A Tsunami in August

A TSUNAMI IN AUGUST

1:38AM.

Asleep, and awake. Asleep maybe four hours. Typical. But it was a decent four hours.

I will go back to bed later. But right now Amy is up and there is no going back to sleep.

She is wide awake and full of thought…

It's going to be a hot day.

But today, there is going to be rain and thunder in the forecast. There better, be thunder. We are due for some stormy weather. Perfect day for football. Yep. A quarterback show. Jared Goff-Jared Goff.

I was really getting into it. Reading another writers work.

NEVER AGAIN.

Not right now anyway.

Burn…

You know who you are. I read your tone.

Because I can do that.

Today is Friday. The beginning of an extra-long weekend. Jason took off Monday and Tuesday. We were hoping to go somewhere for his birthday. But that plan came to a halt where something was needed for something. So as of now it looks like we are going nowhere. That’s ok. There is nowhere to go that we could afford anyway. Who knows. It is up to Jason. When he gets home we will discuss our plans.

1:24PM. He should be home, any minute. Does anything need to be done? Hmmm…

No.

Is there going to be rain? Are they going to go to the Flow, yoga class tomorrow morning?

Idk. Maybe. Jason’s birthday is Sunday. The kids will be here. James, too.

That will make for a nice day.

5:02 AM.

Up since four…

Man, Amy got up super early. She went back to bed early and kept waking up. Probably because of her long nap today in to this evening. When she woke up from that is when she walked into the kitchen half asleep and began to make her concoction for Jason’s meal tomorrow-tonight. Flow yoga was yesterday morning at 9. A nice class. (I fell over only once) And then we came home to work outside before the rain. She is finally going to move Linda’s peony flowers. A perfect spot in the middle. BTW. Happy birthday Jason. The kids are coming over for dinner. Amy made enchiladas stuffed with chicken and beans this go around. A healthier version. She even put some sliced peppers on the top. Red and yellow. And she used white cheese as the base. It looks…

Pretty.

More like an…Echiritto. An old item from Taco Bell. Not on the throw-back menu BTW.

Yummy.

The kids will be here at 5:30. James may or may not spend the night. He might not be quite comfortable yet. Idk. We’ll see.

I thought, I was feeling my muscles moving today

Fyi…

What I have been feeling are my muscles growing.

My butt!!

133 lbs.

Half-way, dressed.

A good number. That is what she weighed on the scale at the Y this morning. She wasn’t going to go swimming, but being that Phyllis is gone the Barre classes are up in the air. Today was one of those days. It was only me and a girl named Rebecca. Or Becky. A few years younger than Amy. Possibly a good fit. She takes classes like Amy does. So she sees her a lot. Anyways, after we said our good byes and see ya next time, Amy went straight to the locker room to get on her bathing suit. She made herself hurry because she didn’t want to talk herself out of it. It was super warm when she stepped into the pool area. She immediately jumped in and dunked her head. Brr…

Shake it off.

And that she did while Jason and James practiced swimming. It was only the three of them in the whole, big pool. And after Amy did some swim work, she sat in the hot, hot, sauna for about fifteen minutes. When the steamy water would drip onto her shoulders, it was time to get out. Too, fucking hot. Even it door handles to get out were way hot to the touch. Help me...

Help me…

Omg. That thought is always there. Right before the door pushes open.

It was nice having James for the night. Just one night. Lol. The energy.

Wow.

After they dropped off James at home, it began to seriously rain.

Buckets.

Okay.

Aaron called. It was short. Amy hasn’t been on the mood to talk much, so she handed the phone over to Jason. They can hold a better conversation than Amy and Aaron can. They talk sports. And Amy is quiet today. Full of thought…

She watched Jason and James play together most of the, whole time that he was here. Swimming. Jason is helping him swim. And Minecraft. They sat in the chair, building things while they watched Phineas and Ferb. Jason, he is really good with kids. After we dropped James off we hit the ground running when it came to cleaning the trailer. Dishes-Vacuum-Jason. Laundry-bathroom-Amy. Jason also cleaned the campground of o living room. Boy, it will be nice having no company for a while.

A long…while.

