Saturday, June 03, 2006

Saturday Afternoon's Alright


This is the first Saturday in a long, long time when I haven't had any pressing plans. I got up at 5am and drove a neighbor's 15 year old son to work at the ocean. Dan's summer job is a deck hand on a charter boat. Five years ago Dan and his sister's mom died. I didn't know the family then, I got to know them a couple of years later when my daughter went on-line dating for me (without my knowledge) and fixed me up with Jay, Dan's dad. We dated for 2 months and it didn't work out, but we remained friends. His children come to me when they need motherly advise and I come to them when I need a kid fix. ( Sometimes I need to hang out with kids because mine are too old to have kid fun with.....his sister, age 14, is a hoot to go clothes shopping with!)

Because of the rain, Dan asked me to wait until 7am to see if his charter boat was going to have enough customers to sail out. It didn't, so I drove him back home. As I sat there I thought about how difficult Dan's life had become since his mom's death. This child has been through more heartbreak than any one I've ever known. He's a great kid and he loves the Lord and relies on the Lord for his strength. Dan had cancer as a baby and because of it, he talks with a distinct speech impediment.

I've been forced into this "single" position for 4 years. Even though I HATE it, so much good has come out of it. I have changed into a person a like more than when I was married. I have met wonderful single people who have the same struggles as I do. I've had free time to do things I've always wanted to, like travel, take foster children to Sunday School and spoil my niece.

Well, I'm off to see "The Break Up" at the matinee (alone - but I like that, I get to eat all the popcorn myself). Then my niece, Em wants to hang out, she's 7 ....isn't she cute? This picture was taken on Grandperson's Day at her school....she thinks I'm a grand person! I think we'll go to the mall on this rainy Saturday afternoon and shop till we drop.

*In case you're wondering, Capt is working all weekend.....war games or something like that.....it's a military thing.

2 comments:

Looney Mom™ said...

That's really cool. Hey, if I were there I would go with you to the movies and I'd get my own popcorn ;).

I'm off for a few days to spend time with the family. I'll check in when I get back. I'll miss you.

Gotta go... the road's calling. Have a great weekend.

Monica said...

Hey, do a movie review, will ya? I want to see The Break Up too. I love Vince Vaughn. He's tall and adorable!