Sent: May 27, 2008 10:19 PM
Subject: Unexpected Bad News
We got some really bad news that we weren’t expecting. Earlier this month, we learned that Grandpa Dick’s cancer has returned after more than three years in remission. He’s been so active and felt so healthy that we weren’t especially concerned when he had his annual check-up, and that’s made the news all the more shocking. Although he’s started chemotherapy in Minneapolis, both Grandpa and Grandma now consider Texas their home, and they’re anxious to return as soon as possible. I’ll be flying to Minnesota this week to help them drive back to Dallas where his treatments will resume.
While Grandpa Dick’s health has been foremost in our minds, life (and life’s printer-friendly version) continues in Dallas:
- Jack was walking to the car with Paul Kruger, and Paul asked him if he would one day drive Lisa’s Passat. “No,” he replied, “I predict that when I’m old enough to drive, Mom will have ragged this car out.” He’s wise beyond his years
- As of May 2nd, Jack is officially a bicyclist. He was able to turnaround by himself, so he can now do “laps” at the top of the street. In addition, he started from a standstill without any help, so there’s no stopping him now
- The following day, Jack and I went for our first real bike-ride. We made it just a few blocks while Cate scootered behind us
- Coming in the front door, Jack said, “I hope you don’t kill me, but the chain fell off my bike.” Suggestion noted
- Listening to the Breeders in the shower, Jack was playing a mean air guitar and generally rockin’ out. Then I walked in and about scared the poo out of him
- On May 8th, we told the kids that there were somethings they couldn’t fix, so Grandma and Grandpa had to find a different home for Buster. They immediately started crying and asking if they’d still be able to see him with his new family. They were really upset
- Later, as she went to bed, Cate told me, “This is the saddest thing in my whole life.” Now that a few weeks has passed, they still mention Buster occasionally, but it’s clear they’ve accepted Grandma and Grandpa’s decision
- While dining at San Francisco Rose, Cate informed us that 2 x 2 x 2 is 8. Lisa’s mood slowly shifted from skepticism to amazement
- On the way home from Burger House, I asked the kids who they’d like to meet. Jack quickly turned the subject to MythBusters and suggested Tori Bellechi. Falling in line, Cate voted for Kari Byron. Before I could offer my vote, however, Jack informed me: “I hope you don’t say Adam, because Adam is a bit impulsive.”
- The deathly fear of storms is slowly shifting from Jack (whose fear is waning, if slightly) to Cate. When she heard the neighbor’s recycling cart being wheeled down the driveway, she was sure it was thunder and burst into tears. We had to review the weather forecast online before she was able to go to bed
- As he climbed the ladder to the attic, Jack commented to Cate: “When I climb up high, it makes my privates feel funny.” A week later while driving on the High-5, Jack said the height “kinda scared” him but it also made his “privates go ballistic.” I think it’s best if I offer no comment
- The difference between boys and girls defined: he wants to repeatedly listen to Black Francis; she wants to repeatedly listen to Mamma Mia!
- After church one Sunday, we told the kids they had 50 minutes to play before we left for Hawaiian Falls water park. Jack excitedly informed us that he would watch television. Cate excitedly informed us that she “can get Kinz cash!” (For the uninitiated, Kinz cash is earned online by playing games and solving puzzles with your WebKinz stuffed animal. Yeah, I don’t understand either.)
- While riding with Kelli and Josh Chabria to Hawaiian Falls, Jack exclaimed: “Hey! It’s the Car Talk guys on the radio!” The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
- After our afternoon at Hawaiian Falls, we had dinner at Pho Que Huong. While there, we told the kids about Grandpa Dick’s cancer reoccurrence. (I was really proud of the way we explained it to them.) They were upset, and they resolved to make get-well cards for Grandpa Dick
- At dinner, the kids explained how they play on the playground at school: Jack spies on Jett and Cate, and they chase him and “put him on jail”
- One afternoon, Lisa noticed that Cole and Cate were playing in Jack’s room with the door was closed. Opening the door, she found them in Jack’s bed with the lights off. When she asked what they were doing, they jumped out of bed and answered with a nervous “nothing.” Later, she asked Cate what they were doing, and she explained: “Oh, we were playing hospital and we were, you know, pretending to give each other shots. You know.” Lisa explained that she in fact didn’t know, so Cate continued: “You know, we were just pretending. You get it.” Let me assure you, Lisa and I don’t “get it”
- Without provocation, Cate grabbed a sheet of paper and a pencil and started taking down notes regarding Jack and Cole. She explained to me: “I have some suspects [suspicions] about those two boys.”
- Cate was sick last year and missed Studio B’s annual dance recital, but she danced this year and we have the video to prove it
- As Lisa threw something away, Cate commented dryly: “You know all that will just end up in a landfill.” Lisa gets it from all sides
- I’m not saying Lisa has a money-spending problem, but she did buy three swings for our two kids
- As evidence of his recent progress, Jack got a piece of candy from his art teacher because he made it through a storm during class
That’s it for now!
Lisa and Greg
