From Sea to Shining Sea..

We got off to a rough start today. It was just another one of those mornings to add to the list of ones you'd like to forget. Dinky has gotten into the habit of sleeping under our bed because he feels safe there. Dave has gotten into the habit of looking over the side of the bed to see what Dinky is doing under the bed. It's not a great combination when Dave doesn't have good balance or great upper body strength. When I felt and heard the room shaking thud I knew it wasn't good, and I was right.

I fly out of my chair, already knowing it's too late to catch him, but instinct is a powerful motivator. Dave doesn't have the arm coordination or strength to catch himself, or break his fall, so he falls hard. He hits the floor about the time my eyes focus, and the only thing left for me to do is to help him off the floor. It's not a very far drop from the bed to the carpet, but he still managed to skin both knees and an elbow. As I'm disinfecting his skinless appendages with peroxide, I start in with my lecture on safety that he's heard a dozen times already. Maybe it's that motherly instinct kicking in, envisioning what could have happened, and the hundred different scenarios of him hitting his head on the nightstand next time, or worse. He's irritated that I'm treating him like I'm his mother, and I'm irritated that my full grown husband has just fallen out of bed and I'm bandaging his knees like he's five.

It was pretty much a lose-lose situation for the both of us, so we fall into an uncomfortable silence. He lays down for another nap, and I waste the same hour online catching up on emails and PMs that need my attention. Dave finally gets back up and fixes him some coffee, and Mom calls and tells us to get down to the park because everyone is asking about us.

The tiny town I grew up in was having their fourth of July celebration tonight, (even though it's only the third). Mom and Wayne were running karaoke while the kids played musical chairs for cupcakes, and duck hunt, and several other cute little carnival games. There were vendors of food and wares. It's not the fourth of July without a polish sausage from Mrs. Smith's fair stand. (Mrs. Smith was my fourth grade teacher, and has been at the local festivals for as long as I can remember). It's a quaint little American town where everyone knows just about everyone, and sometimes that's not good, but sometimes.. it's great. Pastor Keith was handing out cotton candy and had a special bag for Dave and I. He actually made Mom call us and get us down there just so he could give it to us. I got to see a few old classmates, and lived vicariously through them playing with all their kids. It was a full time job just keeping an eye on Dave and everyone around him. Crowds are definitely still an issue. He's walking across uneven grassy surfaces, and careless kids are just being kids and running and bumping into him and cutting him off. People are walking fast and zipping all around him, and we're obviously not keeping up, which inevitably throws everyone off their normal cadence, and it might seem like nothing to an average observer, but it's much more stressful on me than I'd care to say.

All in all though, I have to say it was a really nice night. The weather was great, and the fireworks were awesome, and loud, and awesome. We babysat a cute little calico kitten most of the night. Some woman dropped it off at Mom's karaoke trailer and begged us to find someone who wanted to take it home. We peddled her to the best of our abilities, but the only one interested in keeping her was Dave, lol. They bonded sitting on the bed in the trailer for a couple hours though. It was a sweet kitten, but in the end we had to give her back to the lady who brought her. Somehow before the night was over, Mom convinced me to sing for her. Sometimes she wins out pretty easy in a bar where no ones listening anyway.. but tonight was a little different and she had to try a little harder. I knew just about everyone there, and really didn't want to sing in front of any of them, but Mom kept pressing, and eventually I caved. Dave and I went home shortly after that though. It's almost one in the morning now, and Mom and Wayne and everyone else are all still down at the park singing. Who knows when they'll come strolling in, lol. It was a nice night though. I hope everyone is having a wonderful time out there with your barbecues and fireworks. Don't forget to take out a special little moment to remember all the men and women who've given you that freedom.. past, present and future. God Bless the USA.

Thank You so much for joining us tonight, and until next time, Much Love, Many Hugs, and Good Night to You All.