TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today was Kevin's memorial service at the high school.  Tara picked me up at 1:30pm (she is always late...LOL) but it didn't matter since it didn't start until 2.  From the gate where we entered the field, it was a long walk for me.  But, guess what?  I made it with only needing a little bit of help getting UP the stairs because my legs were so tired, I lost all strength in them.

It started out with a short talk/prayer by a local minister from the Methodist Church.    Then they played some music until the first of Kevin's two coaches spoke about him and his work/play/study habits and ethics.  I could tell just from the amount of students that were there how many lives Kevin had touched.  He might not have been the *big man on campus* but he was certainly well liked.  Since the family attends two different churches, there was another minister who also spoke about Kevin and gave a short sermon on our not knowing the mind of God but accepting that everything fits into God's plans for us all.  I found him both pleasant and sincere.

Next came the song *Amazing Grace* and it always, always makes me cry.  Just before that, the Junior Class president presented a dozen American Beauty roses in a lovely vase to Tara.  Then came the releasing of balloons into the air by Tara.  The Junior Class president got them from where they had been tied on the railing and handed them to her.  After the song ended, she reached up and released them into the air.

I was holding Chance and he got so excited and asked me why his mommy let the balloons go.  I told him we were sending them to Kevin so he would know we all loved and missed him.  He said to me, *You mean they are going up to heaven where Kevin is with Jesus?*  Now this kid is only 2 years up but when I told him yes, I was holding back tears because his tone of voice was just so sweet and happy when he said it.  It was as if he was happy that we could do that for Kevin.

Channel 31 news was there at the memorial service filming it all.  I knew they wouldn't show the whole thing but would be editing it heavily if they planned on showing it during the 10 o'clock news tonight.  They did and it was the lead story even.    Here is the link for two photos:  One is of Kevin and the other is showing part of the crowd that attended the Memorial.    http://www.waaytv.com/Photo.aspx?content_id=30503eb5-eb0b-49d7-a844-f1a19e633e86   I had hoped they would have posted the whole news report from their broadcast but they didn't.  [Edit:  I found the link!  See below for that.]

I was surprised to find out the boys father had flown down from Ohio to attend.  Even Tara was shocked.  However, two things were evident.  #1, he still has a drug problem and #2, he's only fishing for sympathy and the money he knows Tara will be getting from Kevin's death from the vehicle's insurance carrier.  Isn't it amazing how someone starts acting when they smell money?  He hadn't seen his son's for two years but suddenly he's the grief stricken father.  I saw him, when we stood up for the prayer, raise his left arm up in the air like he was making some power gesture for his son.  It was just his way of trying to bring attention to himself.  Sad, sad, sad.  What he doesn't realize is that there is an estate account being established by a lawyer with Tara as the trustee for Kevin.  She is the custodial parent so, if he gets anything (he still owes $20K in back child support that would come out of anything he gets anyway), it won't be anything that he's imagining.  He's thinking Millions but Tara has a negotiator that will be handling it because she's not out to make money on her son's death.  If she can pay off the house and have money for his brother's college education, she knows that would please Kevin and take the big worries off her.  She feels the family has been hurt enough.  She doesn't want to sue them.

I asked her if she had at least seen her two children that live with their dad in Ohio (yes, she had them with her but didn't take them to either the wake or the funeral).  She didn't want them to remember their brother in a casket, looking like a wax figure.  She said when she touched him, that is when she KNEW with absolute certainty that his spirit was gone and it was just the empty shell her preacher had talked to her about.  She said that made it easier for her because then she knew that her Kevin was now with his creator and it comforted her.

I got to see all the wonderful landscaping work the kids and parents did on her yard when we went to the house after the memorial service.  It is just beautiful.  They even planted a few trees and took out the old ones that had been hurt in last years tornado outbreak here in Alabama.  She's so pleased because now she has a dogwood tree.  She will love it next year when it blooms.  They are so lovely and the flowers last on the trees for a long time.  I still have mine on my dogwood trees.

