The Langbehn-Pond Family ~ the accidental activists

Today – finally it was time to fit things that have been piling on top of our – really Lisa’s  - Hope chest of kids’ memories.

Opened it up and something catches my eye – Lisa’s old wallet from 1988 – why is it in there? – I pack the things away but I am drawn to her wallet and decided to look – and this is what I found:

The Tacoma Public Library Card

The Hug Card – you put your thumb on it and it changes color with your body heat

Her Puget Sound National Bank ID Card (her first Checking account when she came to WA state)

Class of 1985 Enfield High School Class Banquet Night

The American Red Cross – Basic Canoeing Instructors Course – from 8/7/1981

A ticket stub from our first concert – Billy Joel at the Tacoma Dome 4/15/1990

One of our first real dates – “A spring weekend Cruise” Dinner around Puget sound  April 29, 1990

Our first movie together and when I knew I was in love with her – Beaches stub for 3/31/1989 – cost $3.00

The pictures she carried: Her brother Michael’s graduation picture, her sister Sue’s Air Force Picture, Lisa’s senior prom picture (hidden between two other pics), her HS best friend Liza who dumped her as a friend when Lisa came out to her – she never heard from her again, Louise – her next door neighbor, Justine and Alex (my niece and Nephew) baby pictures – they were her niece and nephew just as much, Cyndi Heap Sams from UPS (she was Cyndi’s maid of honor and Cyndi was Lisa’s witness at our holy union), her good friend Holly from GS camp, Grandma and Grandpa Temby (my paternal G’parents) who treated Lisa as their own, and Liz (I’m thinking Rohr (sp?).

It is so telling when you find something like this tucked away at the bottom of a hope chest – Lisa’s past and what was her present and what was important to her.

Of all the things that caught me – was the “Beaches” stub – amazing – that movie meant so much to both of us.  We fell in love with each other at that time, it took us another few months to know it wasn’t a “crush” or phase.

All I can say is thank you my love for leaving this for me to find.  You brought a smile to my face today.  I loved you then, I love you now and I will love you for eternity

And Now I will tuck it back into your hope chest and leave it for our children to have one day – when they are ready.

peace

Autumn almost every year arrives on my birthday – as it did yesterday at 2:18pm (Pacific time).  We are enjoying a beautiful Indian summer (hope that is still a politically correct term).  Will reach 82 degrees today – perfect for soccer and football practices and games.  Danielle is out of braces and beyond excited and she is looking as beautiful as ever.  Katie made the JV/Varsity Volleyball team – the sport she has put the least amount of overall effort and time into – but is a natural and her height sure helps.  David is a natural as a lineman in football – pretty hard to bring him down – and the opponents prefer not to be lined up against him because of his size and he doesn’t think twice about squashing them like a bug.

We are gearing up for Grandma and Grandpa to visit in Mid October.  I am speaking at Seattle U School of Law (Bob’s alma mater) October 12th.  As well as videos to be done for the Approve Ref #71 campaign and another for GLAAD – on a national level.  And hopefully a surprise visit by Uncle Kelly October 8th – which is so exciting – we haven’t seen him in a few years.

I still struggle with my hearing loss – finally getting fitted for a hearing aid monday – so no more talking under they breath for the kids .  Danielle will get her driver’s ed certificate tomorrow – and then it’s just a wait and practice game until December 1 – until she can drive.  Thankfully our state has a limited initial license – so no one in the car but siblings for the first 6 months.  And I am sure she will sign a driving contract just like Lisa and I did with our first daughter Rose – before it was the “in thing”.  My job is to keep her alive while driving in the first 2 yrs – and I take it seriously.

Katie is loving her performing arts school – her teachers all report she is engaging making friends – actually she never forgot many of them from kindergarten – and even her first boy crush from 1st grade attends her new middle school – so cute – plus kids from her first communion class that lisa taught.

So another autumn has started – I am now 41 – but still the “baby” of my family – that will never change.  And with the advent of FB – received more bday wishes from High School friends than I think I did when I attended – at is was so appreciated.  Had a great and wonderful lunch with Chris – who I count as my close friend – and our family’s ally (along with her husband and boys).

So the leaves will begin to change, I have always liked Autumn – and the beginning of the school year – to me that is the time to start “new year” resolutions not January.  And I set some goals – sleeping is on the top of the list as well as some others.  We go forward hoping for my health to stay stable, the kids to thrive and remain emotinally and physically healthy and happy and wait for the leaves to fall to the ground and the rains to come – on we go

peace