We haven’t seen Mauri since December 2009. Eighteen months is way too long. It’s good to be able to talk on the phone often and see each other on Skype. But nothing is better than an in-person hug with someone you love.
Mauri surprises the boys with a gift card for each to Wal-Mart. The boys talk non-stop on the car ride home from the airport. We stop at the Olive Garden and it is as if they know this is a special occasion. We are brought a never ending supply of breadsticks and checked on regularly with smiles.
Hurray, our first day of the season at Elitch, and we get to spend it with Mauri. Arriving we see a long line to pick up season passes and remembering how long the process took last year we think about bailing. Thank goodness we don’t, in less than an hour we’re in the park. Tad stops at the water park and rents our own cabana by the wave pool. As we walk to our table Mauri is thanking Tad, saying how she feels like a princess. The boys are smiling ear to ear.
We had so much fun at Elitch. Most of the day we were in the water, food was brought to us, all the soda we could drink, and about four kinds of fudge, all totally rich and creamy. I watched as everyone rode a couple of rides and then the “win a prize” games began. Everyone left with a prize.
Mauri went to one of Grant’s rugby games. She met friends Tad and I have made, and Grant got to introduce her to one of his friends. After the game we went to the mall and she got her shopping fix. Since she lives in a small town she loved the idea of lots of shops. The boys bought a game, Mauri found cute clothes, and everyone picked out something to eat in the food court.
Mauri and the boys made brownies, the gooey kind that sticks to the spoon.
When one of Justin’s friend came over to meet Mauri his family was able to come too. We ate pizza and chocolate chip cookies, talked, rode the zip-line, and just hung out. Mauri had gone through some old photos we were keeping for her so she got to tell the kids stories from when the boys were young.
The morning Mauri was leaving for home we all took the boys to their acting camp. I thought there would be tears, but what happened was lots of tears. I realized the boys were now old enough to have more of a concept of time, and were more aware that they’d miss Mauri.
Tad and I drove Mauri to the airport. I just my usual lump in the throat on the way. Mauri talked on her cell phone so we avoided a weap-a-thon. Waving goodbye as she completed check in I thought of how proud I was of the woman she was becoming.
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