Some of the women from her church brought over food and it was just wonderful of them.  I sat and talked to Tonto and several of the people that had brought over food and attended the service.  Very nice people and they all had loved Kevin.  I can tell that Keithie misses his brother.  He kept squeezing my hand while the memorial was going on.  I can tell he's uncomfortable with being the oldest one at home now.  Being responsible isn't a good fit for him.  He's very bright but a bit too casual about things like homework.  He can always pass any test he has to take.  He's so used to sliding by on his charm and intelligence but now he must become responsible, too.  He's the one that needs to help his mother out.  It was always Kevin before and it was a role that Keithie didn't want so he was happy.  That all needs changing now and, although I think he will eventually fill the role adequately, it makes him miss his brother even more.

Time to go.  Love you all and I thank you for your prayers for the family.  We return that love to you with all our hearts.  May your week be wonderful. 

Found the link to the news report on the memorial service:  http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/Memorial-Held-for-Guntersville-HS-Student/tT5QMAvr10moRPGhnmM-hg.cspx

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today the kids left for home and I was sorry to see them go for the most part.  Except for the fact that Buttmunch and Mustachio got into an argument that turned physical in my computer room.  They destroyed my little thing that held my DVD's (and was also where I kept Chewlee's since she could reach them).  Not a big loss.  It wasn't expensive but it was MINE, if you get what I mean.  I was horrified when they started fighting and had to seriously intervene.  They were both irrational because the fight was so damned personal.  I'm sorry to say that Mustachio was responsible for starting it.  He's feeling very self-righteous right now because he finally pulled himself out of a 5 year funk and is putting his life in order.  He now feels he can solve all of his sister's problems by beating her over the head with what's wrong with her.

I was really pissed off because she gave him shelter for several years both while his one arm was paralyzed and even afterward.  She paid for all the beer and booze he drank and all his cigarettes.  She did NOT beat him over the head to go out and get a job.  He couldn't even do the one thing she asked him to do.....keep his room clean.  It was filled with beer cans (or bottles, I forget what she told me because it was a few years ago).  She later on, after he had moved out, ended up taking him in again when she found out he was living in his truck and Louisville had a serious ice storm going on.

Why he would think that now he could solve all HER problems or push her into making changes in HER life just because he's made progress in HIS life, I have no idea.  But he has a lot of his father in him.  His father was a tyrant who terrorized his kids when they were younger.  When Mustachio starts drinking, he gets so much like his father that it's scary.  I don't think he sees that in himself.  Of course, I told Buttmunch that even SHE has a lot of her father in her.  Now they both have something to think over for a while.  I hope they take it to heart so our family doesn't get fractured over something so stupid.

Tomorrow is the memorial for Kevin.  The kids spent a lot of time with Tara and they all enjoyed it.  I know that because Tara told me how much it meant for her and that she loved talking and laughing with them.  They all did a little crying together but, for the most part, they had fun.

Tara will be picking me up at 1pm Central time.  The memorial starts at 2pm but she needs to get a few things straightened out and I think she might be taking part in it.  She asked me to sit with her so I will be right there with the Kleenex.  Sorry I posted so late again but I got busy doing something for Bratfink and time just slipped away from me.

Love you all.  Say a little prayer for Tara tomorrow or the day after.  I know Kevin's absence hasn't really hit her but it will in the weeks ahead.  Just like it will hit me when we have work in the yard that Kevin always enjoyed helping out with.  That's not the only time but it will hit me harder then because he liked to make the money and he was such a sweetheart all the time.  I wish I had the words to describe him to you adequately.  He would have been a wonderful man, husband and father one day.  We lost a really great person in the making when we lost him.  Be good and drive carefully.  The life you save may be your own.

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I'm sorry it took so long to post it but the house has been busy except for the time the kids spent at Tara's house, visiting with her.  I know it was therapeutic for Tara because of what she told me when she came over to our house after putting her little one to bed for the night.  She wanted to spend as much time as she could with the kids.

It was cute that they made her laugh.  They told me she kept herself busy cooking all kinds of things while they were at her house.  In fact, she fed them so much that they didn't even eat anything more until around 8pm.  The Beast had made some sloppy joe and I was glad they finally ate some.  In fact, they ate damn near all of it so he was happy.

