Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009. I will never forget this day! Mattie's community hosted the Mattie March on his school's track. Hundreds of friends came out that day to support Mattie and us. At that moment in time, we thought that Mattie's treatment was going to wind down and we would then work on his physical rehabilitation. This event was so special that it served as the model for the Foundation's Awareness Walk after Mattie died. Pictured with Mattie were Ariel and Tess. Both of these women were my students at the University and both are very bright, engaging, and thoughtful women. To this day, I am still connected with Ariel and have followed her career of becoming a pediatric nurse! Very proud of her.
Quote of the day: It takes a minute to like someone, an hour to love someone, but to forget someone takes a lifetime. ~ Unknown
Cody knew that I had to leave at a certain time this morning because I had to take my dad to his physical. When Cody arrived, we thought it was going to be a quick visit. That was until the sump pump alarm went off again. I am thrilled Cody was here when this happened because then the issue could be addressed in real time.
The house has a main sump pump and a secondary one. The secondary pump exists in case the main one dies. Basically it is a security system in a way, because the last thing I want is the basement flooding.... AGAIN! When we first moved in, we had a rain storm and within hours there was about an inch and a half of water taking over the basement. I remember working with Peter for hours sweeping out the water, trying to dry the space and spraying Lysol everywhere.
Any case, after that ordeal, we installed a back up sump pump. Though the sump pump was installed in 2021, it died! Cody contacted the supplier and the supplier claimed that we did not maintain the pump according to the warranty! News to me! The person who installed this pump (who we complained about and he was eventually fired), never told us about the maintenance required. Basically this pump needs to be filled with water and flushed every three months. In August, Cody is coming back to show me how to do this procedure.
But to make a long story short, I had to get a new secondary sump pump installed today. Truthfully it is not what I wanted to hear. Especially after installing a new furnace last week. It is like Mr. Blanding's Dream House, expect this is NO dream, and my reality gets worse with each week.
My dad had a good doctor's visit. He is gaining weight, as he had lost about ten pounds in his previous appointment. The doctor talked to me about helping my dad gain weight and maintain it. Apparently I have been successful.
After the doctor visit, I drove to the Foundation's mailbox and then we went out to lunch. Lunch or any meal for that matter is challenging. My mom is stuck in a conversation loop of negativity and my dad is out of it. He basically shovels food in his mouth and is oblivious to what is going on around him. It takes great inner strength to keep my mental sanity.
I then started prepping dinner. I prepared a honey-mustard marinade for the fish I am buying tomorrow, I prepped a Mediterranean couscous (labor intensive because of all the chopping of vegetables), cleaned broccoli, and prepped a three berry cobbler. Not to mention then created this rose arrangement from flowers in our garden and set the table. The table truly needs a leave removed, but I don't have the energy or strength to manage this alone. So the table will remain bigger than what is needed. Overall doing all these tasks and working alone, is crushing, as I am constantly hit with waves of reality..... that I am no longer married and frankly I am going through the motions in life, but that is about it. I exist and that is the extent of my life.
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