New Year's Eve

12.31.13

     The Nanana had invited us over for New Year's Eve, and I was ecstatic. I was excited to not have to go out and be around a lot of people, and because The Nanana is seriously one of my absolute favorite people in the entire universe.
      When she first invited us over, we were both excited. But after a few minutes, she said, "My granddaughter R will be over with us... Are you sure you will be okay with that?" I knew that R was around Presley's age, but I knew I could be blatantly honest with Kenney about how I wasn't really sure how I would feel about being around a toddler aged little girl. "I'm spending the weekend around my cousin's kids in Houston, so how about I text you after that and let you know how I did and what I think my limits are." Kenney graciously understood completely.
      On Monday, after realizing how therapeutic it had been to be around Presley, Brenna, and Sir William, (I'm not sure why he gets a title and the other two don't, but let's just roll with it) I texted Kenney and let her know that we would definitely be coming over.
       "Great! I'll make enchiladas!" was her reply.
       We got to her house around 6:30, bringing some tamales I had bought from a college friend. Miss R opened the door, her dark brown hair pulled back in a messy pony tail. "HI!" she said with the enthusiasm of a three year old as they just meet a complete stranger.
       "Well HI!" I said back, instantly falling totally in love with this precious little girl. She immediately grabbed my hand and drug me into the kitchen. "Nanana they're here!" Through the course of the night, I would see R's special room upstairs at Kenney's house, and she would request that she get to sit by me at the table when we ate dinner.
   
       "The office wants me to write a book," Kenney told us that night. "Isn't that completely silly? They are sending a ghost writer out to follow me around and write down the things I say and all the experiences of being a mortician."
       "Oh my gosh, that's amazing!" I said. "Take notes for me on the whole process... I think I may go down that road with the blog eventually."
        We talked about everything and nothing all that night. We talked a little bit about Kaitlyn and all the things that I did and didn't remember from the hospital. Around midnight, we did the countdown to the new year and I ran to get my wallet.
         "We have to wave a dollar because then you get rich in the new year!" I explained to them because all three of the adults were looking at me like I had lost it. "My family and I do this every year."
          "Well hell," Kenney's husband said, bringing out at $10 bill. "Maybe this will make me extra rich."
           They all humored me and we cheered in the new year. We stayed a little later than I expected and ended up leaving Kenney's house around 2 AM.

        There were a lot of emotions in saying goodbye to 2013. I will always call that year my bittersweet year because it was just such a juxtaposition of emotions. Such joy, and such pain. Such life, and such death. All in a very short period of time. I was somewhat relieved to have the next year start just to say goodbye to the old one. I was sad to see how much time had passed since we had held sweet K-So. Always the two dualing emotions.