistan, during which time his youngest daughter was born. We were fortunate in that they all came home ... but many others didn't.

It has always amazed me that there are people out there who willing take a job that could easily kill them ... and not just Veteran's, but police and firefighters as well. I don't possess the kind of bravery it takes to do such a job. I suppose I could summon the courage if necessary, but luckily, I don't have to ... there are men and women who willingly step up to protect us.

When I was going through some old drawings and things from my kids, I came across this letter Thing 2 "mailed" to Davy's room. It made my heart filled with pride that my children absorbed the words I told them and wished to silently honor our Veteran's.

Volunteer Phlox Flower ... in September!

While working in the yard Sunday, I noticed one lone Phlox flower, directly in front of Bird Girl. I'm sure it's happened to other's, but I have never had a Phlox flower outside of spring. What a sweet surprise!

Mission Accomplished

I planted the boxwoods last summer. This past June I laid landscape fabric and a brick edging ... and then it sat. I finally laid the mulch yesterday. It was a long, hot day, and I ended up filthy and exhausted ... but satisfied and happy that the chore was over.

A VERY Nice Neighbor

My neighbor directly across from me has been cutting the grass on my hill by the driveway all summer because it's too hard for me to do it.

The blue arrow points to the neighbor's house.

He had a heart attack about a month ago and isn't supposed to do anything strenuous, so he hired someone to cut his grass ... AND my hill! I nearly cried. Isn't that one of the kindest things you've ever heard of?

Typical Day at the Office

I'm kinda sick of computers!

Paper Airplanes

Davy spent one summer making paper airplanes daily ... by the thousands. I didn't care that he made them and sailed them all over the house, I just got tired of picking them all up everyday! Eventually, he was banned from making paper airplanes.

So, for my birthday this year, my daughter-in-law gave me a necklace with a paper airplane, his initial, and his birthstone. She is so thoughtful and I treasure this necklace.

The Meg

Thing 2 and Davy lived for shark week. They'd watch all those ridiculous shark movies and laugh their heads off. "The Meg" was scheduled to come out last summer, and Thing 2 was going to take Davy to see it at the movies. Sadly, he was killed before it was released. After spending thousands and thousands of hours of their childhood at Burdette, watching a silly shark movie there seemed like a great way to honor him ... to do one of the things he would have loved to do. I'm sure the movie was expected to be scary ... it wasn't!

Last night a group of us went to Burdette Park for "The Meg Float-In". You could either float around in the pool or lounge in one of the deck chairs while watching "The Meg" ... a cheesy sci-fi movie about scientists accidentally releasing prehistoric megalodons from deep withing the ocean. Wikipedia says megalodons reached a maximum length of 59 feet. However, the ones in the movie were 90 feet long. (Creative license, I suppose!)

The movie wasn't nearly as ridiculous and comical as a lot of shark movies shown during Shark Week, but it wasn't as "scary" as Jaws ... and it was definitely predictable!

My daughters opted to float in the pool most of the time, but us old ladies ... although we all wore swim suits ... opted to sit in deck chairs at the edge of the pool. And, since I'm notoriously early, we were able to grab front row seats. They had to keep the spotlights on so that the lifeguards (and parents) could see everyone, which made it a little difficult to watch the shockingly small screen, but it was still fun hanging out with my daughters and friends and making fun of the plot and dialogue.

There were a lot of people there, but Burdette's baby pull is huge, with plenty of room to accomodate everyone who wanted to float or lounge on the deck. All in all, it was a very pleasant evening, and I'm glad we went.

I am Really Struggling

After Davy died, I read that sometimes the second year is worse than the first. I really hoped that wasn't going to be the case ... but it is. It's infinitely worse. I have also heard from someone that year three is much, MUCH better. I hate to wish my life away, but I sure wish I were in year three.

I am really struggling to come to terms with the fact that my son is gone ... that his sisters are mourning so deeply for him ... and that he did not get the pleasure of watching is little children grow up. He got just two birthdays with his son and only one with his daughter. To me, that is so sad.

Life isn't fair and it doesn't always make sense. I am working very hard at finding joy and happiness, but at this point in my story, it's eluding me.

One day I'll be whole again. One day I'll laugh and be happy. It's hard to conceive, but I know it's true. I just have to plow through the sludge a while longer to get there.

Fairy's

It seems as though another fairy family has taken up residence in my backyard!

Cozy Coupes

My little family has a long history of driving Cozy Coupes!

Davy

  

Officer Super Why (who looks like he's getting car-jacked!)

Sweet Pea

And Hercules!

He'd rather push the cars around, but sometimes he gets in and drives.

Another Rainbow!

The other morning there was a complete double rainbow across the sky when I was leaving downtown. Thing 2 said it was Davy saying "Good morning." I like that idea.

Then this morning I was out by the airport around 6:00 and saw a piece of a rainbow. I was hoping Davy would send me another rainbow ... and he did :)

Crepe Myrtles

I severely trimmed my Crepe Myrtles the other night. It was kind of sad, because the blooms had to be cut off to get them to the shape I wanted them to be. I had always intended to train them to grow into trees, but I had neglected to trim them, so they were wild. They all got quite a haircut!

I had to stake two of them to draw them straight. They look a little strange (and sad) now ... particularly the one on the far right ... but I'm hoping by next year they'll behave and become the trees they were meant to be!

If they don't make it, I'll rip them out and plant something else!

Hummingbird Heaven

I ran to Rural King to see what plants they might have on clearance ... nothing but herbs ... so I bought some hummingbird feeders. Five to be exact, so now I have six hummingbird feeders around my house. There's the original one at the kitchen window, one in the living room window, the bathroom window, and outside each bedroom. I barely got them hung before I heard those tiny 747's buzzing by!!

You might have to zoom in to see them ... but they're there!

Really?

I had to take a detour, through a rather seedy part of town, and came across this sickening display ...

Can you believe we're still dealing with this in 2019?????

Live

I don't live my life to the fullest. I used to, just not lately. Even when I was living to the fullest, I rarely did so with the gusto Davy did ... always! He was fearless and ready for any adventure at a moments notice. I admired that in him and wished it was a quality I possessed more fully. Davy can't go on any more adventures ... but I can go for him. I need to use him for inspiration and LIVE the rest of my life in honor of the adventures Davy will no longer get to take.

A Star for Davy

When we had the cookout a couple weekends ago, one of my sisters and her son stopped by a few hours before the "party". Neither of them could make it to the cookout, but they wanted to drop off a present for me ... a star named in Davy's memory!

I wanted to do this. I went so far as to put a start in my cart, but didn't check out. I am SO grateful to my sister and her family for doing this for me!

My family has been phenomenal this past year as the girls and I mourned Davy. They worried about us, called, sent small gifts, etc. I am very grateful to have such a caring family ... and I hope I'm the only one who has to lose a child. I wouldn't wish something like that on my worst enemy.

This past year has been a challenge and I think the coming year will be challenging as well, but I'm surrounded by friends and family that are always there for me. Despite the tragedies that have visited us these past few years, I still feel very blessed.

Happy 25th Birthday Davy!

We laid you to rest one year ago today, on your 24th birthday. I'm jealous that God and Jesus and the angels get to celebrate another birthday with you and I don't 😥.

I love and miss you, son. Happy Birthday, Davy.