Well when I said I might not be posting every day this summer I certainly didn’t realize it was a cue for my whole blog to crash and become forbidden on the internet. But it kind of worked out because our week last week ended up being busier than normal.
And by busier than normal I don’t mean the usual kind of busy where I realize we’re out of dog food and have to rush to the store to buy more.
(Is it just me or is busier a weird word to see spelled out?)
Anyway, Caroline and I ended up driving to Bryan on Wednesday morning because it was Honey’s sixtieth birthday. Gulley and the boys had already been there since Monday and I really wanted to make the trip but was in the middle of my brilliant plan to redo the walls in the guest room and needed to finish.
Normally I would have felt like the walls could wait, but since I have actual guests coming to stay in our house this week it seemed imperative to finish the walls because I may not be Emily Post but I know proper etiquette probably involves providing walls for a guest in your home.
But when P and I plowed through and finished the walls on Tuesday afternoon, I felt like it freed me up to hit the road. And I really wanted to get to Bryan for two reasons. One, I was at Honey’s fortieth birthday party and felt like I should be at her sixtieth. Two, Nena isn’t doing that great right now.
In fact, when we got there on Wednesday afternoon we went straight to the hospital to see Nena. Her heart surgery in the spring didn’t really fix the issues with her heart and she is continuing to have problems. As we walked into the hospital room I prepared myself to see her lying there in a weakened state but instead she waved from her bed like she was the Rose Queen in the Tournament of Roses Parade as she said “HELLLOOOOO!! MELANIE, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT PURSE?”
In other words, she is totally herself.
(Does anyone else think of Donna Martin anytime they hear about the Tournament of Roses parade or are you all normal?)
We spent some time visiting at the hospital and then headed home before Honey’s party that night. The whole family was meeting at Longhorn Tavern because birthdays are meant to be celebrated with chicken fried steak.
Everyone had a great time and then it was time to go back to the house. On the way there Caroline kept tooting in the back seat where she was sitting with the boys and I finally said, “Caroline! You need to stop! A day is going to come where boys won’t think it’s attractive or funny for a girl to toot in the back seat!”
And Jackson dryly replied, “Yes. That day is now.”
I’d planned for us to drive back to San Antonio on Thursday morning, but then Nena called to inform Honey that her doctor was discharging her from the hospital in a few hours. Which would be great except they had no idea where Nena was going to go since she needed more care than where she’d been living.
So Gulley and Honey drove to the hospital to figure out that situation while I took the kids to go swimming. At least I tried to take the kids swimming until we got to the pool and found out it didn’t open until 1:00. And that left us with an hour and a half to kill.
The park clearly wasn’t an option because it was hotter than the surface of the sun. I brainstormed and decided it was a great opportunity to take the kids on a little tour of their moms’ college years. The G rated version.
We drove by the duplex where we lived our last year of school and then got a drink from the Sonic that we singlehandedly kept in business from 1991-1994 with our love of Route 44 Cherry Vanilla Cokes. Since College Station is a small town this only took about fifteen minutes. And so I drove toward campus because they never get tired of seeing Blue Bell Park and Kyle Field.
Then I saw this and a tear came to my eye.
The future is now, my friends.
And then we saw the new baseballs they’ve put in front of Blue Bell Park.
Finally, we stopped by the gigantic Aggie ring for a photo op.
They’re all pretending that they’re putting the ring on their fingers because they’re at that age where they’re goofy as heck.
At last it was 1:00 and the pool was open. They spent the rest of the day swimming while I sat in the shade since I hadn’t thought to pack a bathing suit because I didn’t imagine my twenty-four hours in Bryan would include swimming. However, I used the time to beat my high score on Bookworm and even had a conference call with Tyndale because all true professionals conduct business while their children come up and beg them for giant pickles and snow cones from the snack bar.
By the way, I feel like I need to confess that I ate nachos from the snack bar in a weak moment. The kind with the cheese that pumps out of a spigot.
It was a low.
We left the pool at the end of the afternoon and met Gulley and Honey back at the house where they reported they’d gotten Nena settled for the time being. But when Honey called to check on her later and to tell her she’d bring more of her clothes over tomorrow, Nena said, “Oh, don’t bother. I’m not staying here.”
Then Honey called the next morning in the hopes the night had changed Nena’s mind and Nena told her, “This place is like an old folk’s home.”
