Sounds Like Pushkin

Toni, Anna-Brooke, Lauren, Jesse, and Toni’s sister Heather did the Black Friday shopping. They headed out around 2am. Toni took this is a shot from outside Belk. Heather and Anna-Brooke battled the Walmart crowd. No one was physically injured… by our family.

I slept ’til noon.

Chris and I were riding in the Miata the other night. We were talking about space travel, what would happen if Indiana Jones found himself in certain situations, and potential inventions to better one’s life as an adventurer. Chris repositioned the moustache he got from a gumball machine. I told him that I like to drive at night when it is snowing, because I pretend the snowflakes are stars swishing past my spaceship. He pondered what would happen if he opened the door to the car, he meant spaceship. We talked about the dangers. I asked, “Chris, you have a good imagination, don’t you?” He replied, “No, it’s real.”

Lauren’s boyfriend Jesse is practicing bullriding. He has broken horses in the past and had a reputation for being good at it. This is second week of riding bulls, and he seems to be pretty good at bulls too.

One of the initial reasons for starting SLP was to find with old friends. I have reconnected with over half of those mentioned in that 2005 article. In the past four years more names have been added to The Quested and I have made several reconnections. Of those I have two sad stories to share. 

Landy Deluca and I shared a basket in P.E. at Northside Junior High. Huh?  In junior high, you had to dress out for P.E. You put your clothes in a removable basket with a combination lock. We met when we were assigned to be locker partners in gym class. Landy and I fast became friends. We were two of the few long-haired boys at the time. Landy was a good sportsman playing baseball and football in P.E. These were interesting years when some guys picked on boys with long hair, many of the whites and blacks were not getting along, and with boys just being obnoxious teenage boys. Landy was easy-going and got along with everyone. Landy was that quiet cool guy. We were friends throughout junior high. We lost contact after then. I assumed his family moved.

Random searches and emails finally paid off and I connected with Landy’s wife Deborah and his sister Robin. Unfortunately, Landy had died from a heart attack several years earlier. Deborah said they had a wonderful life together, “He was and still is the LOVE OF MY LIFE!!!!!!” We had traveled to Pacific NW, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and through Europe. She says, “Landy was a very giving person. He was a true believer in Christ. He was always helping others. He died a peaceful death. He had heart failure and fell asleep in his truck. I know that he is in heaven.”  I thanked her for the information about Landy. I am happy to hear of his faith in Christ. I will catch up with him in Heaven.

Photos of the four of us, even casual ones, are becoming increasingly rare. I came across this one from the Summer.

Lauren and Jesse craved a pumpkin tonight. I like that Lauren still holds items with her feet as she did when she was little. She may be growing up, but I will always see the little girl in her.

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I have two teenage daughters, 17 and soon-to-be 15. The puppy love crushes of yesteryear have turned to “talking” and boyfriends. At times I just sit back and smile, but learning to love is a serious part of life.

After years of my telling my girls to be careful, watch your step, and watch out for strangers, the same warnings now do nothing but annoy the girls. Yet, my need to warn and prepare them for life continues. Hey, I’m their Dad. I have a responsibility. They think I don’t understand how teenage lovetruly is. They think they no longer need my advice. They don’t understand why it is crucial for their father to harp on them with questions such as is he a Christian, how is his relationship with his parents, what is his reputation at school, why do you like him, does he treat you with respect. I want the boy to be mature according to my definition of mature. I want to hear about a young man who wants to protect my baby girl. I think of the words sung by Rolf to the youthful Liesl in the gazebo scene in the Sound of Music…

You are sixteen going on seventeen, baby it’s time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful, baby you’re on the brink
You are sixteen going on seventeen, fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads, and rogues and cads
Will offer you food and wine
Totally unprepared are you, to face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you, of things beyond your ken
You need someone older and wiser, telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen; I’ll take care of you

I know my girls will grow up. I know the day will come when I will need to let go. My teenage Liesl will long to go to the gazebo to see her Rolf… then it hits me. What are you thinking? Be real, you’re not going to stop being a Dad and trust your baby girls to some Nazi in the gazebo!!   

My niece Cassie is three years old. While on a walk around the block Cassie broke into one of those impromptu happy dances children do. Toni snapped the photo saying it reminded her of the final scene in the ‘98 movie Madeline.

We have three styles of silverware at our house. Now these are not expensive sets of forks, knives and spoons, but there are THREE sets. I would assume that we should have around 18-24 small spoons. Maybe we did once, but all I know is our spoons always seem to be dirty or missing. I’m not mad about it. It doesn’t upset me anymore. I adapted to our situation. I stir my coffee with a fork.

My nephew Chris wanted his picture with Lauren’s friends Amber and Hannah.  Toni took two shots. On the second shot Amber and Hannah surprised Chris with a kiss. Chris’ reaction, “That was cool.”