Keeping the Weight Off

Keeping Weight Off On Vacation by Cole Millen

There is nothing more exciting than going on a vacation so that you can relax and have a good time. In preparation for your special vacation time, you may have put in a few extra hours at the gym over the months to make sure you achieve the ideal body for the vacation season and warmer weather. While you are in shape now, cheating on your diet and avoiding exercise during your vacation can cause you to pack the pounds on quickly. There are ways for you to stay healthy and in shape even during your vacation. Most importantly, these methods do not require too much effort or take much time from your vacation.

Get On the Right Track from the Beginning

The best thing to do is start off on the right foot. In order to do this, you should avoid airport food and airplane food at all costs. If necessary, there are some healthy selections, such as grilled entrees or salads that you can eat. However, you can save money and calories by simply enjoying a large, healthy meal prior to boarding your plane. You can also pack some light snacks, such as dried fruit, to be on the safe side if you do get any cravings for snacks.

Keeping It Healthy at a Hotel

First and foremost, finding a hotel that will allow you to stay healthy while you are away. Often times that can be extremely difficult due to the misleading information that some hotels provide to lure in customers. I have found consumer reviews to be the most unbiased and honest information. I took a trip out west about a month ago and found a great site that listed reviews for Las Vegas hotels regarding the amenities and services. This was extremely helpful in determining which place was right for me to maintain my healthy lifestyle for the week!

There are quite a few ways to stay in good shape at your hotel. The first thing you can do is avoid the mini bar. Why pay extra for something that is loaded with junk food and temptation? Do not even bother having one put in your room. Choose a hotel that offers a fitness center and swimming pool so you can still work out. You do not have to spend hours at the gym instead of enjoying your time away. However, a fitness center and swimming pool give you time to burn calories when you want to and need to. Instead of eating out all the time, stop at a local store and purchase whole-grain foods, oatmeal, and hard-boiled eggs. Do not forget the fresh fruit and veggies!

Eat At Restaurants with Healthy Options

If you eat at the restaurants in the area, find out about the healthy selections that they offer. Most restaurants offer a portion of dishes with fewer calories than some of the larger meals. To be on the safe side, stay away from the fast food joints or any foods that are greasy or endless. If the restaurant happens to have a website, take a look at the website and get an idea of both the foods available and the price range so you know what kind of healthy foods you can enjoy even if you are budgeting and do not want to spend too much.

It is certainly not difficult to stay in shape while on vacation. It may seem challenging to avoid temptation at times. It also does not hurt to have one cheat day. However, it is still essential that you stick to a workout plan and eat healthy foods.

The above article was sent to daisydesk by a guest writer, Cole Millen. I appreciate his input on healthy eating habits and hope to hear from him again in the future. May you all  have a wonderful week, eat fruit, Julia French

 

 

Mother’s Day Encouragement

Technically, since I’m in the East, today is the day after Mother’s Day. But for my Western friends today is Mother’s Day evening. No matter which side of the world you live on, Mom’s are great and we’re glad we have them. So first I’ll just say, Thank you to all the Mom’s for what they do. The place they hold is a big one, not always a fun one and certainly not always an easy one, but they hold it and aren’t we glad they do.

May God help them to understand the times and the seasons.

To “Let Go” when they need to let go.

Say, “No” when they need to say no.

Not to waver when the wind blows.

Seeds of kindness always sow.

Helping those around them to grow.

At one time, I thought is was only the young that grow.

But now I see young and old alike…. they both grow.

We never stop growing.

God never stops hoeing.

Mom’s, we can’t afford to stop sowing.

Sometimes…. it is us, God is showing

The times, the seasons, and which way we are going.

We’re the ones knowing

Because we see the rowing

Made by the one who is hoeing

Gom-ba-ri-masu!

Today is a rainy day but I got out and ran before it poured. I just ran my usual neighborhood circle. 4.5 miles along the river. I’ve been running this circle a lot because it is the closest to my house.

Last week I ran on the seawall and saw the dragon boats practicing. It is really an amazing sight, how fast and smooth they row together. I was running and they were rowing. I watched them while I ran. The seawall run is 6.23 miles along the ocean. For a brief time, we moved together.

Recently I came across a magazine called, Hiragana Times. I really like it because it is written in both English and Hiragana. I can read articles in both languages and learn from them. I learn about whatever the articles are talking about, of course. But I get the extra learning experience of comparing the vocabulary. I hope it will help my language skills.

The photo above, is an article I read about marathons in Japan. One place in particular that people like to go for running is Mt. Fuji. This article informed me that Mt. Fuji will be registered this year, 2013, as a World Heritage Site. I hope to one day see Mt. Fuji. I understand from reading, that it is a beautiful experience.

Peter Rabbit Coffee Mugs

In closing, I’d just like to say that Daisy and Connor’s World is still in the editing stage. I wish I could move faster with it but this pace is just how it is for the time being.

I must say though, that I felt encouraged when I came across these Peter Rabbit Coffee Mugs. Everybody knows the Tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. She lived from 1943 to 1866.  Her stories along with her artwork are popular here (Okinawa Japan). She’s gone but her work lives on. I wonder if she had any idea that her work would be sold in Japan and loved by so many?

My work is not like hers of course but she inspires me and gives me hope just the same. Wherever you find yourself in life today, let’s just keep at it, shall we.

Psalm 118: 24-25 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; O Lord grant us success.

Until next time, Julia French

Chapter 57 The Wedding Day

Wedding morning, the Greene kitchen was full of chatter and activity. Grandpa Joe was standing over the stove making pancakes on demand. “Got another one! Who wants it!” He hollered out to the whole world!

“Quit holler’in Joe! You’re make’in me deaf!” Rose scolded as she sipped coffee with Valerie, Carl, and Davis. “We’re discussing honeymoon plans over here.”

“You might as well have another pancake, Rose, cause I’m not saying another word about it.” Davis chuckled. “I want it to be a surprise for Peg.”

“I’ll not repeat a word to Peggy.” Rose clucked with irritation. She hated being left out of important plans.

“Yes, you will! You are itch’in to tell her!” Joe waved the spachela at her.

“Hush Joe, I will not!”

“You’ll hear all about it when we get home.” Davis stuck his plate out to Joe. “Here, I’ll take it if Rose doesn’t want it.”

Rose pondered ways of making Davis talk.

Joe placed the newly made pancake on Davis’ plate as Lynn and Linda scampered into the kitchen. Their mother,Valerie, helped them get situated at the table with their breakfast. Seconds later, Connor appeared. “Morning, where’s Day?”

“She’s not come out of her room yet.” Grandpa Joe bellowed. “Want some pancakes?”

“Not yet” Connor opened the refrigerator looking for OJ. “I’ll wait for Daisy.” When he finally found the OJ, he absent-mindedly chugged the carton down and tossed it into the trash, basketball style.

Davis, Joe and Rose were used to Connor’s enormous OJ chugging habit but Valerie and Carl had never seen anyone dispose of an entire carton in one shot before. They stared at him with shocked amusement. “My Goodness Connor, do you drink orange juice like that every morning?” Aunt Valerie asked curiously.

Connor looked at them blankly. He’d not realizing anyone was watching him. “I think I do….. Yea…. pretty much every morning.” He grinned at his baffled relatives, then noticing the overflowing trash can in the corner said, “I’ll take this out when I leave Okay Grandpa.” He tied up the bag. “I’m surprised Day is not out here yet, maybe I should go check on her.”

