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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Memorial


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Today I went to the memorial for our next door neighbor.  He died in an accident on his grandparents ranch last Thursday.  He is the second of three boys and he was only 10 years old.

We've been living here for almost a year and I'm sad and a little embarrassed to say that we don't know the family very well.  We say hellos and exchange small talk.  I often make a mental note to get to know the neighborhood better.  Most have lived here the last decade, all of those kids growing up together, and I see the tragedy reflected in everyone's eyes.  I'm still reeling from the news.

I feel shock, tears, anger and sadness.  I play with Peanut, we eat our dinner, we go through the bedtime routine, and I cannot stop thinking that 10 feet away their family is in a living nightmare.  It's any parents nightmare.  How do you survive everyday without your child?

I want to be able to help.  I want to give them their privacy.  I wish desperately that they could have their little boy back.  Every day I'm reminded of something that they won't get to share with their boy.  I think of holidays, graduations and weddings.  I think of breakfast, baseball and passing by a room to see him reading inside.  He was just about to start the fifth grade.  I think of Peanut, and the way he smells just before bed, as I step into the pantry to cry.  Mostly I think about that little boys mother.

In the backyard there is the low rumble of talking.  It comes in soothing tones or perhaps the murmur that comes when you lack the energy to speak in more than a whisper.  The pain is so raw and deep, I can feel it through the walls.  Or perhaps I'm projecting my own visions of myself if I were to lose Ryder.  I think to myself that they will never be OK.  Never.  They may survive and they may find happiness, but they have been robbed of so much.  Of their little boy, of the future they could have had, of an innocent childhood for their 2 surviving boys.  I'm angry and heartbroken simultaneously.  I pray that their family will make it through this intact, or as intact as you can be when you're missing one of your pack.

Today we listened to his father read something written by his son.  It was a list of things that this little boy foresaw in his future.  When I am 20 years old, when I am 30 years old, when I am 50 years old, when I am 75 years old....  it made me laugh and cry.

The church was packed full of people who loved him.  People he inspired with his smiles and kindness shared stories of him.  The little boy full of "What if's"  had a big smile, a big imagination and a big heart.  There were kids wearing jerseys from teams they were on together and teachers talking about his eagerness to learn.

I don't know how to wrap up this post.  I could say something about cherishing every day with your loved ones.  I could talk about the gift of children.  Maybe I should just ask everyone to pray for this family.  Send good vibes.  Bow your head.  His loss is tragic, unfair and awful.  I wish it were also untrue.
n t

Thursday, August 15, 2013

East meets West, the Cousin edition

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We spent this past weekend on a much needed vacation in San Diego.

4 whole days visiting with family that flew in from as far as China and Boston for B's cousin's wedding.  The highlight for Peanut was spending time with all his own cousins.

I've been negligent in downloading pictures this summer, and the result is 969 new pictures for me to sort through.  Instead of doing anything in an order that makes sense, I'm going to start with the last outing of the weekend.

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We had dinner at awesome Point Loma Seafoods which sits just next to the docks.
It was a bit grey but the weather seemed so fitting to the scene around it.
Besides, I don't mind a bit of grey after a day in scorching SeaWorld sun.

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I wasn't really sure how dinner would go considering the only nap that day was 35 min at SeaWorld.

Apparently a dinner of a crab cake sandwich and clam chowder is plenty to keep him happy.
Seriously though, the crab cakes are fantastic!

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Meet Dylan!  Dylan and his family flew in from Boston and rented a house in Mission Beach that we used as base all weekend.  He and Peanut are 3 months apart and were fast friends as soon as they met.

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I'm already fantasizing about a trip to Boston.

Plus, Dylan's mommy is an ER doctor in Children's Hospital Boston which is pretty much the best thing ever when you have 2 wild boys galavanting around.

I was like, don't worry about Peanut, Katie can save him if he falls down those concrete stairs!

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My father-in-law commented the other day that trying to get all the kids to look at the camera for a picture is like trying to herd cats.

I'd say that's pretty much accurate.

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So.tired.

And goofy.

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Peanut has taken a sudden interest in my camera.

I'm assuming because it's expensive and he feels deep down that he needs to get his hands on it.

He took this picture of his cousin; I think it's pretty good.

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Watching these boys together is awesome.

They are at that age where they can actually have conversations,
 and we can still marvel that they are communicating.

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Stop growing kid.  Just slow down.

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And then we let them run down this dock approximately 184 times.

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Everyone needs a buddy to run down a dock with at 8pm on a summer evening.

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But this is my absolute favorite of the night.
This picture captures the fun and giggles and squealing and friendship and breathless tromping around, all in one perfect moment.

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