Liam and his girlfriend Jessica wrestling. They are really really wrestling!
Beautiful girls Jessica and Sherri.
Having fun at Sherri's birthday BBQ.
This was taken just after I arrived at the beach.
Just to Preface:
I have know Sherri, Chris, Liam and Shelby Hollyman since August 2001. Liam was in my 5th grade gifted class at Bay Meadows. Sherri and I struck up a friendship that year. On the last day of school that year she said to me, "We will be friends forever." There you go. I had Shelby in my 5th grade gifted class in 2003-2004. It was Shelby and Kaitlyn (another close family friend) who went to the school office in January 2004 to pick up a Fedex that just arrived. It was Ellie's referral from China. Shelby loves that she was the person to hold the envelope and bring it to me in the classroom. I didn't open it till I saw Fred that night. TORTURE!
There are some days that I text her and I say, "You are stressing..I can feel it." It is true. Also, one afternoon I was having to take deep breaths and was only sitting down. My mind went to Sherri and I text her. "Are you taking deep breaths?" She had just walked up 2 flights of stairs and was winded. We are very connected.
Day 1: Thursday: June 3
After the flight to Branson (By far the smallest airport I have ever seen) from Orlando I was happy to be on the ground. It wasn't a bad set of flights I just do not care for flying in general. Liam arrived at the airport to pick me up. On the way to the beach, where Sherri's birthday bbq was being held we stopped for some butter and to allow me to change into my swim things. About 10 minutes from the beach the caddie ran out of gas. We were on a steep, steep incline and the car just stopped. Liam was so brave! There is no traffic in Branson so I stepped out of the car and brave Liam manuvered the car down the slope into a parking lot. There was a gas station just across the street so we were back on the road in no time flat.
When we arrived at the beach I encouraged Liam to walk ahead of me to the picnic tables which were just down a hill. I followed behind a couple of minutes. At the top of the hill I could see our party under a small pavillion and clearly could see Sherri. So I stopped at the top of the hill and leaned on a fence. She saw me but didn't really see me. It took about 20 seconds and a "Hi there Girlfriend!" from me to get her to realize I was really there. The sobbing then hit. She totally melted into hysterics (happy hysterics) and I had to rush down this hill in flip flops to reach her. She grabbed me and we hugged. "You are here! In Branson!" Was all she could say.
I did not take the girls. Sherri is very very big on celebrating her birthday on her birthday. So Ellie, if she came, would have to miss her class party. She wanted to attend so I went alone. I could have taken Sagan but then I would have still been in mommy mode and not really rested. So much to the disappointment of Sherri and Shelby (well not really disappointed but ...) I was there solo. It would have been more impactful if the Asian maffia was in tow.
It was a wonderful day on the beach and people kept calling Sherri's phone to wish her a happy birthday. Each time she would tell them of her brave friend Jeanne who flew from Orlando to be with her on her birthday.
Day 2; Friday June 4
I really wanted to spend time, any kind of time (washing dishes, folding clothes, anything) with Sherri. I just saw her in February but it wasn't a really leisurely visit. She and the family came to Orlando and they were super busy. So I took Sherri out to breakfast at Panera where we sat for an hour and talked about everything. Then we went to lunch at the landings and ate on the water. We talked and talked. It's what I wanted. Girlfriend time.
Day 3: Saturday, June 5
On Saturday Shelby would be competing in a swim meet. These things last all day. I was a Branson Waves volunteer, complete with t-shirt, selling swim supplies and whatnot from the gift table. It was a pleasure to see Shelby compete. She only took up swimming last year. I had to leave at 130 to be sure I could shower and change for my 4pm flight back to Orlando.
It was a great visit and it really filled me up.
Once the plane landed (BTW Air Tran is very good) I was walking through the terminal from the plane and was thinking "I bet Fred and the girls are waiting for me past security" Lo and behold I was right! I saw the girls complete with flowers and a sign "Welcome Home Mommy!" The same screaming and jumping the girls do for their father when he comes home from trips were there for me. The girls then run to the opening of the walkway where I am hugged and kissed and told how much they missed me. It was lovely.
