Heart break for a friend...

One of my friend's from high school, Heidi, just had her mother pass away fairly suddenly.  Heidi and her family moved to North Dakota to be close to Heidi's mother.  Heidi's mother had cancer but was given 2-10 more years to live.  When Heidi and her family got there her mother's health took a terrible turn and she ended up dying 4 weeks after Heidi arrived.  My friend is devastated and so shocked.  I am heartsick.  I cannot imagine how much hurt my friend is going through.

Adell overheard me chatting with my friend one day and wanted to help cheer her up.  So we made a little care package and sent it away.  Hopefully, some candy and yellow hearts will help...and tiny bit.

Love the ones your with people, life can be fleeting.

The end of swim season!

Oh boy!  Adell did it!  A whole swim team season!  Can you believe I signed her up for this malarkie back in FEBRUARY?  Can you believe it was hailing and windy on her very first day of practice?  Can you believe she beat her own time for the Breast and Free at almost every meet?  

I can believe all of those things because I lived them.  She has been such a trooper!  It isn't easy to get up and head straight to the pool almost every morning of the week (practice starts at 7:30!) during summer vacation.  It isn't easy to promise the first half of every Saturday and the evening of just about every Wednesday to swim meets during summer vacation.  But she did it all!

Adell has been saying she doesn't want to do swim again next year.  We are glad she tried.  HOWEVER, about two weeks ago she sheepishly admitted she did want to swim on team next summer.  Buckle up baby, we are all in.

Adell and her very best talent show friends, Aviva and Lilah.

Popping her time at the championship meet!

The very best cheering section around!

A Saturday morning meet...at a community pool in Walnut Creek?  Maybe?

Adell and her best friend, Maggie.

An evening swim meet at some country club in Blackhawk.

Side note, this weekend (today actually) was Adell's last swim meet/the VSA championships.  Everyone swims and it is packed.  My brother, Chris, and his wife, Annette, are here visiting for the weekend.  They gamely stayed home with the other kids so we could take Adell to the meet and focus all of our attention on our swimmer.  We made it up to Chris and Annette with a fun trip into San Francisco in the evening.

no pictures...sigh...

Wyatt's High Adventure Bike Trip...

Monday morning (around 5 am) Wyatt loaded up a borrowed bike and his gear and headed off on the High Adventure Biking trip.  They biked over 200 miles along the California coast.  Wyatt was a trooper and stuck with his little biking group.  He did not participate in many training rides in the weeks leading up to this adventure.  But he managed to keep up and have a great time.

The boys biked between 50-75 miles a day!  They stopped for food and one day did a service project clearing garden beds for a Catholic church along the way.  Wyatt had fun with his friends and got to know the new kid, Josh (who they call JP because there is already a Josh in town). 

On the last day the pedal of his bike fell off.  He took turns using other kid's bikes and finished the day.  He was tired but proud of himself.  We are all so proud of him!  It was hard and he is full of stories.  We are happy to have him home safe and sound.  We drove straight up from Huntington Beach to meet him at the church.  We made it in the nick of time!

DISNEY, DISNEY, DISNEY!

Earlier this month, I painted Alan and Heather's new place for them...and they paid me!  It was fun and I liked doing it.  I couldn't believe they wanted to pay me for it.  I took Adell and Colter once or twice and they played in the yard while I painted.  The other two times I went by myself and listened to an audiobook.  It was awesome.  I still cannot believe they paid me.  

I decided to use my earnings to take the kids to Disneyland while we were in Southern California.  Too bad Wyatt was on high adventure and Lorien didn't want to come on the trip!  

Jennifer and Clara joined us for the Disney day.

We had an awesome day!  We brought along our second cousins (my cousin's kids from Texas).  The teenage boys headed off on their own and we took Carmine around with us.  We are practically strangers for Carmine but he came along with a smile.  He actually had some insider tips that helped us get around.  He goes to Disneyland more often than we do. 

