AuburnChick's Adventures

I just found out that the husband of one of my best friends passed away yesterday, and I’m absolutely devastated.

I met David and his wife when we moved back to the Florida Panhandle in the early 2000’s. Our boys attended the same middle school and played soccer together – both in middle school and on a travel team.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I first met David’s wife (my future BFF) during one of the first middle school soccer games our boys played in. She quickly made an impression on me with her energy, and I decided I wanted to do life with them.

As the years went by, our families grew closer. Before I started teaching I subbed for David and his wife, who taught at our kids’ middle school. I remember David walking into his room early on a day I was subbing and watching him teach his class.

He was incredibly patient and explained concepts so well. He ruled his room with an iron hand, but his discipline was based in love, and the kids knew that.

When I was preparing to take my General Knowledge Test to become a certified teacher, the math portion freaked me out. I called David and asked if he would help me study since that was the subject he taught. I showed up at his house on the weekend, a wad of Kleenex in my hands (I’d been crying from stress), and listened carefully as he calmly walked me through several practice problems.

I remember at one point him leaning back in his chair and saying, “I have no idea how they got that answer.” He assured me that there wouldn’t be hard questions like that on the test despite my worries.

I never saw him fret.

Ever.

Even after he had to rebuild his home after Hurricane Michael destroyed it.

It was the second time he’d rebuilt that house – Hurricane Opal had flooded their home several years before.

Even when they lived in a camper in their driveway for months while he put their home back together, he was steady as could be, and I don’t think I ever heard him complain.

He and his wife were in our small group at church. We shared many, many meals together. His quiet faith did not waver.

Ever.

He loved his family and friends steadfastly.

I will never forget this amazing man – his southern drawl – his easy take on life.

Please pray for his wife, their children, their grandchildren, and their community. His passing is already being felt by all who were honored to know him.

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Hello, friends! I always look forward to Wednesday. Not only does it mark the midway point of my work week, but it’s a chance to reflect as I answer Joyce’s fun questions and visit new areas of the blog world to see how others answered them.

Let’s get started!

1. What does adventure mean to you? 

When I see or hear the word “adventure,” I immediately think of participating in an activity that may be new to me – something that might ask me to step outside of my comfort zone – visit a place I’ve never been to before. An adventure evokes a feeling of anticipation and fun.

2.  What are your thoughts on tipping? What businesses or service providers do you regularly tip? Do you resent being asked if you’d like to add a tip? What about when a suggested amount is presented? 

I am all for tipping, if the circumstances warrant it.

Dining at a sit-down restaurant where someone takes my order, and it’s made especially for me. – where someone checks on me to make sure my water glass is filled up and things are to my satisfaction. I am more than happy to tip in this case.

We don’t do fast food much, but when we do, I’m not about to tip. Sorry not sorry.

I believe that other service-oriented personnel, such as hair stylists, nail techs, food delivery and Uber drivers should be tipped. We’ve even tipped movers who transported and unloaded our home’s furnishings. These people work hard, and I want them to feel appreciated.

With that said, yes, I do resent being asked if I want to add a tip.

Last year, we were buying a few trinkets from a souvenir shop during a trip with friends. I was absolutely aghast when the shop worker gave me a pen to add a tip. “Um, no. You rang up my purchases. That is it.” The request was extremely tacky.

If a suggested amount is provided, I become rebellious – unless the number provided lines up with what I’d planned on tipping anyhow.

3. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream…do we? Is ice cream a favorite treat at your house? What’s your favorite flavor? Regular, soft serve, gelato, sherbet, or some sort of non-dairy version of ice cream…what’s your pleasure? 

I have had a milk allergy since I was pregnant with my youngest, so I have missed out on real ice cream for over thirty years.

Thank goodness for recipe creators who have figured out how to make plant-based ice cream that tastes like the real thing.

I can’t have oat milk, so mine needs to be made with almond, cashew, or coconut milk.

Did you know that Kitchen Aid has an ice cream bowl attachment that you freeze and make ice cream with? Yep. It works amazingly well!

For store bought (i.e. the lazy woman’s go-to), this one is my favorite at the moment and one we stocked in the freezer in the days leading up to my recent surgery. It went down so smoothly and eased my sore throat when I got home from the surgery center.

4. What’s your ‘back in my day, we____________________ ‘ story or saying? 

Back in my day, we didn’t overthink our baby’s sleep habits. We asked our mamas and friends, and we might have read What to Expect the First Year. Ultimately, we used our God-given intuition, and our kiddos were fine.

5. Somehow this is our last Hodgepodge in the month of June. Next week’s Hodgepodge lands in July. Wow. Sum up your June using three adjectives. 

Because June has been all about my shoulder surgery, my three adjectives are related to that: anticipated, painful, and restful.

These words seem contrary, but they follow the progression of the month.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I just finished this book:

It must have been a free book I downloaded from Prime’s First Read offerings one month.

This is a lovely book that depicts two people who meet while visiting their loved ones’ graves. The friendship they forge as they navigate the turbulent waters of grief is unexpectedly funny while simultaneously tender.

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