The More Things Change...

This past weekend, I decided to fly by the seat of my pants.  I had original plans to go to Super Bulldog Weekend for a fun day outside surrounded by all my Bulldogs.  I asked off work.  We worked hard to find someone to cover the store since Jamie was going to be out too.  I was excited.  Until Russ couldn't get his shift switched.  Poo.  I checked with my sister, but she was hosting a baby shower Saturday so she wouldn't be going.  Now I was off work and couldn't decide what to do.  I never would commit to a plan.

Until Thursday morning.

Thursday, I made the decision to make a last minute fly by the seat of my pants trip to Jackson.  I needed to visit my grandfather, and I have several friends I never get to see.  So I packed up after work and left.  Literally last minute.  I later realized I didn't even pack shampoo, hair dryer, straightener, or a hairbrush!  Ha!  Thankfully I choose my friends carefully...they would share a toothbrush and never think twice...if I needed one!  It's just that I'M the one who would think that was gross!

Thursday night I spent the night with Pat and Felicia, treasured friends from med school.  I never have to worry about coming unannounced to stay with Felicia.  She's always ready for my visit....complete with tomato gravy and biscuits in the morning!  I'm thinking that alone is worth my three hour drive.  We spent our day Friday visiting, tending to her youngest baby, and eating a nice lunch outside at Rooster's.  It's so funny how I could look in the back seat and see baby gear, yet our conversations stayed the same as before kids.

I think we were driving down Lakeland Drive when it hit me, and I told her, "The more things change...the more they stay the same."  This was after I realized our conversation ranged from God, adoption, infertility, and Proverbs 31 women to burping, comparing stomach rolls, and other things I would never tell you!  While doubled over laughing at one of the "I will never tell you" conversations, I see the ever present Gobstoppers that Felicia has always kept in the console of her car. 

Yep.  The more things change...the more they stay the same!

After we picked up Toby from his grandparents' and visited with them, we headed back to the house for Felicia to do more motherly duties.  I just stole the children away to play when I could.  I hogged Nate and enjoyed listening to Toby's (almost 3 years old) impressive vocabulary while he talked about, counted, and named all his trains.

I mean, he is quite advanced.  I see photography in his future too.  Just take a look at his skills...

Felicia and Pat are wonderful parents, and I always feel like I'm learning tidbits and sticking them back as I watch them with their sweet boys. 

Friday night Pat's mom came to visit, so I decided it was time to move on to see who else would take me in.  I called my cousin, Clancy, and we met at a Mexican restaurant for some adult time.  Two hours and much too deep of conversation later, we went back to her house for the night.  We spent the night talking in the kitchen with her hubs, Jack, and her dog.  We all snuggled on the couch to watch a movie, but none of us made it to the end.  The next morning, I heard Jack in the kitchen.  He was cooking omelets for us!  So good!  I also found out that he cooks EVERY morning!

After calculating the calorie count in that huge omelet, I borrowed some shampoo, a hair dryer, straightener, and a hairbrush before going to visit Pops.  Once I found Pops sitting in the day room watching an old black and white movie, I enjoyed my visit.  We talked for a while in the day room before I offered to take him on a ride downstairs for a Coke.  Downstairs is carpeted and is full of windows looking over the pond.  It was rather cold on Friday, so I didn't take him outside.  But, we enjoyed our hour looking out at the pond.  Yes, I do realize I was dressed for the summer.  That was one problem with flying by the seat of my pants...

At one point, Pops couldn't think of what he wanted to say and he said, "Aww heck!"  It was then that it hit me...things may have changed dramatically since I was younger, but Pops is still in there. 

The more things change...the more they stay the same.

Upon leaving the nursing home, I texted my college roommate to see if she was up for a last minute visit.  "Of course" was her reply.  So, I headed over to see Kelly for the first time since her second son was born.

We talked while Clark napped, and I went straight to hold that sweet Griffin.  Kelly and I caught up on families, husbands, adoption, and other college friends.  Then, she told me.  She had footage.  Footage of our college apartment life.  Lots of the video footage was sure to be random and pointless...just like we always were during our years of rooming together.  I couldn't wait to see it!  So, we loaded up on the guest bed and watched the hilarious nonsense.  Let's see...there was video of Russ and I sitting on my bed doing homework, video of our "downstairs roommates" showing Kelly how to unlock my bedroom door with a Q-tip, video of us breaking into one of our "downstairs roommates" rooms while he was watching a movie with his girlfriend, video of me and Russ having an argument on the phone complete with tears, video of Kelly's candlelight, video of us mooning and flashing each other, and more.  It was so fun to relive those moments with Kelly.

Things may have changed since then...but as we watched those and commented on each crazy antic...we realized things haven't changed much.  We are always able to pick right back up where we left off. 

The more things change...the more they stay the same.

Saturday evening, I headed back over to Felicia's for the night.  I was looking forward to visiting the church Russ and I attended during our time in Jackson.  Sunday morning was a little different from my normal Sunday mornings.  As I got ready, I realized this family had been up since 6:30.  Toby was already dressed and ready, and Pat had him outside swinging and playing while Felicia gave Nate his medicine, got him dressed, and put him down for a nap.  Yes, it was already time for a nap before we even left for church.  Things had changed.

As we loaded into the car, I realized again how much things had changed...

...but things have ultimately stayed the same!

It was a delightfully fun last minute trip!  I am so thankful that I am still able to make last-minute decisions like this and visit at a whim.  I am sorry that I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to.  I guess that just means that I'll need to make plans for another flying by the seat of my pants trip to see what else has changed and I hope...

...that more things will stay the same!