Once a parent......

always a parent! So, you spend twenty something years raising your kids..... you finally get them both married off............ we're free! Nope.........not true! So............ last night, Randy and I decided to head to Abuelo's for dinner. As usual, we always try to sit at the bar..... no particular reason except..........as we live in the Bible belt.......... there is usually an open spot.... you know how the Baptist and Church of Christ will drink you under the table if they are "out of town"....... however when they are in their hometown.......... they would not step foot in a bar! Ok... back on track........... when we sit in the bar......... I usually sit my purse down on the floor under my chair... so, thus.... I could not hear the cell phone!!! When it came time to pay our tab....... I picked up my purse and I could hear my phone sounding off!! It was Ashley....... when I answered.... she said......... "THERE YOU ARE"! Like I was trying to hide or something... I quickly started trying to defend myself by explaining where I was, who I was with, what I was doing, where my phone was..... hey wait..... who is the parent here?...... Well me of course.... so I said " what do you want"?............. (I sounded tuff didn't I?)......... She had tried to call me 5 times... hello.... maybe I was busy or something........ well............. she was calling for her sister, Amanda......... how sweet............ so here is the story.........

Amanda's husband, Matt, had a business trip this week to Tennessee........ so far in his 25 years... he does not have a good track record re: easy travelling.... he could write a book and tell you the don'ts on travelling......... like........NEVER TRAVEL IN MARCH! It all began on Monday, the day he was to leave..... Rain pouring.......it was a very "wet" rain....(just ask a farmer what a "wet" rain is)....... after wading to his car...it would not start..... something with the key thingy( not a proper term). He called his sweet wife, Amanda.......... he was already running late and ask her to come get him so they could make it to the airport! As a good wife......she dropped everything (but not the baby Taylor) and headed over to get her lovin' man......... luckily she had all of his stuff laid out for the trip........ after a rush back home......Amanda checked the flight info and now the flight had been delayed......take a deep breath.........she eventually dropped him off at the airport where he would have plenty of time to sit and comtemplate just why he was travelling in March again..... not a good sign........ So... the week finally gets off to a better start... Amanda was able to work around the house and get more treasures put away (they just moved back from Amarillo)......... I kept the ToT on tuesday...... life is good.... well... once again, tragedy struck.... when I was keep Mr. T on tuesday....... Amanda thought it would be great to go to the ice cream store.....no baby to juggle, no stuff to have to carry into the house....just her ice cream... she pulls up to the store.... mouth watering..... dissappointment arrives.....the place does not open until 12 noon!! Oh well... maybe later! Wednesday arrives.... things on track....trying to get the house perfect for the return of her lovin' man.....he calls.........guess what.......cannot make connecting flight.......:( I think this is where the tears might have started flowing..... ok, screaming baby..... husband not coming back yet ....... relief is needed......... wednesday evening... get the tot ready for bed.....before last feeding......." I think I will head to the ice cream store", she said. Guess what...... her trail blazer would not start..... tears...... were they for: her husband not coming home as expected, were they for: loading the Tot and all the gear(not an easy task) for a trip to the ice cream store that would not happen ..........or.... the fact that, once again.....she was not going to get her "peanut butter and chocolate" ice cream in the lucious waffle cone!!! This is where her sister came to the rescue........... she was on a quest to find us so we could help her sister!!! I called Amanda immediately..........told her that Mom and Poppa would be there ASAP.......but first.......tell me what kind of ice cream she wanted... tears flowing.....don't worry about it.....no, tell me.....what do you want....I am going to get you some..... she blubbers out ~peanut butter and chocolate~ I said cup or cone.... she said"I was going to get a waffle cone...but don't worry about it because it will be alll melted by the time you get here....sniffle, sniffle".....oh man.... this being a parent thing never changes.... we could not get to the ice cream store fast enough.......... I got a quart and two waffle cones..........Randy and I got to the her home.... her eyes were swollen..... after hugs and kisses and the showing off of the ice cream...... there was her great big smile!!! Just what a parent wants and loves! I held the tot while she and her poppa headed out to do "car work"..... I think they figured out the problem.........car lingo.... loose cable or something........life is good! Taylor ready to eat............then tot to bed............then icecream...........life is really good!

Well, you never give up your role as a parent! I still call my parents often and ask them for help with this and that............ they always make it better.............they always make me smile! I am sure I will get many, many more S.O.S. calls from the girls.... I will always be ready to drop whatever I am doing..........i will be there dad~gummit...because.....ONCE A PARENT, ALWAYS A PARENT!