#her dementia made things really rough many years ago | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

breezyseas-explorersblog · 2 years

Text

Town of Sherman, CT Memorial Day Parade 2022, Keynote Speech. It is an honor to be standing before you today, from the gazebo my father helped construct 18 years ago. Never would I have thought in all my years of walking in the parade as a girl scout, with the softball team, or riding on the floats for my mum’s dance studio, that my life’s journey would bring me back here as a speaker.

Here at the gazebo which serves as a memorial to World War II servicemen from Sherman. Last year I had an opportunity to visit the landing sites at Normandy. For such a beautiful place, a somber haze still flows along the shores, everlasting reminders of the pain, suffering, and sacrifices that were made.

Most of my family wouldn't have even immigrated to the US for at least another decade.

In this day and age, too many people have forgotten how lucky we are as Americans to have our freedoms, and what countless soldiers, sailors, and airmen have sacrificed their lives for to protect. Most Americans have never experienced war first hand. Safety is so vital to a free society, and the importance so quickly forgot.

And that is why we are gathered here today, to remember those who died in military service. Small towns absorb the toll of war. Growing up here, we have all lost a friend, family member, or loved one, who made the ultimate sacrifice. Only 15% of those who serve come from a city, leaving the other 85% to small and rural towns. Currently there’s about 200 Veterans living here in Sherman.

Why is that? What makes small towns more patriotic?

When I was in high school, my parents said they would only help pay for college if I stayed in Connecticut, so I did what any rational teenager would do, and joined the Coast Guard and moved to Alaska, but aside from getting away, it was much more than that, it was to give back in ways other might not have been able to.

When Facebook first became a thing, there was a group for Shermanites, someone posted a “you know you’re from Sherman” with well over 100 lines.

Number 27) your entire town shuts down for the Memorial Day Parade

Number 3) you know everyone in town

Number 22) your life’s dream is to get away as far as possible, but you know if you end up living here your entire life, deep down you won’t mind.

The past few years have been rough for me. I have always been a Shermanite, was only a Sherman knight until 1st grade, really Saber but (Number 29, you know the difference), but after I was discharged from the Coast Guard, I guess you could have called me a Sherman night N-I-G-H-T because I was living between Rhode Island attending university, and here, to help take care of my mother.

For nearly a decade she battled Neurological Lyme’s Disease. The easiest way to describe her symptoms was by saying she had severe dementia but it was much worse than words could describe.

I was constantly going back and forth, helping my father, as she needed full time care. After a treacherous fight, she succumbed to the disease, July 2019.

2020 wasn’t any easier, continuing commuting, to take care of my father, bringing him to chemo as he battled cancer. Broken heart syndrome from my mother’s passing was histipping point. We lost him, November that year.

My father was the youngest of 7. He wasn’t allowed to serve at the time legally having all of his brothers actively serving. It always devastated him. He was so proud, when I chose to serve, when he could not. My eldest uncle told me after my father passed, that my dad did try to enlist, and when he found out, he held him up by his throat, pinned him against the wall and made my father promise he wouldn’t.

My Uncle Donald passed away last year, retired Army Staff Sergeant, purple heart recipient. We lost my Uncle Michael 15 years ago, and my Uncle Vianney passed away this year, both Navy Veterans.

May they rest in Peace.

I forgot to mention Number 23) You are related to another family in town

My Uncle Richard, Army, and his son David, Navy Seal. My Uncle Marcel and his son in New Milford both Army, and my Uncle Robert, Navy.

On my mum's side, the history of serving dates back to World War I, my Great Grandfather, Army. I was the only Coastie, with a couple other Uncles Air Force, and my cousin Megan, Marines, so we got all the branches covered.

So why did I move back to Sherman full time? Myself, a boat captain and ocean explorer, when we are hours from the ocean. Maybe it’s just that small town spirit. So for those who are new moving to Sherman, we welcome you. Get to know us, and you will learn why so many of us choose to serve and make that sacrifice. We are willing to put our lives on the line to protect our family, our friends, our neighbors, and more importantly our freedoms. We need to start coming back together not only as a community, but as a country, to remember and be grateful for the liberties that we the people have, and for those who have made those sacrifices for us. Equal opportunity doesn't mean equal outcome, nor should it. It places responsibility on the individual, and you have the right to make those decisions. You need to want it enough to fight for it.

May God Bless you and God Bless America, Thank you.

