An Apology for the Long Pause
69
I've Been Meaning To Write....
I really wanted my next hub to be this brilliant thesis full of humor and very smart things. I kept thinking I would have time to do that next, and 'next' never got here. Let me explain what has kept me from writing to you...
It all started with a vacation. We didn't intend to hit Tupelo on Elvis' birthday, but as coincidence would have it....We did think Beale street was awfully busy, but it is Beale Street, after all. It was when we noticed the thousands of cars behind us on our way from Memphis to Tupelo for the night that we truly realized something was amiss. A radio DJ promptly notified us of our dilema. We scrambled for the phone and the reservations number for Hampton Inn, but we were a moment too late. We just missed securing the last available room in the hometown of this worshiped icon. Ended up sharing a room with one of the thousands of self-proclaimed "#1 Fans". I slept with one eye on the glow-in-the-dark velvet Elvis in the corner. We made it out without incident, though and completed the last leg of the trip with the final destination of Hilton Head, SC.
We noted upon entering the island that a hospital was located just 5 short miles from our scenic hotel. This turned out to be valuable information. As it happened, the snacks I stocked the van with included peanut butter crackers, which just happend to include salmonella. We found this out on day 4. In the Emergency Room. Conveniently located just 5 short miles from our hotel. After being released, our remaining 2 days were spent on the beach, collecting sea shells and starfish and NOOOOO!!!! DON'T TOUCH THE JELLYFISH!!!!!!! The ER was conveniently located just 5 short miles from the hotel...... The trip home was uneventful compared to the vacation itself. The throngs of people had departed Tupelo, so we had a peaceful night's sleep so we could continue the last leg of our trip to our own beds, 5 garbage bags full of laundry and an ER that is not-so-conveniently located 25 miles from home.
We had originally planned to do school while in SC, but we found it so beautiful, we opted to double up when we got home and just vacation. So this last week we have had to pay the bill. Getting caught up is never as easy as we think it's going to be.
Before we left, the oldest child had been bugging me about buying handrails for the shower and other safety equipment for a project in health. Yeah. That's all I need--something else to hit my head on when my feet slip on the Mickey Mouse water toy left in the bathtub because I stumbled blind, half-asleep into the shower. Probably better than not seeing it, deciding on a BATH and SITTING on it. Another very interesting trip to the ER.....But, I digress.
All of that to say that when we got to SC and found said safety equipment installed in the bathroom, I told her to use that for her report. I know that's stretching a bit, but all in the interest of my personal safety. By the way, while in SC with a bathroom full of safety equipment, with the middle child in the shower, we heard this loud cry. Upon inspection, lo and behold, she had bent down to pick up the shampoo and HIT HER HEAD ON THE HAND RAIL!! The ER was conveniently located just 5 miles from our hotel..... I'm positive moms have a sense of forbearance. She is finally able to make coherent sentences now that we're back in the Sooner State.
Shortly after returning home, 2 of the kids and my husband begin taking turns throwing up. Why no one in my family can hit a toilet when spewing, I have no idea. Maybe I need to teach a class. So more of my time spent cleaning and disinfecting several times a day. Maybe when I get through with THIS MESS, I can sit down and chat. Nope. There goes another one.
