This Reminds Me

Archive for the ‘Away from Home’ Category

Just returned from a quick trip to see “The Cousins” in Houston.

My sister Judy (pictured), my brilliant niece Sarah and I did quite a bit of thizzzz.  We are always ready to settle down for long winter’s naps.

This was my usual view of the kids this week – the backs and sides of heads clustered around whatever iPod, DSi, Nook, Android, iPhone, etc. was handy.  Laura – age eight – picked up Rachel’s Android tablet for the first time and had pulled up Netflix in moments.  They all amaze me.

And now we’re on countdown for the happiest of birthday parties.

Merry Christmas!

Keith and I took a day off this week to go visit The Eldest at her summer job – gift shop worker at Highland Lakes Baptist Camp.  Highland Lakes is about two hours – or one Route 44 @ Sonic stop – from San Antonio.

Highland Lakes is really gorgeous.  Lots of trees, sports equipment, worship center and – of course – the gift shop!

The Highland Lake is way, way low.  See all the brown dirt at the water line?  That’s supposed to be under water.  Boat launches everywhere are high and dry.  The nearby rivers are more like streams – if that.  Please, Lord – send rain.

The happy camper and her parental units.

Four camp workers share a very “compact” room with two sets of bunkbeds.”  Notice Rachel’s Nemo blanket, which she swindled me out of talked me into in Mexico.  Hannah sent her the stuffed porpoise she’s clutching.

The wall behind her bunk bed, filled with cards and notes.  Thanks to everyone who sent her a 20th birthday card.

I purchased a box of “camper candy” in the gift shop, mostly so Rachel could check me out.   I’ll slip the box into Julia’s suitcase when she heads to children’s camp at Camp Tejas next month.   Hannah is on the church bus right now, set to return from Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in North Carolina tomorrow morning.  Lois leaves tomorrow morning for the Latin Junior Classical League competitions in Kentucky.  My children have far more glamorous social lives than do I.  I always wanted to go to church camp and we couldn’t afford it.  It means a lot to me that they can go.

Rachel will be home in a few weeks, but visiting her room made me think of how I’ll behave when I visit my girls’ more permanent domiciles in years to come.  Hmmmm – let’s see:

      -  I’m flipping off my shoes wherever I want.  And leaving them there.  In fact – I’ll step over them.

     -  Coasters?  Tell me again – what are they?

     -  I’m coming into their rooms to “borrow” socks, shoes, pantyhose, jewelry - whatever isn’t nailed down.

     -  My dishes?  Anywhere is fine.   Especially on the “rinse” side of the sink.  Just sitting there.

     -  If I see a full trashcan in the kitchen – I’m shoving my empty Sonic cup down into just as hard as I can.

     -  Every one of my hot showers is going to last at least 45 minutes.  And require a quart of shampoo.

And finally…..

     -  If the home phone rings – I’m not answering.  It’s not for me.

We took the kids to South Padre this week – well, most of the kids, anyway.  Rachel is working at a Christian summer camp and won’t be home until August.  So – for the first time – we were “minus one” on vacation.

Hannah, 15; Julia, 11; Lois, 17.  More room in the car without “the one,” but still – kind of odd.  I’m used to counting noses and I was one short.

A water-filled sand hole is great for cooling feet.  I’m paranoid about everyone wearing beach shoes but really – I saw not one sliver of glass.  Not one.  Lots of trash cans, too, and families picking up after themselves.  Very nice!  The girls and I caught 1,000+ little clams our last afternoon and set them free while Lois sang, “Carry On My Wayward Son.”

Hannah of the “Watch this!” fame…..

In the car, Hannah and Keith were arguing one of the finer points of a Harry Potter novel when Lois said, “This family couldn’t be any nerdier unless we were discussing Dr. Who.”  Keith’s response – “Which version?”

We all loved Sea Turtle, Inc. - South Padre’s sea turtle rescue center.   We texted pictures to Rachel, who had to give away her getting-too-big turtles before she left for the summer.

We had to hurry home Thursday in time to unload the car, eat, nap and be ready for the midnight opening show of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:  Part 2.   We bought our D-box tickets within an hour of their going on sale several weeks ago.  Keith and I each checked the movie sites 10 – 20 times daily for months to better our chances of getting D-box seats.  We bought eight tickets, so each daughter could take a friend.

Hannah and her friend Dani; Lois and her boyfriend Alex (who flew in for the occassion from Dallas, where he’s spending the month with his dad); Julia and her friend Alliyah.  Lois and Hannah spoted Harry Potter-themed shirts.  In preparation for Part 2, we watched the first seven movies in the last 10 days.