0 notes

ninatastic · 5 years

Photo

@kay-licious how dare u (thanks <3) @silent-calling youre doing amazing sweetie

1. Are looks important in a relationship?

I wouldnt call it a key factor but it’s important to feel attraction towards your partner

2. Are relationships ever worth it?

sure! If it’s a healthy one definitely :D

3. Are you a virgin?

nah

4. Are you in a relationship?

yeh!

5. Are you in love?

I’d say so!

6. Are you single this year?

7. Can you commit to one person?

yes

8. Describe your crush

it me bf

9. Describe your perfect mate

same as above c:

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?

no, only when it comes to animals c;

11. Do you ever want to get married?

thats a dream of mine tbh

12. Do you forgive betrayal?

I guess every healthy person would say no but yes, I’d absolutely do (only the first time tho, after the second time you gotta ask yourself if it’s really worth it)

13. Do you get jealous easily?

in regard to my bf: I used to but it’s a hell of a lot less nowadays. In regard to people in general, sometimes, especially when im not doing well mentally

14. Do you have a crush on anyone?

me bf

15. Do you have any piercings?

just have my ears pierced!

16. Do you have any tattoos?

no but maybe soon

17. Do you like kissing in public?

only if its sweet forehead or cheek kisses, or quick kisses on the mouth or hand kisses

20. Do you shower every day?

yes though I gotta admit I really have to force myself. Not because I like being stinky but because everything is kinda difficult sometimes

21. Do you think someone has feelings for you?

bruh I sure hope my bf does;;

22. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?

nah

23. Do you think you can last in a relationship for 6 months and not cheat?

I’ve been in a relationship for 5 and a half years now, I think so

24. Do you think you’ll be married in 5 years?

it is possible but who tf knows

25. Do you want to be in a relationship this year?

idk, to be frank: I think my life would be a bit easier if I wasnt in a relationship, or if I hadnt been in a relationship for the past 1-2 years. And I often feel like im more of a burden to my bf than anything else. But thats a different story

26. Has anyone told you they don’t want to ever lose you?

as in losing touch with me? I guess so

27. Has someone ever written a song or poem for you?

a song yes and it was awkward as hell ajhajdfha and people have done drawings for me which is <3<3<3<3<3<<3<3<33

28. Have you ever been cheated on?

Yup

29. Have you ever cheated on someone?

very very unfortunately yes, and just like a bunch of you guys I was this close to killing myself. I was in a very bad place which I know is not an excuse for this. I still think about it even if it’s been a time since then but I think I cqan never forgive myself because of that

30. Have you ever considered plastic surgery? If so, what would you change about your body?

often but im too much of a scared cat dsfskjf idk though, I would love to be much more petite size wise

31. Have you ever cried over a guy/girl?

oh often

32. Have you ever experienced unrequited love?

yeah;; I’m not exactly pretty or popular, so puberty was hard

33. Have you ever had sex with a man?

hell yeah

34. Have you ever had sex with a woman?

:( no

35. Have you ever kissed someone older than you?

yeh!!

36. Have you ever liked one of your best friends?

Yeah and it’s difficult to be normal then aaaaaahhhhhhh

37. Have you ever liked someone who your friends hated?

some of my friends have a strong disliking towards my current bf but i dont know if you can call it hate

38. Have you ever liked someone you didn’t expect to?

yeah and it ruined me for a while

39. Have you ever wanted someone you couldn’t have?

uuuuhh not really I think

40. Have you ever written a song or poem for someone?

whenever I write bday cards I always put a poem in it :D

41. Have you had sex so far this year?

hella

42. How long can you just kiss until your hands start to wander?

depends on how thirsty I am

43. How long was your longest relationship?

5 and a half years and counting

44. How many boyfriends/girlfriends have you had?

2-3

45. How many people did you kiss in 2011?

uuhh I was 14, no one

46. How many times did you have sex last year?

HELLA

47. How old are you?

22 my dudes

48. If the person you like says they like someone else, what would you say?

I#d try to play it cool because internally I’m panicking, someone help me

49. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, what is your favorite thing about him/her?

I love about my bf how you can ALWAYS count on him when shit gets down, even if he hasnt talked to a friend for a good while and they’re like “hey I need you”, he’ll be there in a sec Also that he is still able to surprise me

50. If your first true love knocked on your door with apology and presents, would you accept?

jsdfhsjdfks GO AWAY, I’d say while closing the door and shutting the blinds quicker than lightning

51. Is there a boy/girl who you would do absolutely everything for?

yeah, but that’s probably because I have bpd and depressions

52. Is there anyone you’ve given up on? Why?

yeah, I tried to help them on all occassions, so much that I ruined my own life partially and made myself sick. But whatever I did or said, they apparently want to suffer, so i gave up trying.

