UnrealisticExpectations 3.0

No good weekend goes without it’s footnote. Or silver lining without its cloud.

My mother called Saturday afternoon to let me know that my 24 year old cousin had died. He was 24 with a wife, a baby and another on the way, and the only real results I have right now are that he apparently had an enlarged heart and no one ever knew. And it gave out after he and his brother had been taking some laps on race track.

I’m not as close as I could/should be with my family in Missouri. Between my parents finding out that after almost 30 years of marriage that they no long want to be husband and wife, my father not having the stones enough to actually talk to me, even though he had the stones enough to adopt me almost 30 years ago and then rifts in the family as people take sides in divorces and such, well, things get challenging at times.

I do recall this cousin very well. Everyone does, really. Him and his brother were big highlights–and that’s not to say that their beautiful sister is not / was not a highlight, but she was far enough behind them in years that I was too far into my too-good-to-be-into-my-family teenage years that cost me my last visit with my grandfather. I know he forgives me, if not completely understands…but I need to remember him more.
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Easter is coming and we’re just about due for the 1.5 photos. Or at least one.

We’re going to keep her. You can see the whole set at The Gallery.

We took Sydney to see her first movie in a real movie theater this weekend.  Ice Age 2 came out, and it just made sense; she “gets” a lot of humor, she’s got a great sense of humor herself, so it was definitely good timing.

Sydney sat in her chair–holding on to Mommy or Daddy a couple of different times, but was completely into it–laughing, giggling, cheering, squealing, and the best part of it all…

Sitting there, legs crossed, absently grabbing popcorn from the big tub and eating it, you know, just like a big, grown-up adult person does who’s all wrapped-up in the Suspension of Disbelief bit.

I love watching her grow. Can’t stand thinking about her being all grown up.

One of Sydney’s favorite movies just happens to be Madagaskar.  She’s been able to say that mouthful of a word ever since I picked up the movie and brought it home.

Okay, sure… sometimes it sounds a bit like “Ma-uh-ga-kar”, but she’s saying it, dammit.

Tonight being Tuesday, it’s American Idol night in our house.  Addiction to shows like this is maddening; I find myself determined to be around and paying attention, yet I have no idea as to why, and outside of this sickness, no actual idea as to why, either.

Sydney, on the other hand, would much rather watch Chicken Wittle, but she tolerates The Idol and even chuckles along. (more…)