“She’ll be out in a little bit” Rose smiled.

When the girls were finished with their pancakes Aunt Valerie took them back to her room where the suitcases were, to dress them. Uncle Carl took the opportunity to share an observation. “I noticed you’re getting pretty sweet on little Daisy Ray there, Connor.”

“Yea, she’s not so little anymore.”

The men laughed with understanding. “They look different when they grow up, don’t they.” Uncle Carl slapped Connor on the back.

Daisy walked slowly into the kitchen. Connor held his arm out to her and gave her a morning hug. “Want pancakes Babe?”

“Just one” she answered quietly against his chest. He looked at Joe and held up four fingers.

“Four pancakes coming right up!” Joe announced military style.

Daisy took two plates from the cabinet and held them out to Joe. He placed one pancake on Daisy’s plate and three on Connor’s plate and they sat down. Connor held Daisy’s hand and blessed their food.

“Are we on time?” Daisy wondered out loud.

Connor looked at his watch. “Nope, but don’t worry about it. Willie’s house is super close.” They ate quickly and set their plates in the sink. “We’ve got to go Dad. Daisy is getting her hair done with Grace and Willie. I have to get’em all to the salon by 6:30.”

“See you at the wedding.” Davis nodded with a huge smile. “I’ll be the one standing up front.”

“Sure, okay Dad” Connor grabbed the trash bag and Daisy’s hand and they left.

***

Connor lightly snored in the tiny waiting room of the hair salon……..

He’d decided (before falling asleep) that waiting on Grace, Willie and Daisy to get their hair done was the number 1 item on his, Top 10 Most Boring Things To Do List.

“Connor…. Connor…. you can wake up now.” Daisy sang softly in his ear.

“Hey Babe…. we done?” He stretched and gave a monster yawn.

She giggled at his wild yawning noise. “Do you like my hair?”

“Course” He touched her cheek and smiled a sleepy smile.

“How about me” Willie winked at Connor. “Am I pretty too?”

“Shut up, Willie. There’s not a hair doo in the world that can help you, man.” Connor rolled his eyes and everybody laughed as Willie turned around showing off his new dreads.

“I don’t need your approval.” Willie continued his teasing. “I know I’m special.”

“You’re special alright” Connor and the girls laughed again. “Let’s get out of here. I think the chemicals in here went to Willie’s head, man. He needs some air.” Connor took Daisy’s hand and they left for Willie’s house to get changed.

Entering Willie’s house…..

They could hear energetic Pedro behind Willie’s bedroom door. His claws clicked furiously against the hard wood floor as he tried to dig his way out of Willie’s room but the door was shut and the floor was obviously too hard for digging. Little Pedro’s anxiety attack climaxed when he heard Willie enter the house. He growled at the offending door and dug frantically with the hopes that Willie would rescue him.

Cora was on the living room floor surrounded by screws, hooks, nuts, bolts and nails. She appeared to be organizing them and putting them in something like a tackle box for her husband, Mr. Coleman. She looked up from the tedious task. “Hey kids, don’t let Pedro out please, he’ll mess this all up.”

“Okay mom” Willie pointed to his sister’s room. “Daisy, you and Grace can get dressed in Barbie’s room. Your stuff is already in there.” Daisy followed Grace to Barbie’s room.

Willie turned to Connor. “Wait here man, let me catch Pedro first. He’ll run like hell when I open the door, if I’m not careful.” Willie cracked his door and carefully slipped through the crack, one leg at a time.

“Ms. Cora, aren’t you coming to my Dad’s wedding?” Connor mentioned politely as he waited for Willie to subdue his dog. “You and Mr. Coleman are invited you know.”

“Oh Connor I’m so sorry. We know we’re invited but…. you know…… my husband has this crunch dead line to meet for a building he’s constructing. There is still so much to be done in getting it completed and….. he’s afraid he won’t make it.  Please send our regards to your father. We are very happy for him but….. this deadline is really looming over our heads right now. Could you explain for us?” Ms. Cora looked up from the mess on the floor apologetically.

“Yes ma’am, of course.” He smiled. “It’s important to meet dead lines.”

“Connor!” Willie hollered. “I caught him, you can come in now.”

Connor entered Willie’s tiny room. Hyper Pedro was fighting to get free but Willie wasn’t having it. He attached a leash to the dogs collar and took him to the backyard. He hooked Pedro’s leash to the clothes line and returned to his bedroom to get dressed. “Sorry about that, man. Pedro can be annoying sometimes.”

Connor chuckled at Willie’s little family dog issue. “No problem” They began to change into their dress clothes. “Stupid tie” Connor mumbled. He pulled the knot out and began again.

Willie shot Connor a concerned look. “Why are you looking so wiped out on your Dad’s Wedding day, man?”

Connor looked up from his screwed up tie. “Well….. you know how Jeremiah left for boot camp?”

“Yea… so….”

“Well, Alison won’t cooperate with Amy or Jason at all. She was fighting with Amy about some phone call from Gary last night. I wouldn’t even care except for the fact that she claims Gary called her from the airport. Nobody can figure that girl out but Jeremiah.” Connor wagged his head. “How can Gary be here? I mean, if he’s been deported…… wouldn’t he get stopped at the airport?” Connor shot Willie a concerned look then went back to his tie.

“For sure” Willie agreed.

The girls knocked on Willie’s door. “Are you guys ready yet?”

“Ready enough, come in” Willie hollered.

“Daisy can you do this stupid tie?” Connor grumbled.

“Sure” She came up close to him and worked on his tie for a few minutes.

He found relief in her peaceful face. “You look real pretty” he said quietly.

“Thank you” She studied his tire eyes. “I should not have asked you to take me to the salon. That must have been a real drag waiting on us like that. You look so tired now.” She didn’t know about Jason’s phone call so she just assumed Connor’s worn out expression was from waiting around the salon for two hours.

“No Babe, I wanted to take you. Any place you want to go, I’m your driver okay.”

“That should do it” She tried to step back to look at his tie but he had a hold of her hips. “Promise me, you’ll ask me if you need to go somewhere. Don’t go anywhere alone, okay.”

She studied his eyes again, puzzled by his worried tone. “Sure, okay” She hugged him, not understanding why he sounded so disturbed.

He petted her head for a moment and looked at the tiny ribbons that had been braided into her hair. “I like your hair too.”

She smiled. “You do? Really-really?”

He laughed at how easy it was to make her happy. “Yep, I do” he kissed her nose. “Now, let’s go see Dad get married.”

“Alright” and they left for church.

In the sanctuary…..

Mark began playing the keyboard and Susan sang softly as the church filled up with friends and family. The ushers walked the guests quietly to whichever side of the sanctuary they requested to sit on. Davis and George, looking very distinguished in their tuxes, stood in the front with Pastor Thomas.

When the flow of guests slowed down, Connor, Willie and Andy lined up against the back wall. They watched the door for late comers who might need help getting seated.

Jason and Amy arrived just as Peggy and the bridesmaids filled the entrance of the sanctuary. Jason nodded greetings to his buddies along the back wall. He pulled Amy up close to him and whispered something in her ear. She smiled shyly.

“Thanks for coming” Connor whispered to the both of them.

Mark switched to the wedding march and everyone watched little Lynn and Linda walk awkwardly down the aisle, tossing flower petals. Next were the bridesmaids. They walked in, one at a time, to the beat of the music. Maria was first, second was Grace, then Daisy came in last. Connor’s heart melted as he watched Daisy move carefully down the aisle with her cell phone in her hand.