53. Is there someone mad because you’re dating/talking to the person you are?

yeah my abuser probably

54. Is there someone you will never forget?

unfortunately yes and fortunately yes

55. Share a relationship story.

uuuuuuhhhhh; I dont really know what to write here. Guess I’ll never forget when my bf held a kitten (which was only a week old) in his hands and he almost cried because he loved the baby so much. Haha, he was afraid of crushing it though because it was much smaller than the palms of his hands

56. State 8 facts about your body

I gained a lot of weight since last year which is why I avoid posting or taking pics, but according to everyone else you dont see it that much (?); my hair is getting its natural curliness back; I fucked up my knee so I’ll have knee surgery next year; I bruise easily; I have a shit ton of scars; I love my super green eyes; I have thicc thighs and if I’m very emotional I get red spots all over my body

57. Things you want to say to an ex

to my first ever bf: fuck u lmao to the second bf I had: I’m so sorry for everything and I hope that you found your place :)

58. What are five ways to win your heart?

uuuhhh be sweet and understanding, be funny, be somewhat smart, dont be a mean asshole and be nice to other people (especially kids) and animals and also be able to be fascinated by small things

59. What do you look like? (Post a picture!)

yikes

60. What is the biggest age difference between you and any of your partners?

my current bf is 8 years older than me

61. What is the first thing you notice in someone?

how open and nice they are? Idk I always choose my ppl to hang out with according to this

62. What is the sexiest thing someone could ever do for/to you?

even though I’m a switch I have a big preference for being the sub, so if someone can dominate me and yknow do stull like carry me princess style or something im all like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

63. What is your definition of “having sex”?

everything that comes after kissing imo

64. What is your definition of cheating?

I think as soon as you try to pursue someone emotionally that already counts as cheating

65. What is your favourite foreplay routine?

kissing, grinding, I love when someone talks dirty to me

66. What is your favourite roleplay?

if it aint too much of a tmi i’d love to admit that we have a collar and a leash so (not thinking about pet play uughfjhjsdfkhsd, just yknow someone is able to drag me to them like this or being held in place while being taken from behind is p nice)

67. What is your idea of the perfect date?

something something being outside in the nature and also good food

68. What is your sexual orientation?

69. What turns you off?

super super wet kisses where also my nose somehow gets stuck in someone elses mouth Like dude r u a vacuum cleaner sdfhsdkjhfks

70. What turns you on?

being manhandled

71. What was your kinkiest wet dream?

idk I dont really have a lot of wet dreams and usually theyre not very kinky but rather sweet and slow

72. What words do you like to hear during sex?

I like dirty talk, so imma leave that open

73. What’s something sweet you’d like someone to do for you?

i love to get flowers, or lil stuff that reminds us of our friendship or something, self made/home made stuff is always !!!!!!!!!!!!

74. What’s the most superficial characteristic you look for?

probably hands? I love it when girls have super slender hands and when boys have rough and big hands

75. What’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for you?

I already answered that c:

76. What’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for someone?

I have a few stories I’m proud of! But I really love this one: When I was little I grew up in a village in which like 300-400 people lived (maximum) and next to us lived this sweet older couple who always gave us sweets and vegetable for our parents, or they brought us stuff from when they went on vacation. The man is now constantly sick, he suffers from parkinson and you see the early statges of dementia setting in. A while ago he wanted to go and get the German version of fish and chips with his wife but due to him needing a ton of surgeriesw constantly he wasnt able to go out with his wife. When my mom told me this I was like wtf u cant just tell me this, I’m too soft. So I went and got fish and chips from the best market around us for him and flowers for his wife, despite the fact that I havent seen them in YEARS. When I arrived at their front door both of them hugged me and cried a bit

77. What’s your opinion on age differences in relationships?

not bad if everything is consensual and if there’s a power balance thats equal

78. What’s your dirtiest secret?

I think the leash thing is one of the kinkiest things we’ve ever done tbh

79. When was the last time you felt jealous? Why?

yesterday a bit when my bf went out wth friends and had a few beers while I was stuck at home with the thought that I can never have a beer again dkadfjahdf as stupid as that sounds but I always enjoyed these chill evenings with a beer and friends

80. When was the last time you told someone you loved them?

this morning when I cuddled my cats :D

81. Who are five people you find attractive?

my bf and many videogame and anime characters, also my best female friend is hella attractive, also some of my friends are to die for

82. Who is the last person you hugged?

my bf!!

