Places I cannot Go

Family reunion was this weekend. Please remind me next time I am speaking of dragging my daughter 3 hours away from home, how cranky we both become. Miss Maddie did okay, but I know that she was tired of being in the car. She didn't even want to get in the car this morning to head to day care. It was one of those moments that was almost funny (if my parents hadn't made me late)-- I picked her up despite her efforts of staying "ground bound" and lifted her toward her car seat. She let out a little squeal and cry; I took her back out--she stopped. Back in, she let out the little squeal and cry; back to the carseat with her little whines that you want to be able to stop. I finally got her hushed with a promise that we were going to daycare and it wouldn't take long. Once we were moving, she was fine. But the whole experience was pretty cute.

On Saturday morning, she and I drove to my school for a brief meeting with my financial aid officer, then we went to the computer lab where she decided that she did not want to sit in the stroller anymore, but push all the buttons on my keyboard. That didn't last long. I put her back; she objected; I overruled for about 2 minutes. She got out and played with her toys for a little while; then thought it would be fun to walk around the lab (there was no one else there, thank goodness) . Then, we left.

We drove until I realized that I hadn't gotten gas before I left Harrisonville. Where did I realize this? At Winner Rd/24 HWY off of I-435. Not the best area for a single white girl and her baby, but I truly thank God for pay at the pumps in places like those. We did not have to talk to a soul. hallaluah.

We arrived without invitation to the Sonic in Maryville, only to find it had been totally re-built and the mangers on duty were two of my best friends from when I worked there. I was invited to dinner at Applebee's and given a free drink and ice cream for me and the little one. I miss it so much. Not all the crap that I dealt with there, but the whole college atmosphere. Then I was hit with the reality that all my friends from there are graduating next spring. I met them as little freshmen in our dorms or first classes or whatever. I can't believe it really. I want to go back with a passion. I want to succeed at that college more than almost anything I have ever wanted. But I don't think that I will be able to just pick up and move there and not end up living in a hole or under a bridge. Frustrations.

We then proceeded to each grandparents house. I think we caught grandma and grandpa Coffelt napping. Madeline showed off a little there, but quickly fell asleep in my arms. SO, we packed up and went to my Grandma Inman's in Parnell, population 197, and I think that includes cats. Madeline was on top of her game there. She was showing off like I've never seen for her great-grandma. It was really cute. This is the grandma who uses a walker to get around, and Miss Mad thought it was fun to try to shake it and peek through the bars at us. My grandma was pretty "tickled," as she would say, at these happenings. My grandma's house is very, very small and filled with stuff. Lots of stuff. Madeline was trying to get some off this stuff to call her own. It kept me on my toes for sure. She hated the bathroom there (as do I, since the floor slopes to the door on entry--that room is about and inch lower than it used to be), but I had to take her with me as my grandma could not pick her up or keep her from picking up any of her "stuff" and in turn trying to eat it. The whole thing was an adventure.

The actual family reunion was my dad's side on Sunday at 12:30. Maddie let me fall asleep and we were late, but there was still plenty of food. No worries. After the meeting and "wonderful" entertainment (which was better this year, I must say); we always have a family business meeting. We discuss the births and deaths and marriages. We always elect someone as president who isn't in attendance and laugh when they try to pass a motion for that kind of nomination to be "against the rules." This year the hot topic was changing locations. Boy, was it hot. Some of the family is wanting to have the reunion someplace where the kids have something to do. Believe me, after about ten-fifteen minutes on that old swingset in the middle of July at two in the afternoon, that's quite enough, but then you're out of things to do. Most with small children don't even bother (like my very intelligent brother and sister-in-law). One of the "aunts" brought up the point that the reason we get together is for everyone to get to know each other. You can tell that her children are twenty something and thirty something. Do you know how long a one year olds attention span is? Barely long enough to eat. If they want the kids to come, they cannot expect them to sit like angels and carry on conversations with the adults. It just doesn't happen. I was afraid of most of the adults as a child, and as they get older--I still am. We nominated a committee to check out other possible locations for next year's reunion. I hope that they are ready for what's in store if the pick some place else. My only problem with the committee is that none of them have small children. Not that anyone with small children would have time for this, but still.

Sorry so windy today. That's what happens when I hang out with my family though. Beware!! Have a great day!!