One of the summer purchases that need to be hauled back to China was a Thomas the Train table and chair set from WalMart. I initially balked at its purchase (as I do with almost every purchase in the summer) but seeing the boys sit down and eat without running around all over the place is verification that buying it was the right thing to do.
Well we made it back to the Middle Kingdom only to discover that after 6 weeks of being gone things regarding the internet have not changed. My blog site is blocked as it was when I left by the Great Firewall of China. Always ways to get around it but it just gets soooooo bloody annoying. Paranoid buggers these government officials.
Other than that the trip was mostly good. On the last flight of three Carter claimed that he wanted to get off the airplane and not get on another one for a while. He and Nathan were very happy to see Aiyi (the nanny) and they played with toys until they dropped.
The jet lag has solidly kicked in. We unpacked all of our goods and then I went for a “nap” at 3:30 in the afternoon. I awoke at 7:30 to Alice telling me to go back to sleep. No arguments there. I awoke again at midnight and am wide awake! ARrrrrrggghhhh!
Will do a post-summer post in a few days.
The summer in Quesnel has come and gone and I am not sure if I am ready to go. It goes without saying that the passing of my sister Shelley has overshadowed the entire visit and will now always be part of summer forevermore. The only silver lining on this otherwise very dark cloud is that it has made me appreciate family all the more and I feel it has brought me closer to my mother, father and brother. I have found strength in togetherness but realize now that a person can only grieve alone.
Saying goodbye tomorrow will be so difficult that I can’t even think about it. I am going to miss my family and this place I call home so much because I know that it will never be the same again.
In the days, weeks and months to come I pray for strength for myself and for my parents and especially for Marshall. That poor little boy who is so smart, so wonderful and so mature has had more to deal with than an 8 year old boy should. I rarely say this about people but he is a truly amazing person and if you have met him you know what I mean.
Alice and our boys have not had the summer vacation they were meant to have and I have to find some way to make that up to them. They have dealt with a great deal and I thank them for all the sacrifices they have made.
All I can say now is .. Until We Meet Again.
In times of grief, which we have experienced a lot lately, it is always the humour of children that can penetrate through the gloom and doom.
Today Carter came to us with 2 index cards and said he wanted to have teeth like SpongeBob Squarepants. The reams of laughter that entailed were a perfect tension release. Without further adieu I give you Carter and his buddy SpongeBob
The funeral service for my sister Shelley Dee Brown will be held Monday August 13th, 2007 at 11 am with a reception at the Quesnel Legion to follow. In lieu of flowers we will be setting up a trust fund for her son Marshall Brown. Details of the fund will be announced at the service and I will post on this blog for those unable to attend the service.
Shelley Dee Brown
Feb 28, 1970 - Aug 1, 2007
I love you.
I miss you.
I hope you are at peace.
China’s hairiest man, Yu Zhenhuan, is seeking to become a torch relay holder leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Born in Shenyang, Yu has hair covering 96% of his body and is also an aspiring rock star which should make him a natural for carrying the torch … as long as the Olympic organizers aren’t worried about him lighting his body hair on fire. Good Luck Yu!
Q: What’s more fun than a trampoline in the backyard?
A: A sprinkler underneath the trampoline in the backyard!
