It happened so fast

Today while working something terrible happened.
Right in front of me.
I couldn't stop it from happening.
I witnessed a young boy get hit by a semi-truck.
I was walking from house to house reading meters.
3 boys ran to the cross walk and pushed the button...but couldn't wait for it to say WALK.
They thought they could get across in time. One didn't. The truck hit him. The driver pulled over immediately, when he got out he was as white as a sheet.
The boy was moaning and trying to walk. By the time I got across to him a woman came running from a house, and laid him in the grass. We tried to keep him calm. He was until he heard the sirens. Soon he was surrounded by paramedics and fireman, I stepped back.
I thought the woman was his mother, but she too was a bystander who came to help. He said he was staying with his Aunt, but had a babysitter. He was in shock and couldn't tell them more.
I overheard the paramedics say it was a possibly a broken leg. He was lucky.
The traffic was loud, they didn't hear me yell.
I went back to the office, I couldn't work any more that afternoon. I couldn't focus on my job.

When I picked up my son from daycare, he asked me how my day was, like he always does. He enjoys hearing my stories. I told him what happened. I cried. I realized how precious he is to me, and I told him that he was. He cried because I was crying. He came to me and hugged me tight and patted me on my back with his little hand. He didn't let go of me even when I relaxed my hug. He held me tight. When he released me, he looked at me and said, "I promise I won't ever do that mom, cuz I will remember this story, and I will wait until it says WALK.
I told him I loved him. He smiled and dashed off to watch Spongebob.
Take an extra second to love them, because it can only take a second to lose them.

Street Shoes

Have you ever been driving down the street and saw a shoe laying in the street?
Not two shoes, always just one.
I want to know what is up with that??
Do people just decide hummm...I'm going to take off my shoe and toss it out the window? Or the kids are having it out in the back seat and out goes brothers shoe??
Wouldn't you go back and get it??
What happens when the person gets where they were going??

Do they just walk around in Target with only one shoe?
If I could ever catch the shoe tossers in action...I would have my answer!

Boy Scout uniform for sale, never worn.

Well I gave the boy scouts another chance after the last issue. Tonight was Family Night at Camp Cedars at 5:30. Bring a salad the newsletter said.
Again, no directions to the camp. Here's the best part though. When we did find the Camp it was very busy. As I expected.

So we asked the first person we saw all decked out in every piece of boy scout clothing possible.
"Where are they eating?" I asked. "Umm.. we aren't eating tonight" we were told. But tonight is family night we replied. Nope that's on Friday we were told.

So we left. I said to the man to whom I was going to unmarry, "Are you sure we should just go by what one person says?" "Well, I'm sure she knows whats going on, you must have written it wrong in the day planner!" he said.
I could have...it's possible...I have a terrible memory...but that's why I have a day planner. My feelings are hurt and Reed is crying in the back seat. "I hate boy scouts, they are stupid" he says. I don't usually allow the word stupid, but I let it slide this time, because well ..they are stupid for gods sake!

So we went back home. Geez, I hate to say it, but I WAS RIGHT.

We should have asked more than one person, and the damn newsletter should give more information. Like... dinner is at Pine Tree Dining Hall or something.

I was incorrect about the last Scout get together, it had a record turn out. 400 attended!

And one damn ketchup bottle!

Remember what is important

15 years ago today my husband asked me to marry him. I remember it like it was yesterday. I came home from work about 10pm. he had some candles going on the stone floor in front of the fireplace, and he had some snacky things to eat. It was romantic. We had been dating for 5 years and we picked the ring out together, so I knew I was getting it. I just didn't know when.

Hes not normally that way. He worked really hard to make it special.
Then the dog got too close to the candles, and started his curly poodle hair on fire.

We went to Europe for our honeymoon.
We had some great vacations together, and traveled frequently.
We had a son after 8 years of marriage, I was 38.

As he climbed the corporate ladder at the Bank where he is employed, our life together became less important as his became more important. He is on numerous boards and is president of this organization and treasurer of another. He has bank golf outings with his friends and everybody in town knows him. He will soon be President of the bank, something he has always wanted.
Something I have always wanted for him. Along the way, he has forgotten what is really important, his family..

The bank won't be there to wipe his mouth when he is unable to do it himself. Nor will the people with whom he socializes with at the Golf Club. nor will I...

I filed for divorce.

I told him over and over what I needed, he listened, but didn't hear.
I am so sad for our son, for now he will be labeled. "Divorced parents"

Failed. I failed my son. I failed me. I am so sad.

Someday he will realize what is most important.
Too late.

Women need to run the Boy Scouts

Today I had my first experience with Cub Scouts. My 6 year old son recently joined and we went to day camp today. Here is how it went. Go to camp Eagle. Take the country road past the golf course, you will see the sign.
There was no freaking sign.
I should have know at that point to just turn around and call it quits.
I didn't, that was the start of hell camp.
After asking 3 different farmers who kept sending me in different directions, the 4th house a woman answered and her directions had us there in 2 minutes.
After registering my son was given a cowboy hat and we had to put a red band of paper on it with a stapler.
There were 200 kids, and one stapler on one picnic table.
"Is there only 1 stapler for all these people?" All the men looked at me like it was a problem.
We had been told we were in the cowpokes group.
They didn't know where that group was though.
After walking in circles and asking, we found them.
Waited to shoot BB guns, they hand my son BB's and tell him load the gun and shoot the target.
Like he's gonna know?
Then we shot bow and arrows, we learned how by watching the kid and dad next to us screw up, so we didn't do what they did.
Sling shots.
Yes, trying to shoot a piece of dog food into a 12 ounce cup hanging on a string with a clothes pin 40 feet away.
Oh yeah, it was windy too.
I wonder if they give badges for fucking up your kids self esteem.
We should have shot the instructor with the sling shot for being a moron.
3 legged races, roll the hula hoop, and tug of war.
I am starving, it's noon and I want my hot dog and watered down orange drink.
Reed's hungry and tired,
This started a t 8am. Nobody seems concerned about where the food is.
They blow the whistle.... I am thinking lunch.
No, go shoot the BB guns again.
Reed is crying and wants to eat.
I want to eat.
We tell some parents in our group we are walking up the road to camp to find the food.
I got the impression we weren't suppose to.
We did anyway.
As we finally found the eating building, everybody else came running.
We each got 2 hot dogs, 3 chips, jello cup and orange drink.
What happened next almost made me flip out.
One ketchup and one mustard bottle for 200 starving kids and 100 dads. Maybe 5 moms.
This is why women should be in charge of everything. After standing in line for ketchup for 5 minutes, I go to the kitchen and ask for more ketchup bottles.
None.
They have 48 ounce container and they were just going to keep refilling the bottle out of that.
I look at the guy and tell him "We are going to open it and put 10 spoons in it and use it that way." He wasn't happy with me, nor I with him, but he did it.
I will tell you if these men went to a wedding, dinner, picnic, etc and women were running it and there was only one ketchup bottle, those men would have bitched.
Oh yeah, one trash can too.
All these men were teaching these boys, the next generation, to be like this.
I wasn't. My son understands there should be more organization and a "plan". Things need to be announced and explained out loud.
Now I see why men don't ask for directions, they must have been in boy scouts.
Reed wanted to leave because it was boring.
I encouraged him to stay and climb some ropes, but he was headed for the car.
I was right behind him.
I'm not a quitter, and I teach Reed to finish things when you start...but...
I will give the Family camping a try, but if all the dads sit around waiting for someone else to build the fire....