Why are the puppies in the car? And why are we sad?

Late Friday night I was called by my family to tell of my grandmother condition.  She’d been put into a hospital for an apparent heart attack. She was in good spirits but the doctors weren’t telling everyone all the details as they were still running tests.

I decided that I would call my parents and we would find a flight that I could come down on after the 4th on Broadway parade.  Normally I would blow off any promotional appearances, but my grandmother who I’d talked to reminded me about how Grandpa felt about making a commitment and keeping it.

So I decided to leave on a 2P flight (one way) and Joanna would leave with the dogs after the parade and meet me in Sherman.

Then the floods unfolded on the 4th on Broadway parade and a normal 2 hour endeavour turned into a 43 min parade as most of the floats cancelled.

So Joanna and I went home and changed clothes, thinking about the 7A call from my mom that I thought was the one that would tell me that I had made a mistake not to come Friday night and that she was gone.

But good fortune smiled upon me as Mom , Dad and the family was on the way up to Sherman and wanted me to make the flight ontime. Since it would have been longer for me to wait for the flight, we cancelled the ticket and I started to drive with Joanna on the way carefully through the rain and water logged roads to DFW.

With each moment Joanna would comfort me and yet I had nothing to say back to her.

When Tara died, I felt cheated. I didn’t get to say goodbye.

When my grandfather died, I felt relieved for he was in an enormous amount of pain, and I didn’t want him to suffer.

When Patrick died, though I was heartbroken, I had talked to him a week before and we told each other how much we missed and loved each other. It was perfect.

So I didn’t know if I was going to be cheated, relieved , heartbroken or a combination of the three.

But as we drove up to the hospital, I felt like the clouds were breaking, and the smile on my grandmothers face was perfect.

“I told you I’d wait for you Sean,” she said as I held her close.

The doctors had found a 5mm aortic aneurysm and were trying to do their best to treat it with drugs.

My heart fell as she only would eat a little when dinner would come. But she made me smile with her excitement to see the wedding photographs that she hadn’t seen yet.

Yesterday was a good day.

As I write this, she is now in ICU struggling and fighting like the tough old bird that she is.

I pray that we have more good days than bad days and that I don’t have to return if something happens.

But as we said goodbye, I kissed her, told her how much I love her and she told me how proud she was of my family and me.

Now, nothing else matters.

Your prayers and well wishes are appreciated all but I have only one prayer for the Big Guy now:

Big Guy, if it is her time, take her into your arms, guide her from pain and let her be met at the pearly gates by my brother, my sister and my grandfather.

If it is not her time, watch over her, give her the strength to recover and finish her work here on earth.

I don’t understand your map Big Guy, I don’t understand your plan, but thanks for letting me have a special moment with her.

Sean

“Just buy the damn thing!”

So, Shelby and Ryan’s pictures this time around are going to be sharper better and I finally bought something for ME!

Enjoy a West Texas sunset.

And OhCaptain, you and me HAVE to talk!

My brain works a thousand miles an hour but when you are directing traffic, everything goes where it needs to be.

My soul has been hurting until you came along and smoothed over the rough and sharp portions of it, tailoring it to what we BOTH needed.

My heart had been lost, without fire or spirit, but with you I have new energy and try to find successes in every path I take.

You are my lover, my friend, my soul mate , friend and guide to my children and the one person I trust implicitly.

I love you now and forever. Though I am far from perfect you see past my flaws and see the true me, the diamond in the rough.

And for that I will always love you my dear.

How much do I love you?

Take a breath, and while you hold it imagine the millions of atoms in that one breath.

My love for you is like the collection of all the atoms in the universe.

Now exhale and remember that my love does not question, it just is.

I love you!

Sean

No, not the USA Curling team who blew yet another game tonight.  WHY OH WHY did we let Charlie Brown skip our team? We’re the laughing stock of curling. Wait a min. That means nothing.

I’m working on Miracles in Audio for my favorite time of year, the CMN Radiothon at work.  I think I tug at the heartstrings enough.

Stand by on the 25th, 26th and 27th.  My job is to make people feel.