Our first ride was Space Mountain.  Colter hated it SO much.  Poor kid.  The rest of us loved it.

Colter is cowering in the seat behind Clare in that picture up there.  Will is sitting behind Carmine and is hunched over trying to "protect" Colter.  You can see some of Will behind Clare's extended arms.  Poor Colter...I don't know if we will ever get him to go on a ride again.

It was hot as all get out and kind of crowded but we had a great time.  We ate whenever we wanted.  This was a big deal for me.  In Disneyland trips in the past, we have just busted our butts from one ride line to the other.  I always feel jipped.  There is so much magic for me at Disneyland.  So many little things to see and enjoy.  I know the rides are the most fun but you waste so much time standing in line and missing all the other stuff if you just do rides.  Will always likes to focus on the rides and assumed that was my preference too.  This time we took it easy, didn't get as many rides in but saw a lot of the park.  We ate delicious food and we were all so happy.  I had my first ever Dole Whip, it was divine!

We checked out Tarzan's house (formerly the Swiss Family Robinson tree house) and found the town square from Beauty and the Beast (it also looked like Rapunzel's village).  We ate a ton of turkey legs and french fries.  The whole day was perfect.

Jennifer and I bought matching pantsuits at Target the day before and we were twins today.  I wish we got a better picture of us standing up, we were adorable.

At long last, when we were all exhausted and our feet felt like they were going to fall off, Clare and I got in an hour-long line for the Matterhorn.  We rode the Matterhorn while the others tried the Dumbo ride a few times.  It was worth the line, Clare and I had a blast.  I think that was the first time I rode the Matterhorn in the dark.

It was an exhausting, fun, expensive, filling day at Disneyland.  It really is the happiest (crowded) place on earth. 

Huntington Beach Fun!

It is always nice to be at Aunt Colleen's house.  They have a lovely home and an awesome backyard.  We spent our time eating and relaxing by the pool.  Colter really jumped into pool life, practicing what he is learning in swim lessons at home.  The warm, shallow water gave him a lot of confidence!  All the kids loved the pool (it is so warm).  

My cousin, Tom, brought his boys over.  Nicky and Rusty are Adell and Colter's age.  They always come up with great games to play together.

My cousins Catie and James live in Texas.  Their boys were staying at Aunt Colleen's/Grandma's house too.  It was nice for my kids to know them a little bit better. 

Jennifer and I slipped away for some grocery and Target shopping.  Target was having a clothing sale and we stocked up...I loved it! 

We also spent a short evening at the beach.  My kids were not into it.  The water was so warm and calm!  I didn't bring any snacks and we ended up parking in the wrong spot.  I loved it...the kids, not so much.

Jennifer has a "boyfriend" kind of who lives in Southern California.  We got to meet them and get to know him a little bit.  I hope things work out between Jennifer and this fella.  He seems nice and she seems in love.  They have a few hurdles to get over. I hope they will.

Speaking of doing it on my own...

We had summertime plans to go to Southern California.  We put Clare on a plane to Salt Lake City so she could spend a few weeks with cousin Clara and keep her company on the drive from Salt Lake to Saint George and then on to Huntington Beach.  We were going to drive down and spend a few days with my Aunt Colleen and Uncle Richard, visit with Jennifer and collect Clare.  

Will ended up having to fly out to Montreal for an investor meeting.  Lorien wasn't interested in going south with the family and Wyatt had his biking High Adventure trip.  So it was just down to me and the little kids!  We left Wyatt with all of his gear Sunday morning to be picked up at the crack of dawn Monday and start his bike ride.  We drove Will to the San Francisco airport dropped him off and headed south!  

I was excited, hopeful and proud of myself to taking this on.  I haven't driven more than two or three hours alone or with the kids...ever.  Will is always the driver and we are all always together.  I was excited to see if I could do it!  

