The Boy, His Car...and the Empty Nest

Jordon was born with a hot wheel in his hand.

Every letter to Santa included something with wheels

that went fast.

When he was 2 years old he would drag the big wheel up to the top

of the hill in our culdesac.

Not even big enough to reach the pedals, still in a diaper and a "paci" in his mouth,

he would sit in the big wheel and fly down the hill.

He stopped it by running up the curb and into the landscape.

Thankfully, he never hit the fence or parked cars!!

He had a bright yellow helmet with bumble bees all over it.

And a bright yellow "paci" to match.

The helmet was pretty much strapped to his head whenever he went outside.

I knew if he found something with wheels, he would be on it.

One day, when he was about 5 he came into the house with

road rash and blood on his bare chest.

"Jordon, are you alright!!?" I exclaimed.

Brushing off his chest he said

"Aw, this? I'm fine mom! I just have to pee".

For the next 13 years we listened as he 

daydreamed about snowmobiles, dirt bikes, ATVs, and a cool car.

Santa never delivered, much to his disappointment.

So, when he came to us last Fall 
wanting to attend Wyotech after graduation, 

we were not surprised at all.

It was a natural fit for the boy who loved everything with wheels.

Knowing Jordon needed a car for school, 

and that the 15 year old car he had wasn't reliable enough, 

we worked out a deal with him.

Santa finally delivered!

He has worked hard turning

it into his dream car.

Three weeks ago we drove up to Bellingham to say goodbye to his

older brother Jarrod.

Then a few days later we loaded up the little blue car and headed out!

I sat in the passenger seat while my son drove us

from home to Laramie, WY.

We took our time and enjoyed the sites.

We talked about his future plans, his excitement and his concerns.

We laughed and laughed in between 

my panic attacks at 80 mph.

"Honey, there are guard rails for a reason..."

We stayed in several hotels,

ate at many restaurants,

stopped to let Buffalo cross the streets,

and took a ton of pictures....

of his car.

Once there, enrollment took hours.

I tried not to be "in the moment" because I knew

the reality of leaving him there would come over me like a tidal wave.

So I made a lot of small talk to anyone who'd listen.

Then... it was our turn to sit down and talk to the lady who explained the 

little "mommy" details like what to do if they get sick,

or need emotional support...and

WHERE THEY WILL HAVE THANKSGIVING IF NOT GOING HOME

*gulp*

and then it happened.

My eyes started leaking. 

Thanksgiving here without his family?

Without ANY family?

"We have a big dinner here in the shop and many people volunteer...."

and then she handed me a tissue as she started to tear up.

Her only child was 12, and I made her cry.

And then we hugged like two moms do when they think of leaving their baby.

I had a permanent lump in my throat and random crying spells the rest of the week.

At Walmart buying him food and toilet paper and laundry soap...

making up an emergency kit to keep in his car in case it breaks down in the snow.....

and the worst of all...

dropping me off at the airport to come home.

I am an ugly cryer.

Blotchy face, bloodshot eyes, snot.

with the occasional snort & sigh.

Not cute at all!

But I survived....and he is thriving!
He has made many friends and loves the classes.
After all, all the students have the same interests!
CARS

He has even adjusted to having to shave again.

Although my nest is empty, my heart is full of joy!

We are so proud of you Jordon!

As my dad would say...

"All is as it should be"

This is my favorite shot just coming out of Yellowstone in WY. The evening light
on the Fall color was breathtaking!

*****

PS. It only took me a week of being back home before I needed a hug,

so I made another trip up to Bellingham to see my oldest son, Jarrod.

He treated me to lunch, shared laughs,  and I hugged him tighter than ever.

We are so proud of him too!!

He graduated in August from WWU!!!

PPS.  Congratulations to our daughter Janelle & Justin for celebrating their

one year Anniversary last week!!!

I can't wait to see them again. 

PPPS. Riding fast runs in the family...My mom is in her late 60's and just

got her motorcycle license!! And that's her sweet PT in the background.

Yep, loud and fast, its how we roll!

It only took 15 years to recover!

I bet you are thinking it took

me 15 years to recover from the embarrassment of my 

previous post!

Maybe.

But this post isn't about mean kids, potty accidents, eating paste,

and chewing pencils to relieve anxiety!

Honest!

This is a story about a chair that had me at Hello

in 1998...or was it 1999...

anyhow, it was a long time ago!

This is the part where I tell you about living in the best neighborhood

EVER to raise children!

... and how there were 21 kids in a 12 house culdesac.

...and how MOST of the families got along amazing.

