Did I mention?

One of the major life events that I kinda, sorta let slip by during my blog hiatus was the fact that my oldest daughter graduated from high school.

Then left for college. Yeah.

We're all in the process of adjusting to college life - some of us better than others.

First Syd. Well, dorm life is not her cup of tea. She's an old soul and always has been; so the noise, the hub-bub and the messy roommates are truly trying for her. Syd is enjoying her classes and making great grades, however, the jury is still out whether she'll go postal on her roomies.

Rea, on the other hand, is living the high life. The first night that Syd was gone she showered in her bathroom, used the shampoo that she had left, rummaged through all her drawers and the closet and wore her sister's clothes to school the next day. I keep finding things in Rea's room that she has taken from her Syd's room - and to keep the peace I keep RETURNING them to their rightful place.

After an initial sadness, Dan and I are fine - especially since Syd is coming home EVERY weekend. She's very unhappy in her dorm, so as soon as class is over on Friday morning, she hits the road is back here by 11:15.

Then, she and I spend time together doing what has become "'our" thing - we cook.

It's become our mutual ground, something a few years ago that I worried that we'd never find...and it's a wonderful thing.

As you were...

I'm not necessarily what one would call a strict rule follower, I like to have a little wiggle room and I think a prime example of my rule flaunting would be my extreme failure to obey the speed limit. I think sometimes we get so caught up in some rules that we lose sight of the big picture.

However, when it comes time for school drop-off and pick-up, I am a stickler for RULES. Because, you see, I feel that those rules are there for a really, really good reason and that would be to keep MY child and YOUR child safe.

But, the person in the BIG GRAY CAR at the middle school doesn't think those RULES are important, nor, does she think they apply to her.

Each afternoon, the BIG GRAY CAR waits in the line until 3:00 on the nose, then drives by the rest of us morons, stupidly waiting in the line and proceeds to the very front of the building, where she stops in the middle of EVERYTHING and blocks the entire pick-up process...school bus and all. Once she reaches the front, she waits, sometimes briefly, sometimes as long as 10 minutes for her Sweet Baby, to come out of the building. Once Sweet Baby comes out, she darts in and out of the traffic and hops into the BIG GRAY CAR and they zooooom off into the sunset.

Morning drop-off isn't off-limits to the BIG GRAY CAR either; just two days ago when I arrived to drop Rea off, there was the BIG GRAY CAR, blocking the front drop-off line - just sitting there with the it's back passenger door standing wide open, forcing everyone to drive around.

And as if that's not enough, last Friday, Syd met me at Kroger and we'd both parked in the same aisle and as we left, there was the BIG GRAY CAR! When I was trying to back out the BIG GRAY CAR nearly rear-ended me. Then, the BIG GRAY CAR backed around so it could go out the wrong way in the parking lot and nearly hit Syd HEAD ON!

And just in case you are wondering how I always know it's the same BIG GRAY CAR...the front passenger window is busted where someone's head has gone through it. Oh. Yeah. She's a GREAT driver, exactly the kind of person you want whipping around not following the rules.

Several parents (including me - twice) have reported the BIG GRAY CAR to the administration of the middle school. But, apparently there are more burning issues at school than traffic safety (things like exposed flesh and non-regulation water bottles, you must address those things PRONTO), but hey, let's leave the little kiddies to battle the 2000-pound missiles on their own.

As you were, BIG GRAY CAR, as you were...

Let’s make a deal!

Once upon a time, a long time ago (well, maybe it was just in the spring, but you get my drift), Rea decided that her life would not be complete without a ferret. That kid launched a no holds barred assault on the entire household, she researched those playful little rodents up one side and down the other, complete with a seven page manifesto explaining just exactly WHY she needed a ferret.

Rea pestered her Dad into taking her to the pet store so she could peer at them in their cages; she searched for pre-owned ferrets on Petfinder.com and then eventually in an effort to prove that she was responsible enough to care for one, she made arrangements to ferret sit for our neighbors while they were on vacation.

So, one beautiful spring afternoon, Pavol, a geriatric, diabetic, ferret became Rea's roommate for a week; the old weasel proved to be pretty laid back – quiet, gentle, polite and spent 95% of his time sleeping in his little red hammock. But, friends. That ferret STUNK like nobody's business, the stench met your nose at the front door and it was overwhelming. And if the smell wasn't problem enough, Oscar and Vivi spent the entire week lurking outside Rea's door just waiting for the chance to make a snack out of Rea's guest.

I tell you all of that to simply set the stage for the part where we became Evil Parents. Parents that absolutely, positively refused to allow Rea to have a ferret – and any passing interest that I may have expressed in ferrets in past was OVER.

I am happy to report though, that détente was achieved and this…

was the compromise.

Hello, again…

So, I guess a few of you have missed me and have been beginning to wonder if I've fallen off the face of the earth. I'm not sure what to tell you about my bloggy absence, except to say that life just got in the way of the words; a lot has gone on in the last few months and while I didn't deliberately walk away from My Boy Nelson, after a bit, it just seemed like the wise thing to do.

This spring wasn't one of best we've ever endured (though, we've had much worse, believe me). I had shoulder surgery in April and was pretty much out of commission and leaning heavily on Syd, who in turn was trying to finish up her senior year in high school. Rea was walking through the final part of her seventh grade year and experiencing the woes of middle school and my heart ached for her.

May brought the loss of my dear friend, Joanne; how do you sum up someone's life in a blog post? I tried, but I simply couldn't find the words to describe how I felt. We all miss her…

After weeks of physical torture therapy, it became obvious that something wasn't quite right with my shoulder and I had a second surgery in July (Boy howdy, that was fun). I am glad to tell you though, that it is MUCH better now – not 100% - but good. Usable. Tolerable. Bearable. None of those words applied prior to July.

Dano is steady as ever; my friend, my partner, my punching bag and my soft place to fall.

I've got lots to tell you and will be posting again soon.