More Good Byes

Well, today there was some what a plan. Finish off some cleaning and well, the Adults had some other things that needed to be done. At 9 or 10 Tirzah pulled up to get mom, dad and Joi so that they could go talk to the lawyers and figure some things out. The night before there was a possibility that Tanya and I would have been watching Emerson, but we later found out that Jenna could do it, so no need to worry. Instead it was just me, Tanya and Corrinne.
Breakfast? Tanya was thinking cinnamon rolls. If only we could figure out how to use one of the timers. Tanya was freaking out since she didn't know how to use the one that was part of the stove, so she was just pressing buttons, and hoping she wasn't doing anything wrong. Then I thought that I had one down, it seemed to me though that the minute button worked as a second button and the hour button worked as a minute button (which was a little strange) but I did figure it out. Yay! Well, at least the rolls weren't going to burn, that's a plus! Once they were out we had to wait a couple minutes and in return we had challenged Corrinne to finish the page before the couple minutes were out. The only problem with that is that we didn't really look at the time when we took them out, or at least we weren't sure, so instead just went with when she was done with that page of math. Cinnamon rolls. Yum! After that Tanya and I needed to do our hygiene, first I went down to well, get dressed and then brought up some homework to do with Corrinne. Well, it was my homework. I guess it was homework time for the two of us while Tanya got dressed. So I was reading and answering questions while Corrinne did her language. Seemed to work out well.

Although I think Tanya was taking way to long down stairs, and she doesn't have as much hair as I do. Then again, maybe she was putting her bed away, folding it up and putting it with the rest of the blankets. I know she wasn't finishing packing, but that will come later. Soon the parents were back. I guess they did what ever they needed to do, and found out what they didn't know. To my knowledge at least. I wasn't informed, or at least not much. After that I think they went back to lots and lots of cleaning. Well, more cleaning out. There was some cleaning out the day before but that was mostly the freezer. All these foods that we weren't going to eat, or were expired. Good thing it was trash day, because the trash was FULL. The fact that we were going through more just meant we were lucky it was trash day. This time it was the cabinets. All those areas we couldn't reach up high, and then the ones down low as well. Getting down I think another tea set, or spare silverware, just more stuff. Then there was more food. Food, food, and more food in boxes, in cans, and a lot of it was getting thrown out or moved forward so that we knew what we had.

Corrinne decided to dress up again, I guess she was getting ready for a tea party. We had all the stuff down, why not look pretty. We had bags about everywhere. Bags and bags of stuff that was give away and trash. Why Gram had so much food we still couldn't figure out. It seemed that there was tons of peanut butter and boxes of rice, and well just lots and lots of stuff.

I have to say besides the bags, most of the counters were covered in stuff too. Cleaning out means you have to take everything out, go through it, and then put it back in with a more organized manner, and hoping that it isn't as full. So besides the Annalees still on the kitchen table, there was like I said, boxes and boxes of different foods, then cans, jars of this, and containers of that, then the tea set, which almost seemed to have everything, I think it was just missing a plate or two. Pretty good I'd say.

It was hard being the last day (again) and having to say good bye. Mom and dad were staying a while longer, but like I said Tanya and I needed to get home back to school and work. Of course this being the last day it sure didn't feel like it.

To me it was like we were leaving yet there was still so much to do. And I guess the other thing was, since Gram wasn't there, since Gramp wasn't there the feeling of when were we going to visit again hit me. Yes, cousins were, aunts & uncles were, but the place we all stayed, all gathered always seemed to be Gram's. Thinking back now, by the next time I visit there may not be a Gram & Gramps house. Good bye this time seems more like forever, but I sure hope it isn't.

I can't say I remember if we spent much of the afternoon just cleaning or what else was going on. Maybe a little more sorting for this and that, I think I walked into the front room and Tanya, mom and Corrinne were looking at the jewelry again, looking at this and glancing at that, since Corrinne was asleep when most of the picking was done she was seeing what was taken and what was still there wanting to know what she may have gotten. And yes, the pink necklace she was wearing, that apparently comes with a warning, she did get. And since Tanya had picked only one thing, the night before where everyone else picked a few things, after looking again, I think she had found something she had liked and took it.

