| 7:09p |
Are there sharks in this water?
I went home this weekend for fathers day, and got to meet "the family". My dad found out he had a half sister sometime last semester, and she and her family were down to see him this weekend. Like I've said before we're a small family. Dad's dad died before I was born, his mom in September; mom's dad died when I was 8, her mom when I was 10, and her brother the summer before my freshman year of high school. My uncle only married for a little while and never had children, and dad thought he was an only child until this year...so basically it's just been us and the kids for a while. This weekend it was us and 16 other folks. Lola (dad's half sister) has two daughter and a son, they all came with their spouses and their children to total 16. It was EXTREMELY WEIRD. They were calling daddy uncle Chris and running around everywhere on the pier...it was like the twilight zone and an alternate reality. Pepper (one of dad's good friends) did come by for a while which was good since I actually know him.
I understand that it had to be hard for Lola not knowing who her parents were, but I think this is all hurting daddy too. This morning, after church, he was telling me that every time he sees her it just kills him to think about what granny had to go through and why she never told. He doesn't know if it's because she was so ashamed for giving up the baby or that she had her when she wasn't married or if she didn't want daddy to know that Papaw Bill made her give the baby up before he'd marry her. I hate seeing daddy go through this especially since granny is gone now and he will never know.
Lola's family was nice, but I (being the trusting person I am) just don't think all of them coming at once to see daddy and have ea vacation at his expense was the best idea. The bay house is dad's domain and all of his fishing stuff, he doesn't like it when we come down there for long periods of time let alone 16 people he doesn't know that don't know about fishing and being on the pier. The kids were also a little wild, and there was one 3 year-old who wasn't really watched as a 3 year-old should be. Anyway, it was a very odd weekend.
I was the jet ski chauffeur, which is difficult because...well I don't know these kids. I know Ashley and Anthony and what they can take out there. Things went well though I think , the 3 year-old did tell me he could drive himself and it took me a while to convince him he couldn't and get him off the jet ski. The rest of the kids did well, and things went fine until my last trip out. The tide had gone out and it was going to be the last ride because the jet ski doesn't like to suck up mud...it likes water, go figure. I had been taking the kids down from us a couple of miles to give them a good ride and scare the pelicans along the way. We'd chase them once we made the pelicans fly off the pylons they like to sit on and then I'd do some turns, blah, blah, blah. Well in mid circle on the last ride...nothing...the thing just went dead. I had a 10 year old girl with me at this point, and the first words out of her mouth were I'm scared, what happened, why isn't it working? Now all I know is the thing probably sucked up some mud or something else, but it didn't really matter cause no matter what I did it wouldn't start. SO, I told her not to worry I could just walk us back since it was low tide. I hopped off and started walking in waist deep water pulling the jet ski with this kid along. Next question, Are there sharks in this water? No, honey, there aren't sharks out here, it'll be fine. As those words leave my mouth, I am thinking dear Lord please don't let an alligator come out of that tall grass. Dad used to have a alligator sit and watch him while he checked the gill net and we've soon several down there. Around that time I also stepped on a log which made a nice gash in the side of my foot, so I was bleeding in this murky water while pulling a ten year old two miles...Great!
Considering there were 20ish people on the pier I just knew someone would see us and notice...well she's pulling out there something must be wrong. Nope, I must have walked a good mile or so before I finally saw the boat going into the water. I had some good bonding with my passenger and she stayed calm so that was very good. Daddy couldn't really come to the rescue quickly because it was low tide and he couldn't get sand in the motor. Once he did get there though I had walked most of the way, but we got the jet ski tied to the boat and towed it in. My passenger had a good adventure, I got a good work out and dad and I got the jet ski out of the water.
I also got some good time in with the kids, Ashley rode with me on most of my jet ski trips since she can just hold onto the back and doesn't have to sit in front of me like Anthony. I also helped her kayack, and of course Anthony and I played a little game boy this weekend too.
On the way home I got ANOTHER speeding ticket. That's two in two weeks, and it sucks. Oh well, maybe I'll learn my lesson soon enough...otherwise I'm going to go broke. My parents are cool about it though, they can't really complain to much considering Michael has totaled...3ish cars, wrecked more than that, gotten numerous tickets and suspensions and had stolen and totaled his first car by the time he was 14. Still, I don't need to try and catch up to him that's for sure.
Right now, I'm avoiding reading physics. I've read one chapter, and half of the next so once I finish this one I'll be good for the night. I have enough left overs to last me the week...I do love my parents. I thought maybe I wouldn't have anything to bring back up since there were 16 folks down this weekend. Mom had made me tacos, a tub of banana pudding, brownies, a hummingbird cake, and another cake with amazing caramel icing (she looks out for me). Dad also made enough so I got left overs from the mac and cheese, baked beans. He also pulled out frozen gumbo, shrimp and grouper fillets. Basically, my family loves to feed me, so that's fine by me. |