Part of the reason I'm late getting this done is because my techie sons decided, along with the Beast, that our satellite system was for shit.  So they hooked us up with a wireless system that is incredible.  It's not like it's free but it's a lot less than our satellite cost us and it's as fast (or maybe faster) than cable.  Unfortunately, a part of the system was bad straight from the store but took us a while to figure that out.  The boys had gone back out to visit with Tara (they were all sitting around in the cottage) so we had to get them back in the house before we discovered that.  BUT...the impressive thing is that we can use Magic Jack and there's no lag or echo on it.  We tested it out tonight and were happy to pay for the service.  We told them if we had any problems with it, we were going to stop payment on them.  No need for that though.  **Smile**

Tara told me tonight that she really didn't feel like it had hit her about the loss of Kevin.  I told her she probably wouldn't until she no longer had scads of people stopping by.  It would hit her when it was just her and the two boys there and she would feel the *hole* of him not being there.  We cried together (we can't seem to help that) and she is going to pick me up on Sunday so we can sit together for the memorial service at the high school for Kevin.  The Beast has his church service to go to and they have someone from the church headquarters there this week so he was really torn.  I told him to go since Kevin was MY great-nephew and Tara understood and isn't hurt by it.

I read the obituary that Tara's brother wrote for the newspaper back in Kevin's hometown and it was really moving.  He did a good job on it.  I have to remind Tara to make a copy of it and send it to her mother so she can read it, too.  She feels so desolate about not being there for her daughter but Tara, bless her heart, understands why she couldn't.  Her mother's husband is very old (16 years older than my sister Cee) and he's both crippled up and getting senile.  He doesn't walk well.  Plus she has taken in our youngest sister, Baby Brat, and Baby Brat has short term memory problems from being very ill a few years ago.  She's much better physically but not mentally.  That's a lot of concern.  When left alone for any length of time, Frankenstein has a tendency to take too many of his pills and could easily kill himself by accident since he is on a lot of very heavy pain medications.

I'm just glad I am here to represent our family and be there to hold her hands and cry with her.  I miss Kevin a lot every time I think that I won't see him again in this life.  There will be a hole in my life that I never expected.

Tara got a huge surprise when she came home.  About 20 kids from the high school and most of their parents showed up at the house while she was gone and did some serious landscaping work.  They made the place look absolutely wonderful for her.  It was a huge surprise with the flowers and shrubs they added along with rock work and colored wood chips.  She wanted to do that but just never had the extra money or the energy.  It took them about two hours to do all the work and Chance's father, Tonto, who was staying at the house babysitting, said not one kid complained and no one was shirking.  They were all enthusiastic and pleased with what they had done for her.  I was also pleased.  What a wonderful gift!  What an act of love for a fellow student lost under such tragic circumstances.  It was a fantastic outpouring of love and support for the family.

Well, I think it's time to get this posted.  My kids will be leaving for home tomorrow and I will miss them loads.  I haven't spent as much time with them as I would have liked but I love them for coming and spending the time with Tara.  I enjoyed having them around even for a short time.  They have made plans to get together again with Tara but up in Nashville at Marcus Aurelius and Raven's home.  They will have their own little *family reunion* in either September or October.  I told them I thought that was a great idea and not to let it fall by the wayside.

Love you all.  Have a great weekend.  I hope you spend some of it with family and/or friends. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today was the day my kids came in to see Tara and for us to be together.  I was tickled pink that my daughter-in-law came this time.  She had never seen the house.  With the blow up bed the Beast bought, we have plenty of room for everyone to sleep comfortably. 

Marcus Aurelius and Raven got here first.  We sat around the kitchen table and just talked about the pitiful state of our country.  Personal liberties are being stolen from us with no way for us to fight it.  People with no common sense are dictating what we can and cannot do, say and even earn.

The Beast got to show off his guns and his scopes.  It was so funny to hear them discussing it all, including the caliber of the bullets and what material they were made from.

When Mustachio and Buttmunch arrived, we met them at the local steakhouse for dinner.  I have no idea what they are seasoning their steaks with but Buttmunch had read that they are all dry aged (whatever that means) but they were tender and tasty.  Raven ate one of those big onions (she loves them) but she could have gotten a large variety of veggies or acceptable sides to fit her vegetarian diet.  She's been one for a couple years now.  I was so happy to see that they have a new car.  Her dad, who got a big settlement because of his exposure to Agent Orange while in the  Marines (it's causing his bones to splinter and break down now), bought her and himself a new vehicle as soon as he verified the money had been deposited in his checking account.  He loved being able to pay cash for them.  He also bought himself a condo, a really nice one Raven told us, for only $35,000. and he's paying cash for that, too.  I think it's great because the man has really suffered for years.  He had to fight hard even for his disability.