Andy caught a glimpse of the cell phone and whispered to Connor. “What’s with the phone?”

“I’ve been having Adam’s family flashbacks, man. I asked her to carry it.” Connor confided quietly.

“Flashbacks hu” Andy looked at him with a knowing expression. “They’re a pain in the butt aren’t they? You get rid of one of ‘em, then up pop’s another one.”

“It’s dang frustrating, man. I can’t get a bit of sleep because of them.” Connor grumbled.

Andy studied Connor’s face then returned his gaze to the ceremony.

Joe, in his Army uniform, entered the sanctuary with Peggy on his arm. Everyone stood up and smiled as they glided down the aisle. Peggy was beautiful in her flowing wedding gown, lace veil and pink cheeks. As she got closer and closer to the front of the sanctuary Davis’s grin got bigger and bigger. They met in the front and Joe stepped to the side. Peggy and Davis made their promises to each other, exchanged rings, whispered more secrets and kissed. Ladies everywhere in the room sighed and dabbed their eyes. Children giggled at the kissing and Connor watched Daisy with adoring eyes.

Daisy stood to the side of Peggy with the other bridesmaids. They were all dressed up in beautiful lavender dresses. She smiled her sweet smile as she watched Davis kiss Peggy. Connor’s heart went out to her, calling her to look at him instead. Somehow she heard his heart and her eyes searched the crowd for him. She spotted him against the back wall, she smiled her special smile for him and he was butter.

The bridesmaids had to walk back down the aisle to make their exit. Maria and Grace came to stand next to Willie and Andy. Connor opened his arms and Daisy walked right into them. From the back wall they watched the rest of the wedding procession.

Davis and Peggy walked back down the aisle together as husband and wife. The congregation stood up, cheered and clapped with exuberant joy.

Family and friends gathered in the back near the stain glass windows for photos. They posed for millions of shots. They hugged and chatted until Mr. Langley announced on George’s speaker that the caterer’s were ready. “It’s banquet time!” He shouted. “Please go to the fellowship hall!”

The crowd bustled in that direction, excited to spend the rest of the night together celebrating. The guests lined up and walked around the food tables.

When the teens were satisfied with their plates they found an empty table and sat down to eat and discussed future plans.

“Susan and I are leaving next week for Music School in Australia.” Mark announced.

“WOW! That is so cool!” Willie spoke up energetically. Of course everyone at the table agreed wholeheartedly.

“Yea, Maria and I will be off to the University soon too.” Andy pitched in.

“Daisy and I have our first Baby Builder’s planning meeting Thursday afternoon with George.” Connor shared.

“My sister, Barbie is coming home this summer. She will be a junior with Grace, Daisy and me at Maxwell in September. Dad is going to make her join the cross country team with us.” Willie laughed. He secretly wondered how that would go. Barbie liked to ride her bike but she had never run on a team before.

“How about you, Amy, what are you and Alison doing?” Maria asked curiously.

“Well, I will be a senior at Merrillville High School. I was hoping Connor would hire me part time at his child care center when it opens up.” She glanced at him shyly when she mentioned her plan.

“Cool, my first employee”

Amy looked a little happier then.

“See, I told you he’d hire you if you asked him.” Jason tried to encourage his girlfriend.

Her smile got a little bigger then. “Thanks Connor, I’m sort of scared to try working anywhere else right now. Alison is hoping to leave with Jeremiah as soon as he gets back from boot camp. He said he’d take her out of here as soon as he gets orders.” Amy explained.

“Why are you scared to work anywhere else?”

“Well, when Alison leaves there is no one to handle the Adams family crap. They sometimes look around for me when they can’t find her. She’s leaving but I’m not.” Amy explained.

Connor eyed her sympathetically.

“I’ll look out for you Amy” Jason said as he gave her a sideways squeeze.

She smiled again. “You’ll be starting your training at the Police Academy. You’re gonna be busy.” Regardless of her smile, Amy’s eyes were worried and everyone at the table could see it.

“I could use the help at Baby Builders” Connor agreed. “Besides we’re on the same plot of land as Palmer Company. The Adams family can’t do a thing there.”

“Yea, and I can pick you up from work every afternoon.” Jason assured her. “Your safe as safe can be.” He smiled confidently.

Amy nodded meekly and Mark changed the subject. “You know, I want to have one good run at the boardwalk with all of you guys before we go our different ways. Do you think we can run tonight after the wedding?”

“THAT is a great idea!” Andy hollered.

“Don’t wear your good clothes!”  Connor challenged. “Because I might have to throw you in the ocean just for memory sake!”

“You’ll never get me in the ocean!” Mark smirked.

The group roared laughing at the prospect of a running/wrestling match brewing.

When people slowed down on the eating, Pastor Thomas called Mark and Susan up front for music leading and the opening of the dance floor. Of course, Davis and Peggy had to be the first ones to dance. But soon others joined them on the dance floor.

Daisy looked up at Connor hopefully.

“Do you want to dance?”

Daisy beamed a big smile. “Can we?”

“Sure Babe. Let’s go.” He pulled her chair out and walked her to the dance floor. He pulled her up close and twirled her around gently. She held on to him and laughed as they twirled around. He watched her laugh and move as best she could to the music. She wasn’t the type that could perform popular dance moves correctly but he enjoyed helping her try.

Just then Mark hollered “Everybody get in a line! Susan and I are going to teach you bunch of runners a line dance!” Mark grabbed Susan’s hand and moved to the center of the dance floor.

Everyone lined up side by side. First, Mark led them in simple dance moves, then he added in more complicated ones as time went on. The line of runners followed the moves they were shown as best they could. Everyone laughed and danced for the rest of the evening. Peggy and Davis were overjoyed at how well their wedding had turned out.

George stood up with his speaker and hollered “I am sorry to interrupt the dancing like this but it is time for the lovebirds to leave. They have a boat to catch and a cruise to take!”

Everyone shouted approval at the announcement of the great honeymoon ahead! Davis took Peggy in his arms and leaned her backwards and gave her a real good Bailey kiss. The group cheered! Peggy hid her face in Davis’s shoulder when they were done.  He hugged her tight and led her to the limo, he helped her in and they were off to catch a cruise ship.

The caterer’s started cleaning up and taking what was left of the food and dishes back to the trucks.

The gang clumped together in the center of the room excitedly.

“Well, I think it is time to run! Everybody go to Connor’s place! His Dad has left for a two week cruise!” Andy yelled.

“Yeah!” everyone hollered out their joyful approval.

“We can wear your running clothes, can’t we?” Mark slapped Connor on the back as he passed by him.

Connor buried his face in Daisy’s hair. “Daisy” he moaned. “What am I going to do?”

“You can hide out in my room. I won’t tell them you are in there.” She whispered.

Connor perked right up then. “I’ll do that. Hey, I almost forgot, I got something for you. Do you want to see it?” He asked hopefully.

“Really, what”

Connor pulled a long, silver chain from his pocket with a tiny silver locket at the end. Daisy opened it. Inside was a picture of Davis on one side and Connor on the other side.

“It’s beautiful.” Daisy admired it.

“It was my mother’s. It only had a picture of Dad in it so I added a picture of me in there.” He carefully put it over her head. “It looks real nice on you Babe” Connor smiled at his girl.

