We found out last weekend that my cousin passed away. He was 28 years old. Apparently, he passed a clot, much like Mike did, but Nick's went to his lungs and ended up taking his life. I talked about this previously and called it a PE or pulmonary embolism. I was under the impression that if Mike's clot had gone to his lungs it could have been filtered there and he would have been better off, especially to have avoided a stroke. However, the news of Nicholas' death made me realize that it isn't necessarily the case and a PE can be lethal.
Nick had been battling leukemia since a diagnoses earlier this year. After talks of bone-marrow
transplants and other procedures, everyone was surprised that the chemo seemed to be doing its job, actually Nick had taken his final round of chemo just last week. Everyone was stunned to hear the news and we've all taken it pretty rough. It's not only the fact that he was so young, or the wife and little boy he left behind so much as it was the fact that it appeared that his battle with leukemia was going so well. It's hard to reconcile all the good news we've had lately with an event like this.
The service was amazing and the church was filled with those whose lives had been touched by Nick. He was, and always will be a special man. I've never been to the funeral of a firefighter. It was humbling to see the comradarie these men and women possess. We were all especially touched by the way the firefighters lined the church halls and the path to the gravesite...saluting, as the family passed by. Please continue to keep my family in your prayers, especially those in Shreveport as we all continue to grieve this huge loss.Me, Danyel and Mya traveled to Shreveport on Monday afternoon to attend the funeral services scheduled for Tuesday. Mom and Carolyn had already left on Monday morning. We were greeted with rain and traffic the entire way. There was an accident on I20 in Dallas that sent traffic backing up for 4 miles. We exited the freeway and took alternate routes, it probably took us just as long, but at least we were moving and not standing still on the highway. Danyel began to feed Mya her oatmeal while she was strapped in to the car seat and that seemed to hold her over well. Once we were back on I20, we decided to try to get out of the metroplex before stopping to feed Mya. We stopped in Terrell at the outlet mall that's just off of the freeway. They have clean bathrooms and seem to be a decent place to rest, we learned that from our previous trips to Shreveport.
Danyel took Mya in to the bathroom with her and changed her diaper and then came back to the car to feed her. I didn't want to leave the car unattended because it was overrun with technology. I had my laptop plugged into a power inverter. The inverter was located in the back of the CRV because that's where the other power port is in the Honda. The front port was taken by my FM transmitter and iPod. (You can't embark on a trip like that without podcasts!) My laptop was also hooked to my gps which ran up to the dash. I was able to use this for real-time navigation so we could avoid that dang wreck on I20 in Dallas. I also learned that my speedometer is registering slow. No wonder everyone looks at me like I'm a granny driver. I drive the speed limit, so that means I was driving about 67mph...God forbid these people not get to where they were going...but never mind that. I also had my cell phone hooked to my headset so I could
easily take calls without any distractions, as if all that junk wasn't enough distraction. While they were gone, I ate a sandwich and some fruit...Danyel is always good about packing food and snacks so we can save money on the road. The sandwich was great, but those baked doritos were nasty. I think she could have served me baked cardboard with powdered cheese stuff and I would have been just as fulfilled. After Danyel returned with Mya, I took off to the bathroom. After I finished my business, I stopped by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory or something like that, it was conveniently located near the bathrooms. They had tons a truffles with a lot of yummy flavors. I decided to try two of each, I was thinking one for me and one for Danyel. I got 8 total. I almost fell over when the clerk asked me for $17 and some change. However, she already had all the chocolate in my bag, and I didn't want to look cheap so I coughed up the money via debit card. You've got to be kidding me. I sulked all the way to the car and hung my head in shame while I told Danyel that it was a good thing she packed our lunch...because I just made up for it! She laughed. I still can't believe that junk was so expensive. I'll never enter another chocolate store with my wallet. I'm serious.We proceeded. By the time we got to Shreveport, it was about 10pm. Mom and Carolyn put us up in a "free" hotel. It was called Diamond Jacks. If you know anything about Shreveport, you know that there are lots of casinos. Apparently, Mom and Carolyn made the mailing list because they each had free hotel rooms and food and even cash money. Can you believe that? We didn't mind staying in the hotel, we still like free stuff. It really was free-whatever free in the casino world means, and it was absolutely free for me, Danyel and Mya.
The rooms were nicely decorated with the theme of the past owners; tropical paradise circa 1990's. Once again, we like free stuff, so who cares? Apparently, these casinos change ownership regularly or at least they change names and decor. However, the change hadn't made it to the wallpaper and bedspreads yet. There was a huge hot tub in the bedroom and 3 TV's...one of which was in the bathroom. How did they know that's what I always wanted? These people are good.
We ate well at the "free" buffets and were able to save a lot of money. In fact, Mom and Carolyn donated some of their "free" money to us for gas money. I was sure to stay away from the chocolate shops on the way home. Should I tell Mom and Carolyn that I put that $50 on red #7 on the roulette wheel? I say "No!" not unless I want to share my some of my $50,000 in winnings.
I'm always amazed at the trees out East, makes our mesquites look even more pitiful. I was reminded of the time when I was 3 years old and came out to visit my cousins. I peered out the back window of Mom's 1980 Grand Prix and was truly amazed...it was the first time I ever saw trees like that in my life. I remember playing in the floor with Nicholas, Shane, Courtney and Josh...those are memories you never forget. Michael and Tanya hadn't come along yet, but I'm pretty sure Mom and Lynn were both pregnant at the time...so they were there with us. Every time I hear these lyrics...my mind takes me back to that moment:
Well you get down the fiddle and you get down the bow
Kick off your shoes and you throw them on the floor
Dance in the kitchen 'till the morning light
Louisiana Saturday Night
To all those in Shreveport...we love you all forever and pray that the days ahead come easier as we all continue to cope with the loss of a great man...a curly-headed little boy that shared a moment with me that has always been one of my earliest and fondest memories.
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