Marcus talked to Tara last night and they will all be spending the day with her tomorrow.  I know Marcus has to leave Saturday because of a project his group is involved in that has to be finished.  I haven't found out for sure when Mustachio is leaving but I think it might be on Saturday afternoon.  I will be sitting with Tara on Sunday at 2pm at the high school's stadium.  Pray for good weather for us.

The Beast has become enthralled with the Iphones.  He was using Mustachio's for the internet on his computer and has decided we need to get it because it is *smoother* running videos for one.  We could drop our satellite internet service and it would probably pay for the monthly fee.  We could also drop our other phone service (he actually means that *I* would lose my phone and HIS phone number would be used for the *Iphone*.  We then saw another problem and that was if he traveled and needed the phone.  It would leave ME without internet but....we can always use the car's phone number so that problem was resolved.  We wouldn't be using it much so it wouldn't cost us all that much.

I went ahead and added the car phone number to my contact list because I know this will all come about.  It's just *car phone*.  Simple enough.

The kids all went out to the cottage.  They love it.  I have a feeling they might have brought their beer out there, too.  Raven has her Pepsi so she's set.  As long as she has that, she's happy.

I'm giving all my flip-flops to Buttmunch.  There are only two or three pairs and I am going to miss them a lot.  I have to get down to Walmart and buy myself some new sneakers and see if I can find the sandals this one patient had on the other day that she said she got there.

I'm going to stop here and just say *I love you all*.  I hope you have great weather for this weekend.  If not, please drive carefully.  There was an old slogan I still remember....*The life you save may be your own.*  I think that's very appropriate. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I ran into a young man that was picking up his grandmother from the doctor's office (wound center) today.  Turns out he attends the same high school that my g-nephew Kevin went to.  Of course, we got into a discussion about him and, as I couldn't help but cry, it turned out that the memorial service's day, time and place wasn't known.  So, I texted Tara and just waited since I knew today was the funeral. 

I went all day, waiting to hear back from her.  Since so many of the Yoder's in Ohio are Amish, I knew she wouldn't be keeping her phone around her so that they wouldn't be offended.  I heard back from her, finally, around 10pm tonight.  Her message to me?  The memorial service had to be moved to Sunday because the field at the school where they were going to be holding it was going to be in use on both Friday and Saturday. 

I'll tell you why I was pissed off.  My kids work.  For them to take off during the week meant they had to take off work and Marcus Aurelius had to make arrangements for someone to stay with his two daughters.  His youngest daughter is in the midst of testing and it constitutes 20% of her final grade so she couldn't miss a single day of it.  The older of the girls is also doing finals (she graduates this year) and has just started a job.  Mustachio started his new job just four or five months ago (maybe six, I forget) so it took some doing for him to take off work with so little notice even if it DID involve a death in the family.  So her forgetting to let me know about the change was a real slap to my kids who only wanted to be here for HER since she and they were like siblings, not cousins.  Now it means they will need to spend Friday with her and won't be able to be there on Sunday for the actual memorial for Kevin.

My daughter was really upset and felt like they had been ignored after making all these arrangements to accommodate what SHE had told US before she left for Ohio.  I reminded her that Tara was under a lot of stress and we had to keep in mind what this was all about.  That calmed her down because she kept thinking that it could as easily have been Sheepie and, OMG!, how awful she would feel!  She feels awful anyway because she and Tara have been close.  They often phone one another just to shoot the shit and have a few laughs together.

Marcus Aurelius had planned on being back home on Saturday due to some assignment or other he had to complete for his job so he's now trying to re-plan things.  I told him the same thing.  What has to be, has to be.  If they can go spend time with Tara on Friday, she will just have to understand.  The kids all traveled different distances and with different arrangements that had to be made for HER sake.  They would love to be there for her on Sunday but she will have to settle for ME and, possibly, the Princess except the Princess had made plans to go camping over the weekend (since the service was supposed to be on Friday!).

Chewlee is with her paternal grandfather.  The Princess said that about an hour after she had left here with him, she called and said, *Mommy, we need to pack up all our stuff and move to Florida!  I want to be at the beach all the time.*  We know, of course, that the grandfather had a hand in that because Chewlee does really love the beach.  He probably told her that they could stay at HIS house until they find one of their own and that would have given Chewlee all she needed to know.  She loves his house.  He has one of those jacuzzi bathtubs and Chewlee *swims* in it (as she tells me).