“I love it. Thank you Connor.”

Connor turned the locket over and showed her the back. “Look, see, it has our name engraved on the back.” Sure enough when he flipped it over the name, Bailey, was engraved on the back.

Daisy was going to give him a kiss but all their friends suddenly gathered around them. No one could get running clothes from Connor’s place until he got home. Therefore, they felt obligated to interrupt Daisy’s moment with him.

“No time for kiss’in, man, we’re running, remember” Mark slapped Connor on the back again.

“Hurry up, let’s go. You can kiss your girl later!” Andy fussed.

“Okay, okay, I’m going!” Connor returned irritably. Then an idea went through his head. “Wait a minute! Listen up! Dad gave me two rules about the apartment! #1 no one is allowed in his room for anything! #2 no parties! And I am adding on two more rules. #3 I don’t want anyone in the house that I don’t know personally. #4 no mess! You have to clean up after yourselves. If you wear my running clothes you have to put them in the washer yourself. Don’t leave’em all over the floor! If you eat, you have to clean up too! Deal?”

“Deal!” they yelled in unison as they left the church for Connor’s place.

At the boardwalk…..

The group began a gently jog.

“Come on you guys! What are we a bunch of babies? Did all that wedding cake turn you to mush? We are official High School graduates! Let’s pick it up a few hundred notches!” Andy chided.

“No all of us are graduates!” Daisy hollered.

“Yea!” Shouted Willie.

“Almost all of us then!” Andy corrected his statement.

Everyone grinned at the voice of their favorite leader and picked up their pace.

The warm breeze blew through the dune grass on left side of them. You could hear it rushing over the grasses at a speed faster than the teens were running. The wind teased the runners about their speed. Daring them to run faster and catch him. The teens wanted to run as fast as the wind!

“Feel that wind!” Andy hollered again. “Let’s go!”

They obeyed. They were hungry to take the winds challenge and run at its pace. No matter how hard they pressed in though, the wind still teased them to catch him if they could.

Connor smiled at the wind’s coaxing. He raised his eyes over Andy’s head.

“Come on Andy! I’m stepping on your feet back here!” Connor pushed Andy to move.

Andy laughed and moved out of formation ahead of the group.

Connor chased him with all his might! They made the turn at the end of the wooden platform and raced back down, passing the other runners at the speed of rushing wind.

The others broke formation after they took the turn at the end of the walk and raced ahead, challenging each other to beat them… if they could.

The wind cheered them on playfully as it rushed through the grasses ahead of them all.

The gang returned to the spot they had begun from. Everyone was panting with excitement from the run! They ran around in circles trying to slow their pace.

The guys started knocking each other around playfully. The wrestling was about to begin!

The laughter escalated when Andy suddenly grabbed Connor and began pulling him down to the ocean!

Connor picked up Andy in a monster hold and threw him in the sand and everyone roared with excitement!

Andy got up quickly and charged Connor fiercely, knocking him over. They wrestled wildly all over the place. When it appeared that Andy was winning, Willie jumped into the crazy wrestling match to help Connor. Willie grabbed Andy and pulled him back off Connor. Mark jumped on top of Connor and attempted to pick up where Andy left off, by pulling Connor to the ocean.

The girls screamed excitedly as the group inched down the beach towards the water.

Eventually, all the guys ended up in the ocean and getting dunked several times by one or the other of their buddies. When they had no more breath in them they crawled laughing and panting from the ocean to the place that the girls were sitting. They flopped out on the beach next to their gals looking at the stars.

Connor took Daisy’s hand and held it to his chest sharing his pounding heart with her and she laughed at its wild beat. He rolled up onto his side looking at Daisy’s laughing face and touched her cheek softly. “I love you Daisy girl.”

Daisy looked into his eyes and knew he meant it completely. “I love you Connor Bailey.”

He leaned over and kissed her gently. Spiting out sand, he laughed lightly at her sandiness. Together they listened to all the sounds of God’s world around them. The breeze was still running through the grasses near the platform making its rushing noise and the ocean was moving in and out steadily, declaring God’s faithfulness.

“I love God’s world!” Connor suddenly shouted out his praise to the King.

Everyone cheered and repeated his praise in like manner!

Then Andy hollered out! “I saw food at Connor’s place let’s go eat!”

“YEAH!” the group cheered at Connor’s generosity as they ran back across the boardwalk towards Connor’s place.

“Andy! Dad left that food for me, man! You are paying for whatever disappears!” Connor hollered as he and Daisy ran after their friends.

Well, this is the end of Volume I— By Julia French

Copyright date August 17, 2011

Bowker LLC, All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 978-0-615-54925-5

I am now in the process of editing and reformatting volume I for ebook.

Please keep returning to daisydesk for updates on the progress of,

Daisy and Connor’s World. 

As well as continued postings of

poetry, running and photos from my own life.

I’m not done, and neither are Daisy and Connor.

I hope you have a wonderful week, Julia

Zakimi Castle and Apples

Zakimi is a beautiful park with an Historic castle in the center. I sometimes run here.

It is not the biggest nor the fanciest castle park in Okinawa but I still like this one better than the others. It is on a hill with lots of trees and a walking path around the castle ruins. From my home to Zakimi, around the park and then back home again is a 4 mile run.

It’s an extremely peaceful place. Can you see the little bench between the trees? I like to sit there sometimes. It’s a good thinking spot.

It doesn’t matter which direction you run in, there is shade from the sun and beautiful scenery all around. It is perfect for exercising.

This morning, an interest in cooking was sparked when I saw a recipe advertisement for apples in the grocery store. I brought the flier home and gave two of the recipes a try.

First one:

I put 250 ml of water, sugar, 1/4 cup of white wine, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice in a sauce pan to boil for 8 to 10 minutes. Then I added one large sliced apple, reduced the heat and put the cover on for another few minutes. Then I turned the heat off and let it sit with the cover on for a while.

For breakfast I had warm apples cooked in this way. I put the juice in a tea cup and drank it too. It tasted like hot apple cider. Sweeeeeeeet breakfast!

Next…

I thinly sliced one large apple and some cabbage in a bowl. I sprinkled 1/4 cup of lemon juice all over it and mixed it well. Then I added mayo and black pepper and mixed it up again. Believe it or not, lemon juice+mayo+black pepper taste really good together. I will serve this salad with dinner tonight. I liked it too.

Well, this is it for now, I’m going to work on Daisy and Connor’s World, then later maybe head up to Zakimi for a little fresh air. Take care, Julia French

Chapter 56 Wedding Rehearsal and Dad

“Heeeeeeeeeeey Daizeeeeeeee!”Connor yelled down the hallway in the direction of Daisy’s room.  “Let’s go girl! We’ve got 15 minutes!”

Daisy raced from her room like lightning! “I’m ready! I’m ready!”

Connor caught her in his arms and gave her a quick kiss. “Where are the munchkins?”

“They’re brushing their teeth.” Daisy answered. “Lynn! Linda!” She calls over her shoulder. “Let’s go!”

Lynn and Linda came out of the bathroom and ran down the hall just like Daisy had done. “Con-wer!” they squealed joyfully as they scrambled up his leg onto his back. “Hey Con-wer we’re ready!” the girls squealed again, this time right in his ear. He squeezed his eyes shut at the high pitched sound searing through his brain.

