Category: Diary

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

And it’s Friday!!!  YAAAAAAAYYY!!!!!

So Jack’s settling in, they spent all day unpacking and getting everything set up.  The housing market is kind of on its way down in this area, so they’re just going to stay in the apartment for a while and see if the houses become more affordable, so they’re making themselves at home in their apartment.  They’re having to tell Grace to calm down a bit to not bother the neighbors, but she’ll be alright.  Apparently she saw another little girl outside and ran right out and introduced herself.  They spent an hour playing!  Yay!!!  She needs friends her age.

I wish it was that easy.  She just runs out and says “want to be friends?”  We teenagers and adults make a huge game out of it.  Sigh.

There are a lot of kids in their complex, of all different races too.  Grace will have a good time.

Jack wants to go on a date tomorrow night!  Of course I said yes!!!  I don’t know what he has planned, but I’m sure he’ll come up with something.  Or he’ll just ask me for ideas!!!  Now that we’re in the same city, we don’t have to work so hard to make our dates memorable.  Maybe we’ll just have dinner with his family and play with Lily (the dog…  or.. haha).  I don’t know.  Maybe that would be nice.

But tonight, Liz is over.  The other girls have plans, but that’s alright, they can’t come over every weekend anyway.  Beth and Liz and I are having a pretty quiet party all our own, and it’s nice.  As I said, I love Crystal and Diana, but they’re a lot rowdier than Liz.  And Allison just zooms all over the place.  We’re not even really playing games this time – Beth is reading a book, and Liz and I are chatting and eating cookies.  Well, when I’m not writing here!  Hah!  Liz and Marie are getting along great now!  I think Liz wants a dog of her own.  But her parents really aren’t keen on the idea.  So she gets to be Marie’s aunt!  How cute!!!

Okay!  Bedtime!

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

After school today I went over to see Jack and his family.  I knew they’d be a little busy, so I asked Sabby to make some cookies, and Sabby style, she made too many.  Haha!  So I went over with a couple trays of cookies.  They live in a big complex!  But there are some potholes in the driveway and the gate’s broken, so I hope it’s worth it.

Anyway, the apartment itself is actually really nice.  They have a three bedroom two bath, so everyone gets their own bedroom. Everything was empty because they were waiting for the truck, but we set up a little portable table and they ordered some food.  Grace, of course, gave me a big hug, and Jack gave me a big hug and kiss.  It was nice to see him again, but…  different.  He’s here for good now.  Is this a little like how newlyweds feel when they live together for the first time?

Grace was zooming around the apartment, I guess she had some energy to burn off.  Oh, Lily was there too!!!  She was happy to see me too.

So anyway, the food arrived and we ate and chatted.  It was nice.  I guess Liz and her family will come over when they’re a little more settled, but I couldn’t wait!  Their drive was pretty uneventful.  They have to register Grace and Jack for school this week, and Jack’s a little nervous, but I told him Texans are pretty cool for the most part, and he’ll be fine.  And if not, we’ll sic Sabby on them!

He laughed soooo hard!!!

They seem happy to be here.  I’m glad.  Ohio isn’t too bad but this is where they wanted to be, and here they are!

So, as we were finishing eating, the moving truck arrived, and, well, things got really busy.  I figured that was my time to scram and let them get to it.  I couldn’t help much, the movers would do most of the heavy lifting and they had to tell the movers where to put stuff, so I was really just getting in the way.  It was okay.  I got to see Jack again!  But they asked if I could take Grace and Lily for a walk around the complex instead of just leaving – they were kind of getting in the way too.  Yay!  I didn’t mind at all!  I love Grace and Lily!  So I put the leash on Grace… er, I mean Lily.  Hahah! And we went out for a walk.  I threw the toy for Lily and Grace was just running around having a good time.  There was a surprising amount of green space at the complex, it’s kind of a square of buildings around a central lawn, and there’s even a playground!  You should have seen Grace’s eyes light up when she found the playground!  I just sat on a bench and let her climb all over!!!  Lily laid down next to me and took a nap.

So after an hour we wandered back to the apartment, and the movers had already done their thing!  There was furniture and boxes and the beds were even mostly put together!  I helped a little, but then I had to get back.  Jack gave me a big hug and a long kiss and told me that we’ll have a date this weekend.  I can’t wait!!!  I don’t know what we’ll do, but it’ll be fun!!!  Oh, once Grace’s bed was set up, she just climbed right in and went to sleep, Lily cuddled up to her.  I guess I tired them out.  Haha!!!

Honestly, I just like spending time with him, that’s all.  We could just sit there reading next to each other and I’d be happy.

But I won’t discourage him from buying me chocolate!!!

