A Bad Morning. A Very Bad Morning.

I called Troy the other day (he was in San Francisco) and asked how he was doing.

"I had a really bad morning."

Now generally speaking, even when Troy thinks that he's had a bad morning, it doesn't even compare to what I have to go through in my mornings. I'm the one waking up sleepy, grumpy boys, checking backpacks and finding unfinished homework, digging to find socks and favorite pairs of shorts in the piles of laundry, dealing with Aaron's moods, breakfast for all and trying to be out the door (with everyone happy) on time. Even on the best of mornings, it gets a little stressful. On the worst mornings, at least two out of the three of us are in tears.

So sorry, Troy. Your "bad" mornings are usually about a load not being ready on time and you having to wait. Or finishing your book on tape and not having another one to listen to. Or getting all worked up over the subject on your talk radio. Or when it's only 70 degrees instead of the balmy 75 that you are used to in San Francisco. Yessiree, your mornings can be tough.

But since I love him, I asked why his morning was so bad.

"I was coming out of a parking lot that had a steep driveway, and my trailer got stuck at the top."

"What?"

"My trailer got high-centered."

"Your 53 foot trailer...got high-centered?"

"Yes."

"BWAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHA! HEHEHEHEHEHE! HEEHEEHEEHEE!"

"Yeah, that's pretty much the reaction that everyone has."

In defense of my extreme enjoyment of this story, no one was hurt, and it didn't cost us any money. Troy called a towing company and after being quoted nearly $600 to fix the situation, he decided to just wait for another driver from his company to show up and pull him off the hill. The only cost there was having to hear the driver laugh (and laugh and laugh) and then pass on this awesome story to everyone at Troy's company.

Turns out, Troy was right.

He did have a bad morning.

The Oddest Thing

Troy had an unexpected day off in the middle of the week - which is actually what we've come to expect this winter. When a bad storm is raging over Donner's Pass, he waits a day before heading out. It saves him driving time, it's safer, and gives him a chance to take care of things that are on his "I'll get around to it" list.

It also means that I have to cook a for-real meal two nights in a row.

But that's beside the point.

With two whole days, Troy's been super productive.

He has:

• changed a few high light bulbs
• fixed the stuck stopper in the bathroom sink drain so we won't have to brush our teeth and spit in the tub.
• cleaned out the slow-draining drain in the tub. It's my hair that's clogging it - sorry, Babe.
• done our taxes
• vacuumed - he's good like that
• played the Crack with the boys, and
• bought new tires for my Explorer

I've needed new tires all winter. Man, I hate spending money on tires. Hate spending money on cars, period. But I really really really did need new tires. It's been a slippery, slidey, snowy winter - we couldn't put it off any longer.

He and Aaron drove off on the bald tires and went to see Les Schwab Tires. Les would cost less, Troy assured me.

Couple hours later they came back home. Four brand-spankin' new, shiny black tires. 235/R17 Toyo All Terrain, white walls out - just in case any men read this.

And of course, one of my anti-sway arms was out (oh whatever!!), and the whole thing ended up costing slightly less than my mortgage payment. Kind of bitter about that.

I went out to oooooh and ahhhhh over my new tires and to give Troy a kiss for caring about our safety. He handed me a bag.

"Here. I brought you something."

The bag was much too heavy for the standard "here, I brought you something" Reese's Peanut Butter Cup or bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos with Limon. I peered inside.

"What the...?"

"They gave it to me. For buying the tires."

Really.

Two pounds.

Now, is that just the oddest thing you've ever heard of?

Off Track Trucker

Aaaaahh, the kids are off track from school. They love it and so do I. Aside from the obvious delights of sleeping in and staying up later than usual, Aaron no longer makes faces like this when it's time to do his homework:


Can't you just feel his pain?

Instead, he hits the road with the coolest trucker he knows.

It's pretty much his favorite thing to do.

They make a good team.

Troy does all the driving, and Aaron rides along. They listen to Radio Disney on the XM. Aaron knows all the cities they pass, the weigh stations, the truck stops with the "good" bathrooms, and how to talk on a cb. He climbs in the back sometimes, to nap or play a video game, but for the most part, he just rides up front. He doesn't complain or whine about the long drive, he loves the whole experience.

Aaron is 8 years old, a kid with a lot of anxiety and stress in his world. For the past few months, he's been seeing Rachel, a counselor that he adores, to help him deal with the things that stress him out. They do a lot of talking, working on appropriate responses and ways to manage his emotions when he feels anxious or out of control. They've done some deep breathing exercises and visualization - ways for Aaron to relax himself.

Rachel asked Aaron to tell her about the happiest place he could think of. Yes, it feels a little new age-y, Aaron closing his eyes and "going to that happy place". We're going with whatever will help him right now. He chose this. Not Disneyland, not in front of the computer (thank goodness!), and not on the trampoline, though that might have been a close second. Aaron's most favorite place in the whole wide world, his happy place, is inside the semi truck, going over the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.

Troy and Aaron got into S.F. late last night. Aaron had napped earlier in the trip so that he could be awake when they went over the bridge at 2am. He sits up high in the passenger seat, his body and head looking so small inside this gigantic truck. He can see the city, the lights, the ships, the water...and he is happy.

Later, they had to drive through the city, right as the clubs were closing. They stopped at a crosswalk and watched as big groups of laughing girls made their way across the street. The girls saw Aaron sitting up front, wide awake and wearing his trucker hat, and they all pointed and waved at him.

Aaron climbed in the back for another nap. He told Troy to wake him up when they were leaving the city, so he could see the bridge again. He woke right up and climbed back in the front seat at 5:30am. After all, it's his happy place. He couldn't just sleep through it.

I miss him when he's gone. I call and talk to him and he tells me about the things he sees, and we blow kisses over the phone. Troy tells me over and over about how relaxed Aaron is, how utterly comfortable and content he is, in and around the trucks. How he loves going over that bridge. I miss him, but knowing that he is so happy, makes me happy.

On a side note, Cameron hates going over the bridges - so he won't go on the SF trips. Go figure.

If you were visualizing your happiest place on earth, where would that be?

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday, to my sweetheart, Troy. I am thankful for you every day.

I love you for being such a hard worker. You are so responsible and respected by the people

you work for.

I love you for honoring your priesthood

and being a good example to our sons.

I love you for making me laugh

again...

and again.

I love you for making our family your first priority.

And I love you because you love me!


You mean the world to me.

All my love,

Wendy