Memorial Day to Remember

I just love three-day weekends. I get my usual weekend plus one bonus day on which I goof off without any inclination of time wasted. So I worked on my ethics paper on Saturday (it's tedious, boring, and I have to learn an entire new style of citation, the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition). After about 6 hours in the Land O'Ethics, I looked at the weather radar and saw huge rain heading our way. Quick! Must abandon ship and go for our daily walk!

The ethics paper has sat untouched since then. Oh well, there's always next Saturday! It's due July 1, so I have a feeling I'll be working around the clock June 29-30th!

This weekend was/is the polar opposite of last year. Last year, we had just sold our house (for the first time) and escaped the stress by going to the beach two days in a row. Our lives seem so calm, predictable, and, well, structured compared to this time last year! That's the fun part about holidays, reflecting on your progress since that time last year.

Since Sunday was this three-day weekend's goof-off day, we went to SB to visit my family. We haven't seen them, really, since Christmas. My folks *do* American holidays, in all their burgers-and-potato-salad-and-deviled-eggs-and-apple-pie glory. So picture us all, hanging out on the deck, when the tornado sirens sound their eerie, high-pitched ring. Ah yes, the joys of severe weather in Indiana! Not only did we MISS the end of the Indy 500 because of local tornado warning coverage, but our BBQ was ungracefully interrupted by the sirens going off five times and crazy storms that lasted all of 10 minutes.

It was the stuff of memories, I tell ya!

In other news, I met Zibby's girlfriend for the first time. It's no longer a shrouded family secret that Zibby's having a baby and this was our chance to haze, I mean, get to know, Zibby's girl. They're not engaged or married (my religious parents LOVE that fact) but they are keeping the child. They did the right thing by respecting the child's right to life, but it's been tumultuous (to say the least!) for the family. It was rather ironic (and apropos) that Zibby bring her to the family gathering at the height of the tornado warnings...nature's storm outmaneuvered any family weirdness. She's due August 18th and we just found out about this wonderful miracle in late-April.

So how about them apples? It's changing the dynamic of our family (in a good way) and actually shifting the spotlight from Jack and me and our family situation.

We stayed until early evening and rushed back to Chicagoland to enjoy the waning sunset (always prettier after immense storms). The both worked this morning and are heading to my friend Vera's house for a holiday BBQ this afternoon. Vera and her husband are gracious hosts...and they have pyromaniac propensities toward bonfire construction! S'mores are always in order at Vera's.

I hope your Memorial Day weekend was wonderful, non-stormy, and full of good times!