Where Do I Begin? Madeleine's Graduation Party and Much More

A Short Story--No--a Novel :Length Story

Friday the 13th, the night of a full moon............

.......should have given me a clue as to what the evening would bring...but then...I'm not superstitious.....

I arrived at Karen and Mark's at 4:00--I wanted to help get the last minute things done.  Good thing--chaos reigned!

Maddie wanted an "all outside party"--the temperature was hovering around 62 degrees, with a west breeze of around 50 mph, putting the wind chill at near 35!!! <only kidding, but it was cold>

 Instead of having the food inside (as they normally do), it was out on the deck.  Her "board" and all her neat awards, were out on the deck--flying around in the wind and landing, who knows where.  IT WAS SO DANG WINDY/COLD UP THERE!!!

Ever the subtle (?) Gramma, I took Maddie aside and said, "Honey, it is blowing so hard out there on the deck, it is going to blow out the canned heat under the food trays and all the food will be cold.  I think it might be better to have the food inside and people can eat outside." (I sort of lied because I don't think the canned heat thingies would blow out....but)

"I think that's a good idea, Gramma."

Just then the other grandparents arrived and I enlisted the help of Grandpa Rivard to carry the food servers back into the kitchen and set them up on the island.  The worthless Grandma Rivard (oh, yeah, there's another story in there), stood and watched while sipping on her ever present glass of wine.

"Elaine, could you help me carry in the plates and napkins...and stuff?"

"Sure.  Where is it?"

"Outside on the deck."

"Oh...I don't know.  It's so cold and windy and I didn't bring a sweater.  I don't know if I could take it.  I just can't believe how cold it is and....."

"Well, the sun is out, it isn't raining or snowing.  It's Maddie's graduation party, so...let's thank God for that and enjoy ourselves."

I scurry out to the deck...back and forth--got it all set up like I remember the other kids parties and VOILA--problem solved.

I cut up my Mississippi Mud Brownies and put them on a nice, round crystal platter I had--on top of three lace doilies.  Oh BTW--the brownies (always a hit) were all gone within the first hour.

I helped Karen stir the Alfredo and Red spaghetti sauce, made sure the bread sticks weren't burning, ran down to the basement kitchen to bring up the salad fixings, along with oldest Grand daughter Helene who had flown in from LA for the party.

Grandma Rivard sat at the kitchen table, sipping on her second glass of wine..."It's June!  I just can't believe how cold it is.  I wish I'd brought a sweater."

Karen: "I'll get you one of mine, Mom."
<grinds my goat that she calls her Mom>

I look at Karen who just, rolls her eyes as she walks toward her bedroom.

"Well, it isn't going to get any warmer by talking about it "Let's get some pictures of the Grandparents with Maddie, before everyone gets here," says I.  Trying to divert this woman's mind-set...which isn't easy.  I smiled when I remembered the comment my ex made the first time he met her.  "Boy--that woman is drifter than a cumulus cloud!"

<I have seriously wanted to slap that woman, on numerous occasions, in the last 33 years>
============================

Then Maddie got her head band on

you can see how hard the wind was blowing

Everything was ready at "Four Fifty-Eight" as Karen noted and people started coming in.  I retreated to the deck and was going down the stairs to go sit on the front porch, protected from the wind where I could see all the arrivals and whom should I meet coming up the stairs?  The Love of my Young Life...the ex.

"Gary, how are you doing?" I asked with a big smile.

"Well right now, I'm trying to figure out how to get up all these steps!" he laughed.

I took another step down and hugged him.

"By the way...Happy Birthday last month.  We're getting old, aren't we?"

"Yep.  Happy Birthday next week.  We ARE getting old."

"Yeah, but one good thing--you will ALWAYS be thirteen months older than me!"

"Not too many years left," he said.  "I guess the secret is...trying to figure out to live the rest of those years."

"You're right.  You will be living them on the golf course and I will be living them with my cats."

We hugged again and I proceeded to walk to the porch--I won't deny, a tear was trying to escape.

I had a great vantage point, as every guest came passed me to enter the house.  My ex sister-in-law and hubbies (I love these people) hugs and kisses all around.  My Pammie and Mark, sister Susan and Chuck, her son and his family.  

Lo and behold, my step sisters and their families (and they acted glad to see me, but then again, they have always been fake people. This whole problem with Jen started when my 2nd cousin read what I had posted on my blog, called the step brother-in-law and told him to read it--which he did--then told Jen to read it.)