83. Who was your first kiss with?

my first bf sdfjsdfs

84. Why did your last relationship fail?

it didnt really work out, it seemed as he was more interested in saying “hey im in a relationship!” than in me, hah;;

85. Would you ever date someone off of the Internet?

yeah, sure

#ask #jeezus

2 notes · View notes

jswdmb1 · 5 years

Text

Up On Cripple Creek

“Good luck had just stung me,

to the race track I did go.

She bet on one horse to win

and I bet on another to show”

- The Band

I am an enormous fan of horse racing and have been for a long time. I chuckled a bit at the recent “controversy” at the Kentucky Derby and at those who suggested the result was unfair. Anyone who knows anything about the sport knows that was an easy call and we have all had winners taken down for that reason (on one glorious afternoon at Arlington a couple of summers ago I had TWO winners taken down after inquiries). It’s part of a sport that needs to be carefully regulated due to the gambling involved and the danger recklessness can bring to the jockeys and horses involved. So, while the decision was clear cut, I recognize how difficult it was for the judges to do what they did in front of millions of people who probably didn’t know much more about racing than the fancy hats and mint juleps. I’m also grateful we are not talking about a catastrophe that was adverted by some skillful moves by the jockeys on the horses that were affected by the interference. All-in-all, it was the best result possible given the circumstances.

But last week’s race is not what I want to talk about today. Rather, why it is that I am such a big fan of a sport that is frankly not all that popular anymore. The truth is that there was one very special person who help me develop the bug and who I thought of immediately when the Churchill Downs objection sign went up in that race. You are probably thinking you know who it is, but I’ll give you 10-1 odds you can’t guess.....no, it’s not my dad, or an uncle or grandfather. It was a quiet woman I knew named Rita Hendren.

Rita was, and still is to the day, one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Born in 1920 to a Southern Illinois coal miner, she was the fourth child of fifteen. That is not a typo. I met thirteen of them and can vouch that it was true (two passed away as infants as unfortunately was quite common at that time). Unlike today, where coal miners are men of great wealth, it was a tough living back then (before you write me a note, that was a joke). They lived in a small house with no indoor plumbing. Then, the depression hit and things really got rough. The story I was told was that when dinner time was called you ran to the table because the competition was fierce and there wasn’t always enough for everyone. Still, Rita would talk fondly of a childhood that seemed to have plenty of good times. I know better now that she likely sugarcoated some of the details, but generally she seemed to appreciate what she had.

She also appreciated her education and graduated high school in the late 30′s. That may not impress many people these days, but a high school diploma was not an easy thing to obtain in that era, especially for a woman. I’m certain that now she would have been offered free rides to the college of her choice as she was well-read on many subjects and could speak intelligently on them all But for a career, she did what she had to do to make money and moved to Chicago where the jobs were. She eventually landed at the Sunbeam factory in Cicero where she worked for many years as a quality control inspector. But despite the blue-collar nature of her life, she spent whatever free time she had reading books and watching whatever was on WTTW. In addition, she read the Sun-Times cover to cover every day and also enjoyed music. She had this great old Zenith console stereo (her sister worked there) and played 45s all day long (lots of big band and country music). She also made the best fried chicken I have ever tasted and rarely eat it to this day because nothing I have had since then can cut it (including me trying her recipe once - I just can’t figure it out!).

While she would be reading the paper, I noticed she would linger in the sports section. Then, one day when I was at her house, she made a point to turn the TV to the old channel 26 to watch Phil Georgeff on his Hawthorne recap show. I asked her why the interest in such an odd thing. She just said that she loved watching the horses and had all her life. As I got older, I found out there was a guy at Sunbeam who booked bets (this was well before OTB’s on every corner) and she had some money down on a hot tip she got in one of the races. This did not shock or surprise me. I had been watching her rake in huge pots for years at the Christmas poker games with her brothers and she always talked about how she loved the excitement of Las Vegas the one time she had been there. I was awfully curious about how she got so good at handicapping races, but I hit my teen years and got distracted.