We'd been 2 days vomit free before the middle one's birthday party sleepover, and I spent that time getting everything ready. What's a sleepover without a themed cake, 3 different kinds of cookies, marinated meatballs, homemade pizza rolls and punch? Oh yeah. A party. I don't know why I have to go overboard. I think I need to enroll in some kind of 12 step program. Last year, one of them had a 50's themed party, where I turned the large playroom into a 50's diner, complete with booth, marquee, soda fountain, jukebox, you name it. 25 little girls for that one. Two years ago, it was a Hawaiian party where we turned the patio room into a hut straight from Gilligans island. We brought in 2 tons of sand, put bamboo all over the walls, brought in palm trees and coconuts and pineapples, and the list goes on and on. We projected Elvis' "Blue Hawaii" onto the wall, and they thought they were in paradise. You should have seen me clean up for that one. My vacuum actually tottered down the hall and hid, tembling under the laundry that day. This year, she wants a murder mystery party themed around the 80s. I'll get to clean out my attic for this one. My middle child, bless her heart, chooses easier parties like "Build A Bear" and indoor water park swim parties. But I can't leave it alone. I have to custom make party favors and desserts and I could go on and on. Last year we had a tractor party for my son, who was turning 3. I actually had a HUGE John Deere combine brought in. We had hayrides and an inflatable water slide, yard games, hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, handmade chocolate tractor suckers, and my mom made a sheet cake with a tractor made of cake driving down a pretzle road with a pretzle fence and M-N-M candy cows. He was three. Do you think he cared?!?! Stop me if you know how!
Back to the current slumber party. I found out Saturday morning that two of the guests spent the night with MY DAUGHTER's CELL PHONE making prank calls. Both of my girls were unaware, as they were asleep blissfully dreaming of candy Elvis-es and disco balls dancing with jukeboxes. When I informed the parents, one set thought it was funny and laughed (YES, LAUGHED) about what a phone bill I would have. I spent the rest of the day cleaning between bouts of sleeping.
Yesterday was more school makeup, and alot of guilt for my lack of correspondance with you. So I came home from work this morning, told everyone to throw the schedule out the window, turned on cartoons for the kids and took over my computer to do nothing but write to you. Now, don't you feel special?
I thought, as a special treat for you, I'd attach a couple of pics from SC. Now to figure out how to do it.....
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Comments
I've missed you, C.C. Thanks for stopping by!!
glad to see you too. Nice vacation huh? Well, soetimes we have those things with kids, I wish I had you for mom as a child.
I think your mom did pretty well--raised a character like you. :-))
I hope my kids remember the fun stuff and not the constant trips to the ER and mom's occasional slips of common sense.....
BRAVO, Proud Mom!!! Love it! Love the pics! But I'm with C.C. - wish I'd had you for a mom!
According to my tween, you may have an exaggerated idea of how much fun I am as a mom. I do try, but you know how tweens are......
Thanks for stopping by and the encouragement! I'll send you an autographed copy of that book we were discussing.-----HA! HA!!
What gorgeous photos, thanks for sharing them with all of us. I esecially love the lagon shot, the way the light is cast so far in the distance... did you ever spot Dino?
Yes, as a matter of fact, we did. Maybe I'll add his picture to the hub. Thanks for stopping by!
I've never seen one... well besides in photos and documents. They scare me stiff... but I wonder if seeing on in the wild would make the scare factor vanish. Its like sharks... they scared me stiff, till I got the opportunity to see one in the wild.
I added the pics of him. You can scroll up to see them. I was surprised at how not-scared I was to be that close to him. Of course we were on bikes, making it much easier to get away....AND I had a tight hold of my son!!!!
OMG he is massive!!! I guess no one went swimming in the lagoon. It's clearly his. lol.
I have another picture of a sign that says, "No Stopping, Standing or Feeding the Alligators". And there we are, posing for a picture. "We're not from around here...." We actually saw a tourist pamphlet that says, and I quote, "Please do not molest the alligators." AS IF!!!!!!!!
That's it! Cancel my reservation for Hilton Head. I refuse to go anywhere that Creatures Of The Lagoon can crawl *out* of the lagoon any ol' time they please. Nosirreee bob - ain't goin' there - have a pathological aversion to being some gator's lunch. Even one with a cutesy name like "Dino".
But what could a person possibly do to a gator that could even remotely be considered "molesting"???????
Oh Proud Mom, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. What a story! Sounds like you could publish a few hard covers over the years. :-) Thanks for the laughs & the reminder that parenting isn't always perfect but it is certainly an adventure.
