Oh, The Places You'll Go!

After eight years of going to school (technically nine since he took a year off to build our house and get married), Matt finally graduated from college with his bachelors degree in May of 2007 in Mechanical Engineering - when I was VERY pregnant with Sydney. I wasn't sure I'd make it to his graduation ceremony, but I did, thank goodness! He is the only person in his family to have accomplished this goal. His parents were so proud.

Effecting Change

One of the things I find solace in is helping others in similar situations as mine. Whether it's by lending an ear, giving advice, or just simply "getting it." But there's a bigger service I need to perform to feel some peace.

Thankful.

It's hard not to think the worst after what our family has been through.

At first when my brother got sick, I was worried but not worried... Even when he went to the hospital, I blocked the worry and fear. But then it set in even though I tried to fight it. I thought how it seems the good guys are all getting taken lately, and realize how quickly things can change. I thought, "is this the real reason I was meant to move out here? so I can be with my brother in his last days and help my sister-in-law and their children through the transition?" Horrible, torturous thoughts.

One helluva week.

Monday, Jacob wasn't feeling great, but I sent him to school since he didn't have any "real" symptoms of being sick. Plus, Mondays are a half day, anyway. By the time I got him home, he was feeling worse. That afternoon he started running a high fever (103.5) and after I gave him some Children's Motrin, he put himself to bed at 3:45pm and told me not to expect him up again until the next morning. He did end up waking up around 6:00pm, and had perked up a bit. I was relieved, but decided then to keep him home from school the next day just in case.

Tuesday, little bit more of a fever, but early that afternoon he was nearly in tears about how bad his throat hurt. Now, this kid doesn't complain. He could feel lousy and I'll ask him how he's doing, and he'll answer, "Pretty good." Just like his daddy that way... I took a flashlight and looked in his throat, and saw several tiny bright red dots back there. Not good.

Forever, My Love

I love you with all of
my heart and my soul;
the ten years you gave me
have made my life whole.
Though you are gone
and we're miles away,
we took the love with us
you gave every day.
The home that we built
with our blood sweat and tears
must have only been meant
for us eight fleeting years.
Though your body is gone,
your spirit lives on
through the people you've touched
and the things that you've done.
In time our children's
memories might fade,
but they'll always be a product
of the love that we made.
The gifts of your wisdom,
knowledge and laughter
have shaped the person I am
ever after.
Had I known the outcome
the day we first met,
I'd do it all again
with not one single regret.
That realization has taught me
to not shy away
from another love
that may come my way.
I don't want to be defined
by what I have lost,
but be known for the recompense
despite the steep cost.
It's true what doesn't kill us
will make us stronger;
I am not afraid to live
my life any longer.
Wherever life takes us
I want you to know
that you will be with us
wherever we go.
And whenever I look
at the sky up above,
I think of you, Matt Row,
Forever My Love.

Chapter closed.

Well, it's official. Our home in New York closed today, and is now owned by someone else. On one hand, it's a relief - financially and emotionally, as it was one more set of things I needed to deal with. On the other hand, it's the official closing of a huge chapter in our lives that I never thought I would see come to an end.

So gross... read at your own risk.

All the rain we're getting right now in Southern California reminds me of the last time we had measurable rain here a few weeks ago...

When the movers packed up our things, they also packed up a large, empty plastic garbage can that I intended to leave at our old house. Since I was already aware that the new place came with city-issued bins for trash, recycling and yard waste, I knew I wouldn't need it here. The garbage trucks around here have a mechanical arm that pick up the specific bin and dump it into the back of the truck. Even if I used that other garbage can from the old house, it wouldn't get emptied.  Until I figure out what to do with it, it's just been sitting outside next to the other bins.

So, a few weeks ago, we had quite a bit of rain, and since I didn't have the lid on the old garbage can, the water accumulated inside. I learned from my mother-in-law who lives in Arizona that you can use the rain water to water the plants in the house and yard to help conserve. Here I think I'm doing something good for the environment...

(OK, here's the gross part - don't click on "read more" if you don't think you can handle it.)

Fraud.

This morning I retrieved a voice mail message from my credit card company advising me of some potentially fraudulent transactions on my card. Being a little afraid that the message itself was fraudulent, I decided to call the number on the back of my credit card instead of the one they told me to call. Turns out, the call was legit.

Never say never...

What was that I said in my last post about no thunder and lightning storms here??

Just last night, I awoke to pounding rain, flashes of lightning that lit up the house, followed by rumbles of thunder. A phenomenon that does not happen often out here, but pretty ironic considering what I had just finished saying!