September 13, 2020

Jeremy and I went to Lincoln to take Jessalynn some of her winter things and visit. We stopped at Buckeys for gas and drinks and walking out of the store I fell in the parking lot. Fell Hard. People came running and I couldn't get up so I laid there and screamed for Jeremy who was pumping gas. He picked me up assuring everyone he could take care of me while a woman started to pick up the spilled drink and things that scattered everywhere. I went down on my left side, felt like my knee and elbow were bleeding, my ankles were twisted, everything hurt!! Jeremy put me in the passenger seat and went in to get me a fresh drink while I struggled to get in the driver's seat. That caused exactly the blow out I expected but I could in no way picture riding with Jeremy driving!! Everyone who has ridden with him or viewed one of his totaled cars would understand that even if they didn't agree in this instance. I sat my ground.  Let him tell and kick the car until he eore out and got in the car. Then it started again when I declared I was still headed to Lincoln. Yes, I'm very stubborn. Dusnt even argue that point!! I tested my legs and feet and found I could still work the clutch, brakes and gas and I headed to Lincoln.

One reason I did was the fear that the next day would be the worst. Sometimes after an accident the next 4 days are actually progressively the worst.

And I wanted to see Jessalynn. 

Painful, but it was a good trip. I couldn't get inside to their dorms but Jessalynn and Brandon came down. She went through the tub of winter things we brought and selected what she needed and then we took them for dinner. Went to a place called Schumacher's they had been to with Brandon's dad, I th iij nk maybe we found our Lincoln restaurant! and then i drove us to Walmart and Jeremy took the kids in to get supplies to last till our next visit. 

It is always just a Joy to spend time with Jessalynn and Brandon!!!

While we were waiting for our food at Schumacher's I got a surprise call from Cousin Michelle. I had found an old Facebook page of hers last week and messaged that I would love to see her, didn't really expect a response, and she video calked!!!! I would answer Very Few calls while with the kids but knew I Had to take this one!! Michelle was So excited to be in touch!! We only spoke a few minutes but she told me she is all alone in this world in Wisconsin, disowned and abandoned by our family, that she tried to hang herself recently and Really needed Someone. I told her I would call when I got back to Omaha.

We connected around 10 pm. 

Michelle and I have spent very little of our adult lives together or even in touch. Even as we were kids growing up we seldom saw each other. We would both be at Grandma's in Kansas for some holidays and we both spent a summer there when I was 11 but that was pretty much it. Once when my family lived in Santa Maria and her family was also in California they came to visit for a day. All I remember of that is seeing pictures of all of us playing in the back yard.

Funny, I Felt much closer than to my cousins! I thought about them all the time, eavesdropped on any conversations about their family. I always thought Aunt Bonnie was one of the most beautiful women I knew and she was clearly my father's favorite sibling. Aunt Bonnie has 5 kids one after the other and the 2 girls were only 2 and 3 years younger than me. I always dreamed of having a sister so Michelle and Cindy were often my imaginary sisters.