Good Byes

Good-Byes

Ahhhh...Summer....

Vacations...Visiting Family.... and....sadly...

having to say Good Bye to Family....
Saying Good-Bye is something I avoid whenever possible.

I have had to say too many sad Good-Byes in my life and

I just don't like Good Byes...especially the kind attached to me

traveling a distance one way and the other person headed another

direction with no idea when we will for certain see each other again.

I truly understand how sad my niece, Soph was when

we had to say Good Bye back in July because I was equally

sad, I just have my "I have to accept this" face on.

I totally "get" the tears and the Hogie Tummy attached to

this experience.

Read HERE or HERE for Hogie Tummy info.

The women in this photo are WHY I understand Soph

at every level...

Saying Good Bye to my Aunt Marilyn and my Grandma Hogie

each summer vacation was physically painful.

I just could not get enough of these two great women in my

life. They understood me and loved me unconditionally.

I learned much about loving and accepting others from them

This photo is from August 1978, Pleasant Grove, Utah at a Park Family Reunion. I was working in Salt Lake and preparing to start school at LDS Business College. I got off from work and zoomed down to Pleasant Grove for the end of this gathering. I was just so excited to be closer to my Aunt and Grandma, even if I was in Salt Lake and they were in American Fork. After years of me living away from Utah, at least we were in the same state! I associate the end of summer with saying good bye to family. Thankfully, there is Back To School to get me focused and moving forward.

Do You avoid Good Byes? Do you hate Good Byes?

Am I the only one? Is it just me?

Happy Weekend! Hopefully...No Sad Good Byes!

Hogie Tummy Settled

All Is Well On Amtrack

In a previous post, I discussed the departure of my niece,

Sophie and the serious case of "Hogie Tummy" she was

experiencing as it was time to board the Amtrack with her

brother, Josh, and my son, Andrew.

Once they were off, Andrew tucked her and Josh in for a nap

and all was well. He just shared this photo of Soph in a

peaceful sleep as they headed north....

proof that Hogie Tummy can be overcome.

She was on to another adventure in Orlando and then Atlanta!

Here is Sophie in happier days ahead as she was in Orlando

and preparing to head to Atlanta.... Love, Love the shades,

Soph! Miss you!

A Post Script on Hogie Tummy

My sister, Jenni, reminded me that Hogie Tummy is not

limited to times we leave our family. It shows up on the

first day of school and when we have to go to the Dentist,

take a test, etc. It is just a genetic thing....

Thank goodness we all understand each other in that

department!

Amtrack and Hogie Tummy

AmTrack...All Aboard

Train ridership is up 150% so say the latest statistics.

Just a few minutes at the AmTrack Station in West Palm Beach

and I could have given those statistics to CNN or any other

news agency. I noted that there were more families and

professionals traveling the rails as opposed to a "seedy" sort

of crowd at times in the past.

In spite of a serious case of "Hogie Tummy" for

Sophie, it was time to board the Amtrack Train

from West Palm Beach to Orlando last

Tuesday.

Josh and Soph rode the train with cousin, Andrew to Orlando

where they met up with their mom and Grandpa and Grandma.

It was a

SAD, SAD,SAD

Farewell.

Sophie could not have been in more understanding,

empathetic care when "Hogie Tummy" set in for her.

I am an expert at "Hogie Tummy". At the end of

this post, I will expound on "Hogie Tummy" and

the symptoms, causes, and possible cures. It is

genetic, however, your family may have it and

call it by another name.

In this photo, I am attempting to be brave

and say good-bye to Sophie with a minimum of tears

while she was shedding enough for both of us!!!!!

All Aboard..... The travelers...Andrew, Josh, and Sophie

Josh was doing his very best to make Sophie and Me NOT

cry as we said good bye.
Andrew,
Katherine, Sophie, Josh, and Megan at the Train Station in
West Palm Beach
The children and Me (aka The Queen of Hogie Tummy)
What Is Hogie Tummy?
Hogie Tummy sets in when it is time to say Good Bye after a fun
visit, or when
riding on a long car, plane, bus, boat, or train ride. Generally
the Good Bye and the Riding in a Vehicle are combined to make
it worse.
As a child, I would get Hogie Tummy every summer after
a wonderful visit to Utah seeing relatives, namely,
my Aunt Marilyn and My Grandma Hogie. The day
of departure would arrive and I would wake up with a serious
case of Hogie Tummy (as did Sophie while here this past week)
My tummy would hurt and churn. I would cry, I could not eat and
I would cry and cry and cry. I just did not want to say good bye for
another year. It was soooo painful physically and emotionally.
We would get in the car and begin the 2 day drive back to Missouri.
A few miles down the road....it was time to let loose (yes...throw up)
My dad would have to pull over (even though it put us behind
schedule...Ha) so I could let loose.
Once I got everything out.... the tummy generally began to feel
better and I had to accept that I was leaving. The sure cure
for the "Hogie Tummy" once the Tummy has been emptied and there
is no way to turn back and visit some more.... DRINK A COKE...it
just makes everything feel better....no wonder it is one of the main
comfort foods of my life to this day...even though I have sworn off
soda!
To this day, I cry when I fly over the Rocky Mountains and leave
Utah to head home to Florida.
Sophie.... if genetics are any indicator...this was not your last case
of "Hogie Tummy", but always know, your Aunt Shauna understands
completely! I love you, Soph!