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Ups and Downs
By Margot | September 17, 2012
Quick report since I have been so lax…
Charlie boy turned six in August and we had a rock climbing party. The boys finished up summer with water sports camp which they loved and chess camp which was filled with chess champions and intimidated them. We drove up the coast to San Francisco (nobody got carsick but me ;-)) and saw the Hearst Castle, the Monterey Bay Acquarium, The (cold) Golden Gate bridge went to a Giants game and (this is what the boys are still talking about- ha ha) had the best Sundae and milkshake ever in Ghiardelli Square. The boys started school. The world lost wonderful, amazing Jack Bartosz and NB broke our hearts again. We were able to spend some time with Hans and Lara Weberling when they came down to San Diego for a consult. We got to have chips and salsa and talk legos with Hans who is just absolutely an awesome kid. The boys were able to come to the hospital to hang out with him after school. We are hoping that his new chemo is working and getting him on to another treatment. We love Lara and Hans. Andrew’s feet have officially grown as big as mine. In late September, he will be older than Sam ever was. We had a school Day at the Bay and the sports center gave the school free paddle boards and kayaks and paddle boats. I was going in circles on the paddle board and Andrew waded out and hopped on and paddled me around because he is an expert after sports camp. Charlie has started pitching machine baseball and loves it. He’s gotten a hit every time he’s been up. Neil is coaching Charlie’s fall soccer team and they’ve lost one and won one and Charlie still wants to be a goalie even though we need him at forward. He still wants to hang out with all of Andrew’s friends. In the background to summer Andrew had what seemed like a million soccer tournaments and his regular season has started two Saturday’s ago. The team looks good this year. Saturday they played in 100 degree heat. I am room parent coordinator for their school this year. We finally cleaned out all of Sam’s stuff from the boys room and redecorated it a bit. I am speaking at a writer’s conference in Vegas in October. I am taking a creative writing class at UCSD on Monday nights with my friend Lisa. I am trying instead of keeping busy for busy’s sake and having my hair on fire at all times to actually go in a direction. Forward. So hard because we don’t want to leave Sam behind (though logically we know we never can). Neil is busy with work and was able to do a golf trip with some friends two weekends ago. Neil and I will run Max’s Run together this year on September 29th. Uncle Matt and Roscoe moved up to San Francisco for a killer new job at CBS. Uncle Paul is coming back to visit from Australia in two weeks. We are spending Christmas in New Mexico. The boys have the same teachers, are in the same grades and in the same classrooms as Sam and Andrew were the year that Sam died. Andrew has Mrs. O’Donovan (now Mrs. Lewis because she got married) and Charlie has Mrs. Barker who Andrew had at the time. It is a weird sort of deja vu. Sam’s four square at school was painted over this summer when they repaved the black top. Our principal is having the district repaint it for Sam.
Our life is hard and good and sometimes exciting and tragically sad. Here are some pics…
Neil and the Boys on the way to San Fran
blurry Charlie in front of giant octopus
Neil and the Boys in front of Golden Gate
The Boys and I at Haight/Ashbury
Family at Hearst Castle
Charlie's 6th Birthday Rock Climbing Party
Andrew Hanging Around
Charlie Hanging Around
Cool Sam Golfing
Topics: Progress Reports | 4 Comments »
September 20th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Sam, of course, is always be with you, so perhaps he will enjoy your new adventures, whispering in your ear to get in the game. Hope to see in NM at the holidays. Best, Jan
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:57 am
Continuing to keep you in my thoughts and prayers
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:09 am
Hi West Coast Hutchison…
Margs, thanks for the update. Stream of consciousness writing reflects the underlying consciousness. Good to see you in writing class…think big.
Strong thoughts to Missouri Street in SD. T
November 1st, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Hey, Hutchisons. You have been on my mind. I know Halloween is a biggie for you and I just wanted you to know that you are all in my thoughts. XOXOXO, Mallary