What do you think?

My creation

I would like you all to just do me a favor and say a prayer / send good thoughts and if in the Lubbock area consider making a pledge to the CMN Radiothon.

For those 3 days, I’ll be part of a team trying to raise $250,000 for the UMC Children’s Hospital.

And every dollar we get stays in Lubbock.

So be part of the miracle…

And if you aren’t in Lubbock, you can listen online.

This is the one time I break my rule about not posting about work on my personal blog.  But every year I ask, and I am amazed at the end result every year.

But we have great news from the insurance company…

They found that since we have evidence that there have been reports of problems with the traffic light and since there are multiple errors on the police report, plus a lengthy delay by the City of Lubbock to provide details from the traffic signal…

They will not pay ANY of the bills for the person who hit Joanna’s truck as there is enough evidence that she was NOT at fault.

WHEW!

That’s a relief!

Joanna’s leg is healing quite nicely and the search for a new vehicle is continuing.

So we take it one day at a time.

Whew!

I’ve had a ton of Chinese food in this town.  And Lubbock has it’s assortment of Chinese buffets and small Choo Chai’s etc.

But tonight…

I found the place I’ll be at on Saturday nights for Chinese.

It’s Gilbert’s!

Gilbert Auyeung is the man because he makes one hell of a family style meal. It’s five courses and appetizers.

We started with pork spare ribs served with a spicy horseradish or a sweet and sour sauce on the side.  The meat fell off the bones and was perfect.

Next was a tasty egg roll that was great because the key to a good egg roll is the pastry, is it doughy or is it cooked just right.  You should know what version everybody gets at Gilbert’s

The first main course came with a beef with asparagus.  Now this was spicier that I had expected but it was incredibly tasty.

Next was beef and mushrooms served on a sizzling plate that came straight from the oven

Rice was served here almost as a palate changer.

Sweet and Sour Pork that Joanna could tell was great just by the first bite of the pineapple. It disappeared quickly from the table.

More rice was brought out now.

Ginger Chicken: Now Joanna thought this had too much ginger, I didn’t think it had enough.

General Tso Shrimp: My friend Chris , whose birthday party it was reminded me that before this course, “Sean, this is a marathon and not a sprint.” I reminded him to stop looking at the shrimp that I pulled off to my plate.

Tender, perfectly seasoned.

Just a perfect meal.

Now here’s the best thing, it’s family style, so they just bring out big plates of food for you to eat and eat.  The bad thing… you have to have reservations for the Saturday special, and DON’T come late, because if you do… your table MAY be gone!

Diners , Drive-In’s and Dives should definitely check this one out.

I thought I was going to a birthday dinner for a friend with 16 other people. I came back finding a new hole in the wall to take people I like. I won’t bring people I don’t like here… not sharing!

A simulation of her leg... not this bad YET

Right now Joanna is passed out and I wish there was something I can do for her.  Her bruise is 4″ by 8 ” and her entire body aches. If the pain in her neck doesn’t stop by Monday we will return to the doctor.

The car is totalled (according to the body shop) and we will get the official word on Monday.

I wish I could take the pain from her.

But all I can do is love her.

Hopefully they will both cash!

GO TEAM!

I had a full steam ahead attitude and spent today cleaning the house, getting the kids room together and continually calling Ryan to wish him a happy birthday.

He thinks that I got him a stuffed duck for his birthday since I call him my little duck. But NOOoooo he got something completely different.

As for Santa, I was asked to keep the amount of stuff down since they would have to ship it back to Indiana since they wouldn’t be able to fit it in the car as they are being picked up to spend Christmas in Disney.

How do I top that?

I don’t. I can’t. So I do the best I can with the time that I have with them and in the end, I can only hope that they both know that their dad loves them.

Joanna’s being gone is a pain in my ass.

At one point today I cried out from the garage to Jo, expecting her to be there.

I am such an idiot!

But it does prove how important she is in my life.

I’m a lucky man I tell you. In 5 days and change, I’m a married man again.

And I CAN’T wait!