UNCLE…. I give; seriously; enough!!

How do you know when too much of a good thing is just… too much! 

If I counted the number of movies watched this weekend, the bowls of popcorn and candy consumed… I would have to claim my status as completely CRAZY.

 

However, as I look around my place… I see a relatively clutter-free floor (yea, I have two boys – I'm not quite done with my Lego blog yet).

 

From here I see a newly introduced front entry unit with neatly placed boy belongings; shoes aligned just below, close to where they are supposed to be (hmmph)… organized storage bins with supplies, reading lists, library books, and teacher notes all prepared, signed sealed and back-packed for school. Whew!

Both boys are sleeping!

Since I can't see the kitchen counter, I won't even suggest that I haven't shined my sink or cleared the dishes from the last snack for boys.

But I know the laundry is caught up – including the blanket that needed washing after a bloody nose the other night.

 

The weekend was busy. Crazy busy.

Friday night Jeffrey had an overnight play date with his best friend. Jason and I stayed home together. We laid on the couch, in its hide-a-bed form, where we watched a movie with popcorn a number pieces of Halloween candy (only 3½ pounds left – yea!) and juice (usually not allowed after dinner).

What a cool kid. He said he'd massage my feet and my shoulders for me – uhhh, okay!

Hey, I'm never one to turn down a good thing especially if it comes with a movie, popcorn and candy – hurray!!

I kid you not; this boy has potential to make it as a professional LMT. He did exactly what he said. Massaged my feet -- guaranteed they would feel like marshmallows.

Turns out; he's quite good. He even reveals his moves; as he holds my foot showing just how he will... "press right here – feel that, it's a pressure point, Mom." AGHH… yes, matter-of-fact it IS a PRESSURE point thank you! Wow. Nice ok. A little less force on them there pressure points, kiddo. 

After just a little rest, it is hard work after all; more popcorn, candy and laughter over hilarious sense of humor – not to mention a very funny movie. My shoulders were next – his hands are small enough to actually get to the one spot under my right shoulder blade where I keep all the tension from typing in terribly non-ergonomic positions.

It was a painfully pleasant relief when finally he finished sharing those pressure points he'd skillfully learned from a fictional book of characters who taught massage (yes, research proved it to be truly from a book – how odd).

Oh… then I returned the massage for his neck and shoulders (feet – no way, too ticklish) and he talked about how he'd like to have a professional massage. And we agreed that I would call Cousin Allen to ask him for a 'kid massage' for Jason.

We stayed up a little later than usual for a Friday, but went to bed with our funny bones tickled, blood sugar that was certain to cause comatose sleep, relaxed neck shoulders and at least one set of tootsies that – as guaranteed – felt like marshmallows!

Saturday after Jeffrey came home; Jason's best friend came over for a play date. I took them all to a movie. We had pre-paid for tickets at school for the whole family… how exciting. Oh look, there's more… popcorn, soda, candy and another hysterically funny movie.

Jason was invited over to his best friend's for the night; leaving me and Jeffrey. I'll skip the part where I literally passed out from too much candy and popcorn… slept for two hours and finally recovered; just in time for yet another funny movie.

Ask me why too much of a good thing is just TOO MUCH?

Right after I tell you that I had a couple homemade lattes, I ate ice cream, caramel popcorn (Munch & Crunch or something – with peanuts – that's a protein right?). Okay, I'm realizing why I felt so sick… uggh!

Yes, this time I think I had a glass of wine or was that two?

Really cute movie – Kung Fu Panda – very funny. I got another foot massage – however, Jeffrey hasn't read the same book; so no pressure points. Definitely didn't want me to massage his feet or shoulders … he just wanted candy, ice cream and juice. Oh my gosh, have I lost my mind?

Well, I certainly wasn't making good parental choices while eating popcorn, ice cream, and candy all weekend; maybe it was the massage or the wine – nothing bad happens from lattes (didn't even keep me awake). Still am not sure what I was thinking.

 Falling into bed comatose afterward… yep, completely wiped out.