Then, I found out at around the age of 18 that I could bet myself on the races. I went a time or two and was pretty timid about the experience with limited success. At one point, I mentioned my trips to the track to Rita and she suggested we go together sometime. So, we planned for a nice day that spring when the Hawthorne meet started and I scraped up $20 to see what I could do with a real expert at my side. I don’t remember the exact results that day (let’s just say I didn’t get rich), but I do remember learning every in and out of how to read a race program that you would ever want to know. I came to appreciate the joy of the sport and getting to be an active participant. I know it sounds insincere, but the money doesn’t really matter. When I go to the track now, I don’t bet much more than I did then and still have tons of fun. I was given a gift of analysis that could be used in a really fun way. More importantly, it gave me insight into how this woman’s brilliant mind worked. There were times I felt bad that she was just a factory worker and didn’t get a real opportunity in life, but I realized that she was a pretty happy person despite a tough life (lots of sorrow for her came in many ways, but those stories are not for public consumption). Being around her taught me what it means to be tough and use what you’ve got and not to worry about what you don’t have.

I doubt it is much surprise that I’m talking about my grandmother (on my mom’s side). Eventually, she developed a form of dementia and the last decade or so of her life was a real struggle. That hurt me more than anything as I knew (along with many others) just how beautiful her mind was and it was tough to see her unable to use it. I never forgot, however, the lessons she taught me and the countless hours we spent talking about the news, listening to old records, or the time she talked me into ditching a class in college to meet her at old Sportsman’s Park. And, as bad as I felt for her not getting more opportunity in life, I was selfishly grateful that she didn’t. It enabled her to spend so much time with me and give me wonderful gifts like appreciating how to handicap a horse race. I look forward someday to sitting with one of my own grandkids and sharing whatever quirky knowledge I have that may be of interest. Until then, I’ll keep plugging away at my two or three times a year visit to the track and I’ll never forget who got me there in the first place.

So on this Mother’s Day, in addition to wishing my beautiful wife and wonderful Mom the most joyful of days, I want to send a special thanks to my Grandma, who I just know had a bet on the long shot Country House and was slyly smiling when he was put on top at 30-1 odds. I’m sure right now, she is using that bankroll to bluff her brothers out of another pot with a pair of fours with a glimmer in her eyes the whole time. And while I miss her a lot, it warms my heart greatly to know that she can be back doing what she loved best.

And, for all of you out there who are Moms, thank you for the special talents you have that sometimes may be overlooked, but make such a huge difference on your children’s and grandchildren’s lives. It is now more important ever that kids have strong female role models in their lives, and I was incredibly lucky to have several. You are now providing that to a new generation, and I hope you had a wonderful day with those you love and they were able to show you the appreciation you deserve.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Jim

1 note · View note

wishingforatypewriter · 6 years

Text

False Positives (A Committed Interlude)

Author’s Note: This piece takes place within the universe of my On Casual Commitments series (after chapter four) but it largely focuses on Megumi and Takumi’s relationship.

Megumi Tadokoro-Aldini sat patiently on the examination table, the cold wax paper shifting beneath her as she reached for her phone to check her work email. She would have to attend yet another cocktail party with the shareholders that coming Saturday night, and once again she would call ahead and ask the bartenders to replace all her tequila sunrises with very convincing mocktails.

You see, over the past few weeks she had taken not one, not two, but three home pregnancy tests, and all of them had given her the same result.

But she had to be certain before she said anything. The last time she had been wrong about something like this, her entire world had collapsed upon itself and she would not—she could not—go through something like that again.

Between email replies, her phone vibrated. Takumi had texted her asking if she wanted to have lunch together. Mimasaka Subaru had recently opened up a restaurant nearby that he’d been meaning to try.

Megumi sighed, fishing for a way to reply without lying to him. Her mother had always said that dishonesty did to a marriage what hornworms did to a tomato patch. Then again, her mother was always quite opinionated on the topic of marriage for someone who had never been married.

Megumi shook her head vigorously, mentally admonishing herself. That was mean; she was better than that. But between her new job and her grandfather’s dementia and her ever-present nausea, she felt herself growing more irritable by the day. Still, she had to stay positive. Always positive. That was the first rule of hospitality, and now she was the head of hospitality for one of the largest hotel franchises in the world.

But was she even qualified for the position?

What was Doujima-san even thinking when he chose her as his successor? There were tens of thousands of people with advanced with degrees in hospitality management and corporate communications who would have killed for this role. And who was she? A middling chef with a full passport?

Her eyes drew closed and she tried to focus on her breathing. Before she knew it, her palms were pressed together as though she were praying. She imagined a sting at the back of her hands, then warm lips pressed against her wrist, right at the pulse point. He was the only one who always knew what to do when she was panicking.

“Aldini-san.”

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of her gynecologist's voice. She couldn’t let herself go there.

