"Jay's plane is going down!" My mother announced happily while tracking his flight path on her iPad.
Excuse me, what?!?
After exchanging a few nervous glances with my Dad I said, "Mama, next time I'd prefer you to say that Jay's plane is "landing" instead of "going down."
One of these is not like the other...
But nothing could steal my joy. My brother was coming to SC for an entire WEEK! And naturally, I had quite the itinerary planned.
Let me put this in perspective. From the moment I laid eyes on Jay as a three year old I saw a lifetime companion. A best friend forever. And that's exactly what he was and is.
I'll be honest. I'm crazy happy for him. He is getting his doctorate in a place he loves, was made a wonderful offer to be there, AND he met an amazing girl that my family adores. What could possibly be negative about this scenario? Miles.
Sometimes I miss him so much it hurts. When you're several states away you can't exactly visit someone for just a day-trip or weekend, and you can't call them up and go to dinner on any given evening...but what you can do is soak up every moment that you have with them. And that's exactly what we did.
When I was about four years old I remember my Mom talking about growing up and getting married some day. She then named several qualities that I needed to look for in a future spouse: kind, trustworthy, giving...etc. And I proclaimed, "I know exactly who is all of those things and who I'll marry!!!" She looked at me, puzzled.
"It's Jay!"
She laughed, and now I of course know why. "Well, honey, that's not exactly how it works, but that's a very sweet thing for you to say."
When Jay arrived two weeks ago we picked him up from a friend's house and then went to daycare to get Emerson. He went in with me. When she saw him from across the room she stopped what she was doing, bolted over to us, and leaped into his arms.
Jay makes even the most mundane things fun. I mean, look at Emerson's face. When was the last time that you smiled that big in the fruit section of your local grocery store?
EVERYTHING is fun with Jay. He could read a tax return form and make it into something special.
That evening we cooked a Mexican dinner and went to the playground.
The second day was totally action packed. I had been wanting to go to the Hi-Wire trampoline park for a while, and it did not disappoint. There is an entire area for kids with nothing but inflatable houses and slides. And it cost only eight bucks an hour! I think we need a standing appointment at this place each night before bedtime.
For the "big kids" (...because I refuse to say 'adult' unless I have to) there are thousands of square feet of pure trampoline. I haven't jumped that high since the time I encountered a roach in the kitchen.
And it was EXHAUSTING. Our wristbands allowed us to jump for an hour, but to be honest, I was exhausted after 10 minutes. I kept going, though, because it was so much fun. There were basketball goals, foam pits, challenge courses, you name it.
And at first, you have to get used to walking on nothing but trampoline. It causes some serious sea-legs.
It was a TON of fun, but just don't ask Emerson to wear a paper wristband (which they required the kids to wear). She had an epic meltdown about that. Why? I guess because she's two and that anything can set someone off at her age.
Next up, the ZOO!
"Hey, orangutang, would you mind watching my kid while I get something to drink?"
We were particularly happy to see the new sea lion exhibit. Look at that face of surprise!
What's awesome about this exhibit is that half of it's inside, so you experience that awesome gust of cold air when you enter, like when you walk into a Wal-Mart in the summertime.
Why does that guy keep walking past customer service?
And the animals were SO ACTIVE that day. It really was amazing.
Usually the lizards, snakes, turtles, etc are all tucked in a corner like...
But this day, animals of ALL species were moving around like crazy. It was really neat to see. Perhaps they had just been fed? Perhaps Wednesday is activity day? Or maybe they were as excited to see Jay as we were!
I really wanted to feed the birds. But for Emerson, feeding the birds ended up being for the birds. Although I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them land on Jay's arm and head, Emerson was a little timid, and with good reason. They were making the most high pitched squeals I'd ever heard.
We had so much fun at the zoo that it was hard to leave!
On the third day...(I know, this is starting to sound like the story of Creation)...
We piled in the car with our new whale friend and had a blast at the Coleman's pool!
That bubble ball... this lousy thing almost made me lose it, completely. I mean, my sanity is already in the "lost and found" box, but this ball put that lost and found box into a landfill of fire.
I found this product at Wal-Mart the week before and thought it would be fun. We got to the pool, and I realized I didn't have batteries. I went and bought batteries but didn't have a screw driver. I went to my parents' to get a screw driver. I got back and the pump didn't work.
