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It’s funny how you just don’t get some things until you’ve lived them.

Yesterday David, Andrew, and I were swimming and playing in our pool (which we are always thankful for). Andrew decided it was time for dinner.

Eric is in Cincinatti, and Bob was working late. Andrew decided on hotdogs.

David and Andrew sat at the table outside drying off and talking while I went inside to make their dinner. I watched them through the kitchen window, talking and laughing and enjoying each other. I brought their dinner out on a tray and got the usual “thanks Mom”. I left them and went back in to clean up. I watched them talking and laughing and eating their dinner all up.

My heart was so happy. I thought of my brothers and how much they enjoy each others company. We have shared so many meals together and happy times. Of course it didn’t start out that way. We fought like all siblings do. We fought a lot, and it wasn’t just verbal!

But watching my young sons together last night gave me a glimpse of the future. I thought about our parents and how happy they are when we are together. It must be one of the most satisfying and fulfilling successes of a lifetime when you see your children enjoying each other and getting along.

I know it made my day. I told my boys how happy they made me. I got some funny, insightful kind of looks as if this never would have occurred to them. But then, I’m 41 and it just occurred to me.

The tent is up in the backyard again. Eric had this idea that he and his friends could set up the tent and sleep in it tonight. They dragged it to the backyard and tried for almost 20 minutes to figure this thing out.

They gave up and said they needed Dad to help. They all jumped in the pool.

Bob came home from work and spent 45 minutes setting up the tent. I made the boys watch. They spent more time flexing their muscles than observing the tent set up.

I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to drop them off at a campsite for a long weekend.

As of 9:39pm they are watching a moving in the airconditioned house.

Vacation Bible School is over. It seemed like a month instead of a week. I must say that I was very proud of my boys. Eric helped out with the 4th-5th grade class until one of the girls got obnoxious crushing on him. After that he was excused and helped dish out snacks.

David was some kind of speedster gopher running around helping people in need. Andrew enjoyed the 1st grade class and set a good example for the other kids by being good.

I ended up with cheese goo and blue icing embedded in my clothes, but it was all for a good cause.

Today I went for a “Women’s Wellness Checkup”. This is not something to look forward to, but something that has to be done.

I went to a new Dr. His office is covered in U.G.A diplomas and certificates. He went to the school of Pharmacy, then to Augusta for Med school, then to Florida for some more Med stuff.

He was jealous when I told him that I would be in Athens this Sat. He was just in Atlanta last weekend and helped move his daughter to Columbus.

He talked about going to The Masters. He grew up in Jefferson. He loves all of those places.

I hope the dogwood trees are still blooming.

After working all these long days, weeks, and months, I have finally decided to retire. Now I know you’re all thinking that this move is long over due. You will be glad to know that I am going to take time out to “smell the roses.”

Don’t go planning any surprise retirement parties for me. I won’t hear of it. I’m just glad that I’ll have some time now to travel and come to Atlanta to see my kin.

Last night I slept alone in the house, except for Jake the Great. Bob was sleeping outside in the yard with Eric, David, Andrew, and Terry our neighbor. We started out the evening with Veggie Pizza from CiCi’s, since it was Friday. Then we watched Jesus Christ Superstar. Then Bob and the boys went outside to sleep in the tent he put up in the backyard.

They were all back in the house by 6:30am because the sun started to come up, and it was 60 degrees outside.

(As it turned out, David crept back into the house before midnight and slept until 8:30.)

This is the way Ettensohns camp.

Yesterday Bob turned 43! How did that happen? We took him out to eat to Mario’s*. We had never been to Mario’s, but had heard good things about it. For some reason I had the impression that it would be a pizzeria type restaurant with booths and linoleum floors. Instead it was white table cloths, wine glasses, dimmed lighting and carpet. They didn’t even have a kid’s menu.

Luckily I have 4 (including Bob) very polite, well mannered young men in my family. We had no spills, arguments, or complaints. We only had one bite of very buttered bread hit the carpet. Other than that, it was a perfect dinner out. I can still taste the garlic.

*Mario’s is my hair designer’s father’s restaurant.

The next time you are visiting me, you should remind me to take you to the Polk Theater. It’s like a small version of the Fox Theater.

This past Sunday I went to the 2:00 show. The movie Monster was playing. It was very violent and a sad, but true story. I wanted to see the gorgeous model/ actress, Charlize Theron (sp?) since she won the best actress award.

She deserved it.

My friend from work played the piano before the show. It’s behind the curtain. She played the Charlie Brown theme and The Sting and other familiar tunes beautifully.

It’s something a little different than a regular movie. Seniors are $3.25.

So, What happened at the trial?

After listening to 2 officers and the man in question describe the event, the jury deliberated for approx. 1 hour, and found him guilty of possession of cocaine.

Even though he said the drugs belonged to his sister and he was trying to protect her, we still thought he was guilty because he admitted that it was his pipe with cocaine residue inside in the same cigarette box. The cigarette box happened to be in his front pants pocket. This was discovered after he ran into a ditch trying to make a left turn while fleeing from the sheriff’s car. The sheriff was trying to pull him over for not having a tag light. He said he tried to get away because he thought his license was suspended. Hum… We didn’t get to stay in the courtroom to hear his sentencing, but I don’t think it helped that he pled guilty to 6 previous felonies.

What happened to my BLOG from Monday about Jury Duty’