 

Huh, that explains why Jeffrey slept 12 hours!!

Story is that Jason only slept 1 hour over at his friend's house.

 

- - - -

Sunday is a really rough day at our place. I thought I wouldn't be able to piece together why a really good weekend went very bad. 

Turns out… you can OD on movies, massages, and munchies. Do not try this at home – it really isn't worth it. We were grumpy all day long! Grrrr!

HonuGirl

In memory …

A Missing Dash

I stood at the cemetery overlooking the flowers I'd just placed on their graves. The orchids I selected would have pleased her for sure – they were her favorite flower. For him, to be remembered at all would be a blessing – my presence alone would have wrought smiles.

 

For a moment I admired how nicely the grass had grown in to cover the unattractive dirt rectangle I remembered from my previous visits. It had been so hard to place the flowers in the holders, bending forward there was no mistaking the earthy odor of fresh dirt on the grave. I know it would have been offensive to her to see such an ugly brown patch untended through the winter months, and puddles of rain turned muddy during the spring showers… it was a bright, warm day and finally the grass had grown to a lush, dense green and had spread evenly across both their graves. She would have been pleased. After primping the flowers I stepped back to take in the contrast from the green of the grass to the multi-colored bouquets that now brightened the space where their headstones would be.

 

So much time had passed; yet the lacking marker was another reminder that even in death we cannot make others act on our priorities. I knew it was ordered… I had so hoped to have one more piece of evidence that their journey in life would be marked permanently in stone. The length, at least, is noted by the dash that holds the place between dates of birth and death. Alas, their journey was over, but no stone… no dash.

 

It was at that moment, after taking in the sights, smells, and sounds that suddenly my knees went weak, my eyes filled with tears, and attempts at speech were futile – oh, not for loss of words which were flowing rapidly in my mind, directly from my heart.

 

Tears poured uncontrollably as thoughts burst wildly through the peace that existed moments before. Suddenly, I wanted time back – to tell them how much I miss hearing their voices on the phone; to say how empty I felt without the hugs we always shared to greet each other. They certainly would understand how I longed for a few more hours on their couch sharing stories and awaiting words of wisdom or the witty quotes and jokes that always made me smile. I wished I could hear each say my name one more time – I truly miss the unique way it sounded when it left their lips. I had rarely stopped to think that one day I would no longer feel the same warmth or joy I had always experienced in their presence… to feel genuinely at home, deeply loved and always their own.

 

Although, genetically… I was not their own. They had many daughters by marriage, but their own sadly didn't survive; hers was an extremely short dash. Somehow, through many years I remained 'theirs' by more than mere association. It was through an unconditional love we couldn't sever and a soul connection that would shake me to my core when their lives were disrupted in any way.

 

It was then I actually prayed that I could speak with them, as I desperately wanted to express that our amazing soul connection did not dissipate when they left – it remained ever present in my heart – now shared with members of their family.

 

The tidal wave of tears finally subsided as the memories took their place to comfort the ache that had stolen my peace. The solace of truth was enough… their pain is gone, they remain eternally united, they have accompanied their own daughter, who waited a very long time to welcome them to their heavenly home. It was selfish of me to want them to stay.

 

So, in the loving, joyful voice they'd always known from me, I spoke my heart and departed with the same words I always said when I left them… "I love you!" Indeed, it is my consolation that those words were spoken often between us and that they were the last words they heard me say before they left this world.

 

God continues to restore my peace about the missing dash for my loved ones. Whenever I need, He reminds me that He loves them deeply, they have no cares now, He completes their stories, and that soul connection… it's His reminder to me that love has no boundaries!

 

Life is a journey we live the dash, never truly prepared for the pain of losing the ones we love or the immense empty space that exists without them. Live well, laugh often, and love always as if the dash ends with your parting words.

 

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." Philippians 1:3 (KJV)

 

from the heart of an almost-sister, sort of daughter, and soul/friend connection for a lifetime…

 

HonuGirl