The doctor was so pleased with my wounds today.  He did no debridment (hurrah!) and told me the toe area would more than likely be finished healing next week and the heel within two-three weeks.  He said now that I am healing, I'm doing it gang-buster style.  **Grin**

He does want me to see my own doctor now about the neuropathy.  He thinks I need the medication changed and, perhaps, a different pain pill other than lortabs to take for the pain so I'm not spending more time OFF my feet than on them.  I also need something that doesn't put me to sleep, which the lortabs do, unfortunately.  I had moved my appointment to next week due to Kevin's death.  Now I wish I hadn't since I am almost out of the lortabs and my feet sometimes get so painful, I can't stand or walk on them.  Oh well.  There's always vodka.    Hey, it works for Bratfink and I have used it before.  I just don't  like it when I need more than usual and it gives me a headache the next day.

Time to go.  Love you all.  Keep your eyes out for bad weather and drive carefully.  The weather is stranger than usual and we don't want to lose any more loved ones, do we? 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

We ended up having Chewlee here for most of the day because her paternal grandfather was supposed to be coming to get her early so she was kept out of school.  Unfortunately, her grandfather forgot he had a doctor's appointment today so it ended up he wasn't coming to get her until tomorrow.

Chewlee refers to him now as the Papa of her daddy with the tattoos (he has a shitload of them).  How sad that that is what she thinks of when she thinks of her biological father.  I'm just thankful that he's not really a part of her life.  She only sees him because HIS father (Chewlee's *bald* grandfather...which she calls him but says she doesn't tell him that because she doesn't want to hurt his feelings) forces him to see her occasionally.  He would love for his son to be a good father but he's beating a dead horse.  The son only does it on occasion to keep on the good side of the father. 

When Chewlee realized she was going to not only SEE him but spend a couple days with him, she got so excited.  Then she got a sad face on and her voice got very quiet.  She asked me, *How can my Papa FLY, Grandma?*  When I said that SHE had flown on a plane when she went to see her cousins in Colorado, she shook her head and said, *No, I mean how could he fly in the air so that an airplane would bite him??*  I was like...*Huh?*

The Princess then told me that a propeller had flown off a plane and ended up hitting him and he was badly injured.  That's really why he ended up home early (but will be going back in June once he's medically cleared).  He's been being paid full wages all this time he's been back and being treated.  I guess because Chewlee talks to him every Sunday on Skype, she's seen his injuries and thinks they look like bites.  She told me he has lots of marks on his face and she sounds so sweet and concerned.  I know how she thinks because she is always concerned about my scarred areas on my legs.  She had asked to see them and always wants to know if they hurt.  She will touch them softly while asking.  I know she has a tender heart and hates to think people she loves might be hurting.   But she started to tell me all about her Papa's boo-boo's and where she had seen them.  She went on and on and on.......  I finally said to her, *Are you going to make your Papa feel bad about the marks on his face?*  She gave me the oddest look and said, *I don't hurt my Papa's feelings.  I told you that before, Grandma.*  Then she leaned close to me and whispered, *Do you think I can touch them?*  When I asked her if she meant the *bites*, she shook her head *yes*.  I told her all she had to do was ask him.  I know her touch is gentle so she wouldn't hurt him but I think it would make him feel good that she's not repulsed by the scars.

When Bratfink was in the hospital, Chewlee drove me nuts with her constantly asking and re-asking if Auntie Bratfink was okay.  Was she still sick?  Did she have big boo-boo's?  She wanted to talk to her on the phone to make sure she was getting better but I didn't even try since Bratfink was having big issues with breathing at the time.  But the fact that Kevin, HER cousin as she always says, has died and won't be around any more escapes her.  She knows he was in a car accident and that he went to the hospital but she thinks hospitals make you better.  The idea of death is just too difficult a concept for her and I'm kind of glad about that.  She's too young and you want to protect the young when you can.

