The 1998 Honda Accord

2011 brought something new: a second licensed driver to the household.

Ian passed his test and wound up with a license a little sooner than I expected. Do all parents think that? That little stop of the heart when you picture a tiny minnow in a sea of whales??

And so it was time for me to pass the keys to my dear Honda Accord. This had been such a good car to me. I bought it when I started my job at Longaberger, and I loved driving it. As Ian got older, I moved on to our new family car and alternating driving them to keep them both operating optimally. And now it was time for me to share it with Ian.

So, although there was a portion of me that was fearful (still is), I was relieved that he would be able to get himself to school activities, help with Megan's sports, and of course get back and forth to work.

Work.

Yes, work.

A job? Something where you perform a task and you get a paycheck? That pays for insurance and gas?

Hmmm, somewhere we missed that chapter...

And the Accord continues being put to very good use. I'll leave it at that.

2023 update: Not sure why the photo went missing. Thanks, Google. But the green Honda Accord didn't end with the story above.

No! 

My fav 'lil Honda went on to be Megan's car when she got her license. 

Ian was away at school, studying journalism at Ohio University.

A couple of years later, I found a nice used car from a friend and bought it for Megan. Ian took over the Accord with his new job at a call center. He was now living in Columbus.

Unfortunately, one day she just decided she was done. Her motor was finished, she had run the race. Too much to be repaired, she waited in Ian's parking lot for whatever was to come.

She waited a good long time.

So long that a neighbor reported it to the condo association, and Ian received a towing notice. He thought they were kidding, but they weren't.

I somehow found my way to the impound lot, title in hand to avoid any extra fees. There was still life in that car, and I brought home two boxes of things that had been left there from high school shenanigans, work commutes, and a leaky trunk. 

Among the treasures? 

I'll never tell. Some things are better left in the impound lot. 😮😆

2011 Chapter: Megan & Gymnastics

As many of you followed over the years, my daughter Megan was quite the gymnast in the YMCA competitive gymnastics program. She began to compete with the program in 2007 after completing several of the "regular" programs and showing a tremendous upper and lower body strength.

It was a fun time for mother & daughter, having a network of friends doing the same thing on the weekends. We traveled to various cities in Ohio as Megan progressed through the levels - 4, 5, 6, & & 7. It was thrilling to watch her do things I could only ever have dreamed of! Flips and twirls, splits, bar routines and lots of ribbons and trophies.

We were also fortunate that she qualified to compete in Nationals every year. We visited Sheboygan, Wisconsin (home of Johnsonville brats!), Pennsylvania, Toledo, and even San Diego! Those were awesome experiences for both of us. As a level 5 gymnast, we got the thrill of a lifetime as Megan took 1st place All Around in her age/level group. So much fun that we took a trip to NYC afterward to celebrate!

Unfortunately, in February 2011 her gymnastics came to a screeching halt. At a meet in Cambridge, I had just watched two of her teammates injure themselves during their routines, one badly breaking her arm. As Megan began a beautiful floor routine, she fell on a landing and rolled her ankle.

This unfortunate accident took us screaming to the urgent care. It was a sprain and torn tendon. While she didn't want this to stop her, she took a break from it all until Nationals in June. She was able to compete and did well, but did not place. Track, softball, and volleyball took over for the rest of the year. I am happy to report that although she took a long break, she is interested again and has gone back for a practice to see how it goes.

We'll see what 2012 brings! Stay tuned!

2011 in review...

I guess you could say I got a little behind.

I know some of you faithful followers keep checking back, wondering if I will ever come back up for air.

The last few years have been a whirlwind. It's no excuse...but admittedly, Facebook COMPLETELY took over all of my spare time. Work smarter, not harder, right? So much easier to put thoughts in a couple of sentences and tell the world.

While I'm not over the ease of Facebook, I am over getting sucked in by the vast number of things that can occupy your time. Where DOES the time go??

So I started reflecting on 2011. What happened last year? Were things better, worse? What was new? As I look back over my life posts since 2006, I did a good job of capturing things and keeping track of the memories...up until 2008...so that when the day comes for me to be the star in the Notebook (and that day sometimes feels like it is fast approaching with my forgetfulness!), someone can sit and hold my hand and read to me my life story and I can believe it to be wonderful novel.

It's a thought, anyway.

I will say, I am more into posting brief updates. So I will start my reflections of 2011, but after this post so you don't get bored. And THEN we'll move into what happens next in these chapters of life!

Check back soon so you can keep on reading!