I went so well!  The little kids were awesome.  They entertained themselves with drawing and legos.  They watched movies and we talked a lot!  They were so, so, so good!  We only "stopped" to drive through McDonald's one time to get an ice cream cone for the kids and some fries and a coke for me.  Have I mentioned how good the kids were?  They were helpful, cute and great company.  No fighting no whining.  They were awesome!  

We hit a tiny bit of traffic around LA but nothing bad.  We made great time (about six hours) and Colter waited to use the bathroom until we were at Aunt Colleen's house.  We made it in time for a big, yummy dinner, safe, sound and proud of ourselves.

Traveling alone...

I haven't done a lot of solo traveling.  I'm always with Will and the kids or I'm flying to meet family and instantly with them.  I've only rented a car on my own two or three times.  I like doing it.  I feel grown up and responsible.  Navigating around (with GPS or my phone) making my way and making decisions all by myself is awesome.  To save some money/miles I flew into Manchester, New Hampshire and had about a three-hour drive to Camie's house.  I got the rental car but had to gas it up and stop at Target for an item or two.  I ended up leaving about an hour later than I expected and now I wasn't going to be at Camie's house until nearly 11:00 pm. 

I was confident and enjoyed the quiet drive with myself and my plans.  I stopped at McDonald's for dinner and caused a mess because I pulled past the first/paying window.  The stop added more time.  I also ended up unintentionally taking the longest and most out of the way route to Camie's house.  So I was really behind schedule.  I pulled onto the long dirt road that leads over the mountain to her house at 11:00 pm.  I had no cell coverage and it was dark, dark, dark.  Fortunately, my map had loaded before I lost cell coverage and I followed the marked route.  Unfortunately, I had put Camie's address in wrong (just off by a couple of numbers) and my destination dot wasn't actually at a place.

I followed the road praying I was on the right track.  I came to what I thought was my sister's driveway (even though the map said I missed it) and pulled in.  It has been years...like ten or more since I was last at Camie's house.  I pulled in wishing I remembered what kind of cars she drove.  I also thought: I don't remember them having a shed?  I parked anyway and took an armload of my crap inside.  The door was unlocked and the inside of the house looked sort of like what I remembered. 

I made my way to the bathroom.  Camie and Travis had gone to bed, they get up very early for work in the morning and couldn't wait up once I was so far behind schedule (understandable!).  I had to pee like crazy.  I sat down and started using the facilities thinking, I thought her washer and dryer were on the left and the shower on the right, weird?  As I was glancing around I wished I had paid attention to family photos on the walls to know if I was in the right house or not...

Mid-pee I was observing the open shelves neatly full of bathroom stuff.  I eyed a stick of Secret deodorant.  Camie wears the same deodorant that I do, Native, an organic stick that you have to order on the internet.  In my head I started screaming: "SHE DOESN'T WEAR REGULAR DEODORANT!  I AM PEEING IN A STRANGER'S BATHROOM!  IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS!  THESE PEOPLE HAVE GUNS!  I AM PEEING IN A STRANGERS BATHROOM!"  It was wild, internal panic.  I was certain I was going to be shot if I didn't get out of there ASAP.  While I was trying to wrap up my business and flee my eye caught a label on a bathroom drawer "Paige".  Next to that drawer was another label "Silas" and "Owen".  These are the names of Camie's children, my niece, and nephews.  The panic disappeared.  I was in the right place...and safe to finish peeing. 

So I put the address in wrong and was super late.  I ended up in the right place, after a split second of terror.  Maybe I cannot be trusted to travel alone? 

So I don't forget.  On my last full day in Maine, Camie, Travis and I toured the Portland Headlight and got Italian sandwiches.  I love the Headlight so much!  I love the little cove there and the smell...oh the smell.  It was delightful to get to be there again.  We took the kids last month when we were in New England but I can never get enough.  I also can't get enough Italians and Whoopie Pies.  Yum!

