Saturday, August 23, 2008

Paths that were Crossed

I received the news yesterday and was shocked, stunned and saddened. My Father emailed me the news article the next morning. When things like this happen the news travels very quickly in a small town. It is difficult; difficult to know what to do, difficult to know what to think, difficult to know what to say and difficult to imagine something like this happening to someone you know. Admittedly I was quite tearful and have thought a lot about his family and mostly his Mom; Jackie.

Jason was my first serious boyfriend in HS, my first love. We were an unlikely match and were together for about two years. Prior to that we 'went out' in Middle School. I can still remember the summer between 8th and 9th grade when he *tried* to kiss me at Washies Playground. He was the bad boy/cute Produce Boy at Weis Markets who drove a silver Celica. The two of us had an intense love/hate relationship that I am able to look back and laugh about. Here are some of the crazy memories I have;

  • Once Jason backed up into the wooden planter at the gas station as he angrily followed me and my bff Michelle. He squished his tail pipe shut and was very unhappy when he realized it and had to pull over at CVS.
  • Once we hit a dear out near his house. He paid to get his car fixed and then hit another dear the next week. I swear he had the worst luck.
  • His Mom worked at the deli in Riverside and was always nice to my Poppop. His Aunt Lori owned a pet grooming salon and was also sweet to Poppop. Poppop use to call Jason "Byron" to which Jason never corrected him. Anyone who was nice to my Poppop was a rockstar in my book!
  • He came with my family to Allentown as my Mom and I were dancing in a Children's Festival (we were part of a belly dancing troupe). On the way home he hit a stationary and brand new BMW on the highway going 60 mph. Yeah, that was bad.
  • I ran over his leg, not once but twice at the Coastal Mart in Riverside (not on purpose). He use to wait for me there as he could spot me coming off of the bridge on my way home. I can still see the headlights on his car popping up signaling for me to stop.
  • Once when we were in a screaming match by the side of the road a Riverside cop stopped and broke up the fight and sent us on our way in separate directions.
  • He punched a huge dent on the inside drivers door of my little red Mazda (Blaze) and he also punched a hole in one of the walls at school outside of Mr. Yeager's room. I think I frustrated him a little...
  • I drove up with him and his parents before he started college to see his new apartment. It was so surreal that he was going to have his own place and he bought me a promise ring with a little diamond in it before he left for college.
  • He always had a little jar of Carmex (white jar with a yellow lid) in his car.
  • He had a thing for Stevie Nicks but mostly listened to rap music.
  • He had a huge bass pumping stereo in his car and could always be heard from a distance. He put one in the back of my Blaze once and while it wasn't my thing I thought it sounded good but my Dad got mad at him (after he called my parents home phone and told them to eff off) so he ripped it out of my trunk and threw it at the bottom of our driveway so Jason could come pick it up.
  • He was an aggie with a curly type mullet that was fairly cool back in the day (or was it??)and he liked shirts and stickers that said, "No Fear"
  • One time he peed on school grounds and Mr. Price (our Principal) came up and stepped right in it unknowingly! He did get suspended for that.
  • He use to throw stones over the greenhouse at my bedroom window when I wouldn't answer my phone and one time he even snuck into the house through the doggie door!
  • We went to his Senior Prom together in his Dad's antique blue corvette. I wore a little sequined number that I got in NYC. We skipped partying that night (it wasn't my thing as I didn't drink/smoke/do drugs but he could often be found at the rabbit bowl with his Washingtonville friends) and he slept on the couch at my house (nothing naughty, get your minds out of the gutter).
  • Once we went skiing together. I slept at his house the night before (he lived right near the exit of route 80) and had my first migraine caused by my tumor that night...it was awful and I was terrified and never told another soul as I didn't know what was happening.
  • We drove to a mall in NY and had Glamour shots (gay, I know) taken together. My alternator belt was loose and so we had to drive home on Rt 80 in the dark with no headlights, AC or radio and we had to keep our speed above 60 mph to keep the car from stalling out. Right before our exit (#33) we hit a huge pot hole, bent a rim but were able to make it to Avenue H in Riverside somehow before stalling out again. That was the day I found out you have to put the car in neutral if someone is going to push it...whoops!
  • One time while were fighting I was at a party at Tammy's (a clean one). We could all hear him and his bass driving around but he never did find her farm house!
  • My Senior week at OC in NJ was a blast. He found me (I was there with 5 guy friends) and insisted I drive home immediately. He followed me the whole way to make sure I made it safely. We got lost in Harrisburg or some place.
  • He tried to start a fight with the Elders in front of the Adam's house and he also jumped on the hood of my car on Market street one night after I met with the missionaries.
  • He came to visit me once while I was at PSU and we went to the mall to hang out.
  • For my 17th birthday we hung out with Marcie and Bill creeping around the state hospital.
  • He always said, "it's eleven eleven (11:11) and somebody loves you."
  • He got me a kitten; Franky. Franky was the best and always played with the lid from Jason's Mountain Dew. Franky disappeared after we broke up :(
  • Tammy and I skipped school and drove to Hershey for wrestling State finals. He drove back with us in a huge snow storm and opened his window just as a huge semi drove by sending dirty snowy slosh all over the inside of Blaze. He didn't think it was funny!
  • When he turned 18 he insisted that he have my name tattooed on his hip. This became a huge issue as I was adamant that he not do so. We compromised...I went with him and picked out a tattoo. It was a lizard that matched a silver ring I had. We were dumb!!!
  • For Valentine's Day our junior year I ditched the Campus Life group (Youth for Christ) that was meeting at my house that very night so that Jason and I could go to Friendly's for Ice Cream. My mentor wasn't happy but I was too head over heels with Jay not to go.
  • He had the greatest dog Manda, the cutest little cousin Ty and the sweetest Mom Jacki. He looked up to his cousin Jess, loved his older brother Ernie and really wanted his Dad's approval. My heart goes out to all of them at this time.
  • There are a thousand more memories that need not be posted but I did want something to document our time together because I am sure as time goes by I am less likely to recall these things. I won't soon forget the chicken coops, Hunter's ice cream and the drive in (again, nothing naughty!!)

