Lara unearthed an old note from our Junior year in high school and called to read it aloud to me. I could hardly keep myself in one piece hearing her read it. It was too funny. Chances are the HB readers will not think it is funny, but it is too good for me not to document it in this virtual scrapbook. Lara transcribed it and sent it to me.  This was most likely written in November of 1996.

Here are things you need to know:

1.  I was fairly worked up about my boyfriend at the time, Neal.

2. Beto Chavez was a character in our Spanish class curriculum.

3. An ‘alfred’ is a zit.

4. For no apparent reason Lara refers to me as a pendulum.

5. For no apparent reason I refer to myself as a pit.

6. Finding an old note is way better than finding an old text message.

Hannah-

We have a beepin’ test in Chemistry! Umm, ok, I don’t miss Ben or anything! Oh, my dream about D.C. was so weird. I can’t believe I had a beepin’ dream about him. You look cute today!

L

Lupe-

I feel like a dork ball in this outfit. Did Neal seem mad or anything when you said that to him? It is pretty awk-ball that you had a dream about Washington D.C.- get it? My tights are too long! Do you know anything in Chem-ball? I wish I sat by N.C. I have to give you a picture of me and Neal. I will.

Queen Haniole

Pendulum-

I get mad at you when you don’t talk about stuff in our notes!! I always give you a one-liner to start off some gossip and then you just say something like – “My tights are too long”, or “that’s awk.” By the way, Neal was PISSED when I told him that you always tell me about how he wants to say something. Joken. He just f**ken laughed.

Lupe Garcia

Lupe-(Ditz)

God! You freaked me out when you said that he was pissed off. Did he say anything? Yesterday I talked to Matt and it made me so sad for Ben. Luce, he was like our best friend last year. He was our Dear Abby! How was that for some stuff? You never gossip to me. So here is your chance to get the good stuff going.

The Pit

Make Me Madder-

Ok, like my last writing wasn’t just the total chance for YOU to get the good stuff rollin! Anyway, do you know when Ben comes back or anything? He probably doesn’t even remember us with all his new college sorority girlfriends. I’ll tell you about my dream in Chemistry because I can’t write it on paper.

Beto Chavez

Alfred Owner!-

What “good” stuff are you talking about? YOU get it rollin! I don’t know anything really about Ben. I do know I wanna call him or something. I want to play golf. Just kidding. I had to put something in there that would piss you off. What’s Devo’s  problem? Stop peeking back! You peek-a-boo face!

Lisa Allen

We were invited by Jeff and Sarah to meet up with them at the Evergreen State Fair and go to the rodeo. I’ve never been to a rodeo and I had so much anxiety watching the bull riders, I’ve decided that I’d rather watch anything less jarring. Bull riders are not cowboys. Bull riders are CRAZY!!!!

Bahl had been eyeing the Giant Turkey leg for a couple hours before our arrival and decided to test it out after the rodeo. It wasn’t tiny. I was trying to think of another place that would sell such an item and broadcast it in such a proud manner.

I think fair food has its own genre that can only be digested every three years or so. Things like Giant Turkey Legs should not be a regular part of anybody’s diet. I’m just sayin’.

Typically I peer pressure Barry into riding a few of the queasy rides, but after we all inhaled our food that didn’t sound so appealing.

I did, however, ask him to win me the NAPA Auto Parts jacket in the ring toss booth. He declined. He feels that not every girl needs a NAPA Auto Parts jacket as a part of her wardrobe. I’m going to have to agree with him on that one.

I love my job because the people at my school show that they care about me in so many different ways. They listen to me and support me with all my random ideas. They help me out when I’m struggling and make me laugh so hard I almost cry.

Another way they show that they care about me is they put magazines for my husband in my box. So, I take the magazines home and Barry pours over them and Sydney gives her opinion when needed. It makes everybody very happy.

A group of us converged at Lara and Marc’s Farm to celebrate Deneva being in Washington. Deneva only comes to Washington about once or twice a year so it is definitely cause to celebrate when she arrives!

Since our shared histories stretch back to elementary school we were able to reflect on some of our favorite moments through the years. By the end of the night we had hunkered down on couches and played some Cranium Wii.