I also got to spend Sunday night with Owen and Silas.  They showed me their knives and various cool stuff they've collected.  I wish our kids got to see them more.  I slept in the boy's room while I was at Camie's house (the boys were with their dad).  On the last night, the boys were home and decided to sleep in the living room so I could stay in their room (total gentlemen).  As soon as I turned out the light a firefly started lighting up the room!  It was cool and freaky.  I'm pretty scared of bugs...even ones with lights in their butts...and I'm scared of the dark.  It was kind of a mess.  I think there were two fireflies.  I ended up cowering under my covers until I fell asleep.  I am a grown up.

Monday morning I stopped at a cool nicnack shop in Camie's town and loaded up on souvineers for the kids.  I made my way (with better directions) to the airport and home.  All was well.

Breakfast with Gup...

Josh Guptil was a kid in my high school.  We weren't close friends but my high school was tiny so everyone knew everyone and we were all "friends".  I walked into a conversation Josh and Brianne Aspinall were having last night.  Josh was talking about his house and how much he loves to cook breakfast for people.  I walked over and Josh said he always invites people who are in from out of town over for breakfast but they never come over.  He turned to me and said, "I'll even invite you but you won't be there."  I took the challenge saying I'd be the first and got his address.  I didn't really plan on going...

Later in the evening, Travis told me he was talking with Gup (our nickname for Josh in high school...you know why) and Josh asked if I would really show up.  Travis responded in the negative, "She's still on California time, there's no way she will show up for breakfast."  So I felt like my reputation was at stake and we HAD to go.  Sunday morning (this morning) we woke up and made the hour drive from Camie's house to West Baldwin, stopping for orange juice along the way.  

Josh was pretty surprised and pleased when we actually showed up (around 10:30 am).  We sat around his bar while he cooked and told us about his house.  He built the house and designed it.  It was a decade-long project but it is beautiful!  We talked about the reunion last night, laughed some more and marveled at where some of us ended up.  We learned about Josh's job and his two teenage daughters.  It was a lovely morning.

After saying our goodbyes, I had to leave a "review" on Facebook: 

A review of Joshua Guptill ‘s Bacon Breakfast Bar: the setting of this quaint breakfast stop is not to be missed. The rustic log cabin is made charming with custom rough and smooth hewn wood. The 20 foot walls and ceilings are beset with clear windows offering a stunning view of the Baldwin woods. The food was delicious! I highly recommend the pancakes and bacon, locally sourced of course. However, my highest praise goes to the chef. He was professional and entertaining as he made breakfast in the open seating kitchen. Not often are diners allowed to watch the master at work, let alone distract with conversation and local goings on. Over all 5 out of 5, totally recommend!

It was tongue-in-cheek but sincere.  We had a nice time and hopefully got the word out so more people will show up for breakfast!

20 Year High School Reunion!

I graduated high school in 1998...and now it is 2018...so twenty years?  Wild.  I honestly feel like I was in high school a few years ago...not a couple of decades ago! 

I missed my 10-year reunion and was determined to make it to 20.  However, the reunion committee moved the date to a few days after the 4th of July.  I was bummed, that is an expensive time to fly and we were still low on miles.  I waffled for a few weeks.  Finally, Will figured out how to get me out there with minimal cost.  

Friday morning I boarded a plane and headed east!  I love flying now...I still get sick but I am much better about that.  I enjoyed the peace and quiet and the view.  I was most excited to see the thick wild woods of New England on our last descent.

Thankfully, my sister (Camie) was in the same class as me in school and was going to the reunion (with some arm twisting).  So I got to stay with her and her husband, Travis, for the weekend.  We tooled around Maine checking out some of our old stomping grounds.  We drove around for hours talking about old times, new times and funny times.

Long Pond!

