I've been in Kansas City for the 4th annual hang-with-cousin-Kristi-while-parents-go-somewhere-exotic-for-the-anniversary week and will stay until Sunday. I am a little sad to know this will probably be the last one since Kristi will be in college next year; I will be more than shocked if I am called upon to do this once more. It's been an excellent opportunity to visit family. I miss it so much being several hours away. One of these days we'll be living here again, and I'll get to see everybody more often.
Elaine's surprise birthday party was Saturday (whew! We can finally let the cat out of the bag!) and it was a blast. Elaine was all smiles, and I got some great shots with my camera, as well as video of her grand entrance. You can tell she was truly touched and had an awesome time, and for that I am very happy!!
Sunday Stephen and I hung out with my dad and Tricia for a few hours, and did our Christmas exchange. Tricia made some soup and Dad shared his habanero red pepper flakes with me-- they made my ears burn and my nose run, so you could say it was pretty much the best stuff ever. He was supposed to send some home with me, but we forgot, so hopefully he can pass some off to me at lunch tomorrow.
Ang and I pigged out at B.D.'s Mongolian Grill (on good stuff though), then we visited with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma's been very sick with the shingles this past week... so sick that she hasn't eaten or felt like chatting it up on the phone. This is very unlike her; even in her worst puny days she has a hearty appetite and invites phone calls. Thankfully she is coming around today, but still looked ragged, uncomfortable, and quite aged. She has some painful sores next to her left eye, so Grandpa has to apply some drops to keep bacteria from entering her eyes. It was so touching how tender he was with her. They bicker back and forth like old married folks do, but they really love each other, and it shows how much they care when one is sick. Grandpa has been very concerned and taking care of Grandma like a champ. I've never seen her so sick, even with her severe bouts of pneaumonia. I don't like seeing her (or him) so sick... it gets me thinking about how much time they may have left, and I usually end up bawling ... and I don't need to think about that yet.
I miss my husband and the cats. They feel so far away, in another world, in another time. When I spend time with my family, I feel like I am a teenager again, and forget that I have been married for nearly five years (REALLY??? five YEARS??). It isn't that I don't think of Stephen...I do miss him all the time.. but he's just not here, so I am in a way reliving my childhood/teen years. I don't get to see my extended family too much anymore except for holidays. One of these days, we will be creating new memories where I DO feel married, because both branches of my family will be present, and the grey between adolescence and adulthood will thin and the two major sections of my life will finally meld together into one. I explained to Kristi that I really don't feel 24/25 at all. I've felt 18 for half a decade, and it wasn't until this last year that I finally felt 20-21ish. LOL. I guess that is good.
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