I glanced down at the tent where people were eating and I saw Pammie and.....sitting across from her was....Andrew?  Jennifer's oldest.  Did he ride with Pam?  No.  I hadn't seen him come in.

Who are they looking at?

There's Alex and.........it's Jennifer, putting a head band on Elise, who is holding....Evan!

OHMYGOSH!!

What do I do now?  Run and hide?  Sneak through the house, out to my car and leave?  No--sneakily take a picture and stay on the porch.

They started up the hill toward the house. Jennifer looked great.  She must have lost 50#. 

I could hear the theme song from Chariots of Fire playing in the background.

My heart was pounding so loud it made my hands shake.  

Elise ran up on the porch to give me a hug, Alex came shyly along, Evan looked at me like he had no clue and Jen?

"Hi Mom.  Evan, say Hi to Mimi. You remember, Mimi?"

<well of course not.  He hasn't seen me in a year>

She handed him off to Elise.  I stood up and she gave me a hug and one of her "air" kisses.

"You look great, Mom."

"So do you!  You have lost a lot of weight!"

"Yeah.  No matter what I did--Nutri-system, fives miles a day on the treadmill..I just couldn't lose.  So I went to the doctor.  He did some tests and put me on Thyroid pills and....the weight just started falling off."

"I'll bet you feel better too."

"It has really helped.  I'm not as tired and emotional as I used to be.    We're going in and get some food.  Are you coming too?"

"No.  I'm not hungry right now.  I'm going to wait until the crowd thins out a bit."
<I couldn't have eaten even if I had wanted too>

"Okay.  See you later."

Just then I saw Pammie walking out to her car--she looked over and waved to me like, "follow me", so I did.

We hid out and had a cigarette.

(don't judge--I needed one!)

Back into the house where Elise came up for a hug and I had to take her picture.  She is ten and getting very tall.

She was headed out to the back yard to swing, so I followed along.  Down the big  hill.  No photos...because I was too busy and, didn't really think.  Wish I had now.

Alex (7) was kicking his soccer ball all around, so I stopped and asked him if he was playing and where.  Then saw Andrew up on the hill, playing Lacrosse with a bunch of older kids--he is 12 and nearly as tall as I am.  He saw me and came over for a hug and we chatted.  Then...I saw Evan (2 1/2), with Pam, picking up sticks to put in the fire pit.  I walked over.  

"Whatcah doing, Evan?"

"I cleaning up mulch.  I get stick off dat tree and put dem in the fire pit for Aunt Karwen."

"Can Mimi help you?"

"Yath." he says as he toddles back toward the mulch.

I could see he was picking up the small little branches that had fallen on the mulch from the trees overhead.  He was very intent on his job.  Back and forth we walked.

"Good job, Mimi," he says at one point.

I reached down and picked up a couple of pieces of large sized mulch--big 3 inch hunks of wood, and started walking back toward the fire pit.

"NO.  MIMI.  We don't put dat mulch in dah pit...just the widdle bwanches off dah twees!"

"Oh.  Sorry.  I didn't realize it was mulch."

"Yath.  See--it is differwant."

Back and forth--back and forth.

Then I needed a rest, and spotted some small pieces of wood strips that Mark had thrown in the fire pit.  I picked up a long one, laid it over my thigh and broke it in two.  Well--that was noticed.

"Evan...do you think you are strong enough to break these?"

...and he leaned into the pit, while I held the seat of his pants, came up with a really long one, nearly put my eye out when he brought it out....put it over his thigh and snapped it in half.

"ALL RIGHT!  GIVE ME FIVE!"

Which he did--really hard--taking me almost to my knees because he hit my arthritic right hand.

He commenced to keep breaking the thin strip of wood...

"Mimi has to go up to the house.  Okay?  See ya later. Can I have a hug?"

I bent down and he reached up and-------Heaven!

"Bye, bye, Mimi.  See wu waiter."

==========================

Then I spied this going on at one of the tables under the tent.  My son talking earnestly to his Dad and my ex brother-in-law.  It must have been funny as they were laughing---while I surreptitiously took their picture.