(Hey I said best, not perfect neighborhood)

Many of us are still very close friends today, and the kids are too!

One of those sweet friends was Uschi.

My lovely German neighbor in the house with the pink trim.

She made the best "Uschi noodle soup" according to Jordon.

Her husband was retired military and they were the oldest couple in our very young family neighborhood.

But they weren't old at all, more like my age now!

But with their children grown up, 

they enjoyed all the activity around them of little children on bikes, scooters

and the constant sounds of boys vs. girls.

Uschi had an adorable house filled with antiques and knick knacks

from Germany. But she loved yard sales and a good deal too!

So, to the point of the story...the chair!

One day we were out hitting the yard sales and I spotted an

Amazing french style chair. 

The upholstery was ratty and greasy at the headrest,

but the legs were curvy and it was a beautiful

feminine chair.

The price tag was $20.

That doesn't seem like much, does it?

But I was a stay home mom at the time, and after our mortgage

and other expenses, we had literally $50 between paychecks for emergencies

or eating out.  So, $20 was way out of my league.

I was soooo sad, but I didn't know the first thing about re upholstering it anyway,

so I had to walk away. 

Uschi loved the chair too, and she bought it.

I was so happy for her because the style would've looked nice in her home.

We lugged it into the truck and hauled it back to her place.

A few weeks, or maybe even months went by

and I still had that chair in the back of my mind, hoping one day to find

another one like it.

Then, one day, my sweet friend flags me down in the culdesac.

"Hey, do you want that chair?  I don't have a place for it."

"REALLY!?"

Yes, yes, and yes!!

She didn't want a dime for it.

I think she may have bought it for me all along.

Her heart is kind and giving, and she remembered what it's like to be financially strapped with a young family. 

I was so happy and grateful to have this ugly duckling beautiful chair!!!

Poor ugly duckling.

She got moved from one room to the next, covered in blankets to hide the fabric

but expose her gorgeous legs. And eventually she was shunned to the garage 

where she was piled with soccer gear, bike parts and sleeping bags.

Awkward...ok just ignore this crazy couple, and you can see her under the white blanket in our living room....

And at another time... you'll see (in the blur)  her tucked away in the corner of our bedroom.

My husband was tired of her.

She was a mess.

Just taking up space.

So, one day last Fall I decided I was going to rescue her 

before she'd be sent away to the thrift store.

I mean, she was part of the family!

15 years with us.

I called around and got estimates from the local upholstery shops.

$900 - $1200

*gasp*

I decided to try it myself, how hard could it be?

I brought her into the living room. 

Then, I stared at her worn out exterior for a few months while 

trying to get the nerve to start.

I used the estimates I'd received to determine the yardage, etc.

I finally purchased the least expensive upholstery grade fabric I could find that I liked.

And I used a 40% off coupon.

 $50 for the fabric. I could live with that.

 Not too expensive.... in case I royally messed her up with my upholstery work.

But God works in mysterious ways.  

As I was getting the fabric cut at the counter I met

a woman and we started to talk.

I do that a lot,

talk to people in lines.

My kids always told me I'm so embarrassing.

"They don't care about your life mom!"

Well, sometimes they do!

Because this lady told me about a class at a different fabric store near my house.

They had a chair re upholstery class for $98!

4 Saturdays for 3 hours...or was it 3 Saturdays for 4 hours?

Anyhow,

Just bring the chair in each week and a professional teaches you how its done!

SOLD! SIGN ME UP!

I forgot her name, the nice lady who saved the day.

I have many friends without names.

Sorry if you are a friend of mine without a name. 

I still love you.

I had the best time learning how to take the chair down to its frame,

tying springs and gluing foam.

Taking her apart, down to just the frame!

Old string on springs. I took this all apart and did it over!

This all came off and was replaced.

Putting her back together again...

I paid the store to make my buttons for the tufting, and I also paid an upholstery shop to make a new cushion & double piping.

I didn't have a heavy duty machine and wanted it to look good.

BUT

I did every.single.part of the rest...

including the tufting in the arms and the back...

All by myself!!

Before the cushion was made and the double piping was put on.

I AM SO PROUD OF THIS CHAIR

All in all, it still cost about $400 to finish.

 Did I mention I'm so proud of this chair?

I willed it to my kids.

Kind of, I mean I wrote on the foam seat with marker.

"Made by mom with Love, Easter 2013"

So that one day...

when she is once again old and ratty and in the garage

and needs a facelift...

My kids will take her apart

and see my message and smile.

I think if you look really close...

She is smiling back.

xoxo

Jodi