It is time for her to take a pause for a moment. She is even going to take a break from the Y. She feels like being at home. Only go as far as stepping off the deck. She needs to do something about Greg and Cathy’s (with a K) new cat. His name is Beanie, and he likes to hang out at the end of the porch.

Ok.

Big deal right?

Damn right it’s a big deal. Both of my animals know he’s there. Diamond wont dare go off the steps. And Nala, shit. She’s gets growly and poofy. A good time to stay away from her. Assholes.

What can she do about this???

Get a spray bottle.

She would get the hose, but that isn’t going to happen.

Fucking Water Wheel.

4:54AM.

Been up since three-ish. A normal time. It was super quiet when she walked to her desk, so Amy read another story from her inbox. A story by Tamsin Liddell. A name to remember. A name I won’t forget. Anyway, the name of the story. The Closure of St. Jerome’s Home for Foundlings.

Another awesome piece from this person.

Jason is home again this morning. A good morning to go swimming and go to the steam room. Maybe. Probably not. She is in no mood, to be cold. As a matter of fact she wants to open the door to let the cold air-conditioned air, out. And the steamy-hot-humid air, in. Jason is asleep still, so Amy has free reign to open doors and windows. It is almost six. That gives her a, few hours.

She can hear the water…

She has Trevor on her mind. Is he going to be fine? Is he going to have a happy life? How is Justine going to be??!!

Please…

We needed to drive into Ann Arbor today to go to Kellogg Eye. Amy has to get both pairs of her glasses tightened and adjusted. She would have taken her sunglasses too, but they’re in the glove compartment. So be it. We needed to get home to start on some yard work anyway.Jason did a real nice job. The works. Every yard tool was being used. He did a wonderful job. Now he is not going to need to mow this weekend. I’m sure that was the plan because we’re going away on Saturday. Up north to Stanton for a family reunion. The Smith side. Dad’s side. Ya know…

I do not particularly want to go. In fact I don’t want to go. At all. But…

We all know how this works.

She will, fucking go.

After Amy got her glasses rigmaroled, they went for a “ride” through Chelsea. (Jason’s idea) And then he casually mentions that this is the day, that mom died. And would I mind going to the cemetery and checking to see if mom and Aunt Lois’ plots are clean. All that was to clean up was the two plastic pots full of brown weeds that were still there from Memorial Day.

Here she goes…

Where’s Dad?

Where’s he been?

Two peas in a pod.

So he mentions that he knows what I want done with me after I go.

Hmmm…

And he goes on telling me of his plan, for me.

He’s halfway right. His left-way side is fucked up.

He loves to insinuate.

Example…

“Amy, aren’t you glad that I remembered what you want me to do with you when you die?”

What?

The fuck.

Omg.

I forgot half the conversation because I was…to say the least…flabbergasted. But wow, lol.

Fuck.

He is so sure I am going to go first. But Jason, all of my test. say the opposite. What am I going to do with you? I have no idea.

Why’s that Jason?

Because you have no idea. Ostrich.

Fuck you Jason, man.

You have no idea of two things. Who I, fucking am. And…

What I, fucking see.

God dammit.

I was pissed.

(Was, is the key word here)

Now…

I am whatever you say I am.

I need a fucking break.

So, tired.

2:37 AM

8.8-degree earthquake in the Pacific Ocean.

Tsunami warnings from Japan, to Hawaii.

Never a dull moment.

Example…

One of my chapters was accepted for the Reedsy writing contest. I was more frustrated than anything.

Words are weapon’s. I was upset. I thought the typical. Kid gloves. I didn’t write half of it. But that was the point.

Wasn’t it??

It’s 7:45 AM.

On a Wednesday. I wonder if I messed up. Hmmm?

Probably.

Typical.

It’s not going to be as hot today. The mid-eighties. Not, the mid-nineties. And rain tonight into tomorrow. Highs, near eighty. A nice break from the heat. Still…

Windows were up, and the air conditioning was on the whole way to Chelsea. They left early just to leave. No other reason. Amy thought that just maybe they would see her early. Her appointment was at 3:15PM.

They were walking back out to the car to leave by 310. Amy knows that because she looked at her phone. It all went, so smoothly. Chelsea hospital is the way to go. Her blood work she will do in Clinton on Tuesday. Then she is done. With Sarah anyway. She still has therapy every Thursday. And she sees her dentist Monday at noon. Lol. By the time this is all said and done with, it will begin again. She does have three years until her next colonoscopy.

