Most Certainly Not

The Bowling Gene

When you're from a small, rural area, you likely aren't going to have parents who play golf every weekend. Mostly, because there are no nearby golf courses. 

My parents enjoyed bowling when I was younger. I enjoyed them bowling too. On Friday nights, each bowled in a league, one right after the other. My sister and I sometimes were allowed to go to the bowling alley. On the other nights, we spent the evening at my maternal grandparents' house and had a great time. We watched the Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas and then mom would be there to take us home unless we could successfully beg her to leave us there.

I'm sure my bowling abilities (inabilities?) made my parents question if perhaps I'd been switched at birth. I just never could quite get my act together. Try as they might, I constantly hooked it or guttered it or otherwise muffed it. And, we never played with bumpers so, you can imagine the many ways a kid could screw up that scenario. 

A couple weekends ago, M1 planned and executed a wonderful surprise birthday party for her bestie. It took place at a local bowling alley and it was immediately apparent that M2 enjoyed herself and, like pretty much any other physical activity she's ever tried, she was a natural. Today, she bowled a 70. For only her second or third time bowling, that's pretty impressive in my book given that I bowled a lot as a kid and probably didn't break 100 until I was in high school. And, as competitive as my children can be with themselves (hmmm, wonder how they developed that trait?), bowling has been fun for them so far.

No bickering. 

It could be the novelty of it. Or the shoes. Or the pizza and french fries. Not sure, but it was a nice way to spend an hour after school today. I have a feeling we'll be doing it again soon. The only blip in the girls' book was that Daddy couldn't come too, but we'll have to try it on a weekend sometime, I suppose.

At least my parents can now rest in the knowledge that the bowling gene is safe in its steward--a nearly nine-year-old little sports fiend.

Whether You Like It Or Not

The theme for this month's NaBloPoMo daily challenge is WHETHER (or weather) and given that I went to DC without my Mac, I have already failed the daily challenge because I didn't even post from my phone.

I spent an entire weekend with some of the finest people I've ever met. We've been a pack for six years give or take and this weekend, whether we liked it or not, we had to admit that things will be changing. I, of course, have tons of photos that I plan to put into a retrospective post of my time with them--all the laughs, the tears and trips.

My ability to adapt and overcome is somewhat legendary--my appreciation for having to do so and my willingness to enjoy it as it's happening is pretty non-existent. 

The chemistry of this group cannot be recreated or imitated. It also can't be extinguished by time or miles.

Nope.

These types of relationships built upon trust, shared experiences, common interests, respect, mutual affection and the utmost loyalty are so rare. It continually amazes me that I not only found it more than once, but I found it within a group from day one to the present. 

These are the kinds of friends people look for no matter how young or old they are--when they see others with individuals like this in their lives, they pine for similar connections. I could be (and have been) distraught over the abrupt end to the status quo. But, more than anything, I'm thankful for what has been and what will continue to be. For those years we spent refining our relationships, digging deep and honestly learning to appreciate the individuals, their families and their histories.

This weekend, I realized that whether the thing that brought us together exists anymore is a non-issue. One of my very core philosophies is that you cannot deal with what you wish something were or what it used to be, you must deal with what is. Thank goodness "what is" remains so steadfast and wonderful. It was a breath of fresh air to take the leap of faith--to recognize that the comfortable and familiar no longer existed except within the people themselves. 

Whether we like it or not, situations change. The marvelous thing is that whether others like it or not, bonds like ours cannot be broken. Voices like ours will not be silenced. The good we have done and will continue to do will bless us and those we meet in the future.

The awesome thing is, we didn't fall apart--we jumped together for our own reasons, but with the same result. And, for once, I'm ecstatic about it! Because when I looked around, I realized we were still standing and laughing, eating great food, drinking marvelous wine, sharing memory making moments.

That's the beauty of things that happen, whether we like it or not.

It Will Be All Your Fault

I try to volunteer at the girls' school when I can. Tomorrow, I will be there the entire afternoon. I will shuttle myself from one third grade classroom to the next to introduce the kids to Renoir and complete an art project in the spirit of his impressionist works.

I may have made a small, material mistake in selecting the tape used in the project. A real possibility exists that when I remove the tape, I will also remove the finish of the poster board.

M2 said, "Mom. If this fails, I will be a nerd. And, it will be all your fault. Just so you know."

Thanks, kid. I did not know that and I'm really relieved you cleared that right up for me.

Always with the 17

The number 17 has a ton of significance in my relationship with my husband.

We mark several great moments on the 17th of various months. February is no different.

On February 17th, ten years ago, my husband asked me to marry him.

What a long and winding road that had been...

When Do I Rest

"When do you rest?" A question commonly directed toward me anytime someone asks me what I have on my agenda for the day or week. My answer isn't always clear, because I'm not sure that I do--I sleep at night, but as far as going home and vegging out? Doesn't happen.