Anyway, I’m home now.  I miss Jack, but I don’t too.  I’ll see him again.  Now I know I will.  Almost any time I want!!!  I remember when I first had to leave Jack, it hurt soooo much, I cried and cried and I wasn’t sure we’d ever see each other again, and now here we are, in the same city!!!  Maybe it’s meant to happen!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

HAPPY LILY!!!

OVER THE MOON LILY!!!

Jack is here in Austin!!!

But I haven’t seen him yet.  They’re a bit busy.  I understand.  I’ll have plenty of time with him.

So they got here this evening, and they’re staying in a hotel overnight, and tomorrow they’ll get their apartment and start moving in!  I asked Jack if they need help.  He said… maybe.  He’ll let me know tomorrow.  It’s not all about me, though, not this time, so I get it.

The movers are still trundling their way down to Austin, they should be here in a couple of days.  I guess it takes longer when you’re driving a big rig.

He does want to go on a date with me though!  Maybe this weekend.  We’ll see.  They have a lot to do, for sure.  Grace is very tired, but happy.  She wants to go to the waterpark!  They told her to have some patience.

Five year olds don’t have patience, haha!!

Sabby sat me down and told me that she doesn’t want me spending every free hour with Jack, though.  She said that’s not fair to the family, but it’s not fair to Jack, too.  She explained that even though she and Dave are married, sometimes even they need a little bit of time to themselves, and I have to be careful not to smother Jack.

I… guess I can see that.  Would I?  I don’t know, but it’s a fair point.  I…  don’t know how to be a girlfriend to a boy who is actually in the same city as me.  I hope it works out, I really do.

Sabby told me what the music box my birth father sent me plays.  It’s a song called “music box dancer”.  The song has a nice story behind it too.  It’s a thoughtful gift.  Sweet without pushing too hard.  Sabby thought so too.

He doesn’t seem like a bad guy.  Just a guy who made a huge mistake at one time in his life.

Oh well.  Marie needs walking.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

JACK IS IN MEMPHIS!!!

Well… near Memphis.  No one wants to be in Memphis.

I guess this morning they made sure the house was all clear (they’ll be selling it, or renting it, or something), hopped in the car, and left!!!

I know I just saw him but I want to see him again!!!

Other than Jack’s impending arrival for good, not much else going on, thankfully.  I got a bday present from my birth father.  I can tell he put a lot of thought into it, that was nice of him.  He sent me a music box with a pretty song.  I don’t know what the song is, but it’s pretty.  It’s made of solid wood and has flowers inlaid on it.  It’s certainly something worthy of putting up on the shelf to display.

I’m tired. I guess I should walk Marie and do bedtime stuff.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Dave’s feeling better, I guess.  Sabby took him up to their room last night and, well, they didn’t come out again till the morning, and he seemed a little bit more chipper this morning.  I guess…  some things only Sabby knows how to do, right?

He wasn’t running around gushing about how great the morning was or anything, but you could tell.

I ran my prank idea past Sabby, and she giggled.  Not only is she going to be involved but Beth is too.  We went right to Amazon and clicky clicked…  Beth’s never pranked him before but this is a nice beginner prank.

I don’t think he reads this…

As pranks go, this is more fun than scary.  I think he’ll like it.

So… what else.  It was another relatively quiet day.  I took Beth to school and we did school stuff (Beth seems to be getting more into the swing of it and really seems to like her classes), and The movers left today with all their stuff.  It’ll take them a few days, so they’re likely to beat the movers down.  They leave first thing tomorrow.  Yaaaayyy!!!!

I asked Sabby if we could babysit Grace sometimes, and Sabby seemed a little hesitant, but said she didn’t mind.  Grace isn’t the type of kid to run around and break things, she just sits at a table coloring or playing with her dolls.

I can’t believe Jack’s coming to live here!!!

I asked Jack if me being here had anything to do with their move.  He said…  not really.  The way he explained it, Liz’s family is here too, his father found a really good job here, they’ve been thinking about moving to Texas anyway for other reasons…  and the fact that I’m here really didn’t have too much to do with it.  It did, however, ensure that Jack was not at all opposed to the move, not even the slightest little bit.

Good boy, we’d have to have a talk if he was.

He asked what a good place to look for a job was.  I said I heard HEB was a pretty good employer.  I don’t know myself, but that’s what I heard anyway.  So he’s going to apply there when he gets here.  The one sticky part is, I’m not sure whether his license will transfer.  I guess we’ll see.

Well, gotta go.  Marie is whining.  At least it’s not really hot outside anymore.

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

Today is September 11, and Dave is sad again.  He doesn’t really like to talk when he’s sad, but I did the same thing I did last year and brought him his favorite drink.  But this time he wanted to talk.

“Lily,” he said, “You are one of the most cheerful and peppy and optimistic people I’ve ever met.  Nothing bad ever really seems to faze you.  Not even… when that guy tried something with you last year.  I hope… I hope you never lose that.”

