And So It Begins...

May 27 has become a sad date for me and my family. Three years ago today, Dad passed away after struggling for endless months with everything from shingles to congestive heart failure. It made sense when I awakened why Dad was in my dreams this morning.

So I started off the day a bit sad and nostalgic...

You can click on the picture to view it larger. Or, the words are here:

Three years have passed in a blink of an eye.
I’ll never forget the day we said goodbye.
Thank you for visiting often in my dreams
You have a message for me it seems.
You’ve got my back. You’re there for me.
You’ll always watch over my little family.
Miss you, Dad, but know you’re free from pain.
And some day far down the road we’ll meet again.

Obviously, the day could only go up hill from there. I was a maniac with my errand running. Had chiropractor appointment followed by much-needed trigger-point therapy. Then stopped at work to drop off some grad party invites I designed. From there, since it was just after noon, I think you know where I went next...

I actually go grief from a friend of mine for not being one of the first 3 customers, since he was in the door first! Still, I made it within the first 45 minutes. Great to see a full parking lot. I am happy to share... the experience, not my ice cream.

From there it was more running around, ShopKo, Wal-Mart, etc. Stopped home to empty the car and my sister Rayna and brother-in-law Paul were already in town. I grabbed Rayna and she and I went to pick up the party cake. Got home, put her to work in the kitchen while Mom (who rode down with them), supervised.

In the late afternoon, right around the time of Dad's death three years ago, the three of us shared a group hug. Rayna lived in Texas at the time so we were the two calling on our cell phones to say goodbye during his last breaths. Felt nice to share the moment with family today.

Tonight the five of us plus Carter plus my sister Romey and brother-in-law Rick (who just got into town about then) went out to eat at The Ridges. They are staying at hotel and Mom is staying here. I hooked her up to the TV while I went down to iron Carter's graduation gown. Did you know that takes an hour and 45 minutes to do?

Good grief. I should have done that one of those nights I was avoiding my to-do lists. No more chances now. Diploma will be in hand in 12 hours!

And so it begins...

 

How Rewarding

I was killing it today. If there was a reward for totally not staying on task, I earned it in spades.

OK. I had the day off. But because I didn't get to sleep until almost 2 a.m., I was not exactly jumping out of bed early to hit my party list of things to do. Then, I managed to avoid it.

How, you ask? Well, let's see... important things like getting a hair cut, going to the girls regional softball game (They won, but unfortunately our baseball team lost!), uploading and posting some 60 or so photos from that, talking to the neighbors... need I go on?

I did manage to dust – as in wipe that greenish-yellowish pollen off of EVERYTHING – and vacuum. Didn't get laundry done. And, even after 3 trips into town, I didn't get make it to Wal-Mart yet for my last-minute party purchases.

And do you know how I was rewarded?

Very sweetly!

Oh yes, this was posted tonight on the King Cone Facebook page:

The old saying goes "Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, and today is a gift, that why it's called the present." But tomorrow is no mystery, so here is your present, the King Cone Rapids location opens at noon tomorrow!!!! May 27th.

Ooooh, I like presents!

I guess I should set an alarm so I actually accomplish something to earn THAT reward tomorrow, eh?

Senior Moments :: Back to School and Baccalaureate

Once upon a time, there was a child on Blue Jay Drive so ecstatic to start kindergarten, he could hardly contain his excitement.

Fastforward 12 years and that kid is not quite as enthused – even though he should be thrilled it's his last day of high school. Ever.

I think deep down, Carter was excited, but he was running late and had to get to school early for a band practice before his last final. So no exact photo replication with hands in the air, but at least he was willing to pose for a picture despite his early morning.

The day at work was busy and went quickly, and then I headed to school for baccalaureate services. They've got some neat traditions at Assumption. The service in the gymnasium included a Mass, followed by yummy dinner, a senior slide show and several awards and speeches.

The night capped off with the alumni pinning ceremony.

 The alum pin their AHS students and the students, in turn, pin the alums.

They are both alumni now. Scary.

Had to get a picture of the three of us again. Gotta take advantage of that as much as I can in the next few days this week.

Overall, feeling very blessed with these amazing kids and parents who are my Assumption family!

A What Party?

Welcome to my Pity Party. Have a seat. There is plenty of room because no one enjoys hanging out with a crab-ass.

Did I just put the word crab-ass on the InterWeb? Uh-oh.

Honestly, I was a bit down today for no good reason. And by good, I mean realistic and reasonable in most "normal" people's minds.

One of my goals for Carter's party was to have his senior year scrapbook done – as close to current as possible. It seemed realistic when I was basically caught up after Camp Crop-A-Lot. Fastforward 3 months and I'm like, where did the time go? I still planned to give it an honest effort this week but then ran into a photo snafu at a certain business and that left me cranky and without photos until today. So it's unlikely I won't get those pages all done when the rest of the week is pretty booked. Will anyone care but me? Am I OK with that?

Not 100 percent.

Like the saying above indicates, I shouldn't ignore the fact that I have basically everything else set to go for the party – except the things I can't get until Friday or Saturday. I cannot be stressed or distressed about this scrapping business when some 80 or 90% of the pre-planning is good, right?

I guess I'm not lowering my expectations so much as I am raising my reality.