I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of my ex's wife, but...didn't want to scare you.  She is not even 70 as yet and her skin looks like an alligator's.  Her face has crevices and wrinkles that would rival the Grand Canyon.  All that golfing and sun bathing in the warm climes of Florida every winter.  HAH  

<You're a mean one, Judith Miller--you're critical, crass and vengeful>

Back in the house and saw Jen stirring a big pot of spaghetti at the stove, so I went over.

"Is Eric coming over?"

"Yes.  He had to work and then take the car in.  He said he'd be here around seven-thirty."

I glanced at the clock on the stove--6:45.

"Okay...well I am going to head home."

"Don't worry about it, Mom."

"No.  I don't want to make it uncomfortable for Eric.  Besides, I'm getting tired.  It was wonderful to see you."

"You too, Mom."  and, when she reached over to hug me, I whispered in her ear, "I love you Sweetie." and she gave me an extra hard hug.

I went through the house, out onto the deck and lawn to hug and kiss kids and grand kids and friends goodbye, gathered my stuff and out to the car, realizing at the time that I hadn't eaten a thing!  Too distracted I guess.  

I drove home, smiling and repeating over and over....

THANK YOU, GOD.  THANK YOU, GOD.  THANK YOU, GOD!

The End

or maybe not?

.

Madeleine Sophia Rivard

The E-Mail

Received this e-mail late last night from Jen.



Hi there,

Thank you for your card.

 I do not hold any grudges against you. However, it is not going to be easy for any of us to trust you again.

Sorry, but Eric doesn't want to be at Madeleine's open house with you. Do you know what times you plan on being there? I figured you'd probably go early, and you usually don't stay too long, so we'd go after. Does that work for you? 

I hope you are well, J=
==============================


Pammie told me that Eric didn't have a problem with me--however--I guess little Miss Passive-Agressive still does?

I waited all day and just replied:  "I will leave at 7:15."

You know why?  Because I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable with both of us there--even though we could be on opposite sides of the lawn/house and never see each other, AND--I don't want to make it any more difficult for Maddie to see her Aunt/Uncle/Cousins and for all of them to be able to see her.

Onward and Upward--Ever Forward!!

Fun Times?

Today's high temperature was:  71

Humidity:  62

Off and on showers and heavy rains in the afternoon and evening

===================================

Woke up early to a soft rain, that stopped by 9:00 and the sun came out.  I was going up to The Farm to visit my sister and see her new gardens, but knew heavy rain storms were expected in the afternoon, so decided to stay home and clean up the house.

At 11:00, I got a bright (?) idea.  We know that Pearl wants two Delphinium plants.  We also know Merle doesn't want her to buy anymore plants.  After I weeded her garden and took out some Iris, she had a nice big empty spot for---Ta Dah--Delphiniums!!

I called and asked if she wanted to go across the road to the garden center--where she had seen the plants she wanted--get them, put them in the ground, before the rain and before Merle got home, BECAUSE, we all know, a man is not going to notice--they are so tunnel visioned.

I dropped her off at the door.  She knew right where the plants were and off she trundled.  I parked the car and was in the store before she was.  I went up to the desk and asked where the Delphinium's were.  The girl showed me.  Before I could call out to Pearl, she was half-way across the store and WITH NO CART!!!  She needs a cart to lean on or she can't walk very far.

I scooted out to patio and grabbed a cart.  One of the employees also grabbed a cart and took off ahead of me.

Of course, you guessed it--SHE was giving her cart to Pearl and I came up and said, "I got you a cart!"  We all laughed and then I had a cart to lean on too.  Win-Win.

"I can't find those Delphiniums," she said. "I know they were right in this aisle!"

"I asked the girls at the check-out.  All the Delphiniums have been brought in and they are at the front."

So off we walked.  Well, I walked and Pearl limped and moaned.

Four Hundred and Eleven Thousand Delphinium plants--and--

"This isn't the kind I want.  The one I want is Sapphire blue and isn't all bunched up like these."

Now--when I think Delphinium's, I think:

Tall, spikes

"These?" I asked.

"No.  I don't like that bunch."

"Bunch?"

"That bunch of flowers all on top of the stem."

"You are going to plant them in the back of the garden.  You need a tall something or your Peony plants, in front will cover it up."

"Let's go look outside in the nursery section."

"There aren't any Delphinium outside.  They have brought them all inside to mark them down and sell them."

An employee came by, Pearl said, "Do you have Delphinium outside? "

"No.  We have brought them all in.  These are all the Delphinium we have."

