An Eclipse, a Heartbreak, and Some Healing

M ~ 

Hiya, kiddo! Sooo...April began with a rare event...a total solar eclipse! It was such a big deal that folks were traveling great distances around the country to watch it within the path of totality. Stacy, Mama Patty, and KK all came up to view it with us. It was fun to have them stay over for a couple days and spend time together. 

the local brewery where we watched the eclipse

so many people were gathering to have these
watch parties all over the country

everyone cheered in unison when the eclipse 
was at its height...an unexpected communal experience

We also went to Otherworld to check things out during their stay. Very unique and trippy exhibit.

After they went home, it was just us and I noticed how you've been coming back in our room more often just to hang, talk, watch Bluey or whatever else...and I love it oh so much. Every conversation we have I feel like I know you more...who you are revealing to us (and the world) about the authentic human you are. It's magical. Even if, like tonight, you admitted you were a good staller and still are today..."like now" you said. Ha. Suckered again. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. These seemingly random moments where we share with each other, doing ordinary or mundane things together, seem like flashes and they're gone, but really these will create the solid core of memories of our lives together...for the small meaningless things eventually become the things that mean the most. (Deep thoughts brought to you from your mama...while I'm high). 😎 But truly, always pay attention in life. Big or small. All of it matters.

Spring brings more time outside with the sunshine, which is best enjoyed with our pets and by our pets.

Lucky has taken to doing his weird "nurse nurse" on you now

and Pip claims me every night

You've gotten really good at cooking various things...one of my favorites is your kimchi fried rice like you're doing below. Yum!

your first time driving in rush hour freeway traffic
(and in the rain) - doing fantastic!
cool as a cucumber

We also finally did your 23 and Me DNA testing and were surprised (but also not so surprised?) by the results - you are SO INCREDIBLY Chinese. Haha! It was really cool to look over these results and all of the health information that came with them. It felt like a bit of progress to have one additional piece of the puzzle and I'm so glad we did this with you. Hopefully technology will continue to bring more complex and refined tools our way to help find even more information about who you are and your genetic connections.

Mother's day this year brought much thoughtfulness and excitement from you to me. You could not wait to give me my Ember mug. See, I go and heat up my coffee numerous times while drinking just one mug (because of my liking it lava hot), so you wanted to save me time and gifted me a mug that connects to my phone via bluetooth and maintains the temperature of my coffee at the push of a button. You researched it and even used your own money and were incredibly thrilled to present it. It was such a sweet gift. I love it so much and I love you even more. 💓

So, the following pics are more for posterity than anything else. Since you will only allow a minimal amount of photos of yourself these days, and I figure you'll want to look back someday when I'm old and (even more) grey (or gone eventually) and remember what I looked like as a young-ish lass.

Anyhoo, as you know, Marisha, Kelly and I run around together quite a bit. We supported Marisha as she ran her first half marathon, dressed up like we did in the 90's to attend a 90's dance party, went to a beekeeping class, and even had a "teenage sleepover party". You actually joined us for the sleepover and fit right in. We had you trying different cocktails, putting on fake tattoos (of which you chose a pot leaf for your upper thigh, LOL), and you and I even spent some time bonding w Rish over Bluey (the three of us love it, Kelly not so much. Ha). I adored having you hang with us and spending that time together with us "old teens". You're the best.

the queen is the one with the turquoise dot on her

the keeper and owner of Red Beard Bees

just a rando pic of us celebrating Ashley's birthday

The big ol' snapper that comes to lay eggs was back again this year. She did a little something new and decided to also try to climb onto our porch at one point. I walked by the door and saw this...and busted out laughing.

then I got this text from Mike...ha!

along with our annual snapper visit, it was time for spring
cleaning and you took it upon yourself to do our rugs by hand

which the cats deeply appreciated

and Suzy, too

The end of May and beginning of June brought our Key West adventure to celebrate the end of school and start of summer. My big surprise for you was swimming with (nurse) sharks. You were SO excited and said it was like a dream come true. Ha! And I loved you experiencing the Keys with me. A place that had an interesting impact on me when I was just a bit younger than you. Spending this quality time on a carefree road trip is totally my jam. We even took a side trip into Miami to go to an actual Le Labo store to get you an official hand-mixed bottle of your signature scent, Neroli.

a tucked away cantina where we had dinner the first night

fish tacos at Margaritaville!

