Today is in two chapters; Momma's and Cap'n's

This morning I cleaned up the boat, did a load of laundry, and polished the stainless from the bow to mid-ship.  It was lunchtime by then, and feeling like I accomplished enough for one day, I went to the pool to soak up some sun. (except I soaked up too much- ouch!)

It seems like daily I meet new people; whether it's new arrivals in the marina, resort guests hanging by the pool, or folks walking down to Paradise Pointe to see the setting sun. The conversations are all pretty much the same....where are you from?  how did you get in to sailing?  are you retired? what do/did you do for a living?  do you have kids?  grandkids?  I can only indulge in chit chat for so long, then this introvert at heart needs a break.  Cap'n however, keeps right on talking- on the boat, in the water, at the tiki bar, in the gym, at church, all day long, late into the night. That boy is a talker!  After fifteen minutes or so, I excuse myself from the conversation to return to my lounge chair, to get lost in my own thoughts, or to stick my nose in the latest book I'm enjoying.  (Today it was the textbook I will be teaching from in Beijing this coming school year.)  All of this time thinking has caused me to reflect on my life, my career, my children, and my grandchildren.  In all of the places I have been, in all that I have done in my career (therapist, guidance counselor, private practice, college professor) my greatest pride and accomplishment has been being a momma to my five children.  Yes, the three oldest are my step children, but the Cap'n and I have been married for nearly eighteen years now.  They have always felt to be "mine" in my heart.  I never think of myself as a step momma, nor of them as my step-children.  The kids don't call each other step brother and step sisters. The relationship the five kids all have with each other is a testament to the love and bonding we all share together. We have built some wonderful memories together when all five kids were at home, and in the years following as each of them have left the nest.  I miss them. a lot.  Being halfway across the world next year will be a huge adjustment for me, no doubt.  I know they don't 'need' me anymore, but I still need them.  It's why I typically tear up when strangers start the usual 'small talk' that leads to our children.  That's about the time I excuse myself from the conversation- I feel like a braggart (they are really THAT good), and I feel embarrassed by the emotion that wells up in me.

So let me get this out of my system, to all of those who follow this blog.  Please just indulge this proud momma for a minute, or two.  The truth is I have five incredibly smart, talented, beautiful, exceptional children.  It does this momma's heart to see them all successfully making their way in the world; professionally in their careers and personally as human beings. 

The eldest, Jennessa, left for Germany in the nick of time the end of December
to assist her sister, Carissa, in the birth of her first born child, little Donovan
 David Deeney. She was invaluable in her support and expertise in her field in
those first few days following the delivery.  Then the youngest sister, Ellie showed
 up in Germany and offered her love, support and nannying experience to help
ease the family through the transition of having a new little one in their home. 

Jennessa has blessed us with two bright, beautiful, grandkids.  I love these
kids so much; I love being their Mimi, and I miss them like crazy. 

So, Ellie left Germany today for home, and safely landed in Indiana earlier this evening.  She has already shed a few tears over missing her sister, brother-in-law, and new nephew baby.  And out of sheer love, Carissa stayed home with her month old son this past weekend while her husband, Austin, took Ellie to Lisbon, Portugal, as a thank-you gift.  What a gift of love for a girl who studied Portugues in college :)



I can't look at Ellie, Carissa, and Donovan in this pic
without tearing up ;)  Such love there. and peace.

Carissa and her husband, Austin, are both Captains
in the United States Air Force.  God bless them.

 

They have been deployed, travelled, and served all
over the world.  This looks like their trip to Venice.
Both are hard workers and are very dedicated to their
service in the USAF- any parent would be proud of them.

 

And then there's my Sweet Emily Tess....

 

This is Emily's second nanny family.  She started when this four month
old sweetie was just three weeks old. These girlies clearly adore each other :)
Emily is nannying AND is in graduate school full time AND has a grad
assistantship at the BSU library to offset her tuition costs. She manages
all of this with ease, and with perfect grades to boot!  In spite of her
brains and beauty, when I see her with this baby girl my heart overflows.
Emily is just a natural caregiver, so loving, such a good heart, and wise
beyond her years; a much better human being than I was at 23 years old.
The crazy thing is when I see Emily with this sweet baby girl...

 

It takes me back 23 years holding my baby, sweet Emily Tess :)

 

And there's the only boy in the bunch, Michael Levi, who completed his law
degree this past summer.  He has decided to strike out on his own and open
his own practice.  I am so proud of him.  This time in his life reminds me of
striking out on my own and opening EverGreen Center.  I have been honored
that he's called several times in this last month to bounce ideas off his
step momma.  He's picking up new clients daily, and he's getting some
great experience.  It's wonderful that he is finally gleaning the fruits of
his labors- he has always had an incredible work ethic.  All that's left
to complete his life's picture is to make an honest woman out of Erica ;)

 

Ok, I'm done now.  Had myself a good cry.  Happy tears, of course :)

 

 

Part two of today- back to Willis and Cap'n and Marquesa... 

 

Like today, this is how I wake up most mornings on Marquesa :)
I love my "furry kids" too- if you couldn't tell.

I can't keep 'talkin' 'bout Willis' without mentioning his
black brother, Simon.  Little Buddy.  He's pictured
here with part of his foster family.  He looks so happy
and content with them, I don't think he's missed me a bit.
Simon is the best. boy. ever.

After Cap'n spent the morning with his folks at the doctor's office, he took
a swim at the pool, then decided to cross another "to do" item off the list.
He replaced the zinc, and while we was at it, he decided to brush
the bottom of the boat and scrape the water line. Thanks, honey!

While he was working under Marquesa, I spotted these bait fish and a
school of mangrove snappers underneath the neighbor's boat.  One
of them definitely looked big enough to pop with a pole spear!  He didn't.

After his chores were done, he decided to skin dive around the rocks out
on Paradise Pointe to see if there was anything worth catchin'.
He got a bug!

Actually, he caught eleven in all, but only five of them were of legal
size.  The rest were released to grow some more :)

 



While Donnie was swimming out around the Pointe, I saw Tilden's
coming in with their last group of divers for the day.  I wonder how
they did.  A boater in the marina attempted to go dive the reef today,
but it was too bouncy and the girls on board got seasick.  I feel their pain.

 

While the crowd was gathering to watch the sunset, Willis was out
workin' 'em for all the belly rubs he could get.  Dern cat.

 

 

If you stand at the very edge of the Pointe, and look back
to the W/SW, you can now see the sun setting.  It won't
be out past the tree line and on to the Gulf for another
several weeks.  Then we can start looking for the
green flash!

 



Cap'n grilled some Korean BBQ boneless pork chops
and I made stir fried rice.  It tasted delicious at the
time, but we were hungry three hours later!
I'm either going to starve in China, or come
back looking like a two ton Tessie.

 

By 11:30pm, we couldn't take it anymore.  We hopped on the blue piglet,
in our jammies, and went to McDonald's for a couple of hot fudge sundaes!
Belly's satiated; now I can go to bed ;)  G'nite, y'all!