During Labor Day 2007, I was in the throes of intense physical pain on the holiday itself - coupled with off-and-on pain for the whole weekend. Although, I’ve been spared further kidney stones this entire year (knock on wood), this Labor Day weekend I was suffering another type of ache. Jackie and I had decided to part ways on Saturday, August 30. Therefore this promised to be yet another painful Labor Day.
I alleviated some of it by going over to visit Heidi on that Saturday night. Of course without Jackie’s expertise in building a fire - and also coming off a brief downpour - we were forced to used gasoline to get it going. It worked out for the most part, after we nearly watched the entire night go up in smoke! I would never survive as an outdoorsman, and Heidi wouldn’t make it without gasoline. She had to work the next morning so it wasn’t too late of a night, but it was nice to have someone to talk to.
Sunday the 31st was actually the day my family was celebrating Labor Day – as we did last year. This time we held the festivities at Denise and Aaron’s house in Westerville. The day didn’t promise to get off to a good start when Dad showed up to pick Ashleigh and me up in his truck. I thought that we could all cram into the cab, but when he asked me to drive since he wasn’t feeling well, I quickly saw that it would be nearly impossible to perform the functions of a motorized vehicle operator with Ashleigh nearly sitting on my lap. So instead we took my car – which is also deep in the throes of pain as it needs new wheel bearings. I was about as grumpy as one could possibly be at this point when we arrived at her house around 1pm.
However – thanks to being with my family – it wasn’t long before I was cheered up. Actually the barbecue potato chips didn’t hurt either. This was followed by hamburgers, hotdogs, oriental salad, buffalo cheese dip, deviled eggs, veggie pizza (despite the veggies), and some of the best baked beans I’ve ever had in my life. For dessert there was Mom’s delicious pretzel salad (making its triumphant return recently), Bev’s ooey gooey cake, and Susan’s unnamed but awesome nut-cluster dessert. I think I’ll call it the fabulous nut scramble slab.
My beauties Briana and Ashleigh
Bob and Aaron fire up the burgers
Briana Pond gobbles down the burgers
Bev, Grandpa, Ed, Mom, and Dad are too busy eating to bother posing for a picture
Barbara, Denise, and Bryan chow down on the couch
Mom passes the over-the-counter devouring-torch to Susan
Ed, Jan, Dad, and me: stuffed and happy as clams
With all that great food, why Bob would eat a carrot is beyond me
Dad and Bob chat outdoors while managing to avoid all eye contact
Grandpa and Charley share a nice grandfather/great-grandson moment, along with some sort of huge fur glob
We had another good turnout of family, although all of Diana and Tom’s family were up at Indian Lake at the time. Grandpa Murphy, Mom & Bob, Bryan, Dad, Aaron’s parents Barbara and Joe, Briana, Bev & Ed, Susan & Charles and the boys, Jim & Jan and Eric, Darlene and Zac, and of course little Adam running around like a madman.
As he nears his second birthday, he’s just as cute as can be, and despite what Denise might think due to my opinion about wanting her to have a girl, I’m in love with him. It’s hilarious to hear him talk up a storm now, some of it making sense to the trained ear and some not. He loves to complete the sentences when books are read to him, especially The Lady With the Alligator Purse. He refers to Aaron’s parents as Nena and Joe – even though their names of choice would be Grandma and Grandpa. My Mom is Neno. There’s a subtle difference there.
Can you tell Adam is actually cheesily saying cheeese?
The kids
Uncle Brad and Adam
I continued my recent tradition of losing every game of cornhole I enter. Briana, whose arm was rather limp from all her sports elbow injuries, and I were demolished by Mom and Eric. Then I entered a game of Farkle. Under normal circumstances, I would have been doing well, rarely Farkling throughout the entire game. But since Mom has somehow magically inherited Grandma Murphy’s luck at the game, I quickly fell behind. The ending was exciting though as Mom crossed the 10,000 point finish line – only to have Susan roll about 4000 points on her last roll to win the game.
Mom and Jim squaring off at cornhole
Great action shot as Briana hurls one off and Eric looks on
The dice are in motion as Bev watches me roll in Farkle
I was stuffed to the maximum as we headed home, but in a much better mood despite losing the games. When there’s that much good food, family, and fun – who cares?
Labor Day itself, Monday, September 1, was another festival of eating, sitting around, and immersing myself in sitcom heaven all day long…except for when I watched Saw IV. I needed a little blood in my day as well – just to remind me that life could be worse! Whereas last year, I was in too much pain to even focus on the television, this year I didn’t have the initiative to do much else. It was my last day of rest, before I pledged to myself to re-commit to my diet and exercise regiment in an effort to drop about 15 pounds. So far, so good.
That first picture of Adam is fantastic. He’s so cute. I don’t know about the be-spectacled guy holding him though.
Chris
September 8th, 2008
Aaron’s parents actually prefer to be called “Nana” and “Grampy.” So, “Nena” isn’t too far off. As for why Adam calls Mom “Neno,” that remains a mystery.
Incidentally, you are back in my good graces since you said such nice things about your nephew.
Denise
September 8th, 2008