I went BACK to Wal-Mart and bought a total new kit with the intention of returning the old one later. I got back in the car, put in the batteries, and the new pump wouldn't work either. I drove back to my parents' house, and their electric pump wasn't working. By now an hour had passed, and I was fuming.
I was so furious that I threw that pump across the equator. I even called the makers of this horrific product, and when the president of the company called me back several days later I realized, "It needs four batteries and not two, ma'am."
In my defense, there was an "x" marked on one side, which I assumed housed the motor, meaning I could only open one side. At the end of the day, that bubble ball still raises my blood pressure.
The next day we drove to the beach!!! It's always so neat to see how Emerson reacts to it each year. This time she played a game of chase with the waves. And enjoyed every minute.
She even met a precious friend! I didn't catch this little girl's name, but she saw us building sandcastles and came right over. It was the sweetest thing! We later learned that she had just lost her grandfather a few days before, and I was so glad that we could provide a distraction for the family and welcome her with open arms to play with us.
You never know! These two girls could be college roommates one day - and go from pool noodles to Ramen noodles. Life is funny like that!
And FINALLY...for years, and I mean years, I have begged and pleaded to go parasailing.
No one will ever go with me for all kinds of silly excuses:
"My beach chair looks more enticing."
"It's too dangerous."
"I need to increase my life insurance policy."
"What about sharks?"
"What's wrong with the Lazy River?"
And all I hear is blah, blah, blah, BORING! But this time was different...JAY WAS HERE! When we left home that morning I waited until the opportunity presented itself (we were stopped by a train), and I read him a poem to ask him a special question.
Warning: this poem is extremely heartfelt and eloquent. You may need a tissue. Not.
"In 2010 we soared with the birds, (referencing our former skydiving trip)
In 2013 we changed diapers with turds, (regarding newborn diapers)
We've spent our whole lives going on adventures,
I'll keep this going 'til we're both in dentures!
You only live once, they all say,
Make each moment count. Seize the day!
I have a special question to ask,
I think you'll find it a very fun task,
There's no one I'd rather do this with than you,
Your feelings should be ,"YIPPEE, YES!!! YAHOO!"
Please don't say no, or I'll crawl in a corner wailing,
Jay, will you go parasailing?"
Here was his answer...
Here was his answer...
This was actually an extremely peaceful activity. We did have a rough raft ride out to the boat that we would fly out of, but once we got out there it was so serene.
"It's extremely windy today, " our instructor said. "With these conditions, you'll fly at maximum height the entire time."
Excited, I asked, "What's the maximum height?"
"300 feet above water," he said.
So basically, we flew over a 30 story building. Just a typical day! When we got up there I searched the water anxiously looking for sea-life. "LOOK, JAY!!! A HUGE WHALE! AND IT'S FOLLOWING US!"
"Katharine, that's the shadow from our parachute..."
That Saturday was my 5th anniversary! It's hard to believe it's been half a decade, and neither of us have ended up on a "Wanted" list. I do love you, Ryan!
On Sunday morning we said a bittersweet goodbye to our local contemporary worship leader, Will. He'll be a blessing wherever he goes and will be sorely missed!
Afterwards we had a big family lunch at my house...from Fatz!
I was so happy to have my grandparents and uncle join us.
Nothing can wipe the smile from my face when my entire family gets together. I feel like I'm watching from above and just eating up all the excitement and fun. When you get older, spending time with your whole family at once depends on the schedules of many, and you have to focus on quality time over quantity. It still makes me sad, but I must focus on and enjoy the times we do have, like this particular Sunday afternoon.
I sat back and listened to each member of my family...all of their voices together in the same room at one time. Not on the phone. Not a recording. All live and together. It was such a special day.
On the last day before Jay left my Dad drove up and met us at Sumo for a delicious Hibachi lunch. Afterwards we went bowling, got sweet treats from Tiffany's Bakery, and then spent several more hours with my grandparents playing games and laughing our heads off. We also got to see my Aunt Polly, Uncle Larry, and Aunt Ellen. It was the full family treatment.
And Jay made some of the world's best EVER cookie dough for us.
Until next time, Uncle Jay...
We had an amazing time. No BUTTS about it!
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