Krystal's Wedding

This is a picture of Me, 12 weeks pregnant, My blondie, Olivia, my mother, Rose and my tall sister Amy. I am 5'1 and not wearing heels, so my short stature is even further amplified. Nice huh?

This picture was taken right before leaving for my niece, Krystal's wedding on May ninth. She looked stunning in her off white, strapless dress with tons of gathers and rosettes. The wedding was beautiful and of course I cried when she cried while saying her vows. Weddings have gotten more emotional as I have aged. I suppose being married for 12 years and experiencing all that goes with it probably has something to do with it. Seeing a new couple embark on that fateful, joyous and at the same time treacherous journey is a privilege and yet you almost want to hold your breath as you wonder-do they know? How will they get through it? How will marriage change them?

The kiss

Almost 13 weeks

I'll be 13 weeks tomorrow! Wow, time flies. It won't be long and I'll be holding this baby in my arms.

I've had a UTI. I'm taking generic macrobid. No side effects that I can tell so far. I am just really exhausted. UTI's can cause complications, so it makes me nervous. I have a good friend who is a pharmacist and she gave me great advice that put my mind at ease about the antibiotic. I really distrust medicine in general when pregnant.

Happily, my mother-in-law is here now though and it makes me feel better not to be so alone all the time. Plus she is wonderful with the kids and has been helping me so much with the housework. She's doing more than me!

My mother, and my sister Amy along with her family are coming on Friday. Yay! Mom and Amy are making lasagna and bringing it. Can you say-cha-ching?! I get to eat home made lasagana in the comfort of my own home without lifting a finger or washing all the icky lasagna dishes? Yeah baby!

I need a shower so bad but that would mean I have to get up, walk down the stairs, get naked, adjust the water, get in scrub myself, scrub my hair, dry off, put lotion on and get dressed. Whatever happened to the shower they had on the Jetsons? Come on now this is 2009-I want my auto-shower people. Get with it.

Remembering Mark Keen

Mark,

I know you aren't on this earth any longer but I just wanted to write this letter to you to tell you how much your life meant to me.

I don't know when I met you. I was young, maybe 10 at the time. You were just an immature boy that my brother brought over to hang out and spend the night from time.

At some point I began to have a crush on you. You were tall and handsome and quick to smile. Your pet name for me "Toejam" sounded like music to my ears. It never occurred to me to be disgusted. I knew you weren't putting me down. I felt special because you cared enough to call me something other than Heather.

I was just a little sister to you though and even though we saw each other at every one of my family functions for years, a deeper relationship was not to be had. I found a diary entry I had written about you when I was going through a box of junk after your funeral. It said that I didn't think I was actually in love with you that my feelings stemmed more from the confusion of loving someone so much who wasn't a family member and who was also a member of the opposite gender. Mostly it was just convenience. I didn't get out much and you were always at my house.

I am so grateful that our relationship was ever platonic. However, I know there were times when you were extra sweet to me just to make a moment special. Like at the Halloween bonfire at my parent's place. Almost Paradise was playing and you slow danced with me. It was one of the most wonderful memories of my adolescence. Thinking back, I can still see your face by the glow of the firelight and my friends were all giggly because they knew how much it meant to me. We all talked about it for weeks.

I remember how you and Roger would sing in this private language to have food passed to you at the dinner table and all of would just laugh at you two. I remember the way you looked in your tux at my brother's wedding and that you were the one who escorted me back down the aisle after the vows, arm in arm. You carried my grandmother's casket at her funeral. I was thankful you were there.

None of us will ever forget the sunken truck incident and Dad hollering, "The Brake, the brake!" but you pushed the clutch instead.

God has put the brake on your life here on Earth but I'll bet you are up there pushing clutches, grinning broadly, and singing in your own private language. You were truly unique, a friend to remember always. My own memories of you are endless. the ones I have mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. I hope that my family and I made as good an impression on your life as you did ours. Thank you for living for 35 years. Thank you for being my friend.

Mark's Obituary