Thanks for sharing. It reminds me of many a vacation with my four children, believe me they will remember all of it fondly when they are older. My kids talk about even the bad things that happened on trips and laugh as do I about when I was a kid and took those awful camping trips in a station wagon, pop up camper, 7 other kids and two adults. The time together is the important thing. I loved the pics, what a jelly fish!
JamaGenee, I was wondering the same thing, along with why it had occured often enough to warrant publishing it in the pamphlet!! I probably should keep closer watch on my kids next time we're there....
Wednesday, if I ever had time to actually document the thousands and thousands of pictures I have, it would probably be allowed for me to refer to myself as a prodigy. But as it stands, my drawers are just about the only ones who appreciate our fun times together.
Oh the Station Wagon vacations, donagal! Maybe I should write another hub about those. Weren't they fun? Did you ever lay down in the back, stick your feet up on the window and wonder if the people behind you thought someone was missing their feet? Okay, maybe that was just me. I always did have an overactive imagination.
I appreciate you all coming by!
Hey, Proud Mom, thanks for the laughs!! You could be the next Erma Bombeck! I'm glad you all returned safely from your vacation and are no longer donating to the fund for the new wing of the ER...
Well, at least not THAT one!! Ha Ha! I'm so glad you came by! Your picture still scares me a little, though. :-)) maybe he's had one too many Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothies..... mmmm good, btw.
Loved the pics - loved the hub - I echo Kate in MO - is HubPages the first to preview the next Erma Bombeck? She's one of my favorites :)
I fully empathise - I always went overboard too - I wonder if it was for me or for my daughter! Just wait till they become teenagers and they won't LET you do anything - even when you're doing to! Soooo not fair!! Ah well, at least we'll have the memories!
I've been warned about those pesky teenage years. It's one reason I let myself continue to go overboard now. My parents were always high school prom sponsors and my brother and I got to be in on the planning and decorating. I think that's where it started. Who knows?
I do think Erma has a better hold of her common sense than I do. I don't plan any of these things--they just seem.....to happen. :-))
I'm so glad you came by!!!
I'm so glad I did too PM - do you think it's passed down? I can look back to a couple of generations of that too - aha - I wait for the day when I can say 'I told you so' to my almost 17 year old!!
Share it with me when it happens, would you? :-))))
It's going to be a long time coming I'm sure!!
I saw you joined JamaGenee's fanclub. You will truly enjoy her!!!!!!!
Great hub! You won't ever regret the parties you have thrown for your kids. That's what I always did (still do) and I love it and the kids love it and their friends can't stop talking about their parties. My daughter always says the word around school is that our parties are legendary. Everyone can't wait to see how we top the last one. This year was my daughter's 16th birthday. We turned a hall into the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. We drew and painted large cutouts of all the characters, we hand-painted 96 plastic teacups, etc. Some of our party ideas have made good hubs as well. Perhaps you could share some of your party ideas in hubs as well.
Sounds like we need to get together! It's very difficult topping the year before. Sometimes the kids get more carried away than even I'm willing to go!!
I'm so happy you stopped by. I suspect you followed JamaGenee? :-)
I LOVE the monkey. I'm headed to your profile to find out more!
Well....both JamaGenee and Shalini........
Thanks........there's a story behind the monkey. I should probably add the story to my profile page.
Well, KCC, I'll keep checking back till you're ready to tell.
Hey, Erma - lol! - you and KCC should get together and start Unique Kid Parties Unlimited (or something like that). I sense wayyy too much imagination going to waste here!
Now THAT would be a great job. But when would I have time to scour hubpages?
I had to give it up last night. I was getting a little out of hand. Whew! much better now.
The party planner gig is something I have actually considered. It is a lot of fun. But, I'm like Proud Mom, wouldn't that take away from my hub time? LOL
Well, KCC, if it ever gets boring around here, give me a shout!!
I'm still curious about the monkey... :-)
Proud Mom - In the same sentence I say, very funny and I'm so sorry! I think we've all had vacations like that, well maybe not quite as eventful as yours but as a mom, we've all had those moments.
