It's a twap!!

For those of you who know me, you know I have two kids. Meghan and Jordan. Meghan is five years older than her brother, Jordan. Life with children is best described as "busy" or better yet, "unpredicitable." And unpredictable definitely describes the events of raising my two "wanna be comedians." And trust me, life with my two kids has had some seriously funny moments. Here is one of those episodes.

When my kids were young, we had the privilege of having a lovely piano in our home. It belonged to my niece, Leslie, and my daughter, Meghan, took piano lessons and played it as long as it graced our living room. One day, I heard some noise coming from the living room and I left the kitchen to check to see what was going on. Jordan was about five and was obsessed with bungee cords so it was no surprise to see him with a handful sitting in front of the piano. Some of the cords were wrapped around the legs of the piano bench and one was on the handle of the nearby coat closet door. "What are you doing, Jordy?" I asked. "Buildin' a twap," is how he answered. "A trap??" "What are you planning to trap?" I asked. My precious little tow-head looked at me so sincerely and said, "Meghan!" "Meghan!!!" I replied. "Oh, Son! You need to be really careful trying to trap your sister!" "She will GET YOU!" He just smiled and chuckled as he wove those bungee cords through the legs of the piano bench. I thought to myself, "He's got one big imagination."

A little while later, as I was working in the kitchen, I heard the sound of someone running down the hallway and then CRASH-BANG-BOOM!! I ran into the living room to find lying under the piano bench and a kitchen chair, a dazed and very confused Meghan! Jordan was standing nearby with the most wicked grin on his face. He yelled, "Got her!" Needless to say, when Meg untangled herself and climbed over the piano bench and chair, she made a grab for Jordan. He looked at me and I looked at him and off he ran!

CRASH-BANG-BOOM!!!!

BBQ Beef Burgers

This evening I called my mom for a recipe for BBQ Beef Burgers. She reminded me that it came from my aunt, her sister, Clara Lee. Ever since, she’s been on my mind.

I can see her standing at the stove, showing me how to fry yellow squash. Talking me through the process, reminding me to becareful because the oil will pop and burn me. She’s smiling, encouraging, and I feel so warm and comfortable with her. I can tell her anything and I know she won’t judge me or make fun of me.

She died in March, 1987 from Breast Cancer.

I used to dream about her now and then. I can still hear her voice and her laugh. The last time I saw her, she was wearing a red, white, and blue plaid shirt with a denim skirt, standing on the back porch of her house, waving at me as Bosco and I were backing out of the driveway of her farmhouse. She ran down the steps and jogged over to my side of the car. I threw open the door and jumped out to give her one last hug. She told me she loved me.

I saved her letters, the last birthday card and Christmas card she sent me. She gave me a baby ring when I was born and we shared the same middle name. Love doesn’t go away over time, it just gets deeper.

It’s October and I wear my pink Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts, pink watch, and “Hope” necklace every chance I get. Today, I made her BBQ Beef Burgers. Maybe next week, I’ll make her Mississippi Mud. Sure do miss her.