Saturday night was the reunion.  I was pretty excited to go and see everyone who might show up.  I grew up in a small town, with an equally small school.  My graduating class had about 72 kids (give or take a few).  Facebook is amazing and I am thankful for all the old friends I get to connect with there.  It is easy to see who is still alive and what they look like with a few clicks.  But I wanted to see people in person, talk, laugh and reminisce.  I wanted to talk about families and what they all had been up to for the last 20 years.  To a person, I had not seen these people for 20 actual years!

I also felt like I was doing great in my life...not that I wanted to rub that in anyone's face but I didn't have any insecurities about what I was doing with my life.

The night was fun...and weird...maybe weird is the wrong word.  I'll have to describe it and see if I can come up with a better adjective.  It was so fun to catch up.  I laughed a lot and enjoyed the company of everyone there.  People were drinking and in my high school years, I would have been appalled and uncomfortable.  It was nice to be a bit more mature and recognize the close-mindedness of my youth.  Some of my friends got crazy, not really crazy drunk but they sure had a good time acting like fools.  It was fine and funny.  Some of my friends got emotional, talking about the turns their lives had taken since high school.  Some of my friends got honest and confrontational, taking time to call people out who had been less than kind to them.

In many conversations, people wanted to talk about who we were and what our high school experience was like.  In each conversation, I maintained that my experience had been really good!  Everyone had been friendly and nice to me.  I didn't feel like there were clicks and groups that no one could be a part of.  I felt accepted by all and free to move between groups and activities.  Some friends were surprised, their experience had been different...people were mean.  When we talked more it came down to what you put out for the experience you took in.  I tried to be kind and inclusive to everyone.  I had friends in all of the different social groups.  I wasn't perfectly confident and had plenty of anxious times but overall I was kind and people were kind to me.

At one point I was having a chat with one of the male guests of a classmate.  He asked me to tell him about his date and what she was like in high school.  I pulled out memories from elementary school with this friend and complimented her on how much she cared for her brother.  I told stories about her signing and musical talents.  I just wanted to compliment her.  I realized later, I had been guilting myself and trying to compensate for bad high school behavior.  This girl and I had been friends but my senior year, I conspired with the other cheer captains to keep her off the team.  What a mean girl move!  I wish I had just let the chips fall (with her making the team).  It was interesting to observe my thoughts and behavior.  I tried to be nice in high school but I wasn't perfect and had my mean times.  I wasn't always kind.   

All of the guys stuck together...just like middle or high school.  The girls moved between girl groups and over to the guy group but the guys stayed in their pack.  Only two of these guys are married.  The rest are divorced.  No straight guy brought a companion to the reunion.  A few female classmates brought husbands or boyfriends and a couple of gay guys brought their husbands.  It was interesting. 

On the drive home, we talked about the dynamic of who was single and who was not.  We had all heard studies that said if you were popular or "peeked" in middle/high school it was ultimately bad for your future.  People who had their biggest successes (socially) in school ended up being less successful later in life.  It seemed to be true of our high school class too.  A lot of the guys who had been popular and mean in high school were divorced, working at the local lumber mill (still) and pretty grumpy.  One guy I talked to got quite emotional when I (thinking it was a compliment) said he hadn't changed a bit since high school.  He was bummed that he didn't appear to have grown or changed in 20 years.  I meant he was still a joker and fun to be with but it wasn't a compliment to him.  Some of the kids who were "geeks" in high school grew up to be high powered lawyers and all around successful people.  I guess it depends on how you measure success.  Plenty of us were middle-of-the-roaders then and are still middle-of-the-roaders now.  Some of the people who were not present were popular in high school and seem to be popular/successful now. 

This is my senior prom date, Brent.  It was fun to catch up with him and learn about his beautiful family.

It was a thoughtful night.  I had a great time laughing and catching up with those who made the reunion.  I thought a lot about how our experiences shape us and how we end up learning and growing (or not) from our experiences. 

I'm so glad I went.  It was exactly the reunion I expected and hoped for.