Yes. Because it’s an old folk’s home.
Needless to say, Nena is going to be moving again soon.
Friday morning Caroline and I packed up to leave. We got in the car, waved goodbye and she cried all the way to Caldwell where we stopped to get her a BLT from Subway because that’s her love language. I kind of want to judge her for it but I eat nachos from a public pool snack bar. Her love of low rent foods is genetic.
The Subway happened to have a drive-through window which felt like the hand of God in my life at that moment. Until they told us to pull around and wait for our BLT sandwich.
We waited.
And then we waited some more.
And then we waited some more.
Twenty minutes later they arrived with the sandwich and apologies because they’d forgotten about it. I was annoyed but let it go in my anxiousness to just get on the road and get home. Which was a great plan until Caroline unwrapped her sandwich about ten minutes later to discover they’d given us a bacon and mayonnaise sandwich.
No L.
No T.
Who wants just a bacon and mayo sandwich? Besides someone I don’t want to know?
And isn’t the L and T implied when you order a BLT? Am I right?
The bacon sandwich pushed Caroline off her already perilous edge and she wailed, “I WAS ALREADY DEVASTATED TO LEAVE BRYAN AND NOW THIS.”
At least she’s not dramatic.
The rest of the weekend was a blur. We had Caroline’s last swim meet and I cannot express how overjoyed I am at the prospect of no longer having to set an alarm for 6:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings.
I plan to watch the Summer Olympics in August with a whole new respect for all those swimmer’s mothers.
And that’s what we’ve been up to.
(Lamest ending ever but I have no idea how to wrap this up and I’m at 1325 words which is just obnoxious.)
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” I may not be Emily Post but I know proper etiquette probably involves providing walls for a guest in your home”, is another favorite liine for the Best of Big Mama quotes.
HIlarious!
A friend of mine had her 3 kids and my 2 grandkids in her mini van and thy went to McDonalds…….after waiting and waiting…….their entire order was wrong…WRONG !!!
she pulled over to the side of the road……turned around in her seat so she could face the kids and said “this is why you will get an education!!!!! You will learn to read and write propeerly……so you DoNot have to work at McDonalds”
“Because that’s her love language.” HA!!! Love it…and I love the kids putting the huge ring on their fingers…so hilarious and cute.
It’s pretty funny and ironic that you would give a tour of the A & M campus. I remember when Mimi and I came to visit you your freshman year. As we strolled through the campus I asked you where the library was and in desperation you pointed to the first building we saw. Of course you had no idea where the library was! That was my first clue that it was going to be five long fun filled years.
Hahaha! I love when you comment and tell us stories about Melanie from a parent’s perspective. I love your daughter! She just delights me!
That makes me smile!
I just love when you write about Nena. She reminds me of my grandma.
I missed some of your posts last week (went to a conference in ATL), so I have some catching up to do! And you blew my mind with the drive-thru Subway…although it does scare me about the forgetting of the order. Maybe it’s not worth it.
Words cannot express how grateful I am that you came to my party and to our rescue last week! You are one of the many blessings God has given me and I am so thankful for your sweet love and friendship. You are such an important part of our family and I love you so much!!
The giant ring is so fun! And I love to read all of your obnoxious 1325 words – have a great day!
Not normal either…….I think of Donna immediately…….so sad.
Love your life stories. I look forward to them every morning.
i love this post, caroline cracks me slap up!
that girl I WAS ALREADY DEVESTATED, AND NOW THIS!!
for the love of all that is holy, get that girl a BLT today:)
The pic of Kyle Field brought a tear to my eye, too. Not because I’m an Aggie, but because I have tickets to be there when my beloved Gators come to play in September. It would be a really nice gesture if y’all could air condition the stadium before then! Looking forward to the game but not the brutal heat.
Tell Caroline that I will be devastated if the Gators loose!
I actually heard Nena say that in Aunt Bea’s voice!
I LOVED ALL 1325 words of this but what really made me smile was seeing our beloved Kyle Field with the SEC on it!! Thanks for reminding me of home and everything that is great about Texas (while I live life here in Mississippi thanks to the Air Force). I can’t wait for football!! Gig’em……
P.S. I too have eaten at the bottom of the “snack bar foods”! My kids all play basketball and from Oct. – Feb. nachos are our go to meal. YUM ??
