Well, Mother Nature has put a damper on the golf schedule this week. Two days of rain meant no practice and no meet for Erin yesterday. She made good use of the afternoon off... by taking a nap.
She needed to build up reserves for the weekend ahead: after golf practice today, we will head to the Wisconsin Dells for the last spring volleyball tournament. It should be a fun one with all the older teams from our club (15's, 16's & 18's) competing. The schedule calls for volleyball games all morning tomorrow, then the afternoon/evening off to enjoy a little waterpark action. Dan is going to make the most of the afternoon off, too, scheduling a round of golf with the other dads. As for us women folk, well, we'll think of something to do to occupy ourselves...
Sunday, it will be back to the volleyball court and they will keep playing into the afternoon/evening until they lose. I hope Erin doesn't have any homework this weekend, because she won't be "home" to do it!
After all that, Monday will bring the next opportunity to play golf. The Stewartville Invite is Monday, right here at Willow Creek Golf Course. Literally Erin's home course. Dan and I are hoping that the weather cooperates (the forecast doesn't look good) because we could both get a chance to see her play. Hell, we could follow her around on our very own golf cart!
So, that's what's up for team O'Hara for the next few days. Lots of positivity in our world.
Things are good on Willow Lane...
Wednesday April 23, 2014
Yesterday was a big day for Miss E. After a few weeks of qualifying rounds and many cold days on the golf course, she earned a spot to compete in yesterday's meet. Not just a spot, but a spot on the varsity. We have a group of girls that will rotate between the bottom of the varsity and the top of the JV. Yesterday, it was Erin's turn.
She was excited and nervous all day. So was her mom. Playing along side her teammate, Sara, and two girls from John Marshall, Erin handled herself well. She hit a great drive off the first tee with everyone watching. If you're going to be a golfer, being cool under pressure is a bonus!
E shot 51 on the front nine and 62 on the back for a 113. Pretty dang good for her first 18 hole round carrying her bag and having to finish in the cold and the dark about 8:15 last night.
Her score was 5th best on the Mayo team and 8th out of 12 overall. She's already determined to make her score "count" at some point this year. (The lowest four scores for a team count in the team score.) E missed that by 6 strokes yesterday, so she's not too far off. And, she's already talking about things she can do better to bring her score down. She is one determined kid.
Thank goodness Erin and I have an open and honest relationship. We talked about Shannon and how she might have handled the ups and downs of 18 holes. Let's just say that Shannon was a little more of a hot head than Erin, and that usually doesn't work so well when playing golf!
In so many ways, Erin's life carries more weight now for all three of us. She knows it and accepts it. We never want her to feel added pressure and we're doing our best to let her find her own way and be her own person. But, the reality is that parents always compare their children's experiences to each other. It's what parents do and it's a tricky proposition when one of the children dies at a young age.
In many ways, Erin is carrying on for all four of us. She knows and accepts that, too. She is an amazing kid, and it is fun to be having "normal" high school experiences this time around.
Over breakfast, Miss E got the news that she's in the varsity lineup again for tomorrow's meet in Winona. She's pumped. So is her mom.
Easter Sunday
Dan, Erin and I are looking forward to spending this day together. Church, brunch, and a round of golf are on the agenda. That sounds good to all of us...
It has been a crazy busy week for everyone - and it's only going to get crazier. So, a day at home - together - is just what we need.
Here's what's ahead: between now and May 1st, Dan will sleep in his own bed three times. During that time, Erin will have 4 golf meets and a weekend volleyball tournament in the Wisconsin Dells. I will be there to help them both through this busy stretch. It's what I do...
I have the time to help them, because my writing job has continued to be put on hold. The WFMC sometimes works at a snails pace. I definitely pulled the trigger too early in announcing that I was going to work...
But, it's going to happen. This week I did get my photo taken for a Mayo Clinic ID tag and I even have business cards now, so that must mean I'm legit!
So, we are moving along. Days like today that are wrapped in faith and religion are more difficult for us now. Hard to accept "the miracle" when we wanted so badly to have a miracle of our own. My thoughts about God and faith are sometimes murky.
But, the community of people who hold you up when you need it is what matters. The shared experience of navigating pain and suffering and coming out the other side. The human experience.
Happy Easter everyone.
It has been a crazy busy week for everyone - and it's only going to get crazier. So, a day at home - together - is just what we need.
Here's what's ahead: between now and May 1st, Dan will sleep in his own bed three times. During that time, Erin will have 4 golf meets and a weekend volleyball tournament in the Wisconsin Dells. I will be there to help them both through this busy stretch. It's what I do...
I have the time to help them, because my writing job has continued to be put on hold. The WFMC sometimes works at a snails pace. I definitely pulled the trigger too early in announcing that I was going to work...
But, it's going to happen. This week I did get my photo taken for a Mayo Clinic ID tag and I even have business cards now, so that must mean I'm legit!
So, we are moving along. Days like today that are wrapped in faith and religion are more difficult for us now. Hard to accept "the miracle" when we wanted so badly to have a miracle of our own. My thoughts about God and faith are sometimes murky.
But, the community of people who hold you up when you need it is what matters. The shared experience of navigating pain and suffering and coming out the other side. The human experience.
Happy Easter everyone.
April 15, 2014
Three years ago today everything changed. A demarcation day that will forever define a before and after for this Rochester MN O'Hara family.
