Let’s take a look at the past couple of weeks in no particular order…
The first funny tale is about Joyce. For those of you who have not met or heard about Joyce, she is our exchange student from China. She is 15 years old and is currently attending 10th grade at our local high school in Weston. Joyce joined our family back in August and will be here through to the end of June. I cannot say enough good things about her, she is everything you could wish for in a daughter – she is beautiful, kind, generous, funny, adorable, smart and just simply wonderful to know and love. From the very beginning she has called us Mum and Dad and her transition into the family was seamless. I know there is going to be a huge void in our homes and hearts when she returns to China in June. She is such a big part of our family and we all feel blessed to know and love her. Anyway, as usual I am digressing…
As I mentioned Joyce is 15 years old and comes from China. For many years her Mother and Grandmother have been trying to get her to pierce her ears, but she has always refused due to an incredible fear that it will hurt. Well now she has seen Cady and Aimee in their pretty earrings, she has slowly warmed to the idea of trying to get her ears pierced. After watching numerous YouTube videos to illustrate how painless it actually is, Joyce decided that now was the time.
Never one to sit back and second guess a decision, I immediately drove her and the 3 kids to Claires to get the job done. As the kids destroyed the store, Joyce anxiously sat in the chair and I signed her life and ears away. I have to say that up until the moment the lady wanted to come within 15 feet of her, Joyce was extremely brave. But as soon as the lady approached, Joyce was jumping out of her chair like a scolded cat – it truly was hysterical. You would think the woman was trying to murder her. I have never seen anyone so jumpy. In the end, I had to basically hold her down as she squeezed the life blood out of my hands. Needless to say within a couple of minutes the ordeal was over and we left the store.
Unfortunately, I did not quite understand it was only the beginning – for the next couple of hours Joyce slowly regained her normal skin tone (she had turned quite green) and she also proceeded to walk as if she were wearing a neck brace. When asked why she would not turn her head, she simply explained that she couldn’t since she did not want it to hurt her ears. No amount of coaxing from me would help her relax enough to stop her looking like C3PO. Finally, prior to going to bed some 4 or 5 hours later, she was beginning to look like her old self, with the addition of a pair of beautiful emerald studs. I wish I had just taken Joyce alone, since I could have made our own YouTube video and entered it for America’s Funniest Home Movies. Mind you, I think even the photos show the depth of Joyce’s discomfort – bless her. I also want to add that even though she was scared, she was adamant that she wanted her ears pierced and she is extremely happy now they are done and it is all over. Her Mom was happy to hear that she had finally taken the plunge and think we can all relax now it is over.
Joyce after the earrings
A couple of weekends ago, Aimee and I were on our way to a birthday party when we took a wrong turn and ended up passing the Dave Rodeo – why does that always happen when you are running late? Anyway, we called the rest of the family to meet up with us after the party and all spent a wonderful couple of hours wandering the various stalls and exhibits. Highlights of the day were watching the kids sing and play music with a man from the Navajo tribe inside his tent- it was so hot outside, but wonderfully cool inside. Seeing Joyce’s shock at the size of a bull in the farm exhibit, she never knew cows were that big. Amazingly, she had never seen a live cow before! The little kids loved the pony rides and the petting zoo of goats, calves, chickens, sheep and ponies and Hansen and Aimee even tried on a firefighter’s uniform, oh and I almost forgot shaking hands with a monkey... However my favorite part of the day was having my photo taken holding a one month old Florida Panther named Donovan. He had to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen and I fell deeply in love as he suckled on my thumb like a baby. I could have spent all day with him, he was so darn cute.