"I want to go out anyway."

So we did--it was sprinkling.  I am stretching and craning my neck, trying to see Sapphire colored plants, so I could walk right to them and Pearl wouldn't have to walk so much.

Pearl said, "I'm sure it was this store.  I don't think it was Lowe's where I saw it."
<I must admit, my shoulder's did slump a bit>

"The name started with an "L".  L something, Delphinium."

"Oh," I shouted with glee.  You want a Larkspur!!"

"Yes!  I think that's it!  I know it has an "L" at the beginning of its name!"

Back inside we went and Pearl asked the check-out girl where the Larkspur were.

"They are all there with the Delphinium.  Larkspur's are a form of Delphinium."

"Well, I KNOW that," harrumphed Pearl.

So we looked some more.  They only had a pinkish color.  DRAT!

"Well--let's go," says Pearl.

"Okay.  I will go get the car and drive up.  You wait at the door until you see me, Okay?"

"Yup."

I walked out to my car, in the rain, and drove up to the entrance.  I waited....and waited...and then I waited some more.  I was going to go back into the store--wondering if Pearl was all right, but I was in a NO PARKING zone.  Just then--here she comes with two Sapphire blue plants.  Smallish, short, bushy Delphiniums.  I put them in the back seat and we came home.

"Let's plant these so they can get a good soaking from the rain that's coming."

"Okay."

I walked into their shed. which has a five foot, eight inch height and slammed my forehead into the entryway.  I backed out a bit, shook the "stars" out of my head, scrunched over to get inside and found the shovel and back out to her front garden.  I dug a hole by the back edge, then picked up the Delphinium pot and looked at the tag.  Their full height?  12 inches.  Spread? 18 inches

"I don't think these are going to work back there, Pearl.  They only grow to a foot high.  You won't be able to see them behind the Rudbeckia plants.  Do you want to take them back and we will go to the other garden place and look for a Dark blue Larkspur?"

"It's called REBECCA, or Brown-eyed Susan!"
<or is it BLACK-eyed Susan?   I'm not fighting that fight again>

"Okay.  Do you want to take the Delphinium's back?"

"Nope.  These will be okay.  They were twenty percent off.  They probably wouldn't take them back."
<a deep sigh tried to erupt from me, but I quelled it>

"Okay then.  Can I move the Obedience and REBECCA plants back near the house and put these plants in front.  I think they are like plants for a border."

"Sure."

So, I raked away the big chunky, stupid bright red bark mulch they put on the garden and dug a hole for the other plants--dug them out, trying to keep a lot of soil with them, put them in the holes and then planted one of the Delphinium in the hole where they had been.  

Raked all the mulch back into place...by now it was raining.

"I will come back Monday and plant the other one, okay?  You set the pot where you want me to plant it.  It will be all right to leave it in the pot for the next few days."

I just hate that she got a plant she didn't really want.  I understand why she did.  I was in her shoes four years ago.  It is so painful and tiring to walk all over a huge garden center (or store for that matter) trying to find just what you want.  You start out with energy and hope and, within fifteen minutes, you hurt so bad you just want the whole shopping trip over and done with.  Thus, you "settle".

That is why I tried to do most of the running around for her this morning.  Telling her where all the Delphiniums were. Getting her a cart.  She just trundles on, not listening to or taking any one's advice.  Then she gets so worn out and in such pain and then....grouchy.

So, now she has Sapphire border plants.  They will look beautiful in her garden, BUT she didn't get the tall spike of Sapphire Larkspur that was what she really wanted.

I am going to go out tomorrow and see if I can find her one.  Then, I will take it down Monday.  If she doesn't want the damn thing, I will plant it in one of my gardens!!!  That will probably make her mad that I took it upon myself.  

Hm-mm.  Maybe it is better if I just go out looking tomorrow and then, if I spot one, Monday I can kind of steer her to the garden center that has it and to where they are displayed.  

Yup.  That might be better.

Onward and Upward!!
=========================
I almost forget--I did a bad thing last night.  Tami (of the neighbor that doesn't know enough to water a new tree), has put those large solar lights all over her side lawn.  Four of them are quite near my bedroom.  I like to sleep with my bedroom blinds up a bit and the window open.  When I lay on my left side, two of those lights shine right in my eyes.  She has them in a raised bed of Bee Balm.

