Generation 2-Chapter 16: Life Goes On...to Egypt

Sigh....I wish I could say that we were able to move on quickly and look at what a great life Mom had lived, but the house was pretty much in shambles for several months following Mom's death.

Dad went around like a zombie....

Juniper was a wreck...I guess it never occurred to me that he had been spending most days with Mom around the house, her cooking and watching Thyme while he tinkered away at his workbench.

For a while we all just went through the motions of living....Dew Drop and Thyme were the only ones who didn't seem to be very effected by it.

I take that back...Dew Drop has been spending a lot of time on the computer lately and when we ask her about it, it's always a fight to get to the bottom of it. She hasn't even cried but I can see a change in her. I'm a little worried that she'll have a meltdown. The other night I came into the computer/playroom and saw her sitting at the desk.

 

She wasn't really talking to anyone just clicking half-heartedly around on the screen. At closer glance I realized she was crying...

"Dewey, sweetheart?..."

In stead of answering me she ran away. I later found out once I finally caught up to her, that she had been crying in secret because she didn't want to make us "more sadder" than we already were. I hugged my little Dew Drop tight to my chest and told her that everything would be okay and that one day we would see Grandma Thistle again. I made a vow to myself after that, that we would push forward a little more because that's what Mom would have done herself for the kids.

One day in the middle of the week as I was getting ready for work, Dad came up to me.

"Thyme's hair is getting pretty out of control don't you think"

"Um...I guess so, what makes you say that?"

"Well I was thinking about going into town...just to get out of the house and I just thought maybe I could take Thyme to get her hair cut."

This surprised me a little bit but I was glad to see Dad doing something other than moping around the house. "Dad that would be great, and a big help...I've been so busy with work I haven't even given it a thought."

He smiled a little smile at me and I saw for the first time in months, a hint of the old Strawkiwi behind the veil of grief.

When I returned from work later that night, I found Dad holding Thyme but she had on a very cute new outfit and her hair was lovely. My beautiful baby was growing up.

We had a small "celebration of life" for just the family. Honey and Blood Orange came, looks like Honey might be expecting again. I think motherhood has taken her rockstar dreams out, she's even let her hair grow out a bit in a more "soccer mom" style. She tried to make conversation with Dad but he just nodded and picked at his food. I hoped he would snap out of it soon. But how do you truly deal when you've lost the love of your life?

Pepper has shaved his head, mostly because he's starting to go bald. I could tell mom's death was hitting him hard though, he mostly played with Thyme, probably to avoid talking about the whole situation.

Thyme was actually the most wonderful distraction from everyone's grief. I can fully say that she had life going almost back to normal for us. She made us laugh with all of her funny faces and quirky personality.

Once she started learning to talk she would chat Dad's poor ear off....and you know what? I don't think he minded a single bit.

Summer vacation was coming around and Dew Drop would be a full fledged teen soon and starting high school in the fall and Margarita would be beginning her senior year. Shortly after Mom's death, we had found out from Dad that Granny Thistle had left the girls a small fund to travel while they were still in high school. She had requested the funds be used for this and this alone so the girls would be able to experience the world as she had as a young adult. At first Margarita was a little reluctant to go. She was worried that something would happen to Pappi 'Kiwi while she was gone.

But a little reassurance and telling her that it would be good for the poor dear to "broaden her horizons" especially after nearly being kicked off the school paper her junior year for being "to blah" as the editor put it. I also told her it would give her something great (and cultural) to write about in her college essays that she had been diligently putting together. She finally relented.

She would be gone for most of the summer but promised to keep us updated and send pictures.

Juniper on the other hand had taken to either being with Thyme or digging with his newly-invented miner.

I was started to feel both neglected and irritated towards him. Possibly even a little resentful whilest I had to fill in many holes or risk breaking my neck when heading out to the garden.

I didn't have too much time to deal with it though honestly because both mine and Dew Drops birthdays were coming around. I'd be 35 this year and was starting to feel it. I am also questioning both my career and whether or not to extend our family. Eww I need to cut my hair.

But more on that later... on to Dew Drops celebration.

I can not believe she is a teenager now....and a very beautiful one at that. She looks SOO much like Juniper.

Shortly after the party was over, while we were cleaning up...I received a small package from the Sugar Valley Packaging Service guy.

I opened it and read it silently...then I couldn't help but chuckle. My poor Margarita was having adventures alright but she really wasn't caring for them much. :)

Apparently when she arrived in Egypt, she and the other tourists she was traveling with were confined to the base camp for the first 2 days they were there due to an awful sand storm. When they were finally allowed to go exploring, Margarita walked through the catacombs but got separated and attacked by an angry camel.