Lynn was 4 years old and Linda had just turned 5. They had dirty blonde hair and ocean grey eyes just like Connor and Davis. Their parents, Valerie and Carl Winters, were Davis’s sister and brother in law. Tonight was the wedding rehearsal and the entire wedding party, which included the Winters family, were  meeting at church to rehearse.

Once the ringing in his ears subsided Connor said, “Is this everybody?”

“Yea, Valerie and Carl went in Grandpa’s car.” Daisy ushered the little band out the door and locked it.

On the drive to church, Connor stopped at the Family Mart and bought candy for his cousins and Peach Tea for himself and Daisy.

“Thank you Con-wer!” the little girls squealed again.

Connor laughed at their youthfulness. “I remember when you were like that.” He took a quick glance at Daisy as he maneuvered the vehicle back out into traffic.

“Really” She took a swig of her tea. “We had a lot of fun growing up together, didn’t we.”

“Sure did” He turned up the tunes and picked up speed because they were on the verge of being late.

A few minutes later they pulled into the church parking lot and parked.

Connor turned and gently took Daisy’s hand in his…. “Just to let you know Daisy girl, I’m expecting more good times too. We’re not done just because I graduated. We’re just get’in started.”

She smiled at the sincerity she heard in his voice.

The little girls in the back seat, bounced around, anxious to get out of the car. “Let us out! Let us out!”

Daisy spotted Pastor Thomas standing in the church entrance. He was waving at them to hurry up and come inside. “We better go. Pastor Thomas is calling us in.” She pointed at him from the car window.

Connor hopped out and went around to Daisy’s door and opened it. He cracked a small smile at his clumsy cousin’s when they tumbled out of the back seat after Daisy. “Careful… careful… let’s make it across the parking lot in one piece.” He caught their arms and helped them to straighten up and walk properly. From the corner of his eye, he watched Daisy move across the parking lot with the munchkins skipping awkwardly at her heels. “Daisy used to be clumsy like little Lynn and Linda but not anymore. What was she now?” Connor pondered. “Cautious, careful, peaceful, always happy to see me, there’s nothing clumsy about her anymore, that’s for sure.” Thoughts such as this, swirled around in his head until they hit the front door of the church.

They walked into church at just the right moment. Everyone was in place, ready to begin rehearsal. “It’s about time!” Davis hollered from the alter. “Get in your spot!”

Wedding Assignments:

1. Mark- was on the keyboard, ready to play
2. Susan- was next to him, ready to sing
3. Maria, Grace- were standing in the rear of the sanctuary, ready to march. Daisy quickly joined them as the third Brides Maid.
4. Andy, Willie- were standing against the wall as Ushers. Connor joined them. There wasn’t much for ushers to do until there were real guests to seat.
5. Mr. Langley and Carl Winters (Davis’s brother in law) – haggled in the church office about the food and catering services
6. George – Being the best man, stood next to Davis, toying with the microphone
7. Mrs. Langley, Cindy Victor, Valerie Winters (Davis’s sister)—hovered in a tight circle discussing flowers, decorations and the reception desk
8. Patty Sims (Peggy’s sister) – stood with Peggy in the hallway to keep her company, later she would sit at the gift table (when there was one to sit at)
9. Mrs. Sims (Peggy’s mother)- sat in her wheel chair on the front row of the church, just happy to be there.
10. Little Lynn and Linda Winters (Connor’s cousins) – stood in front of Peggy, holding baskets of flowers. When the procession began, they shyly tossed flowers accompanied by tiny bursts of nervous giggles.
11. Rose – told the Brides Maids when to march, later she would serve a grand rehearsal dinner party
12. Joe – stuck his elbow out and proudly walked Peggy down the aisle.  The rings were safely tucked away in his pocket. He would pull them out when the moment arrived.
13. Pastor Thomas – Led the couple through the entire process, making sure that each step was done.
14. Davis and Peggy – exchanging private homespun vows and kisses

Once everyone understood their role in the wedding and the rehearsal was successfully complete, Pastor Thomas stood on a chair hollering, “Time to pray!” The group quickly gathered around and bowed their heads for prayer. When he was finished they felt compelled to hug Peggy and Davis a million times, wishing them a happy life forever and ever and ever.

““Haaaaaaaa-le-luuuuuuu-ya it’s chow time!” ” Joe hollered over the happy bunch of hugging family members.

“To the Greene’s!” Davis yelled!

The Greene apartment was a busy place. Some people were preparing food in the kitchen and some were setting the table. Some just milled about, chit-chatting at top speed.

Valerie was picking on her big brother, Davis. Peggy found the sibling rivalry going on between them, amusing. Valerie decided to ham things up for Peggy’s benefit.

“When we were growing up….” Valerie teased. “It was the style for the boys to grow their hair out long on the top and put dippity-doo in it. Davis would get that dippity-doo out and blow-dry his hair into a huge mountain on top of his head. It nearly stood straight up in the air! You should have seen that doo he had, Peggy!” Valerie roared laughing.

Davis grabbed Valerie in a head lock! “I didn’t have no doo, girl! My hair was just curly, so shut up!”

“Yes you did! Yes you did!” Valerie laughed hilariously as she fought off Davis’s monster hold. “Then…. one time he was working on that hairdo of his and he got his hair caught in the blow dryer! You should have heard him holler! Dad had to cut it all off!” Valerie laughed and laughed.

“Shut up Valerie! That was the style back then!” Davis tickled his sister as she told his secrets. “I’m gonna tell what happened under the high school bleachers, if you don’t shut up Valerie!”

“What happened under the bleachers?” Carl repeated Davis’s words with sudden interest. Carl already knew about Davis’s “doo”. That was an old story. But this was the first time he’d heard anything about “bleachers”.

“Ohhhhh, you don’t know about “the bleachers” Carl? Maybe I should just tell a few stories about my kid sister!” Davis and Carl both laughed at Valerie’s suddenly quiet state.

“A doo, wow Davis, I can’t really picture you with a doo. “The Fonzie look” was considered stylish at one time. That was before my time of course. I’ve only seen pictures.” Peggy chuckled at the new revelation about her fiancé.

“What do you mean, before your time? I’m not that much older than you Peg!” Davis defended.

“Okay I think we’ve got everything on the table!” Rose sang. “Come and eat!”

“Cradle robber” Valerie joked as she passed Davis to the family table. Davis rolled his eyes and pulled her hair with all the affection of a good big brother. Rose noticed the squabbling pair and gave Davis a scolding eye. Davis brushed off Rose’s look because Valerie was clearly asking for it.

When Connor’s little cousin’s came to the table, they fought over who would sit next to him. Daisy settled the argument quickly by pointing out that Connor was sitting at the corner of the table which meant that there was only one chair next to him. That chair was hers so they would have to sit next to their parents. The girls pouted and moved off to the other side of the table.

Connor chuckled lightly at their pouting faces but said nothing.

Davis and Peggy stood up and gave heartfelt thanks to everyone for helping with the wedding. Peggy spoke first. “We’re so blessed to have such wonderful people to share our joy with.” Davis interrupted her with, “Hooking up so late in life like we did….. well you just don’t always know how family will take it. But you guys have been great.” Then Peggy jumped back in, “I especially want to thank Connor. He has supported us so beautifully. Well, you all have but…. you know…. Davis being Connor’s father and all, he could have kicked up a fit and kept us apart if he’d wanted, but he didn’t.”

“You’re the best coach ever!” Connor hollered. “I get to keep my track coach even after high school! Good job Dad!”

