DO. NOT. PULL. OVER

I am still not sure if the time is right to post, but I promised my nephew that I would blog this story...so, here it goes.

My brother, Vernon, and his family, Shelly, Audrey, and Jeremy (JJ), came to California in early August. It was their first time here as a family.

We had all decided to go to a Giants game, although JJ is a huge Rockies fan, he thought that it would be okay to see the Giants this once! We had gotten to San Francisco a bit early that day and we all went to Union Square to shop and eat. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and then went shopping. Shelly and I almost got us some orange flip flops for the Giants game but neither one of us could talk our husbands into spending $250 for them. I know!!! What the heck?!?! While in the mall there, Vernon almost got beat up by two locals. *giggling* Shelly had given Vernon her purse to hold and, of course, my brother made a little comment about carrying the purse. Two gentleman behind Vernon heard this little comment and they decided that they could "take" him. Vernon was scared! He says that he wasn't, but he was. I know this because he ran up to my 6'2", 250-pound husband for protection!

Okay...sorry, got side tracked there. So, after our adventures in the City, we headed to AT&T Park! The Johnson's got all decked out in new Giants gear! The Wood's...well we had old Giants gear! We sat in the stands and cheered for our team.




At some point, we all got garlic fries and chicken strips -- this is going to be important in a minute...

On the drive home, I sat in front with Vernon because I get terribly car sick. Shelly sat behind Vernon, Trent sat behind me. JJ sat behind Trent (this is going to be important in a minute), Audrey sat beside him, and Natalie beside her. It was dark and getting late. About 20 miles or so from home, JJ, sitting all the way in the back, tells his dad that he needs a little air. A little while later, he makes the comment that when they go to Six Flags in a few days that he is not sure he is going to be feeling well enough to ride the roller coasters (do you see where this is going?!?!). Shelly told him that they were not tomorrow because we all were going back to SF to the pier for more sightseeing, so she was sure that he would be feeling better by then. All was quiet....too quiet.

We make the last turn to my house...we are less than a mile from my house...only about 4 blocks from my house...all of a sudden...Jeremy pukes!!!!! *okay, I can't help it, I am laughing here, right here in my chair*

Audrey screams, "OH MY GOSH...JEREMY THREW UP!" Jumping into Natalie's lap. Natalie screams, "I AM GOING TO PUKE!!" Trying to claw her way to a door. Shelly rolls down the window, sticks her head out like my Retriever and yells, "JEREMY JUST BLEW CHUNKS!!" Trent is checking the back of his head for residual material. I, not knowing this car, cannot find the window roller down button. Vernon starts to pull over. (Now, realize, this all took place in about 15 seconds). I yell to Vernon, "DON'T PULL OVER." He looks at me and yet continues to pull to the side of the road. I yell again, "VERNON, WE ARE ONE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE. DO. NOT. PULL. OVER!!" He drives about 3 seconds on the road and then starts to pull over again. I again tell him my house is "RIGHT THERE!!!!" I yell pointing. I also start gagging (If you may recall from previous posts, I have a very weak gag reflex. Smells, even talking about gross things, make me gag.) really bad and tell Vernon to "DRIVE!!!" He looks at me and yells, "VELVET, I WILL NOT CLEAN UP AFTER YOU!" To which I reply that he better move his @$$ then! There is so much yelling going on in the back and the smell....oh my gosh, the smell!!!! A very quiet JJ says, "Sorry guys."

Vernon finally pulls up into my driveway...I open the door and run to the lawn, gagging my lungs out trying not to throw up. Shelly and Trent open their doors and get the heck out so fast, they almost trip. Audrey and Natalie fly out of the very back seat! Jeremy is told not to move! I open the garage door and run into the house...I am not going to make it to the bathroom!!! Finally, everyone in the house, except for JJ, we all calm down and get our composure. Vernon looks at me and says, "I am going to need a trash bag and a whole roll of paper towels." ROFL!!!!!!!!

So...the worst part of the story (beside the smell in the car the next few days) is that the Wood's may never enjoy garlic fries at a Giants game ever again!

PS --- an upside... Jeremy apparently chews his food very, very well, according to Vernon!

A bright spot

So my Natalie had an assignment. She had to write a paper and finish the sentence: "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of _______ in life." Here is the finished product:

"The longer I live the more I realize the impact of moms in life. Moms, to me, are more important than friends. Moms accept you for everything you do; to that bad grade, to that bad hair day. Moms still love you after failure and bad choices. Moms are more important than firemen, police officers, and teachers. They keep our whole world from falling apart. The remarkable thing is moms brought us into the world and moms can definitely take us out (side note here...I say this to Natalie ALL OF THE TIME!!!). We cannot change who gave us life or who gives us love. The only thing we can do is give our moms our all in return. I'm convinced that moms are just more than moms, they're our best friends, with unconditional love."


I know, I know...I have the best daughter ever! One day, she will realize the impact daughters have in life. Especially my daughter and my life. I love you, Nattie Jo!!!

A letter to my father

Dear Daddy:

It is two weeks today, Daddy, that you left us. I still can hardly believe that you are gone. I have really had only two of the stages of grief: denial and anger. I keep going back and forth between those. I get so angry that you left me and my children. I am so angry that you wont know my grandchildren, your great-grandchildren. Then, I slip into this denial. If I don't ever really accept the fact that you are gone, then are you?

Yesterday, Daddy, was a rough day for me. It was Natalie's first day of school. Her senior year. I took her to school and had a flood of emotions. First I was thinking how in the world can my baby be graduating in a few months. Then I thought instantly of you, Daddy. I thought how sad it is going to be when my daughter walks to get her diploma and you are not there. You were just here for Garrick's graduation and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was cold and it was your first visit to Cali and you were mad because you wanted to see the California sun!! I made you go outside to smoke, and you froze! You reminded me after ever cigarette that Cali was too cold for you. You vowed never to come here again!! But, of course, you did. You came back twice after that.

Today, that denial was in full force. Mom apparently turned on your computer at home and I got a message saying, "George is available." My first thought was, "Yay!! Daddy is here." Then I remembered that you were not. Were not available for a chat or a phone call. You were just not available to me anymore. I chatted with mom for a bit; all the while wishing that every time I saw you log in, I would have just said hi to you.

There have been a lot of tears shed, Daddy. I know that you would look at me and tell me that all was fine, that I need not cry for you. Actually, you would probably call me "Baby Sister" and tell me that you had about enough of that from me! I cannot help it, Daddy. I am sad that you are gone. My heart is broken in a way that I can hardly comprehend, that I cannot even begin to describe. I am not sure I will ever really get over this hurt, this deep sadness that has encased my soul. A part of me is with you, Daddy. I have an empty place in my life now and it can never be filled again.

I do hope and pray that you are indeed in a better place. I hope you are still meeting all of those who have went before you. I hope you look down on me every once in a while and perhaps give my a hug. Or even a little bump of hips and you can tell me, "I kinda like ya, gal." I promise, Daddy, I will feel it and smile and tell you that I kinda like you, too!

I miss you, Daddy. I miss you so very much.

Forever your little girl,
Velvet

Daddy

Those we love don't go away
They walk beside us everyday.
Unseen, unheard but always near
Still loved, still missed, and very dear.