After she finally recovered from the camel-attack, she ended up with food poison.

It sounded like she was having a pretty awful time, poor dear, and that I would probably get an earful when she finally got back home. I'd have to try not to laugh though, she just has the worst luck...bless her heart.

Generation 2- Chapter 15: A Legacy Lives On

Well it seems that I wasn't the only one of my sisters to be having babies. You've already met little miss Rebecca. Cute as a button, right? Little did I know how soon we'd be getting another little one in the family. Mom and I rushed over to Bubbles after we got the phone call. Poor little thing didn't even make it to the hospital. She had to call Auntie Mint over to help her deliver the baby at home.

But what a perfectly healthy little bundle of joy. The first little boy in the family since Amos. Meet little Shelton.

Bubbles seems to be doing well, seems she had a great water birth. I'm more of a hospital kind of woman myself but to each their own. She thanked poor old Auntie Mint profusely and apologized for putting her in such an awkward situation. I thanked her for saving me from having to deal with my sister and her hormone-addled brain (she took after Mom during pregnancy *wink, wink*)

Mom instantly fell in love with Shelton as she had with all of her grandchildren.

I could tell she was moving a little more slowly than she had back when Amos and Margarita were born. I worried that we were wearing her out by letting her take care of Thyme who could be a hand-full but she just shrugged us off and smiled, totting the toddler around on her hip as if it were nothing.

Margarita was still staying to herself and so far had not had much conflict with the newspaper. Maybe she'd get asked out to a concert or movie with some friends and end up reviewing it soon because I knew the editor would probably not be so excited about back-to-back book reviews in a high school newspaper. Oh well, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. At least she was still friends with the little fellow from the library group even though he and his parents had moved to Twizzlerbrook.

Dew Drop was doing outstanding both socially and academically. In fact the only complaint we had from her teachers at all was that she would occasionally be talking too much and distracting her fellow classmates. She always had friends coming over and even took the class "odd bird" under her wing when he first moved in. Little Koda Chiffon and Dew Drop soon became best friends. Still don't understand the whole mask thing, but hey...whatever works for him I guess.

The weeks flew by with both of the girls in school and Thyme was growing up so quickly. Before I knew it, it was time for me to go back to work. I had put my research on the shelf for a very long time and it was time to take it down, dust it off and dive back in. I took a deep breath as I got ready to do my first paranormal investigation.

The first case that required my presence, following my return to the paranormal world involved 4 spirits in an old house that were stirred up due to ongoing renovations. I was asked to relocate the spirits in crystal containers and bring them in to the science center for study and "crossing over".

Everything went smoothly and I was putting my equipment away when I was called by a desperate young mother who claimed inanimate objects in her home were shaking violently and she was afraid that harm would come to her and her child. When I arrived to the house I was immediately greeted by a electrical feel in the air...I felt the poltergeist immediately and there was definitely more than one in the area. I quickly eliminated the one in the trashcan and mailbox but I soon discovered that the culprit causing all of the trouble was a very old spirit inhabiting the baby crib!

It took me quite some time to get it centered and as I was just about to capture the poltergeist, my cell phone rung. It was the ringtone for the house and I knew if I was being called this late at night that something was up. I apologized to the owners, promising to return soon and threatening the spirit to either get lost or get sucked up into the spirit crystals.

I stepped outside and took the phone call, it was Juniper.

"Candy baby, you need to come home now, it's very important...your mom...she isn't doing very well..."

I ran to my truck, put the pedal to the floorboard. My mind was looping through the same phrase "Oh no...please mom...don't" over and over. As soon as I arrived to the house I noticed the lights on upstairs. I ran as fast as I could, leaving the truck running behind me. I felt a sinking sensation as I heard sobbing coming from the bedroom.

 

Tears came to my eyes as I saw that my mother had already taken her leave of the world.

Here I am, a ghost hunter and there was nothing I could do to keep my mother's spirit here as the Grimmie took her away. I felt absolutely helpless..

My poor father, I could hear his heart breaking. But to my surprise, my husband and my eldest daughter were nearly hysterical. I guess during my own grief I had forgotten that of those around me. I quickly pulled Margarita into my arms and let her cry on my shoulder for awhile. When her sobbing started to quiet I put my forehead against hers and gave her my reassurance that death wasn't the end, Granny Thistle was at peace and everything would be okay.