Chewlee told me today that I was *amazing!* because I had put fresh batteries in her Leap Frog and it worked.  She had gotten fresh batteries out of the drawer where we keep them but she had put one battery in wrong.  So, when I redid them correctly, I became *amazing*.  She also had to show me that she was turning it off when she was done playing with it so that she saved the batteries.  She said, *That way, if I don't play with it for a long time, when I want to play with it, the batteries will still work.  Did you know that, Grandma?*  I laughed and told her that she was very smart to do that and, yes, I did know that.  I told her she was learning a lot.  She smiled and laughed and said she was learning *everything*.

She's learning a lot at that Head Start school.  She has to show me all she's learned on the days I have her.  She will write all the different words she's learned.  With the way it looks to me that they are teaching various things, she will be reading very shortly.  I'm kind of excited about that.

I'm getting everything ready now for my kids coming to visit us.  I'm going to send the Beast to Food Land to buy some things for us to eat.  We should be able to grill outside at least once while they are visiting.  I haven't had the kids together for quite a while now so I am really excited about seeing them even though I am only at about 50% healthwise.  But I am doing better all the time.  It's endurance I lack and some days the neuropathy is extremely painful.

We should be getting rain tomorrow but the weather looks like it will be cool but clear after that.  I've been keeping an eye on the weather channel.  I urged my kids to be very careful driving, especially if it's raining.  We lost one family member to bad weather and hydroplaning.  I don't want to lose any more.

Tara apparently did well during the wake today.  She didn't totally break down.  Her dad, I think, probably helped out that way.  I know her mother wishes she could be with her right now.  But she has two people totally dependent on her and she can't leave them on their own.  But her heart is broken that she has not only lost a grandson but also that she isn't even able to be there to see him laid to rest.  But, since his spirit has been released, I know he knows how many people loved him and will miss him.  His grandmother is among the throng.

Love you all.  Be good.  Stay healthy.  Drive carefully if you are out and about.  Oh, and smile! 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today we did more to prepare for our kids to visit for the memorial service for Kevin.  It was the first time in a long time since I was out in the cottage/shed.  I was horrified at the mess the Beast had made out there.  And there was no need for it.  He can be a real slob at times.

I also got an answer to where some of my missing stuff went.  In the Beast's effort to *organize* things, he put my towels out there (we don't have more than six in the house and I own about two dozen or more).  He also put my extra pillows out there and several of my better quilts.  I got the sheets off the bed and some of the pillowcases along with two of my good quilts so that they can be washed and gotten ready.  He worked on putting away some of the storage boxes so there's a pathway to the bed.  I was really upset about some of what I discovered because I really thought he had thrown many things out or they had been stolen or given away.  Ever since we discovered that there have been a few things stolen out of our garage, we just haven't felt as secure about our neighbors.  This is not an area where a stranger wouldn't stand out like a sore thumb.

So I have been busy making up the guest room and will spend tomorrow or Wednesday making up the bed out in the cottage.  I wish the Beast had concentrated on getting that done but it's just not something he can really do alone.  Not that he actually couldn't but it's easier when you have someone else working with you.  It's mostly been the Brother (who is a disaster when it comes to any kind of construction work but better than nothing) but he has his own house and IT needs work.

This is going to be short for a change.  The Beast is a bit upset that it looks like two of our six tomato plants are dying.  I told him he needs to check and see if ants have made a home in that planter.  They don't help out in that way.  He says he will check in the next day or two.  Leave it to a man to put off checking.  They can do more damage while he procrastinates.  *Sigh*

Love you all.  Tara, her father and her one son left this morning for Ohio and were there by dinner time.  They all went to bring the clothes for Kevin and see how he looked.  I don't envy her the experience and shock it had to have been.  But my heart hurts for her and I am saying a lot of prayers that she is given comfort.   Kevin's friends from up there will be attending, I understand and many of the paternal relatives.

Be good.  Drive carefully.  Be sure to tell those you love that you do.....often. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

First, I want to talk about Tara.  I find it hard to catch my breath every time I think about what she must be feeling.  She has a very tender and generous heart.  I don't know anyone who is so loving and giving of herself.  No matter how busy she is, she can always find time for others in need.  I think most of her children have inherited this trait.  I know Kevin did.  Tara depended on him many times.  That was because he also was generous of spirit.  He wasn't one of those kids that gave you a hard time about anything.  If you needed his help, he was right there, ready and willing.  I know he got that from his mother.

