Five Blissful Years

Happy anniversary to my cutie!

Summer Solstice 2012

Welcome back summer!  I missed you terribly!  

So much so that I fried my skin during my first outing at the swim park on Saturday.  You can't honestly expect me to be accountable for my actions.  As I recall, it was you who left me!  Let's not let it happen again...

They Grow Up So Fast

Meet Horse.   

We adopted him for Wyatt’s Cowboy Roller-skating 30th Birthday Party four years ago.  Like all good parents we provided a roof over his head, a comfortable place to sleep, and loved him unconditionally despite those challenging teenage years.  

This past December we decided to cut the apron strings and release Horse into the real world by donating him to the children's unit at OHSU.  We were confident he would live uprightly and make us proud parents.   

Well, in February when we were visiting Wyatt’s aunt and uncle, we happened to catch this video on MTV.  Which is interesting that we even saw the video because we don’t have MTV at home, so it was obviously meant to be.   In case you don’t want to watch the entire video skip to frames 2:23-3:00.   

And in case you can’t quite comprehend what you just witnessed, here is a close-up:

 

Wyatt and I just stood there open-mouthed and horrified!  Flabbergasted that Horse, our Horse, would become victim to such barbaric practices!

And that’s why you never send your kids to college.  Rest in peace Horse.  Rest in peace.

I'm Ready to Study the Pandas

Researchers In Panda Suits Release Cub Into Wild

Aunt Lois

Aunt Lois passed away three weeks ago on May 8th.  She was Uncle Dale's wife, my mom's second oldest sister, my loving aunt.  Her death did take me by surprise, I guess I didn't expect it so soon after Uncle Dale passed away.  Yet, it feels like she passed away several years ago, once the Alzheimer's took possession of her mind and body.  

It's difficult to say exactly how I felt about her death.  I suppose Uncle Dale's funeral served as a sort of farewell for the two of them.  Which dissipated most feelings of sadness I might otherwise have had once the news of her death was relayed to me.  Instead, I felt happy.  Happy that finally, after several years, the stranger that once occupied her body has now left.  I wasn't able to make it to the funeral, but both my mom and brother said that she looked like herself again, lying at peace in her coffin.  I am happy that Aunt Lois is able to reunite with Uncle Dale!

Uncle Dale and Aunt Lois, August 2006

My stop in Wyoming during my move to Oregon.

Aunt Lois took me in as one of her own grandchildren, just as Uncle Dale did.  She was a wonderful woman.  I know that she had a reputation of having a sharp tongue as well as having had a good streak of getting on people's bad sides... as people likewise often got on her bad side.  For some reason, I was fortunate enough to always stay on her good side.  I kind of feel special that way.  I don't have very many memories of her being upset with me.  And the memories I do have of her being upset with me, always resulted in me winning her over.  I suppose you could say I had her wrapped around my finger... Perhaps because I'm her baby sister's baby?  Truthfully, every one of her grandchildren probably say the same thing - they had her wrapped around their finger.

I just know that I was one of the very few that was allowed to use the indoor bathroom at the family cabin.  And I remember on one occasion, I was able to convince her to make apricot syrup for the traditional family pancake breakfast (after she shot down a handful of other requests for the same syrup).  

Aunt Lois was a beautiful seemstress.  I loved receiving packages in the mail from her because it was usually something special that she sewed for me.  I still wear the pair of pajama bottoms she made me nearly 12-years ago! And they're still in tip-top shape!  I LOVE them!

I could go on and on about how much I loved this woman!  And I think it had to do with how much she loved me!  She is someone special.  I can't wait to see her again!

Aunt Lois and me at Uncle Dale's funeral

(photograph courtesy of my cousin, Abbie Rufener)

Pancakes!

Stephen Wildish

Recentings

Here's a little something that has been occupying the majority of my iPhone time:



Look at those little paws! And those flippy-floppies! I have watched this video an undisclosed (e.g. 100+ ) amount of times the past few days. One might say that I'm on the ledge about to jump into the obsession category. I'm pretty sure if I was in close proximity to a baby sea otter I might exhibit some of the same characteristics as one Elmyra Duff.

Apparently it's illegal to own a baby sea otter. Or regular-sized sea otter for that matter. It seems as though people are a bit fearful of the everyday commoner owning a wild animal. I have no idea why one would be afraid of their next door neighbor owning an wild animal?!!!

Even so, I've told Wyatt that I want one to live in our bathtub. I don't think he realizes I'm serious because he just laughs. Or maybe it's a nervous laugh... I made my friend Tessa, who is visiting Alaska this Spring, promise me she will "grab the baby from it's mother's clutches" and bring it home to me for my very own!

Soon you will be mine baby sea otter!!!

Another video viewed an unusually high amount of times:



Wyatt and I LOVE the dancing!

And you thought I was going to debut with something clever...