Tears rolled down Peggy’s face. “Thank you” she sat down quickly. Davis patted her shoulder and lifted his glass. “To a great family who can see the good in every situation and weather the changed of life like real champs!”

“Cheers!” They sang in unison for the first toast of the evening.

Joe then stood up and prayed over the food then everyone dug in. The family talked one hundred miles a minute through the whole meal. When they couldn’t eat another bite, they cleaned up and started the coffee.

“Dad, can I talk to you and Peggy….” Connor hesitated then added, “…alone?”

“Sure, let’s go next door” Davis tilted his head in the direction of the front door.

Daisy wanted to go too but Connor stopped her. “No Babe, you stay here with the family. I’ll just be next door.” He kissed her nose and looked in her eyes. “Don’t worry.” His smile was unusually warm and tender. “I’m just next door.”

“Kay.” She wandered off to the TV room to watch whatever DVD the family had picked out and Connor followed his Dad next door.

Bailey apartment….

When Connor entered his apartment, Davis and Peggy were sitting on the couch. “What’s on your mind son?”

Connor sat in the arm-chair next to the couch and cleared his throat. “Well Dad, I’ve been thinking….. you know….. about the apartment and living arrangements. I have an idea……”

“Really well, let’s hear it.”

“We all know that Coach Peggy has an entire house full of stuff that she wants to bring over here.” Connor looked at Peggy, hoping he’d not offended her by pointing out the obvious. She seemed fine so he continued. “We also know it won’t all fit.”

“What’s your point?” Davis interrupted, not sure that he liked where Connor was going in his conversation.

“Well…. I was wondering… if maybe…. you would consider moving over to Peggy’s place instead of Peggy moving in here. That way, she doesn’t have to worry about losing any of her stuff. You could just move your personal stuff… you know… like your clothes, over to her place. I could stay here, next door to Daisy. I could take care of everything that you left here.” Connor rushed through the rest of his thought, trying to avoid getting interrupted again. “What do you think of that?”

“I don’t want to pay for two places.” Davis said. “Plus George says, he can have a room set aside for you in the new Baby Builders Day Care Center. You can stay there. Then Peggy can have your room for her stuff.” Davis answered back like it was easy as pie for Connor to move.

“Dad, I can’t move without Daisy. She has issues with being left. I promised her I wouldn’t leave. I’ll sleep on the couch, anything. But I can’t leave until she can go with me.” Connor pleaded.

“Issues with being left, I’ve never noticed any issues with being left.” Davis blew it off.

“The reason…. you’ve never noticed any issues with her being left is because I never leave her. She talks to me, not you, about those kind of things. Besides, even if you use my room for Peggy’s stuff, it still won’t all fit over here. Why don’t you stay at Peggy’s place for just two years? I can marry Daisy in two years. I can move over to her place or we can find our own place together. Don’t make me move out yet. It would be easier for you to move than me.” Connor pleaded hopefully.

“Will you pay the bills?”

“Sure. I can do that….. Can I get a roommate?”

“I have to approve of your roommate and he can’t have my room. He’ll have to sleep on the other twin bed in your room. No one goes in my room but me. Can you guys respect that?”

“That’s easy.” Connor’s confidence returned.

“What do you think Peggy? Do you think me moving to your place would be easier?” Davis put his arm around Peggy and looked at her, wanting to know what she thought.

“I think it would take a ton of stress off me, because I really don’t know what to do about all my furniture. This gives me two more years to work on it. Connor is old enough to stay here. Shoot! You’re trying to send him off to another place anyway. Letting him stay here seems so much nicer in my opinion.” That was Peggy’s two cents.

“Peggy’s great.” Connor thought with relief.

Davis rubbed the side of his face, thinking. “No parties.” He pointed at Connor then paused for more thought. He was trying to come up with a set of rules to lay down for Connor but he couldn’t think of any. Connor just wasn’t the type that needed more than a party rule. “Okay then…. I agree, your idea is easier for all of us” Davis gave in. “It works for now, at least, but…. I can move back here any time I want. Got it?”

“Got it!” Connor stood up with his fists in the air and yelled, “YES!”

“Whew, I’m just glad this little meeting wasn’t about calling me, Mother.” Peggy chuckled.

Connor started laughing. Peggy and Davis joined him.

In between chuckles Peggy added, “I mean…. I just don’t feel ready to have a grown person call me mamma.”

“Grown… he ain’t grown!” Davis teased. “He’s tall yea…. but that don’t make him grown.”

“I’ll just stick to Coach, how’s that?” Connor was glad she wasn’t going to try to be his mother. To be honest, the thought had never crossed his mind. He returned to the Greene’s apartment overjoyed.

Back at the Greene Apartment….

He took a peek in the kitchen. “Is Daisy in here?” He saw Grandma Rose making popcorn with Lynn and Linda but no Daisy.

“She’s in the TV room” Linda said. “We’re making popcorn, want some?”

“Bring me some when you’re done.” Connor zipped out to the TV room and sat on the floor next to Daisy. “What did I miss?” he whispered.

Daisy explained briefly what was happening in the movie. Lynn and Linda came back into the room with popcorn and squished into the laps of Connor and Daisy. They snacked on popcorn and watched the movie until the little girls fell asleep.

“Here, I’ll take her” Carl leaned over Connor with his arms outstretched for one daughter and Valerie leaned over Daisy for the second daughter.

“I better go to bed too” Daisy yawned.

“Night Babe, see you in the morning.”

hours later, when all was quiet, the phone rang….

Connor reached over and looked at the clock. “3 a.m. who the heck is call’in at 3 a.m.” He fumbles for the phone with sleepy hands and flips it open to see Jason’s name as the caller. “Shit man, it’s 3 a.m.” He rubbed his eyes with the palm of his free hand and yawned.

“I’m sorry to wake you up but uh…. we have a problem.” Jason said.

“What’s the problem?”

“Amy called, completely hysterical. I couldn’t really understand why she was so upset so I came over to her house to… ya know… help her out. I’m here at their house now. She and Alison had a huge fight, man. Amy wants to go with me but not Alison. I don’t know what to do.” Jason said frustrated. “I’m gonna have to leave Alison here. She won’t get in my car.”

“What are they fighting about?”

“Alison says that Gary called her. He wanted her to pick him up from the airport. She says that she freaked out when she heard his voice and dropped her phone in the toilet. She says she wants to see Jeremiah right now. But he’s still at boot camp, man. What can I do about that?” Jason explained in a helpless tone.

“What does Amy say?”

“Well, she says almost the same thing. She said that she walked into the bathroom and caught Alison on the phone with Gary. And that her coming into the bathroom scared Alison and that’s when she dropped the phone into the toilet. I don’t know who to believe, man. What do I do?”

“When does Jeremiah get back from boot camp?” Connor asked.

“He has another week up there in Georgia.”

“Well, when Jeremiah gets back he can figure out if Alison is telling the truth or not. Don’t try to figure it out right now.”

“Can I leave Alison here and just take Amy with me?”

“That’s what I’d do, man.” Connor advised.

“Okay I’m doing that.” Jason decided.

They hung up. “Gary…. how can he be at the airport….. crap….” Connor put his hands behind his head, deep in thought for the rest of the night.