Are you kidding?! I would LOVE a bacon and mayonnaise sandwich! Now anything I eat the rest of the day will pale in comparison.
I completely agree! I would also go without the L & T!!!! Have since I was a kid!!!! Drives my husband crazy now.
Since you mentioned Donna Martin all I can think now is “Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!” Hilarious!
Yes I thought of Donna Martin and Tournament of Roses when you made that comment. I also thought of the picture she found of her mother when she was in the Tournament. Clearly I’m not normal either.
::but I know proper etiquette probably involves providing walls for a guest in your home.:: And once again you’ve brightened my day with a laugh!
So one of my many goals this summer is to read all of Janet Evanovich’s books in her Stephanie Plum series. I know, I know, it’s hard to imagine such excitement in just one person’s life. Anyway,based on your descriptions, I liken Nena to Grandma Mazur in the book. And hey, she is played by the fabulous Debbie Reynolds in the movie.
Oh, and it’s a good thing that I don’t get company because my bathroom walls have needed to be finished for quite some time now. The first coat of paint is on, but I haven’t cut in around the edges. And the trim where the painters tape took off all of the paint? Still that way. It is so high class. Why would I ever change it?
I always love reading your posts, especially the ones that are over 1325 words. It’s my morning coffee ritual. Also, what’s Bookworm? My ears (eyes?) perked up upon reading that there could there possibly be a game app that’s centered around one’s book knowledge. Finally a game I can be good at (though I’m guessing bragging about it would reveal too much about the nerdiness that is my life).
I love your blog, but I’ve never commented before. However, I couldn’t pass up a 90210 reference of this magnitude. I thought of Donna Martin immediately, too, and how she found out her mom was pregnant during her Tournament of Roses competition. Ha! And I totally agreed that Ray Pruitt didn’t fit into the whole Rose Parade scene!
you saved me from having to google Donna Martin.
Ha! Me too!
That Nena is something! Glad she is doing well and I hope she likes her new place.
The subway sandwich sounded gross. Uncalled for. I can see why Caroline had a breakdown. Poor baby!
Why does the Lord like to use the fast food industry to test our patience? It’s good she’s learning now. Don’t run around that mountain for forty years, Caroline. It never changes.
Still laughing at the obnoxious word count.
OK, #1: JACKSON IS A RIOT. I love it. Priceless. #2: I’d be all over those Subway people like mayonnaise on bacon. #3: There is something inherently right about nachos with cheese out of a pump, especially at sporting events or sporting-like events. #4: I think your swim meet times are crazy. Ours are 5:30 p.m. on Mondays or Tuesdays. Which, now that I think about it, isn’t much saner. Let me rephrase. Swim meet times are crazy. The end.
Not opening a pool in Bryan until 1 pm is insane! Last time I was at my Mom’s (in Georgetown) I wanted to take my son to the pool to get him away from all of her Hummel figurines and other things in the house he can’t touch. (Read: everything.) The pool there didn’t open until noon, and it was already 102. Ridiculous!
We wound up bowling all morning. Letting him throw a bowling ball down a lane was a perfect antidote to all of the “Oh, no, don’t touch THAT!” he got at my mom’s house.
I’m laughing so hard I’m crying!!
Melanie, you crack me up!
I, too, loved all 1325 words. Keep em’ coming. Lame endings and all. And, maybe Patrick can be Caroline’s opening act someday. Or, the other way around.
(delurking)
I’ve been reading you forever, and last week I was in College Station for my eldest son’s new student orientation at A&M. If you’ve looked at my email address, you can imagine how difficult it was for me
. But after reading your very fond memories of A&M over the last 3 years or so, it actually made it a little easier when he choose to attend A&M, and after spending the week in College Station and so much time on that campus, I can see why you have such fond memories. I hope it’s as wonderful for my kid as it was for you.
(And I’m only de-lurking because I think we were on campus at the same time last week – and my dorky self just had to comment on that!)
Love your blog! Honey has been bragging continuously on your writing skills. She is right. You are amazing!! You guys are always welcome at our home and pool. Sorry no nachos and cheese here:). I love Nena too! She just brings joy to anyone she meets. She should be a National Treasure. Can’t wait to keep up with your blog. Take care of Gulley. She is my girl!