She and her husband worked nights--leaving at 5:00 and returning at 2:00 in the morning. So---last night, after they left, and it got dark enough for the lights to come on, I sneaked over and took the two offending lights out of where she had put them.  I moved them in front of the Bee Balm plants--which are large enough now to shield my eyes from the lights!  

AHA!!!!!

I am quite sure, she will never notice.

Blogger and I Seem To Be Having an Issue Today

Just Another Day On Lakeview Lane

Today's temperature: 59 degrees at 8:00 a.m.--75 degrees at 8: p.m.

Sunny

============================

Woke up with a real sore foot--checked it out and it had a long scratch on it.  I must have moved my feet during the night and Maggie took offense and nailed me with a claw.  This has happened before.

Got up and pulled on my jeans and long sleeved shirt.  Don the Lawnmowing Man was here and I went out and told him how I wanted him to,"Take your trimmer and please, massacre that Myrtle vine creeping out onto the lawn!"  Which he did.

I should have gone to the grocery store, but instead, around 10:30, I pulled on a T-shirt and shorts and walked up to Pearl's to finish off weeding her garden.  She had decided that instead of just getting the remaining grass out of her garden, she wanted me to dig up 5 trillion Iris, 6 million Obedience plants and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!  

She can work about 5 minutes and I can work about 15 before we have to quit.  She usually sits in a lawn chair and watches and chats while I dig.  She has wooden bark on her garden and I have to rake it away so I can get the dang shovel down into the dirt!  She stood up and went to bend over to pull out some of the Iris I had loosened, and she fell face first in the garden.  

"Stay right there and I will get your chair to help you up."

But she rolled over onto her back and there I was---trying to help a turtle get turned over--a very large turtle or a "beached whale" as she said.  I finally got her to roll over and brought the chair up close.  Then, I sat on the chair to add weight, took both of her hands and we both huffed and puffed and finally got her on her knees where she could pull herself up, by holding onto the arms of the chair, while I sort of pulled on her upper arms and shorts to hoist up her butt.

"Next time you do that, I'm calling Corrigan's towing and have them bring a winch to haul you up??"

I knew she wasn't hurt or I wouldn't have said that and she was laughing and so was I, but a bit worried as she was very dizzy.  She still suffers from bouts of Vertigo from her fall in the driveway when she hit the back of her head.

We decided it was time to quit.  She wanted the extra space so she can plant 2 Delphiniums!  After Merle told her not to buy anymore plants and she promised she wouldn't--but--she wants Delphiniums so we are going to get Delphiniums!!!  Merle won't even notice there is a new plant there.

I can't hardly take care of my own small gardens and now I think, I will have an extra chore next spring, weeding time.  It's okay--if I can, I will.  We both wonder why our kids don't offer to help us, but.....well, you all know how that goes.

===========================

I came home and did two loads of laundry and cleaned the bedroom, than watched my Soap.  

I kept thinking I should get up and go shopping for food, but kept finding things that needed doing...now!  Like moving the bird bath to a new location.  Filling the feeders.  Watering all the annuals.  Sweeping off the porch.

I got done, came in to rest and Dar was at the door.  She was carrying some brocade fabric over her arm.  It was beautiful--heavy with silver threads.  Then she opened it up and it was a Caftan!

The dang thing was huge--wide and long.  White, with silver braid and buttons all down the front and sleeves.

"My Daddy had this made for my Mother in 1962.  Custom made in Spain.  It cost a thousand dollars.  I don't know what to do with it."

"It would make beautiful drapes," I said.

"WHAT?!"

"What do you want to do with it?"

"I want to have it altered--an empire waist.  I want to wear it to my nephew's wedding so my Daddy can see it again."

"Don't you think it might be a bit too formal?"

"Probably, but I don't care."

"Don't you think it might upset your Daddy to see your Mother's special dress on you?

"Oh.  I never thought of that.  It might.  Hm-mm."

She pulled the Caftan over her head.  There were two ribbons, inside, at the waist line to tie and snug up the waist a bit.  

She looked kind of like Cleopatra--or an Arab queen--or...I don't know.  I don't know why I didn't grab my camera!  Missed chance, dag nab it!

"Oh my gosh!  It's heavy!" she exclaimed, as she wrestled it off up over her head.  The waist ties got caught under her armpits and I helped free her.

