I have things to say.
I have many, many things to say,
but I've left the story telling for so late in the day,
that I have to play catch up, so you'll understand
where I am now.
Last year was intense, and there was sporadic,
but intense, blogging that occurred. And after
you talk about serious illness and whatnot,
the posts about cool finds at garage sales
seem trite and hard to write. I needed some
space over the summer to just be in the moment,
but now I find a need to play catch up.
This summer began as a cautious one as we carefully
tested a return of normal activity. There was
berry picking with friends.
Followed by our annual beach trip which was complete
with friends, walks on the beach, boogie boarding,
and glorious food.
Both of the girls boogie boarded, and Big E and I took
turns standing in the surf with them. The cold of the
Pacific Ocean is not always your friend.
After our return from the beach, Big E pointed out that
the water had been in the high fifties, and that the water
on the other side of the country, in Cape Cod, had been
76. G's response? "Eeeeewww!! Their water was almost
pee temperature! That's gross!" While her comment is
twenty degrees from being accurate, I thought her
preference for hypothermia was delightful.
We had more cloudy days than clear ones, but that
suited us fine. It was just so nice to have beach time
that wasn't overcast by doubt or worry.
There were magical days when we could see the air move.
And nothing prevented us from finding treasures.
Little e had her share of adventures, free from her
parents. She spent a week with Grandpa D, Grandma K
and Nay-Nay in Canada. Then Little e joined Sweet G for a
week at sleep-away camp, followed by a week with
Grand M back at the beach.
Camp was a big deal for both girls. Little e had never
been, and Sweet G had had to cancel the year before
due to hospitalization. This was G's first time away
from Big E and I since becoming ill. This trip to camp
marked a year's progress.
Camp bracelets instead of hospital ID bands!
It was a great way for both girls to stretch and grow
before each entered a new school.
Sweet G set herself against a climbing tower called the
Junk Yard, and made it to the top.
And then they were home, and we were thinking about
a return to school, but first.. we felt our family
needed an addition.
Oh yes, we did. We added another fuzzy, cat face to
our home. My friends have been alarmed/amused
by our recent spate of adoption. See, I went 17 years
from adopting my first cat to my second (The Tank),
and then 14 years from my second to my third (Mr
Fuzzypants), but then only 3 years between Mr F and
Benedict Cumberfluff. And now, well there was a
3 month gap between Ben and our newest sweet girl
kitten, Agent Romanoff. (This brings our kitty
population to 3, while the human population is 4.)
While I hold fast, that we are now done building our
furry family for many years, they see a pattern of
collection that should lead to my bringing home any
scrap of fluff I find daily!
The boys were initially concerned, but they've come around
to having a younger sister to be bossed by.
Don't fear, I have lots of cute cat photos to add to the
webs. I know there is shortage of cute cat photos,
and I plan to do my part.
But, this is where our relaxed summer of quiet growth
and testing of new waters changed. Immediately
after bringing Agent Romanoff home, Big E's brother
was injured at his job.
When I say "injured' what I mean is shot twice, once
through the side and once in the face, and "at his job"
means while being a sheriff's deputy.
We were back at the hospital, just over a year after
G had been discharged, but this was a different
hospital, for different reasons. There was ICU
protocol, instead of Children's Hosptial rules. There
was an emergency plane flight, a blood transfusion,
a breathing tube, plastic surgery, and so much more.
There was fear mixed with familiarity.
Big E's brother is doing well. So well. He is blessed.
We are blessed. Luck was with us.
The story of the shooting, of the recovery and treatment
aren't mine to tell. I can just say that I was reminded
of many things in those frantic days. Sweet G was
able to come into the ICU and help her uncle. She
could hold his hand and help make him comfortable.
She was able to change roles from the one needing care
to the one giving it. And her presence made her uncle
smile when little else did.
I'd love a neat anology to relate the experience of
having a loved one injured doing the job your husband does.
But, I don't have one. There is no pat image here.
Yes, there are differences between the work of a deputy
and the day of a city police officer, but a traffic stop,
is a traffic stop. What happened to Big E's brother
could happen to Big E. This is the simple truth.
And here's the weird thing, I am no more anxious now
when Big E leaves for his shift, than I was before.
In fact, I am less anxious.
From the first moment we knew of the incident, to
the day of discharge, and beyond, our bureau did it's work.
A horrible, horrible thing happened, and Big E's
people stood by us and did the work to keep us supported.
All of us. Not just Big E or myself, but Big E's brother,
sister-in-law, parents, all of us were held closely.
The community stepped forward as well. I could see
the great machine in motion, and it it worked as
designed. I've always known, since the first time
Big E pronounced his desire to be a police officer,
that there would be danger, and I've always needed
to believe that there would be support if something
happened, but now I know.
Also, there is little better than coming home from time
spent in the ICU to this face:
Whatever forces of fate led us to have a brand new
kitten at home during those days, I thank you.
And with Big E's brother still in the ICU, school began.
It was not exactly the start to the school year we'd been
hoping for, with G starting high school and Little e
entering middle school, but it was so much better
than it could have been. Just as Deputy Dog improved,
the days at new schools got easier. Little e was
able to visit him once in the regular hospital room, and
then he was released to go home.
It's a new year, with new possibilities and so much
potential. Our refrain of "We do our best!" continues,
followed by "And we let it go." I have 5 math students
for tutoring, and no elementary school for volunteering.
There is a lot of room for new beginnings ahead of us.