The McIntire's

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Ben and Bananas......

It has been a month since my last post: not because of a lack of excitement or stories to tell;no-it's a lack of enthusiasm. I've had thoughts cross my mind but some weren't the best or maybe the most positive so I nixed it in the butt and decided to keep my mouth shut and my fingers away from the keyboard. Now that it has been a month I thought maybe I should make a post for my adoring fans---Huh!!! okay-just for me. I've actually had people/person tell me that I'm long winded--well, that may be true but no one is forcing you to read this blog: I write as an outlet, as a form of a journal, a form of stress release, and at the end of the year it is nice to print the blog off and have a written account of the year with all the photos. This blog is for ME and anyone else that reads the contents is an added bonus. (please keep your negative comments to yourself-I don't want to hear them)

Enough of my soapbox---I am continuing to have not good days with the loss of grandma and grandpa. My poor dining room still has boxes hidden in the corner because I just can't bring myself to go thru them and put things away. I WILL get to them, I swear.....before Christmas I hope.

My grandma was a funny lady---some may not know that my grandparents LOVED to wake up early and call the radio station to win those trivia contests. A few years ago the phone rang EARLY in the morning: I picked it up, said hello--and on the other line is my grandma saying, "Is it Bananas?" Hmmmm, I didn't know how to respond.....again she said, "Is it bananas? well Bud, I don't think that is the answer." and click-she hung up. This story has been a classic "grandma story" for years and she never really saw the humor in it. Well----I have my own, "Is it Bananas" story.

The morning my grandma passed away I offered to call my brother to let him know. Understand that it was a little after 5AM--I dialed his number and he answered.
(me) Dan?..
(Dan) yeah.
(me) Hi---um grandma passed away this morning.
(Dan) Ok
(me)I will call you later and let you know more of the details.
after a long pause......
(Dan) Ummm, who is this?
(Me) This is Christina, Isn't this Daniel???
(Dan) No, This is Ben.
Oh crap, Oh HOLY Crap!!!!!! going thru my head.....
(me) I am soooooo sorry, I've called the wrong number. I'm SOOOOOOO sorry. CLICK

Poor Ben---can you imagine receiving a call like this at 5 in the morning-and than after the shock-finding out-oops, sorry wrong number.....I felt like such an idiot. I know exactly what I did because when I went to call Daniel again-I almost called Ben AGAIN---Poor, Poor Ben. BUT---this story helped lighten the mood a little over the next couple of days.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Let's Hug

With everything that is going on in my personal life, friends, family, in the world-my 21 month old daughter has the "cure-all" phrase/action I wish everyone would abide by.

Kyra is such a sweetie. If you're having a bad day, a tear in your eye, not feeling well; she will look up at you, outreach her arms, and say "Let's Hug." Just two simple words can change your entire outlook.

I've told Devin that when someone is being a butt at work or not being nice--he should look up at them, outreach his arms, and say "Let's Hug".

People are so caught up in life and the drama of politics that humanity can almost seem like it is nonexistent. With the violence oversees due to a movie and the retaliation I'm sure that will follow-Wouldn't it be nice and a change if the people of the world took a moment and hugged their neighbor instead of calling them an idiot for their political views, chastised them for their religious beliefs, picked up a weapon to deal with their problems, and everything else that makes no sense to me?!

So next time you're having a pretty crappy day and someone really needs a kick in the butt---take a moment, outreach your arms, and say, "Let's Hug".

Sunday, September 9, 2012

First Day of School 2012

With everything that has happened over the last couple of weeks, I haven't posted photos of the first day of school. Both Cortlynn and Tristan are in school this year and so far they love it. Cortlynn is in 6th grade and Tristan is in Kindergarten. I'm trying to get used to Tristan's school schedule and am thankful I'm not working becuase I'm afraid I would forget to pick him up. He goes to school every other Monday and full days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm so glad they sent home a color coded calendar.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Norma Irene Jones

On Tuesday August 28th, 2012 we had my grandpa's funeral. Less than 24hours later my grandmother passed away. It is very bittersweet that she died within 6 days of her husband of 66 years. Since the first day of school was on the 30th-I came home for a day, washed clothes, and got the kids ready for school. Once they got out-we traveled to Moore once again. That evening we didn't have anything to cook to eat so we piled in our cars and drove to Arco to eat at the Golden West. During dinner we were discussing the fact my mom and I would wake up every night before 2am and be up for almost the rest of the night. My mom mentioned that maybe that was the time grandpa passed away---right than, the light above the round table shut off, and came back on. Hmmmm. Later we asked if that light was on it's own switch and the answer was, No--all the lights are connected. I'm not sure if grandpa was checking in or if it was a fluke-but it sure makes you wonder.

On Friday we had a viewing at the church. Seeing my grandma in the coffin was; I would say, a relief. She looked like she was finally at peace and was in no more pain. Anderson Funeral Home did such a great job!!! Thank You! After the viewing we met up at grandma and grandpa's and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire again. Angela has stated that everyone should include sitting around a fire roasting weenies as part of the mourning process and I couldn't agree more.

Saturday was the funeral. I decided that I needed to read the life sketch for grandma-not sure why, but I felt like I needed to be part of it. The funeral was nice--my mom and sister sang, Clyde Hymas told a few stories about my grandma and grandpa, and we had a closing hymn. Such a nice service. The weather was beautiful and perfect for the bagpipes. Kim played the bagpipes as the coffin was being taken from the church. What a surreal experience. Again---everyone should experience bagpipes at a funeral and graveside service (maybe not twice in a week-but once in a lifetime). Traveling to the cemetery feels like it takes forever--but once we arrived, the weather was perfect. The night before we had a nasty rain storm--so we believe grandma won the argument on what the weather should be. ;-) After the funeral everyone headed back to the church and enjoyed the luncheon the relief society prepared. What great food-and I believe I tried all 6 or more funeral potatoes.

Once lunch was over we went back to the house and sat in the yard and enjoyed the company of the Davis' that traveled from Jerome. It was so nice to have Dave, Bernice, Tara and her husband and kids make it.

Overall this week has been hell----I know and believe that this is how it needed to be but it doesn't make it any easier. I find myself crying all of the time. Today I was going thru a few of the boxes I brought back and smelled grandma---yep, tears began to flow. Of course I have photos and my memories-but not having them physically here is difficult. It will definitely take time.