================================

She left and I was sitting in my recliner with my feet up--my right foot is swollen.  I jumped when neighbor, Tami, started talking to me through the open window behind me.

"I'm going to have to dig up that @#@*& red bud tree and take it back to Home Depot.  The F#@@*&G thing is dying."

"Have you watered it?"

"I watered it when I planted it."

"You planted it when?  Memorial Day?"

"Yeah.  Why?"

"It is a living thing, Tami.  It needs water.  Just like you do."

"We had rain yesterday."

"We had sprinkles.  Put your hose on an easy trickle and flood the area where you planted it."

I got up and walked out.  She bought the tree for "us".  She planted the tree on "our" property line.  "Now you will be able to see it too," she said.

I couldn't see it unless I opened up my bedroom window and climbed out onto my hedges!!

"I gotta go to the F#@@*&G dentist!"

"How long will you be gone?"

"About an hour."

"That's perfect.  Let the hose run on a slow trickle and give it a good watering---way down to its roots."

"Won't that be too much?"

"Nope.  We don't have to pay for water, so drench the tree really good every week."

I told Pearl and she said, "Tami planted a Sweet Pea tree on my lot line last spring.  She never watered it.  I felt sorry for it, so I watered it in June.  Then, I figured it wasn't my responsibility and I stopped.  The thing was dead by August.  Dumber than a box of rocks!"

<and she talks filthy even though Pearl, Dar, Jackie and I have told her we don't like her cussing>

Maybe tomorrow things will be calmer and I can get to the store?

Simply Sunday and Feeling Vital

The high temperature today was: 78 degrees

Sunny and lovely

===============================

I woke up to rain.  It was supposed to rain all day.  I checked the Internet weather map for this area and saw that the rain would leave around 11-11:30.

Maddie's BFF was having her graduation party today and she posted on Face Book that she was worried about the rain.  I messaged her back..."I promise you--the rain will stop--the sun will come--the day will be gorgeous--the party will be a success."

I left at 1:00 to drive the 2.8 miles to her house.  Absolutely gorgeous setting.  Down a wooded lane, the only house ON the drive AND, they had the wooded lane paved a few years ago.

It appears that every friend of Maddie's, comes from a wealthy family.  Of course, the area is filled with residents who are doctor's, lawyer's company owners, or professors who teach at the University of Michigan.  Apparently they can afford to give their children private music lessons, ballet lessons, orthodontists, dermatologists--whatever they may need.  The really delightful thing about all these kids--they are so down to earth and not pretentious at all.  I found that out yesterday at Matt's party, when I met Casey.  He has been in special school most of his life and you can quickly tell, when talking to him, that he has some sort of disability.  His mother usually goes with him to all functions.  Matt was his room-mate when the band went to Disney World, to take care of him.  Yet--all these kids, every single one of them, treat Casey like he is just like them.  They don't talk down to him, they don't act like he is any different.  I love these kids.

This was a write-up about this Senior Class in the county-wide newspaper this morning:

Brighton Area Schools administrators said the Class of 2014 helped establish a new culture of giving and leadership at BrightonHigh School.

Just under 500 seniors participated in the graduation ceremony Saturday, which was organized by the students.

Principal Gavin Johnson said these students were freshmen when he and Henry Vecchioni took over as principals at the school as part of a staff reorganization. They encouraged the students to become more involved, and that’s exactly what they did.

“We’ve encouraged these kids to take over leadership of their school,” Johnson said. “They have created dozens of events, clubs and activities that are good for Brighton High School and the city of Brighton and the Brighton community.”

He said new events included Pink Week, Wounded Warriors Week, Safety Week and National Honor Society Survivor Week.

“We’ve really built a student-centered culture, and these students have really ran with it,” Johnson said.

He said more high school students are taking Advanced Placement courses, and the high school has won a state championship every single year.

Superintendent Greg Gray said these students have helped reorganize the high school along with staff.

“It’s a great place for kids,” he said.

Gray said students are taking more advanced classes, and there are more charity events.

He said these students “have helped to redefine the culture at Brighton High School.”

=========================================

When I walked up to the back of the house, Susanna saw me and came running to give me a hug.  Her Mother took a picture of us.

I just found today that Susanna is Chinese.  I thought she was Korean.  They adopted her when she was almost 3.  