Tara was wonderful with me when I was in the hospital.  She never missed a day of coming to spend time with me.  I told her I knew her family needed her but she would laugh and say she needed the rest.    In that, she reminded me of my sister, Cee.  Cee is her mother.  I would never have believed that she carried this trait from the kid she was when we were young.  However, it may have been that she suffered somewhat from being ignored since she was just one of seven children.  But she does have the same generous heart, patience and loving spirit as her daughter.  I wish *I* had inherited that.  I do what I can but I doubt anyone sees me the same way. 

I know that Tara has a strong belief in God and that will help sustain her during this time.  Like me, she sees that Kevin has joined with our Heavenly Father and is an angel.  He could be nothing else except, perhaps, a guardian angel for some fortunate child or even his family.  He had too good a heart to be anything less.

On to mundane things.  The Beast has been working on putting that Thompsons wood stain and sealer on the deck.  It looks wonderful so far.  He says he's going to put some Spar varnish on it after he's finished and that will be a pain in the ass.  It takes a couple days to totally dry so that means letting Baron out front to do his *duty*.  We have to be outside for that because he will run off if there is another dog out running around.  Unfortunately, we have a few neighbors who just let their dogs run outside without any guidance.  We've never done that with Baron.  He's too scary in size for anyone that doesn't know him.  We don't want him shot by someone who hasn't a clue. 

We also decided to plant some potatoes.  I watched a program on it and saw how many potatoes were able to be harvested in a space about 5X6 feet.  Since they're not harvested until fall, we will be able to put them in a net bag and hang them in the garage or the shed.  The fact that we will have to put hay over the soil once the plant tops are about 1-1/2 ft. tall (potatoes must grow in the dark) was the interesting part.  The hay keeps the sun from reaching the soil.  Now I know why we never got any sweet potatoes.  There truly are things you can learn on TV. 

When the Beast found out our kids are coming for the memorial service for Kevin, he suddenly saw the need for straightening up the cottage.  We have a semi-bedroom section set up in there with a king size bed and our one son and his wife can sleep out there.  They will at least have privacy.  It has light and both heat and air conditioning so it's not like being put into a closet or anything.  The cottage is a large one which is why I seldom call it a shed.  When does a shed have a porch or several large windows?  Even the door has glass in it and looks like one for a house.  It's very confusing but the Beast has put up insulation and is trying to get all the paneling up and done.  So, what would YOU call it?  The only things missing are water, a toilet and a shower area.  I laughed and bought a solar shower to use if we should ever need it.

I've been getting the guest room ready.  Since Chewlee and I slept on the bed twice now, I thought I should have fresh sheets and blankets on it.  I'm so glad that I am a blanket/quilt freak because I will at least have enough for everyone to cover up.  It makes me laugh because I have given away a lot of the ones I had.  I wasn't really sure of what I had left.  When I checked, I thought...*Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.  I think that will handle it.* 

Love you all.  It's been chilly here and I turned on my baseboard heater to warm up my computer room  today.  The high was only about 60 but it's going to be around 40 for our low tonight.  The heater stays ON.  Be good.  Be careful when driving.  Say a little prayer for Tara and her children.  They need some healing prayers for their broken hearts.

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Kevin will be buried up in Ohio with his biological father's family since he was close to both his paternal grandparents and his father.  I understand they have a family plot.  His father is one of the Ohio Yoder's.  The wake will be on Tuesday at Dundee Church of God, 8027 State Route 516 NW, Dundee, OH.  Phone:  330-852-2045.  He will be buried on Wednesday.  

Tara's father has driven up from Florida and will be driving her and her other teenage son to Ohio.  The arrangements for Kevin to be embalmed for the trip were finalized today.  The Marines will be giving his older brother compassionate leave so he will be home for the funeral.  Tara said it took the Red Cross 7 hours to verify the death and report back to the Marines and she found it very frustrating but it's okay now.

The outpouring of love and support has been incredible from the students at Kevin's high school and even the coaches from his middle school who found him a great kid.  Tonight is the high school prom and they are holding a candlelight vigil and prayer vigil.  Several students got onto the program yesterday while baseball was being played at the high school (as soon as they got the news) and printed up T-shirts for Kevin and the others injured in the accident.  They held a vigil at 1am!

