End of summer, back to school

Summer officially ended for me on Saturday night, August 5th. That's when Bob and I landed back at DFW airport after a week and a half up in the northeast with family. School inservice week began Monday morning, so it's back to school I go.

Our trip to see family was both fun and sad at times. A mixture of emotions. One highlight was getting to celebrate my brother Rob's birthday at our brother Andy's home in Philadelphia. Ten of us sat around a table, feasting on a wonderful meal of barbecue ribs and assorted other dishes my sister-in-law Beth cooked up. The wine was as plentiful as the conversation. It's amazing to see how alike we are, with our certain family quirkiness, though we have lived miles apart for many years. We spent a good deal of the night trying to plan a family reunion. We do miss being with each other. As it turned out, Rob and Kathy and their kids, Kristen and Danny, were able to spend two days with us at the shorehouse. The weather was hot, but we were thankful for an ocean breeze. You definitely need the ocean breeze or else the beach is unbearable. We walked the boardwalk in Ocean City at night and had the usual feast of junk food. The kids rode some amusement rides. Danny, an incoming freshman in high school, had pictures taken of himself with any strange, costumed person outside a store on the boardwalk. To send to all his girlsfriends at home of course. We ended the evening in the fudge and saltwater taffy store, a staple at the shore.

Our visit with Bob's parents was a good one. We went with a purpose of spending some quality time with them and talking about the future. It seems our roles are suddenly reversing. Both Mom and Dad have health issues that will require some help from family members. Change is hard, very hard for people that have lived in the same home for over 40 years. Allowing people to help when you've been very independent all your life is very hard. So it was with a heavy heart that Bob and I sat down and had conversations about what to do in the next year or so. It was not a conversation we looked forward to, yet we knew it had to be done. We prayed much beforehand, and God answered those prayers. We are very glad we went there. It looks like we will be making a trip or two, probably long weekends, to help them clean out some things in both houses. Mom and Dad have done so much for us over the years. We've been very blessed. Now it's our turn. That's what families do.