In the Beginning

Like so many millions, perhaps billions, of other people, Steve and I have made our new year resolutions. A top priority was to create a blog so we can share our experiences from those who are not near to us (in physical distance), but who are near to us (in emotional distance).  See, all of those years at university did pay off!

So it has fallen upon me, or more the case, I have taken it upon myself to create a blog where we can post pictures, videos, pithy sayings and updates. Hopefully, in turn, we will receive comments and photos back. We thought about using my Facebook page, but it requires everyone else to get a facebook address and then you end up seeing people, things and events that you have no desire to, nor would you probably know who they are.

As most of you know, Amanda visited us for over two weeks here in Macclesfield, and 9/10ths of them she was ill. First with strep throat, where we got to use the FREE National Health Service and then as she was doing much better, she was struck with a very violent stomach virus.  My heart broke for her because I could hardly do anything to comfort her and secondly, because her vacation with us was spent lying down and groaning - not in a good way at all.

Fortunately she did feel well enough a couple of times. Once we went to London and spent the night and our friend, Kaley Tuck, came to visit. We visited the Greenwich Village, which I had never been to. Oy! It was cold, but the food and company (and wine) was great. Amanda was not too thrilled about the Tube because the speed, twists and thumps did not help her aching body.  We visited Harrod's, took a ride on the London Eye at night (a first for me at nighttime), shopped in the unique Covent Garden and best of all, we saw "The Lion King." They did a very superb job on the production side and the costumes were awesome and very, very unique. Like nothing we had seen before. The young boy who played Simba that evening was very good. They have a great many elementary as well as secondary and colleges that are directed toward the theatre arts. Go figure! There are soooo many theatres in the theatre district as well as in the other large towns of Manchester and Birmingham.  

Kaley also visited us for a few days in our home. She arrived on the 24th and stayed until the 27th. It was so relaxing, we played games (yes, Scrabble was one). Steve and I were even able to convince the two of them to go hiking with us. The first day was on Christmas Day, but it was so bloody windy and it went right through us. We returned on Boxing Day along with a very large part of the British population and their dogs!  It was wonderful. Well, Steve and I thought so. Kaley enjoyed herself. Amanda proved that she is a city girl at heart, but she was a trooper and walked all three miles. I am including a link to Google Earth that shows our path. I hope it works, you should be able to zoom down and see some of the pictures I took. Give me feedback and let me know if it does/doesn't work.

Kaley left us the next day. :^(

We also popped over to Manchester (via a quick train ride) and took a taxi to one of the largest malls I have been to in quite some time. Amanda was in her realm. She shopped, we ate at a lovely restaurant called Giraffe. I am attaching pictures of this place as well.

Alas, as soon as Amanda recovered, she headed back to Jax.  I miss her deeply. I realized that this was probably the last time that she will be my little girl (primarily because she was ill and I took care of her and she was grateful for that). But she has become a very confident and knowing young woman. Of course, I, as the mom, would like to always be the one to instruct, inform and even correct her - more out of habit than anything else, you know the motherthing - but she does have her own mind, a very smart one, 4.0! I guess it is that fear of her never needing me again, or worse, dreading to be with or deal with me. Do all moms have this fear?

Although I know she will never dread being around me, I do know that I am no longer the center of her life and now miss very large chunks of what is going on in her life. It is the kind of adjustment a mother doesn't like. At least this mother.

But that is what we are supposed to do as parents, right? Raise them and hope that they perform better in society than we do/did. I feel very confident that ours will.  

Brittany has made us very proud as well. She has two of the most adorable kids you could imagine. I think Payton is already smarter than me.  Britt is doing home health care and is putting the miles on her car heading from one house to another every day. But she is really enjoying it, even though it may have miles and miles of paperwork. She was such an angel to take in Sweetie and make her a part of their family. Everytime we go on a hike, I comment to Steve about how much Sweetie would love it here and his reply is that she probably loves Payton more. 

Well, I don't wish to make this initial blog boring or long (you may be thinking -- too late). So I will wish everyone well and hope you all have a very safe and happy 2009 and most of all, a healthy and affordable one!

All of our love from the hills of Macclesfield,

Barbara (Bebe) and Steve

Steve here: Burp and goodnight