ok - funny story...

 

jon is afraid of bugs - all bugs - and by afraid, i mean ridiculously afraid.  i am the designated bug killer of the household...although, aiden has recently joined my team and will carry a live bug around between his fingers for like 20 minutes - let it go - then grab it again in laughter.  jon freaks at the sight of said display.  i, on the other hand, bask in the humor of jon's suffering and aiden's pleasure.

 

on to the story:  bc jon is so afraid of bugs, he shoots them w/ rubber bands to kill them (not joking).  apparently he has become a master at this skill and shows it off on a regular basis - like at work.  (i say apparently bc he tells me stories about the conquests, but i have personally witnessed only a few of them).  so, the other night - a fly was on our ceiling buzzing around like crazy.  jon had enough - grabs a 1/2 inch thick rubber band and starts shooting.  he proceeds to miss about 30 times...trying extra hard with each attempt.  finally, he's pulling the rubber band back like a crossbow - it breaks - smokes him in the eye.  and since the rubber band was about 1 inch from his eyeball - it hurt just a little bit.  he could only see black spots out of that eye for the rest of the night...complaining of "a detached retina".  apparently the injury has improved over the last few days, as he only brings up the "detached retina" late at night when he's tired.

 

lesson: guys are babies, yet quality entertainment!

so one month ago today, my gma sears passed.  i think this was the first death i’ve experienced of someone i was extremely close to.  she was an amazing lady – logical, hysterical, strong, realistic, unbelievably wise, compassionate, dedicated to the entire extended family, deeply admired and always carried the attention of a room with her amazing spunk and colorful commentary...she was an incredible package.

the other reality i faced was that all of my grandparents have now passed.  the pastor at the funeral mentioned that it’s all a part of life and with each passing of a generation, a new one arrives.  it always seemed so far in the future – but the reality when i noticed my parents in the front row and all of us grandkids in the second row…i was now one row away from being the ‘next up’…a feeling that checks your gut and makes you evaluate your life.

a couple days later, i saw a bumper sticker that read “the purpose of life is…to live it”.  it hit me just the right way, at just the right time.  my gma did that…and i need to learn how to do that better…it’s all about priorities…she had them straight…

thanks for all the knowledge and being an amazing example and inspiration.  it was an honor.  you are extremely missed.