“Your results were positive. Congratulations!”

Megumi offered the physician a smile, trying her best to match the older woman’s enthusiasm. “A-are you sure?” she asked after clearing her throat.

“False positives are rare with this kind of test,” the physician explained. “And the blood test you took three days ago confirms it. You are unquestionably pregnant.”

“I see.” She slid off the examination table, buttoning her tan blazer with shaking hands. She had been gone from the office for too long already. “Thank you.”

“Would you like to schedule a sonogram at the front desk?”

S-sonagram? Already?

Suddenly her head was spinning. “Perhaps another time,” she said as she slung her purse over her shoulder. She thanked the doctor one more time and shot a warm smile at the receptionist on her way out.

After she returned to her office, Megumi had thrown up in the ladies room twice between reports and conference calls. Whether it was her nerves or the morning sickness causing it, she really couldn’t say, but despite her assistant’s many protests, she stayed until the stack of documents on her desk had receded to a manageable level.

When she got home, Takumi was on Skype with Isami and Ikumi. Those two were out in California (though not the same part as Souma and Erina) working on the vineyard they had impulsively bought. Takumi definitely had some choice words for his twin after a short vacation in wine country quickly turned into their primary residence—You couldn’t have bought a vineyard in Italy, Isami?—but things seemed to have worked themselves out.

Megumi came over to exchange a few pleasantries with the couple before excusing herself and retreating to the bedroom. A few minutes later, her husband came in after her.

“Another rough day?” he asked upon seeing that she had already gotten into her pajamas.

“Not too bad.” She felt terrible for complaining at all when Nakiri-san had risen to the head of the organization literally overnight. Even Chef Doujima must have been struggling with the role of headmaster suddenly thrust upon him.

Takumi took a seat on the bed next to her. “When you didn’t respond to my text earlier, I thought you had to be swamped.”

Megumi could hear her mother’s warnings in the back of her mind. Hornworms in a tomato patch. She sighed. “I was at a doctor’s appointment.”

“For your stomach?”

Megumi nodded slowly, surprised yet unsurprised that he had noticed. Though he did little to intrude upon the private lives of others, Takumi paid attention to everything.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Not really,” she admitted.

“You’ve been working too hard, tesoro.” He kissed her right cheek. “Can I bring you anything? Some soup?”

She shook her head. “Grazie, caro.” She knew he loved when she spoke Italian to him. “But I’m fine. I think I’m just going to take a nap.”

She was going to tell him. Soon. Tonight. She just needed time.

Megumi dreamed of Chile. She dreamed of mountains and glaciers and churrasco, of Santiago nights that lasted until morning and waking up at noon to kisses on her collarbone. Twenty-two tasted like Sauza and Souma and snogging at the edge of waterfalls.

They had been careless, terribly careless, in that heady way that only high school sweethearts who move in together can achieve. And then there was the faulty test, the trip back to Tokyo.

Twenty-nine hours in the air and they were getting married in the spring and buying a little house up the street from OG Restaurant Yukihira and naming their daughter Midori. It was a girl; they were sure.

And then she wasn’t actually pregnant.

But the family life they had talked about was still the life she wanted

...and he didn’t

And they were in love

And they were over

And none of it would have ever happened if not for that stupid test.

She woke up crying like she hadn’t in years, but this time her tears weren’t for Souma. They were for the husband who was at her side the minute he heard her sniffling.

“What’s wrong, tesoro mio?” he asked as his arms wrapped around her. “Are you hurt somewhere?”

What if he didn’t want this?

When the words didn’t come, she shook her head, rubbing her face into his shoulder.

“Megumi,” he said softly. “You can tell me whatever’s bothering you. You know that.”

And then she gazed up into his blue eyes, tentatively at first, but then with indescribable love. She had to trust him. “T-Takumi,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. “I....I’m pregnant.”

A look of understanding crossed his refined features.

“And I know it’s a bad time,” she continued. “I just got this new job, and I know you were thinking about expanding your restaurant in New York and-”

“Tesoro.” Takumi took her right hand in his and kissed her knuckles in a way that always made her melt. “We’re having our first child. No matter what else is going on, that’s amazing news.”

“But your career-”

He kissed her again, this time on the lips, and before she knew left from right, Megumi was starting to lose herself in it. Loving Takumi was always like this. Slow, intentional, more heartbeat than 808. After they broke their embrace, he gazed at her.

