When I was a smallish child, I never quite comprehended that two sets of my grandparents both were friends with one couple. We'd go to my maternal grandparents' house and Kenneth and Vera would be there. Then we'd stop by the step-grandparents' house and lo and behold, Kenneth and Vera. My five-year-old self needed everyone neatly compartmentalized and this intermixing of people didn't fit. It wasn't until I got a little older that I realized that 1) I lived in a small town and 2) because it was a small town, my grandparents would likely know the same people. As a child, Vera always fascinated me because she wore the neatest hat--even as a little one, I was all about the accessories. It was a baseball cap with a short bill and a puffball on top (
it looked kind of like this). I remember we called it the "girl's baseball hat" because of the short bill.
The point of that story (if there is one) was that at Granny's funeral, Kenneth and Vera were there but so were my paternal grandparents and a couple of great-aunts and great-uncle on that side of the family. It took a moment for me realize that of course those five people on my biological father's side knew my step-grandmother. It is a small town. I've heard my grandmother talk about being in a women's club with my granny when they were raising their families. Uncle Pete (who's real name is Howard but everyone calls him Pete for some reason that no one can now explain) hangs out down at the co-op, probably bumping into all the various members of my step-family. And despite any differences of opinions about my mom remarrying after my father's death, it would follow that my grandparents would pay their respects for mother of their grandchildren's step-dad (or their grandchildren's step-grandmother). I don't know if Abigail was perplexed by Grandmother and Granddad being at a thing with Grandpa, which hasn't happened often in her life or if she just thought well, whatever (I'm sure Benjamin was oblivious to all of it).
After the funeral service, Abigail and Benjamin went with Grandmother and Granddad to their house to play while the rest of us went to the graveside and the lunch afterwards. Afterwards, we all went to their house to visit for the afternoon. Abigail and Benjamin were playing out in the yard, just like we did as children, and Abigail had to show me the cellar and explain what it was all about. I know that cellar well. We all spent many hours playing in and on the cellar at Grandmother's house (it is probably 10 x 10 with concrete walls that are about two feet above ground--it seemed much bigger when we were smaller. And I still have never been in the "scary cellar" in the backyard.). After the children were good and dirty from running around outside and stomping in whatever puddles they could find leftover from Grandmother watering outside, we headed to Gene's house to visit with any family that was left there. As it was, it was my parents, my brothers, their wives and family as well as one cousin and two of her children. It was a nice evening of chatting with everyone, John made fajitas, and for whatever reason, we all ended up riding the 4-wheelers. In elementary school, I remember riding a 3-wheeler once (back before they were wisely deemed unsafe by all and everyone) but I'd not ridden a 4-wheeler. As we were zipping around in the field between Gene's and John's houses, Amy and I agreed that this was definitely fun. (Photos are all courtesy of Mom.)
Through a variety of discussions and mix-ups, I had my suitcase with me in Sunray which was fortunate since I had clothes to change into after the funeral. Notice Amy is still wearing her funeral attire, complete with heels, on the 4-wheeler. Keep it classy. (Even classier, we're going on a beer run to John's house.)
We could not, for whatever reason, convince Donna to ride on the 4-wheeler. Everyone else was zipping around--even Benjamin got in on the action and would "drive" with his daddy on the 4-wheeler. But Donna had no interest. Amy finally convinced Donna to ride it with her. Once. The shrieks of terror emanating from that ride still reverberate in my head (and still make me giggle). I love the expression of utter fear on Donna's face as Amy goes over the berm in the field. (And even you have to admit that this is really funny, Donna.)
Abigail, however, loved every minute of it once we convinced her to ride with Uncle John. After that, she couldn't get enough. She and I rode together quite a bit. Abigail would throw her arms up in the air and yell "Yippee-ya-hoo!" and kept telling me to "go the speed limit!" Um, yeah. That's not happening. Once when Abigail was on with Lita, Abigail told her that she wanted to ride with me because I went faster--probably not but I'd goose it a little every little bit to give the idea that we were going faster.
Sunday evening, Mom, Dad, Amy, David, the kids, and I went to
Wonderland Park, the amusement park in Amarillo. When we got to Amy's house, Benjamin met us at the door with an excited, "We're going to CANDYLAND!" Sure. Something like that. I don't think I've been to Wonderland since 1993 but it hasn't changed much. A few new rides but still all the old stand-bys, like the log ride which is a favorite of mine (I'm a fan of roller coasters and log rides; not so much rides that spin and swirl and generally induce nausea).
You don't get very wet with a small kid in the front. You get even less wet when it's just you and the small kid. Abigail and I rode it once together and she was in the front by herself and as we were going down, she leaned forward to "hide" from the spray. I'm not sure we really caused a spray that time.
My dad and I went on the double-loop roller coaster together--the entire ride lasts less than a minute and I loved every second of it. Totally worth it. Amy and I ran off to ride the Cyclone--a
"wild mouse" roller coaster with switchbacks and little bumps. We were laughing the entire time because we'd both go "Wooo!" in unison without intending too. This type of roller coaster always jerks you around but it's definitely one of my favorite things to ride at Wonderland. We also all hopped on the train for a ride around the park.
I don't think Granny would have minded one bit that this is how we spent our time together after the funeral--enjoying being together, enjoying being a family, and happy that we are able to be together even though it was a sad occasion that brought us all together in the first place.
With Mom in the Lake District of England near Grasmere
This might have been a sweet moment between the two of us. Or he was trying to shut me up. While it's probably the latter, we'll say it's the former.
If these two guys wouldn't have put my luggage over the 50 lbs. weight limit, I would have had myself a couple of donkeys. I want a donkey. They're cute. And easy to anthropomorphize since Paul and I entertained ourselves doing just that during much of Ireland. Our donkeys are happy, eager to please, and not that bright.
Someone got the boot in Dublin. Just because you drive a BMW doesn't mean you don't have to pay those parking tickets.
