Hello summer, goodbye
It makes me so very sad that I have not updated since April. I had been doing well for a while, then the thought of posting about a long, detailed entry about Myrtle Beach became so daunting, that I just didn't update. I am very regretful!!!
I shall give a brief update about life since April.
Myrtle Beach was far too short and far too overwhelming. My time there was amazing and my return from the trip was unbearable. Anyone who knows me, knows most trips are like that for me, but this was different. I knew this was the end. At least for now. Travis and I said goodbye at Fayetteville Regional Airport and I flew home empty inside. My mother was so pissed at me when I got back. I barely even said hi to her at the airport and then didn't do anything or talk to anyone for days. Travis left for Germany and I had a lot of things to sort through.
The girls and I spent a week in quarantine with MBV after the trip then had the strangest weekend of our lives, where our past, present and future all collided. It was fucking weird. After that, some long-distance phone calls and several nights at Bent's with the work girls, my healing began.
The last half of May was interesting. I'm thinking of a particular night where Jen, Bobbi and I were driving home from the bar and they encouraged me to get involved in a certain situation. I said that night "Girls, mark my words..." and it makes me laugh that I was right. So right. It sounds vague, I know, but the implications of that conversation are...mind-boggling.
That brings us to June. Grammy came home June 1st. I picked her up from the airport and we went to Chipotle. We were going to go when I picked her up last December to try it, but they were still in the process of opening. I had obviously had it several times since then, but I took Grammy to try it for the first time. She loved it, of course.
Relay For Life was June 11th, Grammy's 80th birthday party was June 12th and I left for Joplin, MO June 15th for one of the most amazing times of my life. Steve had called Ben and I into the Education Room the week before and said "Do you wanna go to Joplin?" I was like "Missouri?" I will never forget that day. Five days later, I was landing in Joplin for my first Disaster Response deployment. Those 10 days were so incredible. I fell absolutely in love. I don't need to write much more since I wrote two whole journals about my trip lol. Each night, I documented the day. I need to do that with everyday life. It is sad that I can't read back on certain things that I would like to remember in great detail. I will make it my goal to get back to writing in here and/or write in a real journal at least a couple times of week. If anyone wants to read my Joplin journal, they can.
Life post-Joplin was hard at first. Steve and the managers surprised Ben and I back from the airport and the whole airport applauded as Ben and I rode down the escalator and the news was filming it. It was a dream come true for all this to happen in an airport, but I was so heart-broken even that couldn't make me get rid of my fake smile. I felt like a celebrity when I got back. Ben and I did dozens of interviews for the news, newspapers and radio. It was very nice and very fun! I talked only to Ben for weeks haha. It was very overwhelming seeing lives of people and animals in Joplin after a devastating tornado and then coming back to life in Maine. It was definitely a learning experience. But so much more than that. I can't describe it. Like I said, I just fell in love.
Two days after I got back from Joplin, we found out Grammy has cancer. She moved in with us. She has breast cancer and they were certain ovarian cancer, but she had a hysterectomy a few weeks ago and miraculously, it was benign; just huge fibrous tumors. She will start chemotherapy soon. Tim hasn't been feeling well lately either. I feel bad for both of them and definitely for my mother who is going through an unbelievable amount of stress right now. Trying to stay positive.
I have found something to take my mind off of things, FYI.
Went to the camp back in August. Sandy, Dad's new girlfriend spent the week with us. It was interesting. I love the camp so much. I kept myself busy floating and reading my book that I found on sale at Borders that was a replica of my current life. It was a good week at camp overall.
Work has been so incredibly busy lately. All summer, of course, but now...it's just too much. It is so overwhelming. Holy fuck. I love my job, though. Been spending a lot of time with Jen and Bobbi. Gotta love rotisserie chickens and beer at Bobbi's Friday nights lol.
I'm glad I posted in here, although I'm sure I've forgotten many of the happenings that I should have written about.
Life is busy and crazy, but good. I will be in touch.
I shall give a brief update about life since April.
Myrtle Beach was far too short and far too overwhelming. My time there was amazing and my return from the trip was unbearable. Anyone who knows me, knows most trips are like that for me, but this was different. I knew this was the end. At least for now. Travis and I said goodbye at Fayetteville Regional Airport and I flew home empty inside. My mother was so pissed at me when I got back. I barely even said hi to her at the airport and then didn't do anything or talk to anyone for days. Travis left for Germany and I had a lot of things to sort through.
The girls and I spent a week in quarantine with MBV after the trip then had the strangest weekend of our lives, where our past, present and future all collided. It was fucking weird. After that, some long-distance phone calls and several nights at Bent's with the work girls, my healing began.
The last half of May was interesting. I'm thinking of a particular night where Jen, Bobbi and I were driving home from the bar and they encouraged me to get involved in a certain situation. I said that night "Girls, mark my words..." and it makes me laugh that I was right. So right. It sounds vague, I know, but the implications of that conversation are...mind-boggling.
That brings us to June. Grammy came home June 1st. I picked her up from the airport and we went to Chipotle. We were going to go when I picked her up last December to try it, but they were still in the process of opening. I had obviously had it several times since then, but I took Grammy to try it for the first time. She loved it, of course.
Relay For Life was June 11th, Grammy's 80th birthday party was June 12th and I left for Joplin, MO June 15th for one of the most amazing times of my life. Steve had called Ben and I into the Education Room the week before and said "Do you wanna go to Joplin?" I was like "Missouri?" I will never forget that day. Five days later, I was landing in Joplin for my first Disaster Response deployment. Those 10 days were so incredible. I fell absolutely in love. I don't need to write much more since I wrote two whole journals about my trip lol. Each night, I documented the day. I need to do that with everyday life. It is sad that I can't read back on certain things that I would like to remember in great detail. I will make it my goal to get back to writing in here and/or write in a real journal at least a couple times of week. If anyone wants to read my Joplin journal, they can.
Life post-Joplin was hard at first. Steve and the managers surprised Ben and I back from the airport and the whole airport applauded as Ben and I rode down the escalator and the news was filming it. It was a dream come true for all this to happen in an airport, but I was so heart-broken even that couldn't make me get rid of my fake smile. I felt like a celebrity when I got back. Ben and I did dozens of interviews for the news, newspapers and radio. It was very nice and very fun! I talked only to Ben for weeks haha. It was very overwhelming seeing lives of people and animals in Joplin after a devastating tornado and then coming back to life in Maine. It was definitely a learning experience. But so much more than that. I can't describe it. Like I said, I just fell in love.
Two days after I got back from Joplin, we found out Grammy has cancer. She moved in with us. She has breast cancer and they were certain ovarian cancer, but she had a hysterectomy a few weeks ago and miraculously, it was benign; just huge fibrous tumors. She will start chemotherapy soon. Tim hasn't been feeling well lately either. I feel bad for both of them and definitely for my mother who is going through an unbelievable amount of stress right now. Trying to stay positive.
I have found something to take my mind off of things, FYI.
Went to the camp back in August. Sandy, Dad's new girlfriend spent the week with us. It was interesting. I love the camp so much. I kept myself busy floating and reading my book that I found on sale at Borders that was a replica of my current life. It was a good week at camp overall.
Work has been so incredibly busy lately. All summer, of course, but now...it's just too much. It is so overwhelming. Holy fuck. I love my job, though. Been spending a lot of time with Jen and Bobbi. Gotta love rotisserie chickens and beer at Bobbi's Friday nights lol.
I'm glad I posted in here, although I'm sure I've forgotten many of the happenings that I should have written about.
Life is busy and crazy, but good. I will be in touch.