The reality is that I may not have every page done to document the last few months of his senior year. But the reality also is that I have spent as much time as I could in those months savoring moments with our senior.

I will try to keep that in mind before I slash those other tires.

Senior Moments :: The Final Final Countdown

This is it. Two finals down. Four to go. Then, so long senior year, high school, everything.

Too dramatic?

Honestly, this year went by so quickly for me, I am wondering if the seniors feel the same way. Suddenly, they are down to the final countdown with finals!

Carter got to sleep in a bit today and had finals for Religion and Physics. Tomorrow, it's a juxtaposition of finals in English and German, plus Calculus or Stats. And he wraps up his finals and secondary education with one test on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, I am trying to wrap up my work by end of day Wednesday, too, so I can have Thursday and Friday off to do final party prep. Let's just say I have a few extra things on my plate right now and none of them are cake.

Dang.

I was actually jealous of my sister and niece tonight because they are working the Beyonce concert at the Minnesota Gopher's stadium where we helped "work" during a Vikings game this winter. I thought, don't mind me, I'll just sit here watch The Voice on TV while my 61-year-old sister, who doesn't know a single one of her songs, has to suffer through it.

Maybe a bit jealous, but then I heard there was lightning at the outdoor concert so they had to evacuate. That was about 2 hours ago. Not sure if the concert is back on yet, but the radar looked ominous.

I'm not so envious after all. And really, Robyn, would you have had time to drive over to the Cities to help this week of all weeks? Not really.

For the record, if it had been Adele or a few other choice artists I really, really like, I would have made the trip!

I'm not the one with 3 finals tomorrow. Good luck to those who do!

Royally Nice

Today was the biggest day of activities for Assumption's Royal Event. My plan was to get there right when it started at 11 a.m. so I'd have first dibbs on their awesome selection of "cash and carry" theme baskets.

But then I got an unexpected visitor.

Diane, a woman we both worked with at the daily newspaper here, stopped by to drop off a graduation card for Carter because she isn't sure she'll make it to his party on Sunday (yikes, just one week away).

It was fun explaining to Carter that this woman has known him since the minute he was born. That I called her while I was in labor and "Grandma Di" came to visit him in the hospital when he was probably only 12 hours old!

Yup, a lot of people have adored that kid since day one and he probably doesn't know half of them! It is sad that we get so busy with our own lives that we don't take time to go see people who live in the same town. Some people say Rapids is a small town, but it's big enough you don't just run into people unless you make a point of seeing them.

So it was a nice surprise to see her and catch up. Totally worth missing out any basket purchases, that's for sure!

I did get to school closer to 1 p.m. and Jim and I had lunch. Sat with a couple he's known forever and who have two grown children we are friends with. They had to leave before the 50-50 raffle ticket number was announced so I told them I'd hold onto their tickets for them and give them their winnings when I see them at the ballpark – their son coaches Assumption softball and their son-in-law is head coach of baseball.

Later, when they announced the winning numbers, I got excited to see my tickets matched!

Then remembered, oh yeah, these aren't mine. So I collected $200 without passing go. At hubby's prompting, I handed over the money to their daughter, who will see them tomorrow. I'm still going to collect on the promised hugs from the winners. Gotta charge something for a handling fee!

Needless to say, that was as close as we got to winning anything. Jim's name was not called for winning a car and my name wasn't called for winning any of the golf outings.

We did score some half-price cheesecake and caramel corn to bring home. My 3-mile run/walk tonight will not even make a dent in that indulgence.

I'm sure it's Royally tasty. Just will have enjoy in Royal moderation.

Making Tracks

Had a busy day today, which I guess is normal for us, isn't it?

Got up early (for a Saturday) and to the high school by 8 a.m. to help with the Tracks for Tina 5K that is part of Assumption's Royal Event weekend. The run/walk is the fundraiser for my BFF's family, who created a scholarship a few years back in the name of her cousin Tina, who graduated from Assumption in 1992 and was murdered in 1994.

I usually design the t-shirt (above) and help out with race-day registration and anything else needed. Last year and this year I took pictures (surprise) for the event Facebook page, too. All 3 of us registered to run or walk it today but only Jim actually walked it while Carter and I did a little behind the scenes work. 

Later, after the family was done "thanking" their many sponsors by patronizing their places of business (read: adult drinking establishments), we joined the group for lunch at Tamarack's Pub, which I think was called Cheers when I first moved to town!

It was nice to spend a little time with my bestie Christine, who I just NEVER see since she lives out of town during the week. So it was great to see her and her wonderful family, who I consider an extension of my own!

Hubby and I also "made tracks" with a mini roadtrip down to Nekoosa to watch a little Assumption softball. I forgot that even though I've been to a few games this season, he hasn't because typically the baseball team is playing at the same time. It was a gorgeous day to be at the ballpark – or anywhere outside – that's for sure!

Had some freelance work to do this afternoon (indoors, pooh), but managed some sun time and a walk later with the neighbor. Even enjoyed a neighborly campfire tonight since it seems spring has finally arrived!

Will it last? Who knows? We'll take what we can get when we get it. We still have one more day of Royal Event festivities, though, so I hope the nice weather gets some track-tion.