Teachers and students alike have been showing up at Tara's house.  They aren't lacking for food or a shoulder to cry on.  Tara told me today that her minister had made it to the (correction here) Memphis hospital in time to say prayers for Kevin as he left to be with the angels.  One of Kevin's classmates was there, also.  It's how it got tweeted and the news went through the school like wildfire.  His classmate held one of Kevin's hands as he left this life to be one of the newest angels and comfort his family he left behind.

Kevin had a bad injury to the back of his head.  He didn't suffer they say and I certainly hope that was true.  The coach's daughter, 22, who was traveling with them, has had two surgeries already and will need one more before they can move her down here.

There will be a memorial service held here locally for Kevin on Friday of next week.  They decided they had to have one just because of all the responses on twitter and facebook.  The kids and our family need that closure.

In the meantime, say a prayer for Tara and her children.  Their row is the hardest to hoe and will be for a long time to come.  I'm particularly worried about the #3 son who will not only be lost without his brother but I think he will feel guilty as a survivor.  Chance, the baby, will be staying behind with his father, Tonto, and not going to Ohio because he has no clue what is going on.  Neither does poor Chewlee.  All she (and he) sees are a bunch of people crying and sad all the time.

Love you all.  Thank you for your prayers and wishes for our family during this sad time.  We all appreciate it.

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Today is a sad day for the whole Brat Family.  One of the children was taken from us and he was still in high school.  I'm talking about one of Tara's sons. Tara is my niece.  Daughter to my sister Cee.  Mother to a sweet family of six kids, now five.   Let me tell you about Kevin.

Kevin was a very sweet and slightly shy kid.  He was her second oldest child.  He had gotten his driver's license last year and was very proud of that.  He was on the high school track team and had won many medals.  He had recently won one for a 10 foot high jump at a regional track meet.  Tara was so proud of him. 

He had qualified for this special meet that was held up in Nashville.  The coach drove the team up there in his SUV.  I don't have all the details except that they were involved in an accident on their way home and, apparently, very serious.  When Tara was notified about the accident, she jumped in her van and headed up there totally unaware of just how serious it was other than Kevin was in the hospital.  She hadn't gone far when she received the news that Kevin didn't make it.  He had died of his injuries.  Tara returned home since there was nothing she could do and no son to bring home to nurse from what we all had prayed were not serious injuries.  The school would see to it that he was returned home when his mother had made arrangements for his funeral.

Sounds awful, doesn't it?  I mean that you send a perfectly healthy son to a school sanctioned track meet and, by nightfall, you have to think about burying him?  It even sounds cold that anyone could suggest that to a mother facing the loss of a much loved son.  Heck, I have been crying continually since I found out and he's my great-nephew.  Can you imagine the heartbreak his mother is undergoing?

The Princess, who is close to her, and the Beast are with her right now.  The Beast will be the practical one and the Princess will cry along with her and comfort her and his brother, whom I am sure will be lost and confused.  They were very close in age.

I've said forever that life is short and you never know when someone you love will be taken from you.  But Kevin's life was much TOO short and that just doesn't seem fair.  He had a bright future ahead of him.  He was hoping to excel in track to help him get financial aid for college.  He had a very practical view of life and knew it would be difficult for his single mother (divorced) to pay to put him through college no matter how much she wanted to.  So he had his plan and was working hard on it.  It's more than sad, it's tragic that he has now had his life cut short.  All because of a traffic accident.  A one-car accident.  They hydroplaned into a tree.

I have no idea if any of the other boys were hurt seriously or not.  I really didn't care.  This boy, son, brother, grandson, great-nephew is OURS and his life has been lost to us much too soon.  Notifying everyone is one of the saddest things I have had to do.  My kids are devastated for many reasons.  Tara grew up with them.  Kevin was like one of THEIR sons.  He has a brother in the Marines that will be just as devastated when he is notified.  How his father must feel one can only guess.  I just know that no parent ever wants to lose a child.  Children are supposed to outlive us.  I know that Tara must be feeling ten times the hurt and loss that I am feeling.

My poor sister, Cee, was crying so hard she couldn't talk.  She wants to be there for her daughter and she is still recovering from her surgery.  The next week will be a nightmare for us all.

I will leave you now and just say once more....Be sure to tell those you love that you do every time you speak to them or see them.  Life truly is short.  You just never know what is ahead.  Drive carefully, please.