I really enjoyed my time away. 3 days/2 nights and lots of sleep.
Just to Preface:
I have know Sherri, Chris, Liam and Shelby Hollyman since August 2001. Liam was in my 5th grade gifted class at Bay Meadows. Sherri and I struck up a friendship that year. On the last day of school that year she said to me, "We will be friends forever." There you go. I had Shelby in my 5th grade gifted class in 2003-2004. It was Shelby and Kaitlyn (another close family friend) who went to the school office in January 2004 to pick up a Fedex that just arrived. It was Ellie's referral from China. Shelby loves that she was the person to hold the envelope and bring it to me in the classroom. I didn't open it till I saw Fred that night. TORTURE!
There are some days that I text her and I say, "You are stressing..I can feel it." It is true. Also, one afternoon I was having to take deep breaths and was only sitting down. My mind went to Sherri and I text her. "Are you taking deep breaths?" She had just walked up 2 flights of stairs and was winded. We are very connected.
Day 1: Thursday: June 3
After the flight to Branson (By far the smallest airport I have ever seen) from Orlando I was happy to be on the ground. It wasn't a bad set of flights I just do not care for flying in general. Liam arrived at the airport to pick me up. On the way to the beach, where Sherri's birthday bbq was being held we stopped for some butter and to allow me to change into my swim things. About 10 minutes from the beach the caddie ran out of gas. We were on a steep, steep incline and the car just stopped. Liam was so brave! There is no traffic in Branson so I stepped out of the car and brave Liam manuvered the car down the slope into a parking lot. There was a gas station just across the street so we were back on the road in no time flat.
When we arrived at the beach I encouraged Liam to walk ahead of me to the picnic tables which were just down a hill. I followed behind a couple of minutes. At the top of the hill I could see our party under a small pavillion and clearly could see Sherri. So I stopped at the top of the hill and leaned on a fence. She saw me but didn't really see me. It took about 20 seconds and a "Hi there Girlfriend!" from me to get her to realize I was really there. The sobbing then hit. She totally melted into hysterics (happy hysterics) and I had to rush down this hill in flip flops to reach her. She grabbed me and we hugged. "You are here! In Branson!" Was all she could say.
I did not take the girls. Sherri is very very big on celebrating her birthday on her birthday. So Ellie, if she came, would have to miss her class party. She wanted to attend so I went alone. I could have taken Sagan but then I would have still been in mommy mode and not really rested. So much to the disappointment of Sherri and Shelby (well not really disappointed but ...) I was there solo. It would have been more impactful if the Asian maffia was in tow.
It was a wonderful day on the beach and people kept calling Sherri's phone to wish her a happy birthday. Each time she would tell them of her brave friend Jeanne who flew from Orlando to be with her on her birthday.
Day 2; Friday June 4
I really wanted to spend time, any kind of time (washing dishes, folding clothes, anything) with Sherri. I just saw her in February but it wasn't a really leisurely visit. She and the family came to Orlando and they were super busy. So I took Sherri out to breakfast at Panera where we sat for an hour and talked about everything. Then we went to lunch at the landings and ate on the water. We talked and talked. It's what I wanted. Girlfriend time.
Day 3: Saturday, June 5
On Saturday Shelby would be competing in a swim meet. These things last all day. I was a Branson Waves volunteer, complete with t-shirt, selling swim supplies and whatnot from the gift table. It was a pleasure to see Shelby compete. She only took up swimming last year. I had to leave at 130 to be sure I could shower and change for my 4pm flight back to Orlando.
It was a great visit and it really filled me up.
Once the plane landed (BTW Air Tran is very good) I was walking through the terminal from the plane and was thinking "I bet Fred and the girls are waiting for me past security" Lo and behold I was right! I saw the girls complete with flowers and a sign "Welcome Home Mommy!" The same screaming and jumping the girls do for their father when he comes home from trips were there for me. The girls then run to the opening of the walkway where I am hugged and kissed and told how much they missed me. It was lovely.
I really enjoyed my time away. 3 days/2 nights and lots of sleep.
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