I missed last week and seem to still be a little busy trying to get on top of all things house and work, but felt a little like something was missing in my life, so I do want to write a quick Carr family update and here it is, the official week 21 blog.
A letter
Nathalie is a big fan of getting mail. Not the hundreds of electronic mail with promises of life altering enhancements we all get everyday, but the kind that arrive once a day in a little black box hanging outside our door. I never get too excited about the daily delivery, thinking it is mostly bills anyway, but today I enjoyed the little letter hand delivered by our mail carrier (politically correct or what?). It was not a personalized note from a long lost, caught in the analog world relative with long hand stories about their far away life, or even a sweepstakes “guaranteed winner” letter from Ed, but one from ADT security that made me smile and love it and I didn’t even have to open it. You see for all the letters received in the past just like it, this is the first “Current Homeowner” letter that is actually for ME and I have to say that feels pretty good. Even if the other thing in the black box is the negative balance bank statement!
The Bench
Is there anything sadder then the once vibrant flowers of the summer wilting and shedding their colours in the fall? That is where we are now. The fall. On the second official full day I found myself sitting by a window looking over a garden that I am sure could have been a prizewinner only a few short weeks ago. It was an unseasonably warm day but still a little cloudy and overcast so my thoughts drifted to a warm sunny place with a beautiful garden, a path and a little stone bench. I guess what I have to pull out of this, besides the nice image, is the silver lining. If not for the season change and the following winter months of rest, the spring re-birth and subsequent months of summer could never be as nice as they are going to be. We have to go through it to get there and I guess that is another one of those things.
Colby
This week, I have talked to my little sister a couple of times, and aside from giving me a hard time about not posting a new blog last week, we talked about the kids and how they are making it through their new classes at school. Her two boys are doing well, as are my two girls, but then it was a story that she told me about her littlest man that made me smile. Colby, the youngest of all the cousins in our immediate family was watching over her shoulder while she was looking at my Facebook profile, and seeing my picture on the computer told her “That is uncle Jim”. “Yes ,Colby, that is uncle Jim”, Janey confirmed and then Colby asked the all pressing question “Do you think he remembers me?” You see, my sister and her family moved more then 2500 kilometers east of here last December to a little town 3 hours north / west of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
To that I say… Colby, I remember the first day I met you at the hospital the day you where born. I remember the first sleepover you had at our house when I truly learned the meaning of the expression “bouncing off the walls”. I remember your birthday parties and all the family events, and I remember one Christmas Eve party and a funny red hat when you made me laugh. When you are in someone’s heart, you are also in their mind, and you can never be forgotten. No distance will ever change that; it’s just the way it is.
In closing
On Sunday night, the girls playing with two of the little girls on our street, decided to use up the entire roll of art paper they found among there still un packed stuff in the basement. With markers in hand, they preceded to artfully create a mural as long as our driveway, declaring their love of our street. The house is about 90% of where we wanted it to be, by September 1. So in the interest of motivation, and inspired by the mural, I decided to poll the household on their favourte part so far of life on the mews. Here I present to the findings of my detailed, KPMG sanctioned censes:
Jordyn – “My room”
Julia – “My room”
Nathalie – “That it is a new beginning”
Jim – “The lighting, decorating, the kitchen and all the floor”
So there is something for everyone I guess.
Have a great week and all the best!
Jim
JIm you made me smile all the way though. Luv ya!
Jim,
Well your little buddy was so proud to know – “He does remember me Mommy”. He wanted to let you know as well that he misses you lots! On a personal note – You made me cry! I Love You! Thanks for taking time out of your busy life to keep us up to date! I appreciate it!
Jim,
I forgot to add to my comment a reply to the first sleep over you had Colby…..you did not mention the fact that he was your shadow for the whole weekend and that there were a lot of tears to deal with! I won’t ever forget being in the parking lot of the Manderin after taking Mom out for her Birthday dinner and wondering and worrying how putting Colby into your van was going to go – we knew Chandler would not give you any trouble……. but we just did not know how Colby was going to react….it must have been a very “quiet” ride home! (NOT) LOL Thank goodness you lived really close! We could still hear him crying as your van pulled away! Love You!
Thanks Pat and Janey for the comments!
I do remember the drive from the restaurant and how he didn’t want to take the blanket off his head… when we got home it only was a little bit before both Nathalie and I warmed him up and we had fun. Sorry I mad you cry!
Love you
Jim