Then I guess is the part where the Shirley's came by. Well, some of the Shirley's or well, two and then little Emerson. Everyone else was at school or work or something. Yeah, when you think about it it was like one-ish, and so most people would be in school, at least I would be or if you're talking this semester finishing and leaving class.

But really it was just Tirzah, Marion and Little Emerson. Funny thing was it seemed like he was jumping from one pair of hands to the next. I think he came in on Marion's, and then he was looking through cabinets in Grams office for something and so Tanya took him, and then Tirzah had come and asked to take pictures with her nieces. Which was nice. Again, it was one of those moments like when were we going to all be there together again, wanted some pictures that would last. Then even though it wasn't dad's last day, it was mine and I wanted a picture of dad with his siblings, and Tirzah wanted one with her big brother. It could have been done later, but I guess we were taking pictures why not do them all at once? I think they came out pretty well.

I think time was going faster then planned. We needed to finish packing, since both Tanya and I were bringing a second bag with us. This time they were filled with things we were bringing back with us instead of well, food. There was a pair of boots Joliene had picked out the day before that were Grams, then the Christmas blanket Joliene wanted, then we were going to pack her plate, but even wrapped in with the blanket, mom wasn't sure how safe it would be. Thinking it over, the plate stayed. Didn't want to risk damage, because come on now, its a suit case and I'm sure the airlines don't handle with care a suit case, even putting them in the car is a bit of a challenge when trying to be nice.

We had three bags in or at the door. Mom had thought that was all of them. No, mine was out, the two extras were up, Tanya's was still downstairs not finished. But mom unknowingly started to panic, we were supposed to be leaving with two bags to check, and our carry ons. So, she went looking around for another bag that she could quickly pack up. I don't think she understood that we had four bags, it was just that one of them wasn't ready. TANYA!! But some how that bag mom started packing became a carry on. And I have to say it wasn't that easy since the bag she got was a little suitcase/backpack...well more of a backpack. Any way it was just struggle, me I had two suitcases, my own backpack, and this second one mom decided to pack as well as my little pack I use instead of a purse. Then Tanya had two suitcases, her backpack, and her purse. When we got to the airport I was struggling just a little more then she was. Thanks though.

Oh, and I forgot to mention. We were all in the car everything set, about to pull away when thank goodness Tanya mentions the boarding passes. I had printed them the night before, and they were sitting on the kitchen counter, but if she hadn't mentioned it we may have been in a little trouble. I ran out of the car, back into the house trying not to get in any ones way or run into anyone, and then back to the car. We had a plane to catch!

Of course the wait to check our bags was a little longer then we expected, and it seemed that the plane was boarding right when we were walking up. It must have been that line, because I don't see how we could have been that late. It was then like okay, what's boarding A's... We were A 38 & 39 I think. At least we didn't miss it. Although the guy taking boarding passes almost gave me a heart attack. We handed him our passed and there was no bar code on them. What? Didn't even notice that when I printed them. I was thinking he wasn't going to let us through. WHAT? You can't do that!

It's okay, he let us through, but gave us a warning and friendly reminder that they needed to be on the boarding passes. Yay! We are on the plane, and back to our safe ride home! Although I guess because it was the middle of the day, during the week, not a lot of people could take the time off to do traveling, or at least not to Oakland. So our plane, was pretty empty, or at least empty enough that I'm sure each person could have had their own row of 3 seats to themselves.

The row across from us was empty, and Tanya wanted me to move across there, but I was just a few seconds to late, one or two more passengers had come on and one of them took that spot. Sorry Tanya, I was sticking to where I was.

Fly back home, and back to the reality of what life really is. It's sad to say now that I have no idea when the next time will be when I get to see all of my cousins to go and visit. What will happen? I know that it will be strange seeing how I doubt that next time I'll be staying at Gram's house. It's just that all of these things are going around in my head. What do I do? What will happen? All I know is that it's really going to hit me, really going to be a little sad the next time I go and visit with there not being that place that feeling. The next time I visit, when ever that may be I know isn't going to be the same.