Tag Archives: Family

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: I Kept a Secret

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Sunday Matters

Last weekend we had a special visitor. Our son made the trip from Orlando so he could spend a little time with us and take us to Disneyland and California Adventure. I could not mention it here because he wanted to surprise his sister and boy, did he.

Evan at California Adventure.
Hamming it up at California Adventure.

She had NO idea he was coming. I picked him up at the airport last Friday, took him for tacos because apparently Orlando does not have good tacos, and then I took him home where we hung out for a little while before heading to dinner at IN N OUT which he also missed.

The Girl and Boy at California Adventure.
Brother and Sis together again. At least for a weekend.

The next day we hit the parks which was cool because with him being in the Disney College Program, perks were to be had. I also rode that giant Ferris wheel. I am not afraid of heights but I do not like to slide around but the kids wanted to be in the car that slid around and you know what? It was good.

The Family at California Adventure.
Us at California Adventure.

I usually try to take pics but those tacos… I managed to have a bad shrimp taco. I was battling food poisoning the entire weekend. Ugh.

Even with us shutting the park down, his visit was much too short. We took him back to the airport the very next day because he had to return to work but he will be home for good on July 26th.

Right Now:

About to head to church. Not sure what is going on later. Technically my small group has a concert to attend but it’s optional so I’m not sure what the plan is.

This Week:

Nothing but work. We are having a heat wave though so probably just to work and back. I like to go out in the evenings when I have an evening free but when it’s hot, you just want to stay in.

Reading:

I started Visible Empire right before my son came to visit but reading about a plane crash when your kid is about to board a plane is not good timing. I picked it up again a few days ago and immediately got into it.

Watching:

I really gotta catch up on Better Call Saul because the new season starts soon and I want to watch it with The Hub.

Making:

I have stuff to make curry chicken but we’ve been eating the July 4th leftovers. I swear, I cooked enough for ten people.

Grateful for:

The short visit my son was able to make. We go to Disneyland all the time but seeing it from a cast member’s perspective is really cool.

He’s been gone since January if you can believe it. In some ways it’s gone very quickly. When he returns on July 26th he has a dental appointment and jury duty to look forward to. He has to get it out of the way before school starts.

What’s going on with you?

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Book Review

Review: Go Ask Fannie

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Go Ask Fannie

Go Ask Fannie
By Elisabeth Hyde
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 9780735218567, April 10, 2018, 304pp.

The Short of It:

This family’s story tugged at my heart.

The Rest of It:

Murray Blaire is getting on in years. At 81, he’s set in his ways but still present enough to know the importance of family. In an attempt to convince his youngest adult daughter that the man she is seeing is far too old for her and a real jerk, he invites his three children up for a long weekend.

Ruth as the eldest, figures it’s a good time to discuss the possibility of long-term care before her father actually needs it but Lizzie and George and most of all, Murray, just aren’t ready to talk about it. Plus, Lizzie quickly figures out the real reason for the visit and although she realizes she made many mistakes in her life, she’s not quite ready to address them. Certainly not in front of her judgmental older sister.

This is family drama at its best. Go Ask Fannie is a touching story about what it takes to have a successful marriage and raise a family while still maintaining a sense of self. Lillian and Murray lived a wonderful life but her death and the death of their son Daniel place a cloud over this family that cannot be ignored. Murray’s grief and the weight of loss his kids carry is palpable. It’s a story about missed opportunities and second chances. It’s sweet and well-told and comes together beautifully at the end.

Elisabeth Hyde is a new-to-me author but I really enjoyed her writing. Go Ask Fannie is a book many will enjoy this summer.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.