On a better note…

Today is payday. She has more blood work to get done first. But she is getting that done right in town. As for any more doctors, she’s done. For the time being.

She went to bed with a sore throat She woke up with one too. With any luck she will have one tomorrow too. Tomorrow is the Austin family reunion up in Stanton. Need I say more?

She is even painting her nails for this. If she does one hand tonight and the other tomorrow, there will be less mess. Lol.

Hopefully.

Shiny, light pink.

Trevor called. Him and Justine are going golfing with some friends. They are taking James too. He doesn’t want to go. He asked to come and see Trevor’s mom and dad. That’s us btw.

Cute-cute.

Anytime.

Wow.

These writer’s on this thing are great. Way, out of my league. I’m trying to learn from them, but I don’t belong. I don’t want to share anymore. Not right now anyway. I need to take some time from it. Breathe..

No more reading.

No more writing.

It’s going to be a, beautiful weekend. Hot, hot, hot. We are having a heat wave from this. Thursday through Saturday. The perfect time to stop. And that she did. Lol. Twelve hours ago. Now it feels late. And she’s, tired. She is just going to go to bed.

Good night.

Hello and good morning. Today the high is only going to be in the low eighties. And that won’t be until the afternoon so Amy will wear some short pants today with a T-shirt. She woke at four really hot, so she got up and turned on the air to cool it off a bit. Now she is sitting under her cow blanket with the door open to let in the sound…

And to let out Diamond and Nala.

We are leaving in approximately, four and a half hours from now. We are meeting Jeff and Shari at the Manchester Diner before we take off for Stanton.

We’re back! (About an hour ago) Nice to go to and see the family. Dad’s, side of the family. Papa, dad. Some we don’t know well, and some we do. We didn’t stay long. The families were all huddled together having their own little pow wows. We went to this reunion last year and we sat with the same people as we sat with this year. Mike, Fran, Curt, and Tracey. Always a joy to be around. But…

Always happier at home.

We got home before dark. She, thinks.

Previously...

Some time in between Stanton and Grand Rapids, there was an ice cream shop that Jeff and Sherri wanted to stop at. They like to do that. They Google shops that are on the same route and plan to stop for a something-or-other. Amy had a Root Beer float. A, large. Two cans of root beer, and a cup full of the best soft serve ice cream I think that I have ever had. But…

Should have gotten a small.

The ice cream was fabulous. It was at an actual dairy, so the milk was great. Jeff even took home a jug. We thought about it, but we still had a bit of a drive and didn’t want to chance not keeping it cold.

The drive was long. Amy had a hard time keeping her eyes open pretty much the whole day. A tired soul she was. One minute she was here. The next minute, she was home. She crawled into bed as soon as she walked in. Knowing that she doesn’t want to do what she is going to do tomorrow. The dentist at noon. But it was after the dentist, in between that and Kellogg’s, is when Trevor called. In fact we stood in the parking lot for ten minutes to finish up the conversation before we lose connection.

What are you guys doing tomorrow at three?

Trevor Newman Austin

Admirable.

Responsible.

Chivalrous…

Jason used that word. A good word.

Chivalrous:

Adj.

1) Having the qualities of chivalry, as courage, courtesy, and loyalty.

2) Considerate and courteous to women: gallant

3) Gracious and honorable toward an enemy, especially a defeated one, and toward the weak or poor.

All, the above.

He’s a good man. Lol. But.

But this is Trevor.

A very bold move.

This is going to be a fresh start for both of them. Boy oh boy…

Wow.

You don’t have to go to the courthouse, says he.

Bullshit.

I’m even going to wear a dress.

Ha, ha.

Only because it’s hot like a small heatwave at three o’clock in the afternoon. It is a dress from Walmart. A dress she wanted to return because she thinks it may be too small. It won’t be. She likes to wear her shirts in a large, so the same goes for dresses. size 8-10. Not, large. It will fit.

It’s going to fit. She wears an eight in jeans and pants and such.

Usually a large for the top though. Boob room. Plus it will be a nice sunny day for it. Hot, hot, hot.

Positive waves, man.