And....More Ducks.

Didn't I tell y'all I had to go to Houston tonight?

Yesterday afternoon, while delayed at the airport in Dallas, trying to get home in time for the concert and I'm gonna stop this sentence in a second, I realized I had forgotten to book my Midland to Houston flight.

Yup.  and it was kinda eery how my brother knew exactly what I was missing.

Or, he thought he did, anyway...because he sent me this.

I resemble this remark.

Here's A Shoot, There's a Shoot, Everywhere a Shoot, Shoot

Have you ever looked ahead on your calendar, and your heart clenched?

That’s what my heart's been doing, every time I look at my calendar this week.

I’m a salesperson.  In the oilfield.  And being a woman, I’m good at planning events.  So, on top of my real job, I find myself helping on the industry event scene.  I do a certain amount for my employer, and then a certain amount for various non-profits.  And then, on top of that, I take customers to said events.  My brother swears I can shoot a shotgun while giving an interview to a TV station, and still break my targets.  I think he exaggerates a bit. (Possibly to make up for the fact I can still beat him.  Shooting, that is.)

My brother, Scott.  I love him! We have a lot of fun at all these events!

Here’s a short look forward for me.  Most of this is for my employer.  And on top of that, I serve as an officer in the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE), and we try to make a lot of the AADE chapter events. 

July 18 - 27 - Helping design invites for our Oct 3-5 New Mexico Oil and Gas events, getting them in the mail, coordinating the updating of our customer lists, planning for the Oct 17-19 Permian Basin Oil Show and Customer Party, and planning our Customer Appreciation Shoot in September AND calling on customers and putting out fires! I should probably drink…starting now.  At midnight…no.

July 28th - Midland - Oilman’s Shoot - taking customers shooting in one of the largest sporting clay events in Texas - huge fun - but it’s HOT here...

Aug 2-4 - Ruidoso - taking customers on a weekend golf outing and helping plan spouse’s events (I think there are 20 of us going?)

Aug 10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Sales calls, meetings, and taking customers shooting in the AADE Shoot

Aug 17 - Dallas, Tx - Sales calls, and taking customers shooting in the AADE shoot

Aug 24 - Denver, Co - AADE National Board Meeting (and taking customers shooting in the AADE shoot)  (And I’m really supposed to be in Midland that week, helping put on the Bustin’ Clay for United Way shoot...guess I’d better tell them I have a conflict)

I’m going to stop there.  I am starting to hyperventilate, seeing it all down on paper.  And I had better start cleaning my shotguns, because mine is dirty, and then, other people will want to borrow our extra guns.  Gotta make sure everything is up to speed!

Yours truly.  Yes, I am color coordinated.  I can't help it.

Eeeeeeeeek.

Got stress much?

Southwest Airlines, you’d best be ready.  Your A-Lister is heading to the check-in counter!

A Little More Cracked

Damn you, cancer.

Michael and his Mom.

We lost my husband’s oldest living brother, Michael, last Monday night about 10:30 p.m.  My husband was by his side, as were his wife and children and another brother. I cannot imagine what they all felt that night.

ThatManILove immediately called me, sobbing.  My heart, already broken, broke some more, for my man and his family.  I know what it’s like to lose a brother.  Not fun.  Killer deal. And here I was, going through some bizarro rerun, though a little remotely.

Being the only family in our town at the time, I was sent to inform Michael’s mom of her son’s passing.

My friend Clara was still here, thank God, so she went with me to my Mom-in-love’s to give her the news at 11 p.m.. My heart? Broke completely as I held this small woman whom I’ve grown to love as a mom, and told her that her son hurt no more.  That her boy was gone. She sobbed.  I wept.  Clara wept.  

I know, I know. Death happens. 

For a mom to bury a child - it should not happen this way.  And it’s really hard when you’re a mom, to see not one, but two of your sons pass before you.  I remember watching my mom as my big brother passed.  I don’t really know what “the natural order” of things is, but this cannot be right.  It sucks.  It really sucks.

We buried Michael yesterday.  His beautiful wife and children put together the greatest video of photographs of his life, along with some of his most loved songs.  The service was standing room only.  This man, Michael, was an honorable man of great character and integrity.  A man who loved his family, above all else.

I want to be like Michael.  Heck, we all do. He was an amazing man.

I’m more than a little angry.  Perplexed.  Hurting, for those I love, who called this man Husband. Daddy. Pop-pop. Son. And Brother. I'm waiting and watching. Caring. Loving.

And I’m praying. Praying that healing will come, and please, Lord God, sooner than later.  And until then, that Love will dull, and soon remove, the sting of pain for all of those beautiful people that are Michael's loves.  


Happy trails, Mike.  Until we meet again.