On the B Side: All of this was a very long time ago but he always made me laugh and kept things exciting despite that fact that I frustrated the heck out of him. We were like night and day and made a very unlikely match. Ultimately we had serious differences in our lifestyles and desires. We did have some fun times and I am sad that his life ended so abruptly and so prematurely. It's always sad to see people slip away senselessly.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Ode to My Favorite Human

To my friend Michelle Allison:

Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be close to you. Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by? Just like me, they long to be close to you. On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue. That is why all the girls in town follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be close to you. On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue. That is why all the girls in town follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be close to you. Just like me (just like me) they long to be close to you. Wahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Wahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Hahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Lahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you.

I YU YOU SHELLBAIT!

Adi's in the House, Yo!

Let me explain that my new BFF Koug (also known as KMP) came to our home and took pics of our native tribe! We wanted to be sure to catch and keep Adi while she was a newbie and were excited to have the photos taken in our own home. They came out fantastic at an 'a-Mayes-ing' price! Here is some more of Koug's good lovin'!

The Clan40 Toes
My Girls
Baby Cakes
Our little Lee Lee On the B Side: I am positive that if I did nothing else in this world I would be content to be 'Mom' to this beautiful little children! I don't claim to be any good at this precious role but I sure do love it! Thanks for the great pics, Koug!


Thursday, August 21, 2008

An Angel and a Pest #2

True to form and compliments to Ivanna here is my post.

Angel: Mo Mo. Squishy Bug. K Mo. Call her what we may, McKayla is this weeks angel and also today's birthday girl! Happy 6th Birthday to our not-so-little-girl! She is the care giver in our family. She is the one who worries about everyone else and never wants anyone to feel bad. She has a desire to do good and is a great listener. On top of it all, she is always telling me that I am the smartest girl she knows! I have no idea what prompted this but she also contends that I am way smarter than her Dad as well! "Huh, Britta?" she will ask after make these proclamations! She is darling and also a very special part of our blended little family!

Pest: J. Perry is the recipient of this title this week. While I have no idea who this person is I do know that this person recovered a check that I lost in February. Rather than doing the right thing this person took advantage dishonestly for the sake of personal gain. While it was written out to me, J. Perry took it upon him or herself to endorse and deposit this check. The bank took it upon itself to accept this check and hence is a runner up for the pest title this week. I only have two questions; 1) What the heck is wrong with people? and 2) Is the Bank really that careless? I hate dishonesty and incompetence!!!!

On the B Side: Mark and I get to spend the day with Kayla tomorrow! Also, once we get the mess straightened out with the bank J Perry will be held accountable as the moron deposited the check into his or her account. Way to go, Einstein.

Into the Great Blogosphere


My darling Kaci has graciously given me my first award! I am honored and touched. {Insert contrived tears and a beauty pagent wave here}
As the recipient of this grandiose award I am required to post it on my page AND pass it along to others! I would like to nominate the following individuals;

Shellbait simply because she has finally begun posting (and she's a porch monkey) and Sarah because even though she doesn't post she leaves comments (and after all sometimes she is cool). Mic definitely gets a nomination because her last post was hilarious (and I kind of like her) and Jennie because she posts great pictures (and she vacations more than anyone I know!).

So ladies, take your award. Post it on your blog with pride and share with with a few of your fellow deserving bloggers!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Gone Daddy Gone

While I should appreciate the quiet time, I miss my babies like crazy already. Dayton and Ellianne are off to Jackson Hole for the week with their Dad. I know that they will be safe and will have a blast with their cousins. I can't help but worry and feel sad without them here.

On the B Side: They are excited and I'm happy they could get away and have a vacation with their Dad. None of that stops my heart from aching. While it's been years I'm pretty sure sharing them never gets easier.

Monday, August 18, 2008

The Girl Effect

Over the weekend I was on the JoinRed site. (RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver (Chairman of DATA) to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. Watch this short clip closely...


The Girl Effect is predicated upon the fact that adolescent girls are capable of raising the standard of living in the developing world. Girls are a likely agent of change but are often invisible to their societies and our media. Check out this fact sheet compiled by the org. I LOVE THIS!!!!
On the B Side: I am grateful for those that look outside of themselves and see the needs of others. I am even more grateful when their example is one of action and often times the personal sacrifice of time, energy and resources. While I am still unsure how I can personally make a difference in this cause you can be sure that I will continue to research up on it until I find a way!