Lorrie’s Blog

If you have siblings, you have probably wondered, as I have about my three sisters, how you can be raised in the same family and be so very different.

I haven’t spent much time watching the Olympics, although the last couple nights I’ve stayed up far too late watching some of the events. And mostly what I think is, “I just don’t get it.” Like, what’s up with men’s gymnastics? OK, no one would argue that they have incredible upper body definition, but it’s sort of out of proportion to the rest of them. And, are the male divers embarrassed by the lack of fabric from which their swimsuits are made? It’s a good thing they’re in good shape because there is just not much left to the imagination. While I’m watching the Olympics looking for the flaws in these nearly perfect people, my sister, Jennie is watching on the other side of the world and sees something completely different. I read her comments and was shamed at the shallowness of my own observations. I didn’t ask her if it was OK with her if I made her a guest blogger, but I just had to share it. Beautifully said, Jen.
(There is more where this came from … )

On Education
Mom: Did you tell your teacher that you went to Portugal this summer? I bet she’d be impressed.
Nicole: Oh, I thought teacher’s were only impressed when you learned something.

Materialism
Nicole: If you buy me something at the store today I’ll be good while we’re there and not whiny.
Mom: Nic, you should be good because you love me and you want to be a good kid.
Nicole: (without a moment’s hesitation) No, you should buy me something because you love me and because I’m a good kid.

Nationalities
Nicole: Mom, was Jesus Jewish?
Mom: Yes.
Nicole: So, he didn’t speak English?
Mom: Well, no he didn’t speak English. But a lot of people who are Jewish do speak English. Jeff is Jewish.
Nicole: Jeff is Jewish?
Mom: Yes.
Nicole: I wonder if that’s from his cousin or his grandpa?

. . . you’d see that I was smiling from ear to ear. Why? Because today my son went out for the cross country team. OK, so it doesn’t take much to make me happy. It’s just that I love running. Running has changed my life. It is therapy for me. And I have so wished for the last couple years that one of my children would be a runner. But it has not been so. I have even made Jeremy and Katie participate in the Race for the Cure for the last three years hoping that a little taste of racing would spur them on to want to do more. It didn’t work. I have seen a bit of an athlete in Nic, but her legs — though long for someone her age — don’t really make her a very likely running buddy right now. So a week or so ago when Jeremy said, in a sort of off-handed, casual sort of way, that he wanted to go out for cross country, I was shocked. And cautiously pleased. I wanted to ask him if he knew what it was.

Today was his first practice. When he got in the car, he couldn’t stop talking about it. He was excited. He had enjoyed himself. He had done well. And he decided to do it all on his own. I asked him if he would be embarrassed if I came and ran with them some time. At first he said yes, and then he said no, and then he said, “Well, actually I used you for bragging rights. I told them my mom has run a marathon.”

My son, a budding runner. I’m picturing years of running races together, although soon he’ll be faster than me, I’m sure. But I guess I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. For right now, I’m just enjoying the moment. And I haven’t stopped smiling all evening.

While we were in the Azores, Katie was playing around on the computer, looking at stuff on the internet. For some reason, she was on Amazon’s website and she decided to do a search for TrolleyDodgers. And guess what came up? Well, you’ll just have to go see for yourself. Here’s a hint . . . an author we know is listed on their website with his “not yet released” novel. How cool is that?

This will be my last blog from the Azores since tomorrow we’ll leave here at 9am to head back home. What an amazing, educational, cultural, fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience this has been.

The bullfight we went to tonight was interesting. It is one of those things that, like my first ever in-person hockey game, I can say I’ve done it and I never need to do it again. These bullfights are done in the street of a village. They board off windows, gates and doors along the street where the bull will be loosed and people line up along balconies, walls and the street to watch the event. Several men have big, very long ropes that are tied to the bull mainly for making sure he doesn’t just take off and go wild. Then crazy people (men, generally) jump and run out in front of the bull to try to get it to chase them. This goes on until they decide to stop.

We got there early so we could get a good spot. We found some space in a parking lot between two houses and squeezed in a couple of front row vantage points. A few minutes before the fight was supposed to start, it started raining a little bit, enough to hold off the start of the fight for a while. We stayed to watch one fight and then left. They usually do four of them in an evening. I’m not sure why it’s called a bullfight and not a bullchase because it seems that would be more appropriate. No one was really fighting. They were just kind of picking on the bull and when he got annoyed enough, he ran at them and they ran away. That was the extent of it from what I could tell.

But I’m glad that we went because now I can say I’ve seen a bullfight in person and it was just another experience of what it’s like to live on this island.

We all took dramamine this morning before the boat ride, so everyone is super sleepy tonight. The kids went to bed early because it will be a long travel day for us tomorrow.

I’m sure Jen and Neil will be glad to have their house back. With Holly gone, it will be down to just three of them after we leave. I’m sure it will seem nice and quiet! We certainly will miss them and their beautiful island home.

This morning we went on a dolphin cruise. We were all a little concerned that it was scheduled to be a 3 hour tour. In fact, Katie even said, “Who gets to be the millionaire?” Hilarious.
(There is more where this came from … )

We have now been here for a full week. Neil remarked today that it has gone really fast to which I responded that’s because we’ve packed so much into everyday. He was worried that we’d tried to do too much, but I reminded him that this is the only time we’re ever going to come here, so we want to make sure we do everything there is to do! And by the time we end the day tomorrow, we’ll have done everything!
(There is more where this came from … )

Today was a long and busy day. This morning Neil was participating in the retirement ceremony of a man who was the highest ranking enlisted man on this base and who has been in the Air Force for 30 years. He invited us to tag along. I’m so glad we went! It was a really neat ceremony. It lasted for about an hour and a half and Neil and a bunch of other Air Force people were standing in formation the whole time. That in itself was impressive! Several people gave speeches about him and then he got up and gave a speech himself. I told Jennie I felt so silly because I didn’t even know the man and I was crying! It was a very touching experience and one I wouldn’t have wanted to miss.
(There is more where this came from … )

Today was probably the most laid-back day we’ve had since we’ve been here. Neil and I went running again and then we all kind of just hung out around the house this morning. I did mounds of laundry (what a fun vacation activity — someone needs to invent disposable clothes that you take on vacation). Then we went and did some more souvenier shopping. Neil had to work for a bit this morning, but when he got back we went and had lunch and then most of us went to the Praia ridge — one of the highest points on the island.
(There is more where this came from … )

Doesn’t even come close to the real thing, but you can get a sense of what we’re experiencing.