A Scheidemantle Adventure

Kellan's ex-girlfriend, Hayley, promised Keaton long ago a fishing trip. She is one to never forget a promise and so last week she and her mom, Cindy, picked him up for a Scheidemantle adventure, which means lots of action. They went up the mountain to Arrowhead when they got a call from Alyssa, Hayleys sister, that her credit card was stolen. Cindy had to hit the nearest bank and after that they decided to do the trout farm, it was closed. As a last resort they went to Puddingstone, where they had a blast and even included a five mile hike to the VOR.

I always kid that Keaton should have been born into their family, because they love to do everything he does and like them he just keeps going like an energizer bunny.

They also have the same sense of humor Cindy told me she was teasing Keaton that his dad needed to find her a pilot and she didn't care if he was short and fat and ugly, he just needed to be nice. And Keaton replied, so I should tell him your desperate. Lol...Keaton should have fun in Cindy's jr high classroom:)

Thank you Hayley and Cindy for making the day so special for Keaton!!!!! Next time I want to go! But not if it is one of your marathons lol.

A Stranger in Room 160.

Today, I walked into room 160 at San Antonio hospital looking for my sister, but instead I encountered a stranger.

The person there was the same height as my sister yet that is where the similarity ended. For where my sister has beautiful black hair which has never gone gray, even though she is nine years older then me, this woman had wispy strings of hair making her look like a zombie in a horror movie.

Where my sister has beautiful skin that she took great pride in, this person had scaly dried skin, making her look wrinkled and a good forty years older then my sisters fifty-five.

Where my sister had a figure to be proud of and well she should, as she took great care in watching her weight and making sure it stayed the same as she was in high school. This person looked like a skeleton, twenty pounds less then my sisters ideal weight.

I took a step back at this sight, and a second look at the numbers on the door. Yes, this was the right room number. I began to wonder if perhaps they had given me the wrong room in error. As I turned to leave my eyes fell on a framed picture near this woman's bed. I recognized the people in it; my niece and her two day old son....... my sisters, daughter and first grandchild. The light began to dawn and as I once again looked to this woman her eyes lifted to mine and lit up at the sight of me. I knew instantly that this was indeed my sister, Denise.

In that moment memories came rushing at me, like a tidal wave you are unprepared for. Her smell hit me first. The smell of her is different than any other person I know and it was ingrained in my senses during the Saturday mornings of my childhood. I would get up early and crawl into her bed, falling into her deep mattress and being cacooned in her warmth. There we would stay cuddling and laughing until the outside world made us enter it. I remember her feeding me, bathing me, and even licking her thumb and scrubbing my face with it when I needed to look presentable. I remember spending almost every weekend from the age of twelve on, when she and Bob married, at their home, learning how to be a parent by watching her raise her children. I remember her door was never locked, but most importantly, her arms were always open to me at any age, or time of day.

In that instant, all the episodes of my life that she had been a part of, brought me to a very simple conclusion. My sisters outside was but a shell, but shining through those eyes was the unconditional love that she has always given me and which is the essence of who she is.

My sister, Denise and her Grandson, Grey (three months).

Creating a goodbye "remembrance" necklace for Fe, that including everything from an airplane, to pictures of the boys, to a chicken as a reminder of me, sparked a creative outlet that had lain dormant for sometime. Five of my nieces birthdays falling together allowed me to feed this new obsession and release some creativity.

A bracelet for Cara that I used scrap paper, some "liquid vinyl" type substance and crystals.

Earring made from old buttons (green) for Lauren and the bright colors of Andrea, her twin sister, which I hoped,(and did) remind her of Spain.

My two nieces, Michelle and Monique (who happen to be sister-in-laws) and both having and had their first babies, received lockets.

Michelle, whose son, Grey, is three months old received hers already with his smiling face enclosed....she loved it and cried big tears...... I told her it was hormones :)

Monique's is waiting for that special someone to make his/her appearance.

So much fun to make and give gifts filled with love.

Passing on life lessons...........

My 18 year old son, Kellan, came storming through the garage door, metaphoric steam rising from his being. When I asked him what was wrong he threw his hands up in disgust and uttered one word...."Fe", as he exited through the patio door and into the night.

Seconds later his girlfriend, Fe, came striding through the garage door with anger and frustration emanating from her every pore. I asked her the same question and received a somewhat garbled response "YOUR SON...(unrecognizable word in her native German language).....ARROGANT......(another German word that I thought I knew, but can't be repeated)......PHYSICS....!!!!!! As she stormed upstairs.

I thought to myself, yes, he is my son. Yes, he can be arrogant. And yes, he is all about physics....so glad that is cleared up;)

Enter Kellan again, still steamed. As he walked by I uttered a simple sentence,

"I hear that you are being arrogant about physics, my son?"

Fire flew from his mouth as he began to tell me his side of the story........

"You have no idea how stubborn she can be. We were discussing the fact that if you put a shirt in a plastic bag and sucked out all the air what would happen? She said it would curl up on the edges and I stated no, that because of physics, it would not.....I tried to explain it to her,but she wouldn't listen........"

At this point the giggle, that started when I realized what they were fighting about, could not be contained and erupted like a volcano.

"What are you laughing at!," indignantly exclaimed Kellan.

"Who cares if it curls or doesn't,," I gasped through tears of laughter.

Kellan finally getting the stupidity of the fight, caught my contagious laughter and soon we were both rolling on the floor.

Fe hearing us, came down to investigate and soon too was caught in our web of silliness, laughing so hard she leaned against Kellan and they both fell on the couch into each others arms.

When the laughter subsided I heard each apologize to the other for the stupidity of making a mountain out of a molehill and later when they exited the room I heard Kellan tell Fe.

"Next time we have a fight, we have to come see my mom, she can fix anything" and we all three smiled:)