I hope your Memorial Day weekend was exactly what you needed it to be, from a military remembrance perspective, a political perspective, and a personal perspective. And if you’re also currently in the throes of the final days of the school year, good luck to you. Stay sane!
Before my little story of the day, I have author news! A little while ago I was invited by Ashley of Seeking Witchcraft to do an interview for an upcoming episode about Defying Shadows. It’s my first podcast, and hopefully I don’t sound terribly nervous. The episode drops today and is available wherever you get podcasts.
In other exciting news for those local to Minnesota: I’ll be doing a book signing at Magus Books on Saturday, June 28th! Details will be on my homepage as we get closer.
Now, back to last week’s adventure:
My family had a long-planned vacation to the beach in Florida last week, traditionally our week to go because it’s before finals/end of school year for kids but after my siblings’ teaching (my sister and BIL are professors) schedule, plus who doesn’t like to come home from vacation on a Saturday and have two full days before they’re back at work? Anyway, we in the horde couldn’t go this year for a couple reasons, primarily because the oldest is a senior and is in the midst of SENIOR DOINGS. My nephews and niece have been asking since before Christmas last year why we couldn’t come, and “can’t you come anyway Auntie Jess, just for a little while?”
Little did they know.
Once the senior events for last week came out on the schedule (the schedule comes out at the beginning of the school year), I figured out when I could sneak away between Senior Awards and the last choir concert, and got tickets to surprise my niece and nephews for the end of their trip. I flew down at 0600 (NEVER recommended, I have to say. Up at 0330 is just unholy) and walked out on the beach by noon.
They had no idea: somehow all of us adults and my kids managed to keep it a secret for nigh on nine months.
They were out in the shallow water (with life jackets, of course), and all started squinting and pointing and talking to each other as their mom and I walked toward them. It seriously took quite a while before Han hollered “AUNTIE JESS!! AUNTIEJESSAUNTIEJESSAUNTIEJESS!!” and barreled toward me with flailing arms and a soaking wet life jacket. They were thrilled and shocked, and Rocket grinned and gave me side eye (as is his nature) and asked “why are you here?” He wasn’t disappointed, just suspicious. Their other aunt arranged another surprise for them, a hilariously awesome Pirate dinner show in Orlando, and we spent the rest of the time in the ocean or the pool, with a small break to feed and hold alligators (at a sanctuary/rescue, not out in the wild). Best two days to kick off summer: 10/10, highly recommend, and absolutely worth the 0330 wakeup time.
No Pithy Phrase 