“Why do you get so sad?”, I asked.  “I may be cheerful but I get sad too, and usually I have a reason.  What’s… what’s your reason?”

“I.. knew some people in those towers when they fell.  I wasn’t close to them, but I knew them.”

“Oh,” I said.  “I don’t know what to say.”

“You’re young, still,” he said.  It’s not that you haven’t had anything bad in your life, but you haven’t had anything that shook you to your core and made you wonder why you even bother with it all.  I… I hope you never do, Lily.  Thanks for the drink,” he said, and went back to sitting in his chair and being sad.

I gave him a hug and went up to my room.  Dave’s not the kind of guy who likes too much company when he’s sad.

Of course it’s sad, what happened.  It always is.  Every year we’re reminded of how sad it is.  But what am I going to do about it?  We can remember the people who died, but they’re dead now.  We can be mad at the people who did it, but most of them are dead now, too.  But we can move on with our lives, I guess.  Everyone says “never forget”, but maybe we should instead be looking forward to a time when we can forget.  Maybe?

I don’t know.  Like I always say, I’m just seventeen.  What do I know?

Dave will be okay tomorrow.  I know he will.  He’ll be back to grilling and having pressure washer accidents.  I haven’t pranked him in a while – he got me so good with that cayenne pepper chocolate pudding I haven’t dared.  But maybe it’s a good time to, soon.

Oh!  I know what to do!  Hahaha!!!!!  I need to get Sabby on board so I can buy something on Amazon!!!!  LOL!!!!!

Jack’s relocators are almost finished packing and they’ll be heading south in a couple of days.  SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!

After I came home from Liz’s and all the girls went home, Today was a chore day.

Some days Sabby just gets a bug up and starts cleaning like crazy.  She runs around cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen and all sorts of other stuff, and we have to clean up our rooms too.  I don’t really mind.  I like a clean room!!!  So I cleaned out Marie’s kennel (she’s got lots of hair!), swept the floor, etc.  I’m not going to say it was fun, but it got done.

Then I went out and helped Dave clean the garage.  He’s been doing a lot of tinkering lately and it got messy, so he made sure all his tools were put away and the floor was swept and he got up some oil stains too.  Just the normal stuff.  And then Sabby and I went to the grocery store!!!  Man, that lady has some energy!  Food’s gotten expensive, but at least we can still afford it!

Then tonight Dave grilled again!!! He loves grilling!!!  I know he grilled last week but he grilled this week too!!!  It’s just fun for him, so he grills whenever he can.  But we love it!  He’s good at grilling!  We had grilled chicken and baked beans and potato salad and root beer!  It’s soooo good!!!

Anyway, just a nice, quiet Saturday.  I like nice, quiet Saturdays.

The movers arrived at Jack’s and now they’re packing everything up and shoving it in a truck!!!  He’s really moving!  He’s a little scared but he’s happy too!!!

And it’s a little cooler now!!!

Everything’s great!!!

Love you all!!! ❤

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

I’m at Liz’s tonight!!!

Beth is having Crystal and Diana over, and David is having Little Miss Priss’s brother over, so I’m over at Liz’s, because I don’t spend enough time with her and her family, and because those girls can get crazy and I’m just not in the mood for crazy.  I love them to death but Liz is… not noisy.  Not like them.

She got out her violin and we just played together for a while.  Not for any reason, just because it was fun.  I kinda miss that.  Playing music with someone is… intimate in its own way.  Then I broke into the fancy chocolate I still had some of and we munched for a bit.  Yes, there was that much of it that some is still left over.

She has another boy she’s into, but this time she wants me to meet him, and she’s going to take my opinion seriously too.  I kinda don’t like that responsibility, but hey, the results speak for themselves, right?  I didn’t like Kevin and he proved he shouldn’t be liked. What about her new boy?  He goes to her school, apparently he’s kinda quiet and shy, but he asked her on a date.  She said yes, but she’s a little nervous because of what happened last time.  I hope it works out this time.

Being with Liz is a little different than the other girls… they’re noisy and energetic, Liz is quiet and thoughtful, well, most of the time.  Sometimes we talk about deep stuff.  Like the nature of the universe, that kind of thing.  She’s so much smarter than me about that kind of thing.  But tonight, she’s just quiet and cuddly for some reason.  I don’t mind.  She’s my best friend, and she’s warm.

Oh, come on, you silly billies.  I’ve got Jack, and you already know that!  Geeezz!!!!

Liz is looking forward to Jack moving here too.  I don’t know if he’s her favorite cousin, but she likes him well enough.  And she likes to see me happy.  That’s why she’s my best friend.  I imagine we have a few trips to the mall in store.

Anyway, bedtime!  And someone else is walking Marie tonight!

Love you all!!! ❤