Quasimodo, the turtle with bubble butt, so she 
was made this custom flotation device

And finally...swimming with sharks! The one in most of these pictures was Harvey and he LOVED to swim through the hula hoop for us...over and over and over again. There were about 9 sharks altogether in the lagoon with us; each named after the hurricane/tropical storm from which they were rescued.

feeding the sharks with tongs

someone defaced the signs in our hotel
and we were here for it

in honor of the wild chickens all over Key West

perfect pillow for a teen

dollars hung in a bar where we ate lunch in Key West
(we found one for our kitty, Pip!)

and we left our own little joke one..."your mom"

these iguanas loved to hang by the pool at 
Margaritaville and beg for food

The tail end of our trip included a bit of tragedy and heartache as we had to rush home a day early because Suzy fell ill and later in the week passed away. I won't go into it a lot here in this paragraph, because in the very next blog entry is an entire tribute to our Sweet Suzy, fitting for her beautiful life in our family. However, I will say that even Suzy's situation brought gifts. Being blind-sided by such a gut-wrenching experience revealed your true strength and our cohesiveness as a team. You stepped up and helped me book our flights while we raced to return our rental car and make it to the terminal for our journey home within just an hour of finding out how dire the situation was at home. We cried together and comforted each other in ways that I don't believe we've had to do to that depth yet in our lives together. At least not in ways that were mutual and with you as a true equal/young adult. When we finally made it back to Port Columbus, you even insisted on driving us home from the airport so I could rest. When we arrived home, we all supported one another in such meaningful ways that it couldn't help but bring us all closer. From pain can come come light. It didn't tarnish our vacation experience, it enhanced it. Life will hand you bitter with sweet, more often than you expect. It's just how it goes. And it's how we respond and what we take from it that truly matters. I'm so glad I have you and Daddy for the lows, the highs, and everything in between. 

The next day after we got home, we spent all day with our girl. In the evening, we took a drive and went to get ice cream for her and made a stop at Kelly's so she could say goodbye, as well.

She wanted to spend time with you, seeming to know the end was near and to make sure to express her love for you. I found her in your room the morning we actually said goodbye.

The following are photos of just some of the many who took the time to come and say goodbye to our gorgeous girl. Lao Lao and I took Suzy (and Grizz) for a couple very slow walks around the block, one the night before and the second the morning before she passed away peacefully, with the tender help of a veterinarian (from Lap of Love - a godsend for anyone saying "see you later" to any beloved pets), surrounded by those she loved the most (and who loved her the most), in our familiar and comfortable living room.

one of our last cuddles, sitting next to her mama and with 
a big pillow (that she always seemed to know how to use just
like a human) ... my sweet, sweet girl forever

my friend Pam sent a gorgeous bouquet and 
sweet note after learning of Suzy's passing

even Lucky knew I needed to be comforted

and you stepped up to help with Grizz

However, the hits just kept coming as another challenge arrived in the form of another surgery for you to remove some scar tissue from your lip. It was a fairly minor surgery but uncomfortable, all the same. Thankfully, building a nest on the couch always seems to make healing a bit easier.

nurse Grizz by your side

still keeping an eye on you...even after you were feeling better

selfie!

tiny tooth fangs

Your cousin Joey (and Evan) got married this June. It was a beautiful ceremony at a gorgeous outdoor venue. I can't believe I forgot to snap any pics of her during the festivities (whoops!) but here are a few of our little family with Memaw and Papaw.

And here's just a random pic of me with some giant kettle corn, a guy playing bag-pipes in the back, and a beer at a street fair. You know...totally normal night out with my ladies (Kelly, Marisha, and Ashley). 

and finally, I have to show off my first harvest
of ground cherries from my very own plants

So, happy, happy, happy summer, kiddo. 

I love you so much!

Mama