Glad you all survived and I think your kids are very lucky to have such a dedicated and creative mom!
Be well - Robyn
Aww...Thank you, Robyn. That's so kind of you. We are definitely survivors. Most people have a survival preparedness kit in case of disaster. Us? We have one for everyday use..... :-)
I'm so glad to meet you!
except for the repairs and maintenance trips to the ER your holiday looks and sounds great - no wonder you needed "Don't touch the jellyfish trip" - looked pretty large as did the Dino... lol..adventures in parenting...love it...cheers
I like that--Can I use it for a title? "Adventures in Parenting" LOL!!!!!!!!
absolutely - it's yours - i give to you!!!
Even better than the Stretch Mark cream I asked the hubby for for Valentine's Day!! Hee hee hee!
How was the BBQ? Did you light a grill, or just slap the meat on the sidewalk to cook?
bbq was very good - although because of the heat the meat was cooked inside (fire bans) and we ate under the stars - very nice really!!! be a bit of a problem with the ants and bush flies to just slap it onto the sidewalk! the sausages could really turn into mystery bags!
Hi. Welcome back. Many vacations are at their best when they're actually over.
Oh, isn't that the truth, Benson?
I'm so glad you came over. Very nice to meet you!
Well, sometimes, ajcor, you just never know what a crowd might be willing to eat! I'm happy to hear that a good time was had by all!
Noooooooo! Salmonella! Yikes. You are a funny, talented writer and I'm looking forward to reading more of your hubs. Thanks!
Sorry, Theresa. I must have missed your comment!!
To be honest, salmonella was the only thing that took us to the ER on this trip. The jellyfish and handrail injuries weren't as severe. It's a running joke amongst my friends, though, about us potentially beating the Guiness record for most trips to the ER. We do seem to end up there quite a bit--and for things right along these lines. But salmonella was bad enough, let me tell you!!
A version of this was originally an email to a fellow hubber since it had been so long since I'd replied to her. She suggested I use it as a hub, so I doctored it a bit and here we are.......The story about cleaning up my dog's mess, however is the absolute truth!
Hope to see you soon!
i really enjoy reading your hubs. keep writing!
from a bookworm to another. :)
Thanks, jadedsecret!! That means alot!
OMG, this is so funny. I know in your mind it's probably not but honestly in mine it is because I'm not having to deal with it. BTW I have a chils who has actually slammed her ear in the frig door and ran over her own foot with the vaccum cleaner. LOL. So don't feel bad.
Oh, trust me, Gwendy, I see the humor. I have to laugh to keep from crying!! Slammed her ear in the refrigerator door?!?!! How does that happen? The vacuum cleaner, I understand. Been there. Sometimes I get in such a hurry to finish, I get a bit carried away.... Now you know where they get it! :-)
At least you're kids are covered by medicaid when making so many trips to the E.R. And sounds like you put 110% worth of effort to making a party theme a reality. I wish you can throw me a party with the Japanese theme to it! I can already see what you're thinking.
Well, I figure if my husband has to pay so much for the dang insurance, we might as well get some use out of it! LOL!
Japanese, eh? I'll think on that and get back to you. Have you ever seen "The Ugly Dacshund"? They had a nice outdoor Japanese themed party. My dog could defintely fit in.
Thanks for stopping by, May. It's great to see you!!
I would like to say, 'been there done that', but I can't. Atleast not wholeheartedly. It is always fun to see that 'you are not the only one with the 'crazys'. You sound like a lot of fun. Your kids will remember every cake,every party,every road trip. They will embrace them all, and you I might add. Thanks for the joy.
"Crazys" is normal around here. And on a road trip--all the more! This crazy stuff just happens. I learned a long time ago to quit fighting and just roll with it.
Thanks, R. I don't know how much they appreciate it now, but hopefully someday....
C. C. Riter says:
11 months ago
You get that off your chest now.