I felt like a liar though as I looked at my father. How long would we have him now that he was broken hearted?

***

RIP my little legacy founder! We'll Miss You Thistle!!!

Generation 2-Chapter 14: Birthdays and Tea Family Reunions

Well it seems I was right! We welcomed little Thyme to our family yesterday and I think that our family feels complete now.

A house with three girls is more than enough estrogen for my poor Juni.

Two days after bringing Thyme home, it was time for Dew Drop's birthday. She loved getting to be in Grammy Thistle's arms.

Now how in the world did I get lucky enough to have two beautiful girls? Juniper and I feel truly blessed.

I guess my pregnancy brain forgot to clue me in to the fact that my little Margie was having some trouble at school. Don't get me wrong, she is academically excellent. In fact she makes perfect or nearly perfect scores on almost everything. In fact she was recently asked to be in the "Excel" program at her school that focuses on critical thinking and logic more than traditional vocational education twice a week.

I should have realized sooner that I couldn't have an entirely perfect child. No, my little Margie was struggling socially. It seems that though she was more than friendly enough but she didn't share the same interests of girls her age. She'd much rather read a book such as "Sunchip Zsu's Art of Sweet" rather than the "Julip June" series.

She just wasn't one of those children that the other kids naturally flocked too. She lacked the social finesse that most other children have. I was over at Honeydew and Blood Orange's home one afternoon, visiting with my newest niece, Rebecca, when I told Honey how I'd thought about starting a playgroup for kids in the Excel program when Honey had a better idea....what if we put her in the book club at the library, lots of 'bookworm' kids were there and she may find someone she bonds with.

Her first day there, Margarita met a little fellow named Joshua who was a little younger but also in the excel group and also very intelligent. I couldn't help but think to myself. At least she'll have one friend, can't wait until these awkward preteen years are over! And that was good enough for me. She'd come running home everyday to tell us all about her new group.

The house was busy with a new little one around and if it weren't for my mother, I would have most likely lost my sanity. Mom and Thyme were thick as thieves.

Time flew by and before long my little baby was going to be a toddler and my little girl was going to be a teenager. I told Margarita that we could have her party at the beach if she wanted. They had recently redid the pier and it was "the hot spot". I had to pay an arm and a leg as well as a little of my dignity to obtain the spot due to its popularity, but my two girls were going to have a fabulous birthday. Margarita was so excited when I told her that she couldn't stop smiling.

 

 I had invited the whole family and when we arrived at the pier I was surprised to see Bubbles, who I hadn't heard from in a while, sporting a baby bump. Juniper did a double take and immediately ran over to his brother and started congratualting him.

Amos was also there, although Bridget and Pepper weren't able to make it. I was so shocked to see that my nephew was pretty much a grown man now. He looked a lot like my big brother...

We decided we would let the baby go first because it was getting late and I knew it wouldn't be long before she was getting cranky.

 
I couldn't believe my (probably) last little one was growing up! Tears filled my eyes as I saw her change.

What a cutie! Mine and Mom's hair but Juniper's skintone..or close to it at least. :)
It was Margarita's turn to blow out the candles. I hoped this next phase in life as a teen was a little easier for her.

As the sunset behind us...my little girl became a young woman...

And what a pretty girl she has grown up to be.

We hung around for awhile after the girls had blown out there candles. It was so refreshing to spend the evening out of the house in such a beautiful spot. I was so excited to see everyone. It had been quite awhile and I really had been so busy that I hadn't realized how much I missed spending time with the family.

When we finally got home, Margarita had gone to get a shower when I heard her familiar cellphone ring. Next thing we knew Margarita was running out of the room.

"Guess what Mom?" she said excitedly.

"What love?" I couldn't help but smile at her. Now I know how my own mother must have felt looking at me when I was on the brink of adulthood.

"I've kind of been keeping it a secret, but I auditioned for the school paper and they've asked me to do the entertainment column!"

"That's wonderful sweetie!"

"Yup, I can't wait to read some new books to write about!" she said excitedly.

"Umm..." I started to reply but she was already digging through the bookshelf for some of the new books Dad had brought home from his writer's conference. I didn't have the heart to tell her, at least tonight, that high school entertainment was more centered around music festivals, concerts, CDs and movies rather than books.

I'll burst her bubble later but not tonight. Plus, what mother wouldn't love the enthusiasm with which Margarita reads? I'd talk to Juniper about it tonight. He'll have a better idea how to approach the situation, he and Margie are so much alike.