January 3, 2015

I wasn’t dead. Somehow, the massive oak tree outside our room hadn’t fallen over in the middle the night, crushing me in my sleep.  This was, most emphatically, a thumbs up.  There wasn’t any snow on the ground, either.  Instead, the rays of the sun shone powerfully down, and much like the powers of Iceman's sworn enemies, starting the great melt-down.  It wasn’t long before the back gate was opened up and there was a back hoe in the back yard to remove the fallen tree…with, of course, the requisite men in cowboy hats.   There were lots of chainsaws, too.  I decided now was a good time to get out of the way and go find a tube for Ethan’s bike.  

 Ethan and I went to Target first and then headed to Academy sports.  It is here where I will admit that trucks are scary.  I get it that this is an oil town and trucks are quite necessary for many of the men, but the way they are about 4 times bigger than they need to be, lifted and with big ass grills…really?  This is lil ol’ Midland.  Same streets, with a whole new third of a population, many who drive like blind cats (attitude minus the benefit of vision).   Yeah..on a ranch or oil field – great!  In the parking lot of Academy?  Forget it.

Ethan and I grabbed a little snack at Texas Burger and then headed back, where everyone was starving, so we left for La Bodega (of course we did).  Brian stayed behind to help with the tree.  It was normal, yet not – the first day since its inception that a name other than Münzer was in  of the whole shebang.  Towards the end, we looked over and there was Charlie Harris, who used to live next door to my parents when they first moved here…. Seeing Charlie made it all ok – here was the face of a Midlander I knew, a part of my yesterday.

Olivia and I decided to drop the kids off at home and go do the grocery shopping quickly.  Driving down Scharbauer Drive, I hit that moment of Pure Bliss as Olivia and I sang along to Simple Minds as the kids were in the back.  Everything was perfect.

 At home, we watched, for the 4^th time that day (since there was no wifi) Shrek 2.  The ending was unforgettable as Ingrid sang Frozen’s “Let it Go” to “Living La Vida Loca”..naturally I didn‘t record it.  Tomorrow Olivia heads to the doctor for a pre-labor procedure…  The family is about to grow.

 Pictures: The frozen trees; Ingrid "posing" at La Bodega, Midland; 2 cousins, hair done, volley ball and soccer ball ready, watching Frozen.