1) a few weeks ago, i flew back home for one of johnny's memorial services. i flew on my own partially because we had flown home recently for dennis' dad's funeral, coop's school had their star party that saturday, and i didn't want him missing school that following monday. it was good to get away and spend some quality time especially with cindy. saturday night we saw this smiths cover band, still ill, at some dive bar in chula vista. it was such a good time - love good live music that i can sing my lungs out to!
2) this pic was one of the pictures in the memorial slideshow for johnny. i remember him this young, living under the same roof. he was the cutest, and i remember me wanting to pretend he was my little brother.
3) i had mentioned that coop checks out some really great picture books from his school's library. this one was from "the couch potato". on the flight back home, i spent more time looking out the window at the view of the beautiful sky, the endless ocean and the wondrous landforms thousands of feet below.
4) my cousin jojo spoke at both of the memorial services that weekend. he never has been much for words, but the way he spoke about his brother, his mother, their relationship, and the lessons his brother's life has taught him did not leave a single dry eye in the chapel. one thing that he had asked of us was to take more risks, go outside of our comfort zone and do the things that make us happy. i have been saying i want to drag my golf clubs out of the garage and go to the driving range. we got to do that, and it was so much fun!
5) yesterday, i helped out in the outdoor classroom doing some yardwork. one of the side projects was to build a raised garden bed for one of the 5th grade classroom's sprouts garden. the smell of the freshly cut wood brought me back to when i was a child and dad would build in the backyard. i stopped to take deep breaths of the fragrance and smile in the nostalgia of a time when i would spend hours in the backyard watching dad hard at work.
6) there was a tiny break in the rain, so coop and i hit plastic golf balls in the backyard. so much fun! until it poured down on us!
7) my brave boy being "the perfect patient" according to the oral surgeon during his tooth extraction last week. it hurts my mama heart so so much seeing him go through this, and i am so proud of how brave and strong my boy is!
8) the cure essentials - more songs for me to belt out in the car.
9) we watched wakanda forever today. i've been a bit lethargic this weekend, and about an hour into the movie, my eyes got heavier. but i sat up and watched it in its entirety. thinking of the quiet strength that chad boseman must have endured the entire time he was sick. the movie was a beautiful tribute to him and his life.
10) i went for a walk this dreary afternoon and stopped to really take in signs of regrowth and new life. we only get this one life...i must keep telling myself that in order to live it as fully as i can.
