About That 'Motley Crew'

Hey Yo:

So...  you're going to have to hang in there with me on this one as I take a bit of time to get where I am planning on going with this Post.  Ready???

How This Story Came About...

It actually started a week or so ago while I was driving to work listening to Pandora.  If I am driving alone, I am listening to Pandora.  My 'playlist' is extensive.  However, some songs will repeat quite often, while others come back around very seldom.  One such tune started playing last week and with certain songs (this particular song being one), my mind will just wander off and I'll think about a lot of things related to the lyrics of that song (very important piece of this puzzle).

Some Background...

When Donna and I first met in December of 1998, I had two Son's, Justin and Shane, and Rachel was my Step-Daughter.  Donna had a Son, Steven, and two Daughter's, Lauren and Sami.  Just the perfect little "Brady Bunch" blueprint.  Now, close to 16 years later, that number of 6 kids has exploded in numbers with the addition of Wives, Husbands, Boyfriends, Girlfriends, and Grand-Kids.

Now, it was a little rough at first...  you know bringing two families together can be tough on the Kids.  Let me just say that change is sometimes difficult.  For some, it was harder.  Rachel initially had a difficult time.  And that's OK.  It just took some time.  I can remember one Friday night, early on, when Steven was flying in from Los Angeles.  Donna, Lauren (and Stephen), Sami, and I were going to drive to the airport to pick him up.  As I was about to get in the car, 11 year old Sami looked up at me said, "I thought just our Family was going."  OUCH!!!

But as we moved forward, I think things have worked out OK.  I think Sami would not object if I rode to the airport today.  Well, maybe.  Maybe if we rode in two cars.  Rachel and her Husband, Brett, were over recently and Rachel cooked for Donna and I...  It was amazing.  Through the years, there certainly have been "ups and downs" with our kids.  Steven and I have had our own 'ups and downs.'  Heck, that's just real world stuff that happens.  But, everything has worked itself out.  Donna says, "We are making a memory."  Yep, these days, you could say, we are 'cooking with oil.'

Last Friday...

 

So, last Friday, Donna and I were sitting at our favorite Happy Friday Bar, located inside Lupe Tortilla, where we hang every Friday evening.  Margarita's were being consumed, one right after another.  I think I had 4.  Donna might have had 3 or 4.  And then, I asked her if she wanted a night cap...  She ordered a Disaronno on the rocks and I ordered a Bailey's straight up.  And then, I had another.  I say all of that to say this:  After 6 Libations, I am thinking of the song that I had heard on Pandora a day or two earlier.  You see, at age 58 and 6 Libations down, I am having a 'moment' while thinking of this song.  I look at Donna and I ask if she has heard of the song of which I am thinking.  And, of course, she has.  I then ask her, "If I were to die in my sleep and not wake up in the morning, would you truly know how much I Love You?"

 

Now, if I have done one thing in this space, I believe I have made it very clear just how much I truly love my wife.  And her answer to me at that moment was, "Absolutely."  And, of course, I smiled.  And then she said: "Nothing is going to happen" while I'm sure she's thinking: 'OK, stop it with the whole mortality thing!'  But, I just couldn't let it go there.  You see, I had to think a little longer.  Not good after 6 Libations.  So, with that same song in my mind, I leaned over and said (not asked), and with tears welling up in my eyes don't you just hate it when that happens at your favorite bar hangout: "If something were to happen to me suddenly, you make sure you let my Boys and the Kids know just how MUCH I Love Them All.  You know, I've told them, but maybe not as much as I could have or should have.  But, I thought about this Blog for this week and I thought to myself...  I want to tell them, my Crew, by shouting it "OUT LOUD!"  And, of course, Donna said she would tell them, but that they already know.  Well, I hope they're listening (and reading) today!!!  And now, as I said earlier, our original 6 "Kids" have expanded to this huge, what I affectionately call, "Motley Crew" type thing and it's seemingly growing on a monthly basis, with all the new Grand-Babies arriving or on the way.  I LOVE IT and I LOVE THEM!!!  I'll say it again:  I'm Truly Blessed with an awesome Family (Motley Crew) and I don't mind saying it.

 

So...  About That Song:

 

OK...  So, the Song I have been talking about that made me all Schmoooooopie???  A beautiful song and the Lyrics sure made me think:

 

My Parting Music:  Very simply, Garth Brooks asking a very simple question.  If Tomorrow Never Comes (Will She Know How Much I Loved Her?)  To my Woman, and on a broader scale, to My Crew.  Enjoy...
 

 

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Thanks so much for dropping by...  Much appreciated as usual.  I hope to see you back next time, whenever that may be.  Til then...

Be safe, be smart, and always show your Smile...  Enjoy Happy Friday.

adios...  vaya con dios