Life is good

In the midst of the sadness of our mother/Nana/Grammy slowly slipping away, we celebrated #2 grandkid’s GHS graduation. It was supposed to also be Chris’s good-bye party for his departure to the Army on Tuesday, but that part has been delayed due to his rite-of-passage bike ride off Magnolia Pier on a bicycle….20 stitches in his foot when he hit the gear thing!

So anyway, thunderstorms were predicted for yesterday. But we had gotten the permit for Stage Fort Park and all other preparations were made. My sister rented a huge tent just in case. Well, the day started out beautifully, and although we’ve all been on edge, we hoped for a relaxing day. Lots of food, friends, and family swimming and playing volleyball.

Then the dark clouds rolled in. We cooked the remaining chicken and watched the sky. Well, for any of us who thought the tent might not be necessary…. We grabbed the chairs, towels, shoes, and continued the party under shelter. This is when the fun got started. No amount of rain was going to stop the volleyball game! The rain was warm and no one minded being wet. We watched as a kid from a kayaking party played soccer from inside a trash can. A woman hurried to her car with an inverted umbrella (her version of a rain barrel??) A group of  harmonica-playing teens paraded by us.

Our volleyball players all came back under the tent after a while for cake and more food. Soaking wet and happy. We started packing up. No easy task with dripping hair and puddles forming at our feet. The rain would not let up, and the tent had to come down. Well, I left with 2 shivering kids in my car. Five adults were left to deal with the huge task of the tent.

Generally mature, Bryan, the almost 40 year old dad, did what most of us would love to do – Plopped down and splashed in the mud! Without a second thought, Cindy, his wife (my daughter) happily joined him! I only wish I had been able to see it!!

After a little bit of fun, the five struggled to dismantle the tent. Well, from nowhere, a group of kids (trashcan soccer boy included)who were waiting for their ride, came running over to help. In no time, the tent was down. A HUGE thank you to the kids from Hollis, NH!

What a great day! And although the hard parts of life are still with us, it was one of the best days anyone could have!