the sad things...

 I just read that one of the public pools in the small city near us won't be opening this summer.  This is just too sad.  Old people and swim classes, and families in the heat of the summer with no place to cool off.  A few years ago, I remember driving through this city, and there was a group of people crossing the street, carrying floaties and towels.  They had swim shorts on, but one of the little boys had boots on.  I figured out how far that pool was from where we were, and it was a good hike, the day was very hot.  But, I was thankful, on their account, that they had a pool to go to.  The county has budget woes, but why cut this?  I don't know.  It's so sad.  

Sad things.  My sister was laid to rest yesterday.  

Her grandchildren laid roses first, and I cried my eyes out...all those beautiful kids growing up without their grandma.  It's too sad.  She was the Good Kind of Grandma, too.  The kind who always had something special, always remembered their birthdays and their favorite colors and had a package of cookies for them.  She was the story-telling kind of grandma, the listening kind too.  They were blessed to have her, but oh my heart just breaks.  

I got to put a rose on there too.  Oh my goodness, my sister.  There aren't words.  But shh, listen to this:  as we prayed, and sang a few songs, and heard some encouraging words about the hope we have, and about what a blessing Cheryl was...there was a teeny tiny spider, dancing around on her coffin.  She hated spiders, loathed and despised them, was quite scared of them, and didn't even like words such as "dangle".  So that spider just pranced all around, and as I sobbed and cried my eyes out, I couldn't help but be amused.  I knew her girls were seeing it too, so I made sure I didn't turn to look at them, because just my luck I would have a graveside laugh attack, the most inappropriate kind.   

What a day though.  We went to her house afterwards, and she wasn't there.  Her things were there, her bathroom decorations (she never changed a thing in there, still the same as when they built the house in the late eighties!), her knicknacks...her grown children and her grandchildren were there, and our siblings, and some friends...we told some stories about her growing up, and reminisced, and it was good to be together, but oh dear, I still can't picture my life without her in it.  

This fine day, I went to the pool, then came home to a very hot day.  It was 91 degrees.  Grace was here with the kids, and was filling the little pools.  They enjoyed playing with the squirt guns and net with fishies I stopped and got from the Dollar General.  (I also got Snapple diet peach tea, so yummy!, and popsicles...no sugar added Outshine popsicles, so good).  

Kaia was here too.  

Camille with Kaia...

oops, she likes popsicles!

Maeve and Ruth

Kaia and Samantha, cousins and future besties.

Ellis and cousin Kaia with Kathryn and Oscar

I stole this from Kathryn...Blythe and cousin Jamie...too cute..(from Saturday)

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment, my favorite!  I don't even get nervous that he's going to say "Oh, you're dying!".  My favorite is having my blood pressure taken, no wait:  it's getting on the scale!  I always keep my purse in my hand and wear my heaviest shoes, just so they don't think I'm wasting away.  

I also love how one appointment begets ten more appointments.  Well, it's not MY fault I haven't had a pap smear in so long!  I went to that obgyn so many times through the years, now I don't have to anymore, so I don't.  As for the mammograms, it seems like I just had one, how can it be that a few years have passed?   Genetic testing is something I need to discuss with the dr., I don't really want to know if I have that awful death-sentence of a cancer gene, but I probably should find out if I can.  My family history is dismal.  

After my appointment I'll probably run into Aldi, then do my BJ's pickup for chicken, yogurt, dark chocolate, seltzer...we're going to a nice Memorial Day picnic at Ben and Ashley's house this year, I'm bringing drinks and desserts...Camille has big ideas, not sure what we'll end up doing...any thoughts?

1.  Blueberry pie, apple pie, and cherry pie, she wants to cut out stars from the crusts, make them really patriotic.

2.  chocolate chip cookies and brownies.  Easy to serve, and always good.

3.  A sheet cake with white buttercream, blueberry stars and strawberry stripes.

4.  A whole slew of cupcakes with red sprinkles, blueberries, ect.  

5.  Ice cream, toppings, bowls and spoons, cones...ect.

6.  Popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones, novelties, ect.

#2 and #4 would be easiest to serve.  #5 and #6 would be easiest to prepare, just buy it, but then you would have to serve $5...anyway.  It's always fun, and you chime in and vote, and I'll let you know.

Ah well.  You have a good night.