“Megumi, nothing in this world is more important to me than our family,” he told her. “I have nothing but respect for them, but Yukihira and Hayama can keep their money and their Michelin stars.” He gently thumbed the residual tears away from her cheeks. “I’d choose coming home to you every night over that life a million times over.”

“Takumi.” She beamed at him, smiling so wide that her eyes started welling up again. This was why she adored him, why she had agreed to marry him after only dating for ten months. “We should fly to Tuscany next weekend to tell your parents in person.”

“We’ll stop in Tōhoku first,” he said, even though he knew that they’d end up staying longer than they planned and her dementia-stricken grandfather would call him Souma.

And if their child ever asked her what love feels like, she would tell her it was this.

#shokugeki no soma #takumegu #megumi tadokoro #tadokoro megumi

95 notes · View notes

themargaret66-blog · 7 years

Text

Getting organised for summer

Desiree and Siua are flying out to the Cook Islands next week for five days in order to attend Clarisse’s wedding. Desiree has offered me her car for those five days. So I thought what a great opportunity, as I now aim to go to Waihi for a couple of days. I am going to take photos of grandfather’s grave and then place it on geni.com. I also asked Desiree if she belonged to the AA and she said that she did - so that is a relief. The AA is good for getting someone from AA to repair a flat tyre - if the need ever arises. Also, there is a Heritage Festival in Auckland which runs for two weeks. I have practically booked to go to an event on every day of the festival. I love living near Auckland - there is always lots to do. Especially in the summer months - every weekend there is a festival somewhere in Auckland such as Pasifika, the Irish festival and The Navy came to Auckland on two separate occasions last summer - which was really interesting. This is what keeps me going psychologically and physically. I never see either daughter on the weekends. They both attend church - Adrienne goes with her friends and Desiree goes to see her in-laws and also attends church on Sundays. Poor Siua does most of the cooking of dinner every night and washes the dishes as well. When I asked Desiree why she did not cook - she said because she goes and picks up the girls from pre-school every afternoon. She said she cleans the bathroom every weekend. I remember with Jim - I use to cook dinner every night and have it on the table at 5.30pm. He would eat it, go and have a bath and then go to the Working Mans Club every night of the week apart from Sundays. When I asked why he wouldn’t stay at home - he then retorted by saying “why would I want to stay at home with you?” Sometimes we had battles over his laziness in the house - where he refused to do anything! He would say that is your job - besides you can do anything you want because you are not working! We lived in Twizel - approximately 100 miles from Timaru and 100 miles from Oamaru. This town was so isolated that there was nothing to do anyway. You could go skiing if you had the money and you had someone to look after any children! I did not have any money to squander on skiing or on child care for Adrienne. I could have left Jim as my father had offered me one of his houses in Kerepehi to live in. However, I did not want to live in Kerepehi - as I had no car and the village has only one dairy. The buying of any groceries would have been prohibitively expensive. Anyway as it happens I have barely spoken to Adrienne in two years and before that - my visits to her were very infrequent like one visit every three months for a couple of years. Desiree asked me a few days ago why I haven’t spoken to Adrienne - I told her I got tired of being treated like an embecile (someone who has dementia) and I also got tired of her uncontrollable vehement temper tantrums. I don’t remember ever treating her or Desiree to temper tantrums - like yelling and screaming which Adrienne has done to me on frequent occasions! It was like walking on egg-shells around her and trying hard not to say the wrong thing and in the end, I found the whole situation to be totally exhausting! I then decided that I have more self-respect than to allow myself to be treated in such a demeaning and contemptuous way! She needs to smarten up her act towards me - like respect, consideration, kindness and out and out good manners - its not hard! Even though we do not talk to each other (have barely spoken to each other in two years) I continue to send Adrienne and Matheus parcels of clothes. This year I have sent Matheus three parcels of clothes by NZ Post Courier - each parcel would contain at least 20 items of clothing. I sent Adrienne slippers (grey with silver dots)and a cooking book written by Jax Hamilton - (a West Indian lady from London originally - she has lived in Christchurch for the last few years) for her birthday in June. At the end of the day - it is Matheus who misses out in spending time with his nan - me. I remember how I use to see my maternal grandmother on a frequent basis up to the age of about eight years old. However, my father then decided he loathed and could not tolerate her and as a consequence of this, we never saw her again until I was approximately 17 years of age. I did not really get to know her until I went nursing in Whakatane and she was living in Hamilton (from 1973 to 76) - I used to hitch-hike to Hamilton from Whakatane on a monthly basis - sometimes I stayed with her and sometimes I stayed with my sister Barabara. However, once Barbara started acquiring and running clothing boutiques - the visits stopped. When I come to think of it - Barbara then began behaving in the same way as Adrienne is doing now - she became arrogant, haughty, conceited, imperious and overbearing. I haven’t seen Barbara or Jeanette (my two sisters) in over 10 years and before that - we never spoke to each in years and years. Neither showed any interest in my two daughters when they were growing up. For my latest visit to my aunt Val - I showed her some of my photos on my computer and Val took an interest in one photo of Desiree dressed in her New York, New York tap dance costume. She seemed very surprised to see Desiree looking so glamourous in her costume! I just thought - you never came to visit me in Hamilton - (I lived there for 20 years) - you always wrote to me and said you were too busy to visit and as a consequence, you have missed out on so much! On my recent visit to Val - I told Val about Adrienne’s temper tantrums and she said that she would have a talk to one of Adrienne’s friends who lives in Thames and is a counsellor! Yeah, I thought this may help - you never know! Anything is worth a try as far as I am concerned for Matheus sake! When I told Val that Matheus paternal grandparents look after Matheus on a constant basis - I could see she was unimpressed - given Henry’s history and being jailed for 17 years!