Minus the wine, husbands and swearing we could have been warped back in time to twenty years ago laughing together huddled on the couch at one of our parent’s houses. I feel lucky to have friends that I have known so long, but also friends that function as memory keepers and allies.

Dear Littlejohn Crew,

It was so much fun to have you over today! Barry and I are now exhausted, but are both so happy that we have you all as friends. We both love the fancy new chairs and are very excited to work with you to finish the last part of them. We’d like to talk with you a bit more about staining them.

I really had a great time, but my favorite moment today was when Gigi and Jude got ahold of the hose and were drinking out of it.  I’m not sure that much water got in either of their mouths, but they sure did look cute. I also really liked watching Sydney get chased by Martha. Gigi, you sure thought it was funny how Sydney (Cindy) put her tail between her legs to run super fact, huh? I think Sydney is still recovering from all the conversation she had with Jude.

Barry and I are so glad that you guys are our friends. We are excited to help you with your house – once that pole gets out of the way, dang-it! I’m a bit concerned that since we only have a ‘drill gun’ that our level of contribution might remain on either providing food or direct-instruction/borrowing your tools.

Thanks again for coming and helping us enjoy a day at HBHQ. I’m hoping next tim you come over it won’t be so hot! Maybe we’ll have to make popsicles….yummy! I hope you all made it home safely and I’ll speak with you soon.

Best Regards,

Hannah

We met up with our friends at the river this afternoon. Luke & Carter were there and Carter decided that he wanted practice his swimming skills.

I think he also wanted to practice his smiling skills.

As far as I can tell, he’s pretty skilled at both.

This is Kurt. He just got back off of a fishing boat from Alaska. He came back with a beard.

Kurt’s dog is about a bazillion times larger than Sydney. Sydney is very well aware of this.

When Kurt came back from Alaska his dog was so excited to see him that the he almost escaped from the car. It would have made the news because Kurt’s dog is the size of a bear. A large bear.

We had Kurt, Debbie, Brian & Chaya over for dinner the other night. We sat around the table with the bug bucket burning letting the night creep up on us. I suggested that we play Hundo, bragging that I was sooooo good at the game.

Turns out my luck has run out. Brian did not score all night, until he finally rolled the magic 1-6 and won!!! I’m still feeling a bit sorry for myself because just the night before Bahl came over and also won. I suppose that bragging about how good I am at a game won’t happen again, at least not publicly.

This is Tiger:

This is Douglas:

This is Sydney, Tiger and Douglas.

Sydney loves Doug more than she loves Tiger.

A whole lot more.

Tiger gets left behind, even though he was once her favorite.

Poor, poor Tiger.

Sometimes I guess that’s just how it goes.

Barry’s parents and grandparents came to visit and it was so wonderful to have them here to enjoy part of our Staycation.  I had the delicious opportunity to make Pioneer Woman’s Strawberry Shortcake Cake; however, I conveniently forgot to mix in the dry ingredients before I put it in the oven….it’s okay now, but there were a series of events that led me to believe that perhaps there would be no cake. Luckily, it was delicious.

Plus, we got a new dog. Isn’t she cute?

Kidding, kidding…

We went to Larc’s (Lara +Marc = Larc) house and met their new dog, Jazzy. She is amazingly well behaved and super cute.  The Tubby Torpedo stayed home because the last time that we visited Larc with Sydney she ended up hiding under a chair all night. We figured that she’d probably rather stay home than go to the country to hide under a chair.

The last time that we went to visit Lara and Marc we showed up in the dark and left in the dark, so it was great to finally see their house during the day light hours.

They are in the process of building a chicken pen for their little chicks. Turns out, one of the hens is a rooster. Bertha is no longer Bertha, if you catch my drift…

Aside from the chicken pen and dog-watching, I got to drive a hauler-type machine. It was glorious, simply glorious. It was like a wheel barrow on steroids. I felt like it was going so fast while moving it from one side of the house to the other, but Marc informed me that that it maxes out at 5 miles per hour. Hearing that didn’t make it any less glorious.

Our staycation was superb because we got to see some people that we love, but we also got a lot done around the house.  I’m glad we’re not just getting home from a long drive after being couped up in the car needing to unpack and get ready for the week. Instead, we’re going to bbq and relax in our own sanctuary without the worries of a vacation ending, our staycation just keeps on giving, and giving.