Work has been very busy over the past couple days. My boss was invited to speak at a conference overseas. She deserves a break and to be appreciated for the work she does. I am thrilled for her and cannot wait to hear all about it when she comes home! I also don't want her to be worrying over things, so I've been keeping several irons in a very hot fire and it's made for some rather interesting days of slotting things into open time spaces.

So far, we're managing.

And, M2 and I spent this past Saturday afternoon at a pet adoption event called, My Furry Valentine. We were just looking, but you know how sometimes window shopping turns into armloads of purchases?

Mojo Monday

I'm not sure what happened today, but I crossed every single thing off my work to-do list. [Unprecedented] The risk was ambitious, especially given that I had to leave work at 3:00 to pick up the girls and return in time for a 4:15 meeting. Wild.

I left work at 5:00 and brought the girls home. M2 had her last basketball practice at 7:00. Before we left the house at 6:30, I quickly went through some coupons and mapped out a quick trip to a market where I rarely go to "save" money. I go there because they have meat and produce I trust and wonderful other things. I realized the other day that they double coupons to a dollar--didn't realize that. Tonight with my Club Card and manufacturer's coupons, I saved 21%. That's hot.

The Simple Things

While I try to become more organized, regain some composure in my life, and find time to do things I love (like read and write), I also need to take the time to appreciate some simple things. We had speaker at a recent Scentsy event with a great, simple and familiar message. It was basically encouraging you to have perspective--as in, if it will make the write-up later (you will look back fondly), try to look at it fondly now.

I've been trying to do this a little more than usual. At least, I've been trying to find things that I enjoy and like and appreciate each day.

I Give Good Gifts

Sometimes women receive gifts from their men that they determine are more for the man than them. I don't routinely do that with my husband (although I do enjoy dressing him & keeping him smelling nice). This Christmas, though, I gave my husband a subscription to Ancestry.com and it has ended up that so far, my family tree wins the excitement award.

Last night, I made a discovery that should put me on one of those Ancestry.com commercials.

Unfathomable

If anyone had told me when this photo was taken that this dog was not healthy, I would have thought they had lost their minds.

If anyone had told me, five days later, when we took him home that he would not be with us longer than ten days, I would have thought them mad.

If anyone had told me that a week ago, when the vet suggested he might have a bad bug or something "very terribly wrong" that it might not be the bug getting him down, I'd have called them cynical.

If anyone had told me that my husband and I would have found ourselves openly weeping in each others' arms over an entity we'd met two weeks prior, I'd have doubted that fully.

But, I've been wrong before and, apparently, our streak of loss continues.

This isn't the kind of loss one of my dearest childhood friend is experiencing tonight at the passing of her father. Nor is it the kind of loss others have experienced with people in their lives.

But, at this point in our lives, this loss of this dog and the joy and unconditional love he brought into our home is a profound one.

I need this dog.

He needed us.

He had to have felt like garbage--given that his issue is more than likely some horrible genetic thing that is preventing his body from absorbing and metabolizing protein. He's wasting away now.

And yet, feeling like he did, he loved and cuddled and played and expressed appreciation in a way that only pound puppies do.

We had a choice today. Again. And neither of the choices were "take him home and he'll get better." The choices were -- return him to the pound, knowing he'd be euthanized immediately or relinquish our custody to the vet and let them try to help. Our vets are a married couple. The wife loves labs and fell in love with Remington last week when she met him. They will be running a battery of expensive tests to determine exactly what he has. The husband vet thinks we will simply be learning he is seriously and irreparably ill. The wife holds out hope he can have a quality of life, but understands he will always be a special needs dog that may involve too much specialized care to be a part of our family without complicating things to a high level.

I really don't have words. I didn't think, after our youngest daughter left, that I had any more tears. But, I was wrong. On many counts. I know having Remington would have helped, but having this happen again--where a being we love has an issue bigger than us that we can't help with and our only chance to help that being is to hand it over to someone else, was too much to bear. Not really a positive trend for us.

I take solace (although it doesn't really make a whit of difference at the moment) that while he was here Remington knew he was loved and wanted. He gave as well as he received and we knew (especially I knew) that he loved us. He appreciated the care, the food, the bed, the hugs, the kisses, the rides in the car, the walks, the games of fetch and tug and whatever else.

Ten days was not nearly enough. But had we found each other any later, he likely would have already been put down because his condition would have showed itself at the pound. So. Again. We have done all we can to give a deserving little one a chance, only to be left empty hearted.

Thank goodness it's Friday. And there is wine in the house.

As I Leave My 30's

Today is my last day in the 30's. I'm not depressed in the least. By and large, the latter years of my 30's sucked pond water, so starting off a new decade after launching a new year seems pretty cathartic. I have had an awesome weekend that will go into the memory books to be accessed when times become a little dark. And, after a very scary vet appointment, Remington is making marked improvement.

What a way to spend a week!