I feel almost obligated to finish off these few pages, closing the chapter on this book. Sort of summarizing, thus closing Book One!
I'm so glad to have recorded (even as sporadically as I did) the days past. And true to form, I'm in the bathroom. It's indicative of something isn't it?! We found a little safe called the Waffle Iron - Wayne had read about it in the paper. So we gave it a try this morning. It is WAY at the other end of Bear Valley Road...and I do mean WAY!!! Seems like we drove forever, and spotted it finally - the girls thought we were turning around and were horrified to find the car stopping. They weren't overly thrilled at first glance - it's the garage half of an old gas station, still pumping gas by the way. The inside was filled with old stuff on shelves around the perimeter. Seats about 20 people not including the ones at the counter. The waffles are plate sized and the coffee was excellent. The drive home found the girls in a much better frame of mind. And somehow we got started on family history. "What did I used to do?" "What about when I was a baby?" It was easy to cal up some of those stories because I'd been browsing through this and had refreshed my memory just recently. How sad it would be to have lost some of these gems!
To update: A year and a half ago we sold the house on Oleander and with an interim move into a 2 bedroom apartment with a pool. (don't forget the buffalo family upstairs!)
(Editing note: February 14, 1999 - Happy Valentine's Day!) We moved into the apartment just before school let out and stayed just two months. But since everything we absolutely needed was there...and everything else was in storage...it was GREAT! The girls swam every day, the place stayed pretty clean - there just wasn't much to keep clean. We did chores, made beds and did dishes and spent the rest of the day by the pool! Not a bad life! The downside when we finally moved to Victorville...emptying the storage unit the movers said "Lady, you've got a problem! The roaches are helping us load the truck!" GROSS!!! We had everything put into the garage - and bombed it...but still a few months after moving into the house started seeing roaches all over the kitchen. GROSS GROSS GROSS!!! Pulled everything out of cupboards and left Terminex to do their business. We came back late that night and danced on their graves.
Continuing January 20, 1992
So, we moved to Victorville. Despite a $1500 mortgage payment and the 2nd of $386/mo for the pool, we are hopefully dug in. In years hence, when I reread these epistles it wil be poolside or sitting by the fire on San Ysidro Road.
(Editing note 2/14/99...HAH!!!) The girls are growing like weeds. Michelle just turned 11 - she got a "big" bike this year; which really made the other three unhappy. This bids fair to be a bike year at birthday times. She's so grown up sometimes. Takes forever fixing her hair in the morning and even Joe admits to creating a monster clothes-wise. Everything has to match. But she's responsible (mostly) and a good helper around the house. Mugsy has the driest wit imaginable. When there's a wisecrack to be made it comes from her. Whether it's just a "yeah sure" or something more, it's Mugsy. Michelle was complaining about the seating arrangement in the van.."She got to sit there last time...It's not fair!"...Mugsy looked her in the eye and stated the obvious "Life's not fair!"
Martha has no front teeth and what a clown she can be at times! She imitates "urkel" by hiking up her pants and imitating the walk and talk of this TV geek. She's still quite a princess, preferring "girl" stuff to anything. Ruthie is intrepid. And while we don't want to perpetuate any myths or stereotypes, she still got a football for her birthday and a basketball for Christmas! I guess it's as we've said at times. She's as close as we'll get to having a boy! And actually we wouldn't have it any other way!
Thus ended Book One.
