Today Ava Went to Steak 'N Shake

We had a pretty severe storm roll through this afternoon. I was at work and you were napping when the tornado sirens went off and the emergency alerts began to flood our cell phones.
 

Not happy to be short-changed on a nap!

I texted your mom to make sure you both were safe and recommended going to the basement. She was hesitant to wake you - and I don't blame her Ava Bear - but she did and off to the basement the two of you went.

At work the staff and guests were corralled into the safest area of the building for well over an hour.

Eventually the all clear was sounded and everyone went about their business.

Mom had an appointment with her first client - a co-worker of mine - at 6:30. Since the bulk of the bad weather had passed, she kept to the schedule. She offered to show me her new office so you and I went with her a few minutes ahead of her meeting.

You've been to her office a few times so you knew the layout, I saw some of it, but will need to go back to finish the tour. Mom and Lillian got right to work so we went out on the town.

Over it. Mom makes everything better.

One thing you need to know about your mother if you haven't realized it already is that she's extremely goal oriented and will work her fingers to the bone to achieve her goals. She knows what she wants and will go get it.

We took the car and hit up Burlington Coat Factory, Marc's and eventually the mall before mom called to say she was ready to go.

By now it was 7:45 and we were hungry. Chinese buffet and overeat or Steak 'N Shake for quick and cheap? We chose the latter also figuring there would be more food options for you.

I wrote yesterday about how you were a social butterfly, well tonight at dinner you were the center of attention.

Our server adored you, you were having quite the conversation with her. You would talk in your language and she would respond with "Oh, you don't say" or "Really, that's wonderful."

There was a table caddy corner to us that kept commenting on how cute you are and how you were bringing back memories to when their children were your age.

As we ate dinner, we made sure you looked the part as well. With the kids placemat was a cutout race car complete with stickers. We let you play with destroy the car and put the flame stickers under your cheek. It took a little coaxing but you also wore the old school Steak 'N Shake paper hat.

On a sad note - we walked outside and one of the ladies at the table I described earlier was standing outside and uttered "A**hole." She apologized not realizing we had just stepped through the door, but her words were justified. 

We looked up towards the street to see a gaggle of geese crossing the busy street and one injured bird flopping around the obviously hit by a passing motorist. She told us a guy in a white bronco intentionally hit the poor thing. 

Helpless, we watched as the animal writhed in pain, eventual became still and its head lifelessly lower to the ground as his feathers were blown by the wind down the street. 

This all happened within a minute but the image will remain with me for a long time. If there is a moral to this it would have to be to live, laugh, and love.You only get one shot at this thing called life and It can be over in a second. So enjoy every minute of it and laugh along the way - often - even in the face of adversity!

if there is ever a time I don't kiss you good morning or good night or tell you I love you, give me a nudge to remind me!