Dear Reader, Chapter 57, The Wedding, is happening next.  Looks like, Davis and Peggy are going to really do it. They’re going to tie the knot and give marriage a second shot. So brave, eh? Julia

Chapter 55 Graduation and Dinner

The Maxwell graduation ceremony was held down town and took pretty much all morning long. Rose, Coach Peggy, Cindy Victor, and Mrs. Langley…. after much time and wondering…. finally got to meet Susan’s mother, Ms. Page, as well as Doctor Chimes’ ex-wife, Sarah, for the first time. Sarah had flown all the way from Washington to watch Jeremiah graduate. Mrs. Page managed a local piano store but rarely left it for anything. Therefore, no one had ever met either one of them until now. After proper greetings went around, the group turned their attention to the Seniors receiving diplomas and giving speeches.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone pulled out their cell phones and camera’s and took hundreds of photos. In Daisy’s opinion, the best photos were of the Senior pyramid. It had been Jeremiah’s idea of course. The Seniors piled high on top of each other. They managed to hold a pose for just long enough for one camera click, then…. BOOM!…. they all came crashing down on top of each other. Daisy got shots of the entire fall! She replayed the series of shots as her friends peered over her shoulder. They roared with laughter as they watched themselves crash to the ground on top of each other.

“What great photos! They’re totally worth the bruises I got!” Connor chuckled as he brushed off the dirt from his dress slacks.

Family then crowded around to hug Seniors. Now for many families, hugging a teen was a delicate activity. It was only done on special occasions such as graduation. Therefore, mother’s felt compelled to overdo it. Teens tolerated hugs and kisses a little more graciously on special occasions. Ladies encircled their graduates, smothering them with kisses and squeezed the breath out of them. The Senior’s smiled through it all, reminding themselves that this event only happened once in a lifetime, kisses and hugs were part of the package.

Of course, Davis, Grandpa Joe, Doc. Chimes and Mr. Langley were there but it was hard for them to get past the overly affectionate women to say much so they held back politely. They’d have a chance later on in the evening to give their words of praise.

As soon as the hugging died down, Connor knocked knuckles with all his buddies. “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”

“Are you coming by the Langley house for the party?” Andy asked Connor hopefully.

“Naw, man, I’m gonna meet my family at the dinner theater. I’ll catch up with you guys some other time.”

“Okay well, see you later then.”

Connor turned to Daisy who was standing behind him. “Let’s go Babe.” He took her hand then looked over in his Dad’s direction. “We’re leaving. We’ll see you at the dinner theater.”

Rose suddenly grabbed him and squeezed him one more time. “I’m so proud of you Connor.” She praised and patted his back rapidly.

“Th..th…anks gr…. grandma, I’ll sss….ee you at din..ner.” Connor stammered under intensive back patting.

Davis spoke over Grandma Rose’s head, “I’ll see you at the theater.” If his son was leaving then he could leave also. He was looking forward to dinner with Peggy and the Greene family and was relieved that the formalities of graduation were now officially over. He could relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. “Come on Peg let’s go pick up your mom.” Davis grabbed Peggy with one arm while he shook Joe’s hand with the other. “Thanks for coming Joe. I’ll meet you and Rose at the theater.”

“Thank God!” Joe loosened his tie quickly like he was choking on something. “Can I get out of this monkey suit now?”

Davis chuckled. “I don’t much care for ties either. See you at dinner.”

***

In the Firebird, on the way to dinner, Connor asked, “Did you like graduation?”

“It was great.” Daisy said a little too quietly.

“Then what’s wrong?” He was concerned by her unusual silence.

“I’m gonna miss you. You won’t be at school with me anymore. Out of all my years of school… this one year… was the only year, you and I were together at the same school, at the same time.” Daisy paused to look at her hands in her lap then continued. ” Andy, Maria, Mark, Susan, even Jeremiah and Jason….. will all be gone…. all my best friends will be gone.” Daisy stated sadly.

Connor pulled into the dinner theater parking lot, parked, and turned to her. “Day… I’m still here. I will always be here for you. I will take you to school and pick you up. Willie and Grace will still be at school with you. Okay Babe? You won’t be alone.”

She smiled even though there were tears brimming. “You did so great in school. You graduated with honors and all kinds of awards. Wow, you did really well. All of you did.” Daisy tried to be upbeat and praise his achievements, it was after all, his graduation day, but she was doing a lousy job of it. He could see right through her. Brimming tears were going to overflow any minute and he knew it.

He cupped her face in his hands tenderly. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you.” He whispered as he came closer to kiss her. “I’m right here Babe,” he kissed her again softly. “I want to be with you always.” He smiled down at her.

Finally, she gave way to her tears and threw her arms around him. “Thank you….” she sobbed. “… for not going off to some faraway place and leaving me alone.”

He petted her head softly as she released her fears there on his shoulder. “I could never leave you Daisy girl….. Never…” He whispered his promise into her hair as he held her.

“I’m sorry I’m such a baby.” She sobbed.

Connor started laughing then. He took her face in his hands again and looked her straight in the eyes with a huge grin on his face. “You are my one and only Baby Daisy. Now…. we’re going out with our family tonight and its gonna be just us all-night-long. Just the Bailey’s and the Greene’s, nobody else. Because it’s my graduation and that’s how I like it. I like being with my family, I like being with you.” He wiped her tears with his thumbs and she stopped crying.

“Just the Bailey’s and the Greene’s; that is how I like it too” She said softly. Once the comforting words registered in her heart, she beamed a happy smile at him.

He laughed all over again at the way she took hold of his words. “You are the sweetest girl. I guess I should warn you though….  I heard from Dad that Peggy is bringing her mother from the old folk’s home to eat with us tonight. But we can count her a Bailey. Can’t we?”

“Of course, she and Peggy are both Bailey’s for sure” Daisy agreed.

“Do you want to go inside now?”

“Yea” Daisy returned with renewed joy.

Connor hopped out of the car and went around to her side and opened the door. He tossed his arm across her shoulder in his usual, affectionate manner and they strolled across the parking lot together.

***

The Dinner Theater was a large building, with beautiful sand colored stone walls and stone floors. Potted Palm trees lined the entrance and led straight up to the reception desk where Connor said, “We’d like to be seated at the Bailey table please.”

The man at the desk motioned for a waitress to come and escort them to the correct table.

“This doesn’t look like the seafood place does it.” Connor whispered to Daisy as they followed the waitress.

“No, it doesn’t” she whispered back with big eyes. She’d never been in such a fancy place before.

Carefully fitted, polished stones surrounded them, giving a hidden, sheltered feeling to the place. Tables with Palm tree divisions, circled a stage and to insure good visibility for the dining customers, the stage was about 4 feet lower than the tables surrounding it, making the sunken stage easy to see.

The waitress led them to an oval table already filled with excited family members. Joe, Davis and Peggy were sitting on one side of the long table and Grandma Rose was on the other side with two empty chairs next to her for Connor and Daisy. They all stood up clapping when Connor arrived at the table. “There’s our graduate!” Davis boomed proudly. “Come sit down son!”

Connor pulled out a chair for Daisy first then he sat down in the chair next to her.

“Connor, Daisy, this is my mother, Sally Sims.” Peggy held her hand out in the direction of a cute little white haired lady, sitting in a wheelchair at the end of the table.

“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Sims.” Daisy and Connor grinned at their soon-to-be, new relation.

Grandma Sims held out shaky hands like she wanted a hug. Daisy, sitting the closest to her, leaned over and received her shaky hug.