For me, April 15 will always be harder, more poignant, than January 6 - the day Shannon went to heaven. 1095 days ago we were told by a Mayo Clinic neurologist that our daughter had an inoperable, incurable brain cancer.
I have since learned that millions of people walk around carrying the weight of a calendar date that forever will mark a before and after. It's amazing how many of us are out there.
Three years ago today Shannon and Erin's childhood innocence was ripped away from them. Three years ago today Jen and I were awakened to a world of love and support we never could have imagined.
We don't need to circle the date on the calendar. We will never forget.
For me, April 15 will always be harder, more poignant, than January 6 - the day Shannon went to heaven. 1095 days ago we were told by a Mayo Clinic neurologist that our daughter had an inoperable, incurable brain cancer.
I have since learned that millions of people walk around carrying the weight of a calendar date that forever will mark a before and after. It's amazing how many of us are out there.
Three years ago today Shannon and Erin's childhood innocence was ripped away from them. Three years ago today Jen and I were awakened to a world of love and support we never could have imagined.
We don't need to circle the date on the calendar. We will never forget.
Friday April 11, 2014
I'm up this morning feeling grateful. It could be because I have a suitcase packed with clothes that are suitable for playing tennis, walking on the beach, and lounging around. Me and my girlfriends are headed to the airport shortly.
But, really, I'm feeling grateful for the people in our lives. We didn't have much of a birthday planned for Erin - golf practice and then cake and ice cream once Dan got home from Michigan. So, when I mentioned to my friends, who are the mothers of Erin's friends, that they could all surprise Erin and join us for cake, well... we ended up with 20 people and a full blown party with presents and all!
Erin was surprised and happy. She told me and Dan last night, "I feel loved." She is.
So, Dan is in charge for the weekend. Erin has a bowling party tonight, a volleyball tournament tomorrow, homework on Sunday, and school and golf practice on Monday before I get back.
Dan and Erin rarely get time alone together, without the taskmaster around, so really, I'm doing them a favor by heading out of town... wink, wink...
But, really, I'm feeling grateful for the people in our lives. We didn't have much of a birthday planned for Erin - golf practice and then cake and ice cream once Dan got home from Michigan. So, when I mentioned to my friends, who are the mothers of Erin's friends, that they could all surprise Erin and join us for cake, well... we ended up with 20 people and a full blown party with presents and all!
Erin was surprised and happy. She told me and Dan last night, "I feel loved." She is.
So, Dan is in charge for the weekend. Erin has a bowling party tonight, a volleyball tournament tomorrow, homework on Sunday, and school and golf practice on Monday before I get back.
Dan and Erin rarely get time alone together, without the taskmaster around, so really, I'm doing them a favor by heading out of town... wink, wink...
Happy Birthday Erin!
It's finally here - the day that Erin turns 13. She's been a teenager - in all the good ways - for a while. Dan and I are thankful for her every day. She has navigated some choppy waters already in her young life and we couldn't be more proud of the young lady she has become.
Love you, Miss E!
Tuesday April 8, 2014
I'm having one of those weeks where I can't seem to get organized... One post it note doesn't get completed, so it's list gets transferred to a new post it note where other items are added to the to do list.
Or, if I don't have a post it note handy, then I use Siri to put a note in my phone calendar with a reminder alert. So, randomly, I will get a "ping" and when I look at my phone is says "toothpaste" or "bank".
I hope this isn't a sign that I'm getting older...
Perhaps it's just that I'm trying to stay ahead of things this week. We've got Dan on the road, Erin having golf practice every day and still playing volleyball in preparation for a tournament this weekend, but before that, she has her birthday on Thursday. Yes, on April 10th, Erin will FINALLY be a teenager!
We've been teasing her for months it seems. Erin told us a funny story about the boys at school giving her grief. Whenever she offers an opinion or a thought, they will say, "shut up, you're twelve." It sounds meaner than it is... Erin laughs about it.
If I start looking beyond that, things get exciting for me - I have a great girls weekend planned. Three of us are headed to visit a fourth friend on Jekyll Island in Georgia. Tennis, wine, food, conversation... get up the next day and repeat. I'm pretty excited.
But, it's only Tuesday. Still work to be done. Better go make a list...
Or, if I don't have a post it note handy, then I use Siri to put a note in my phone calendar with a reminder alert. So, randomly, I will get a "ping" and when I look at my phone is says "toothpaste" or "bank".
I hope this isn't a sign that I'm getting older...
Perhaps it's just that I'm trying to stay ahead of things this week. We've got Dan on the road, Erin having golf practice every day and still playing volleyball in preparation for a tournament this weekend, but before that, she has her birthday on Thursday. Yes, on April 10th, Erin will FINALLY be a teenager!
We've been teasing her for months it seems. Erin told us a funny story about the boys at school giving her grief. Whenever she offers an opinion or a thought, they will say, "shut up, you're twelve." It sounds meaner than it is... Erin laughs about it.
If I start looking beyond that, things get exciting for me - I have a great girls weekend planned. Three of us are headed to visit a fourth friend on Jekyll Island in Georgia. Tennis, wine, food, conversation... get up the next day and repeat. I'm pretty excited.
But, it's only Tuesday. Still work to be done. Better go make a list...
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