My favorite wizard, in his Father’s Day shirt.  Lots of people in costume – Death Eaters, Quiddich players, students – I was a little jealous in my Muggle-esque shorts and T-shirt.

We had a (wizards) ball at the movie, but it was also a little sad.  It’s the end of an era for us.   Keith, Lois, Hannah and I have all read the books – they multiple times, me just once.  Julia is reading them now.  We’ve all seen the movies opening night at midnight, except for Rachel this time, and me in 2007 when I needed to stay home with Julia.  Hannah wasn’t quite six years old in 2001 when we all went to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – she slept in my lap for all but the first few minutes.   Just kind of hard to realize – Yep, it’s over.

And the days of our family easily going on vacation – or even a long weekend – together are over, too.  Rachel’s gone this summer – has a part-time job during the school year – has responsibilites at church.  Lois is a senior this year and who knows what she’ll be doing next summer?  Her grades are excellent and she wants to go away to college (and she should.)   Plus she and Hannah – who will be a sophomore this year – are immersed in Latin and its competitive practices.  Hannah has worked at Girl Scout camp part of this summer and is talking about working all of next summer.  Julia is still around, of course, but even so – this is her last year of elementary school.

Our family is changing – growing up – pulling away.  It’s normal, of course.  It’s what parents want.  I sure don’t want our girls living at home indefinitely. 

I’ve been thinking about this a long time, as they’ve matured.  Babysitting jobs – then real part-time jobs.  Report cards and tests and then the grades that really count.  Driver’s Ed and then car insurance and then worrying every time they’re late.

There’s an exchange between Harry and Dumbedore in Part 2 that spoke to me:

     Harry:  Is this real?  Or has this been happening inside my head?

     Dumbledore:  Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it’s not real?

Change is happening in my head, and it’s real.

And there are definitely things I’m going to miss.

We had plans for this Father’s Day weekend.

Our dear family friend Jean was coming to visit.  Jean was at the hospital the day I was born and holds in place in my heart like no other.  She arrived a-okay and that – at least – went according to plan.

Jean and me today.  She’s recently moved to Mexico and – at age 87 – is learning Spanish so she can minister to those near her.  We spent part of yesterday afternoon in search of new walking shoes because she doesn’t use a car in her community.  Why exactly do I whine about church committee meetings and having to drag myself through Costco?

Part of our plan was for Keith, Lois, Hannah and Julia to go visit Rachel yesterday at Highland Lakes, the summer camp at which she’s working. Keith – knowing her passion for all things tie-dyed – bought white T-shirts and fresh color kits so they could create custom shirts to wear for the visit.   They did get to go – that part of the plan went well.

Me thinks she was surprised when she opened the door and saw their tie-dyed shirts.  They brought two new ones for her, too.

They spent the day together messing around Austin.  Keith planned to leave by 7 p.m., but here’s where the plan crumbled.

Highland Lakes is gorgeous.  And Rachel was in no hurry for them to go.  So they tramped around until 9 p.m.

Mighty pretty scenery!  Julia – 11; Lois – 17; Rachel – 20; Hannah – 15

In the meantime, Hannah got a email.  If she wanted to volunteer the next few days at Girl Scout camp – which she did – she needed to be there by 1 p.m. today (Sunday.)  If we had known that earlier, Keith and the girls definitely would have left Highland Lakes earlier.

They got home after 11 p.m. last night.  Hannah had to get packed for camp.  Keith had to leave with her by noon today.  So —–

      We didn’t eat breakfast together.  Oh, sure, I made Keith’s favorite quiche, but he and Hannah were up late getting her somewhat ready so they slept late. 

      We didn’t go to church together.  Hannah and Keith stayed home – she to finish packing, him to get lunch ready so he could leave by noon.  This was particularly disappointing.   He missed (the most excellent) Father’s Day sermon, plus acknowledgement with the other fathers by the congregation.

      He had to rush opening his gifts after lunch.

It occurred to me that while we had plans for Father’s Day that were derailed – they were changed only because Keith is a real father.  He wanted to visit his eldest child and surprise her with tie-dyed shirts for the whole family – neat!  They stayed longer than expected because Rachel didn’t want them to leave – sure.   He stayed up with Hannah last night, then shepherded her this morning – fine.  He made lunch for all of us so we could hurriedly eat and he could transport Hannah – uhhh, okay.

So instead of getting fussed over all day today – Keith spent most of it ensuring his family had what he wanted them to have.

Happy Father’s Day to the man who knows that his children replace our ”plans” in any equation for celebration.