 I took a stroll along the boardwalk to the lake

 Coming back I could see their seating area, so lovely

 Susanna's "board" up on the porch

 A close-up of her and Morgan and Maddie

I thought this was a cute little table area, with tiny lights, off

to the side...

and it seemed like the perfect for the little ballerina's to sit

These are Maddie's ballet and home schooled friends.  When I walked up to the table to ask if I could take their picture, they all said, "Hi, Gramma Judy!"  Strange because I don't know any of them! When I usually see them at performances, they have their stage make-up on and look about 25.  Without that, they look like little girls!  I get confused!

I got some food--up and down the treacherous stepping stones and steps, and came back down to where the tables were.  All of a sudden people came and sat down and we got to talking.  Home school parents.  Missionaries from India.  The ballet teacher and her husband.  Of course, they all knew Maddie AND they all knew Karen.  So many times today I heard, "Karen is your daughter?"  "She tutored my kids in Algebra."  or "She came to the house and brought us supper for a week when we had our tenth baby."  of "She and Mark volunteered at every Nutcracker performance."

Then I got up to move around a bit and that little girl, in that picture above, sitting on the right with the colored skirt, came up, put her arm around my waist, leaned her head on my upper arm and said, "Gramma Judy."

"Yes.  I don't remember your name, Honey."

"I'm Morgan."

"How do you know me?"

"Everybody knows Maddie's Gramma Judy!"

So for half an hour, she stood like that and we talked and others came up and we talked some more.  She is such a delicate, little young woman and yet--she is in 4-H, raises hogs and shows the huge boars at the fairs and at Michigan State.  The boar is bigger than she is?

Then my Maddie showed up with flowers in her hair (she looks like a 1960's hippie girl) and ran to me before she even said Hi to her ballet friends to give me a hug.

Then Karen and Mark arrived.  They had chaperoned the all night Senior Party last night--they were on the Segue way station.  Showing the kids how to ride them and then watching as the kids played.  Karen said they got home at 3:00, but had a ball!  This party is quite the big deal, I guess.  There are different activity stations with different games and that sort of thing for the kids to do.  Magicians come in.  Hypnotists--Maddie said he suggested they were all floating on ice bergs and she said everyone was shivering from the cold.  HAH.

So--I had been there for almost 3 hours and decided to head home while I could still walk.

I went in to say good-bye to Susanna's parent's--Woody and Ingrid and informed that as soon as they had a spare bedroom, I would be moving in.  They thought it was a great idea.  Then I informed Woody, "The only thing is, Woodrow--I will need railings put in along the steps, the stepping stones and and the rocky descent so I don't fall."  He agreed.

Then Susanna came up to hug me good-bye.  As we were standing there, she said quietly, "I don't have a grandmother.  Ever since I first met you, I have always felt like you are my "kind of "grandma. You always come to my ballet performances...and you always remember my birthday and give me Christmas presents.  You ARE my Grandmother.  I love you, Gramma Judy."

I held her close and whispered, "I love you too, Sweetheart."

and I had to walk away because I was just about to lose it!!!

=========================================

It is hard for me to describe how I have felt about these kids I have met in the last 5 years--Maddie's friends.

When Karen was in high school, we had a lot of kids out to the farm all the time--especially that last Senior year.  I had no idea, when I woke up Sunday morning, how many kids might be sleeping on the living room floor--how many I'd have for breakfast.  Those kids called me "Momma Miller"--they came to me with their problems.  I hauled them around in my 9 passenger station wagon--to volleyball games, or track meets, or baseball games.  Chaperoned their dances--I was very close to her friends.  They thought I was "cool".

I haven't felt that needed for many years--except these last four with Maddie's friends--especially the last two years.  These kids will come up to me and want to talk.  They aren't just being polite and nice (although they all are), they actually like me and will go out of their way to talk, hug, laugh--whatever.

I once again feel useful, needed, vital--all because I am giving something to the kids.  I praise their performances.  I hear a trumpet solo at a band concert, look in the program to see what the kids name is and then ask Maddie to point him out to me and go over, introduce myself and tell him how wonderful his solo was.  They tell me they see my Face Book comments on their friends pages--when I praise the ballet company or the band and how much that means to them.

I was there at their pre-prom picture taking session, and although I only knew about 4 kids, the rest of them now know me and come up and talk.  They all call me Gramma Judy--even the boys.

I haven't felt this alive in a very long time.

Now--if I could just remember all their names, LOL!!