Then Davis suddenly spoke up, “Come on Connor! Let’s see those awards!”

Connor looked over at Daisy “What’d I do with’em?”

“They’re in my bag.” Daisy reached to the floor and pulled up her bag and brought out all Connor’s certificates and his running trophy. She passed them to Davis for inspection.

Davis put on his bifocals and carefully studied Connor’s Diploma.

“Dad, you already saw it. It’s real, I promise.” Connor sighed at his Dad’s skeptical expression.

“Just making sure, son, just making sure” Davis moved on to the other papers stashed inside the diploma. “Look at this Peg, he got the, Most Likely to Succeed, award.” Davis held out the paper for Peggy to examine it. “What I don’t understand…. is why didn’t he get the, Most Athletic Award?” Davis grumbled, a bit put out about the pass-over.

“There must be some kind of mistake.” Grandpa Joe huffed, equally disturbed by the school’s over sight.

“I’m not the only athlete in the school, Dad. Andy got that award.” Connor grinned at his family’s loyalty. “Look at this one, highest Math scores in the whole school” Connor reached over and pulled the Math certificate to the top of the stack.

“Yep, that’s a good one. You were always a whiz at Math.” Davis agreed. “Well, look at this trophy! First place in the State Championship! I am just bust’in with pride, son.” Davis turned the trophy around in his hands for a while before he passed it around the table along with the other certificates for everyone to gloat over.

They all ‘oooooed’ and ‘aaaaaaed’ over each paper and the trophy that passed by them. Eventually, everything ended up back in Daisy’s lap and she returned them safely to her bag.

The lights began to dim right after the waitress came and took dinner orders. Performers walked onto the stage, introduced themselves and the play they were about to perform.

The food arrived……

Davis prayed. “Dear Lord, I am so thankful for my son, who has graduated, and for all my family members, bless this food and our conversation tonight in Jesus name Amen.”

The show began……

They laughed and they cried at all the right spots during the show. Actually, what happen was, the guys laughed at the ladies when they (the ladies) cried at the right spots during the play. “Jeez Day… what’s with the tears?” Connor wiped her cheek with a chuckle.

“It’s a drama…. you’re suppose to cry.” She whimpered in defense.  The other ladies nodded in agreement. “It’s so sad.” Rose moaned.

“They killed off the lover on purpose, Rose. It’s just a tactic to get you all stirred up.” Joe wagged his head sympathetically at his emotional wife.

“Yea… it’s just a sales technic so they can make a part two.” Davis laughed without sympathy.

“How can you say that?” Peggy chided then blew her nose.

“Oh Peg” Davis put his arm around the back of her chair and rubbed her shoulder, trying with all his might not to laugh. Which in turn made Connor laugh harder and Daisy pout more.

A sudden “snort” came from the wheel chair at the end of the table. Peggy’s mother, head bent over was sound asleep.

“I don’t think that sales pitch idea works on everybody, Dad.” Connor chuckled and everybody joined him, tears and all.

When the show came to an end, tables around the room applauded energetically. The lights returned to they’re original setting. The actors, encouraged by the positive response from the audience, returned to the stage and bowed.

“So Connor, fill us in on what you are doing now that you are an official high school graduate.” Joe asked curiously.

“Well, Willie and Grace are taking over the sweeping and vacuuming at Palmer in the afternoons; So Daisy and I can focus on getting the Baby Builder’s Child Care Center set up. As soon as Dad leaves for his honeymoon, we’ll have our first organizational meeting with George. Our goal is to be open by September.” Connor stated proudly.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing that get started. But what about school?” Joe wondered.

“I’m planning to take Accounting and Child Management courses at the Junior College as soon as Baby Builders gets off the ground.” Connor explained.

“That’s sounds wonderful” Coach Peggy and Rose both praised together.

Then Peggy looked at Rose and changed the subject. “Rose, can you help Davis’s sister, Valerie Winters, when she and her family come into town for the wedding? They need a place to stay.” Peggy asked.

“Sure, they’ve stayed at my place before. How about the rehearsal dinner” Rose asked.

“Oh well, I haven’t planned that yet.” Peggy sounded a bit stressed now. “There are still so many undone details.”

“Well, I will have a big dinner at my place after the wedding rehearsal for you Okay?” Rose happily offered.

“Would you? That would be wonderful. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.” Peggy gushed with appreciation.

As Rose and Peggy continued chatting about the wedding, Connor leaned into Daisy’s ear and whispered, “People are dancing on the stage down there now. Do you wanna try?”

“I’ve never danced in public before.” She whispered back.

“Neither have I. Let’s try.”

“Kay.”

They got up and moved to the sunken stage below where people were slow dancing and whispering with their partners. Connor put his hands around Daisy’s waist and pulled her up close to him, laying his cheek on her head. She rested her head on his shoulder. They moved slowly to the music. Connor hummed along with the tune then gave her a twirl just for fun. Daisy giggled. He looked down at her smiling face and spun her again just because she seemed to like it. He smiled and kissed her laughing face which made him feel like laughing. Her giggles were having a contagious effect on him. He spun her a few more times and they laughed together. They were lost in their own world where no one else existed except just them. He held her tight enjoying her laughter and her kisses as they moved somewhat in step to the music. They were not dancers. They were runners but they were in love and that made their dance extra special, despite their awkward steps.

“Thanks for making my graduation so great Daisy”

Daisy beamed her sweet smile and Connor took it and tucked it away in his heart along with all her other smiles for safe keeping.

***

Maria sat at her window watching the stars. It was 3 a.m. but she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was full of the graduation and the big party that her family had thrown for her and her brother. She was wondering how Gary and Glenn were going to graduate since they were sent back to Brazil before their Senior year was finished.

She admired her diploma in the moon light. “I’m so thankful I have it but…… but….. not everyone has got one of these” she mumbled sadly out to the Lord. “Can you fix it?… Can you?”

Dear Reader, up next is, Chapter 56 Davis and Peggy’s Wedding Rehearsal. There is a lot happening in that chapter, you don’t want to miss it. Julia French

Sushi Class

Although my family eats sushi all the time, I don’t make it myself. I buy it from the store already made. I thought it would be fun to learn how to do it myself so last Friday I participated in a sushi making class.

The rice balls are weighed on a scale to make sure the size is right. Once you get the feel for the correct weight, you can pretty much guess what the weight is and make the balls. It was more difficult to get the ball into the correct shape than it was to get the weight right.

Here, our instructor taught us, two different ways to slice the fish. Slicing against the grain seems to be the most important key.

Fish is a very soft meat. To slice it correctly you have to take your time. Well, I did anyway. The instructor was pretty fast. However he managed to teach me three different types of sushi in one class period.

On Sunday evening, I did not buy sushi already made. I bought salmon and prepared it myself. Almost too pretty to eat, eh? Seeing that I have never been much of a cook, my son  got a kick out of watching me make it. He ate the whole plate.

I also picked a handful of Basil from my garden and mixed it in with Tomato and cheese. I like this kind of salad from time to time. It goes well with sushi.

In closing, I’m still running and writing. I ran 4.5 miles this morning, just to get the day moving. I’m also working on, Connor’s Graduation Dinner, in Daisy and Connor’s World. Busy, busy, busy over here, I just wanted to stop in and say how my sushi class went, as it was the highlight of last week.

Last week is done, Monday has begun, there’s laundry to be hung, and stories to be sung….. May your week be a happy one, Julia French