Yesterday being the 23 of September (the last day for the national elections) - so disappointed as I think that National was elected again. Another three years under a National government is hard to bear and then I have to watch Bill English - his boring, supercilious and arrogant smile on the television for the next three years! It was time for a change in my opinion, being under National for the last nine years! Anyway I decided to sort out my summer clothing yesterday and I was amazed to see that I am now in ownership of approximately 10 pairs of 3/4 pants and numerous summer tops and t-shirts. I remember going to the Highland Games in Paeroa about five years ago and all that I had to wear was one pair of 3/4 pants - second hand from the Pukekohe markets! They wern’t very suitable as the material was quite thick to boot! I then made a conscious effort to buy up large from sales - 3/4 pants! I had no desire to be caught in such a situation again! While I was sorting out winter clothes from summer clothes - I was also shocked to see I had numerous brand new winter tops - I had no idea that I owned these items. They will never go to waste - they will all get worn eventually! I also discovered that I have about 20 brand new bras - (absolutely ridiculous) which I had forgotten that I owned! For the last three years (from the time that I have had no car) I have travelled to Manukau which requires me to travel on one bus and two trains in order to get to Manukau. I love shopping at the Manukau Mall - I always go to Millers - the shop where I buy most of my clothes. I go at least once a fortnight. Two weeks ago, I decided to go to Otara in order to pay a visit to the Green Party Protest over Poverty at the Otara shopping centre. I had to sit on the platform for 30 minutes at Puhinui and it was extremely and bitterly cold. I had everything with me like a spare pair of trousers (I suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome) in case of an accident, spare pair of knickers, pads, camera, home-made cut lunch, book to read and camera. I could have done with a thick scarf (as I only wore a thin coat - had no padding) and as a result I have been coughing my lungs out for the last two weeks! When Desiree heard me coughing - she said you want to be careful that you don’t end up with pneumonia - I agreed with her! What was so annoying about the coughing - I had only just got over a cold that I had for approximatley three weeks! With the cold - my nose was constantly running (thick yellow stuff) and I got through two huge box of tissues. Most days when I am at home - I don’t turn the gas heater on on until at least 5.30pm during the winter months. This rule never worried me as I went to the library most afternoons in order to research my genealogy! One day however I stayed at home and was completing some photoshop work on some of my photos - it was bitterley cold and I wrapped myself up in a blanket with a hot water bottle! By the end of the afternoon - I had a sore throat and this was the beginning of my cold which lasted for three weeks! I would never last on the streets as a homeless person - after a couple of weeks of sleeping rough - I would probably die of pneumonia! Aunt Val was completely shocked when she saw my images of homeless people sleeping rough on Queen Street, the main street of Auckland. Her daughter Susan had worked at the Auckland central library for several months and she had never told Val about the problem of the homeless - which equally had shocked me! Many of the homeles use the library facilites like the computers and lie around inside the library on cold wet days. On one occasion - a homeless couple were sitting opposite me on the pubic computers. The woman (she looked about 30 years of age) was completely filthy. She had black finger nails and the dirt was deeply ingrained into her skin and her hair was matted! She kept telling her male friend she was “getting transferred to Christuchurch - as she wanted to beat someone up” - someone she saw on the internet living in Christchurch! She was completely delusional and irrational! I was just filled with horror, disgust and I then I thought - well I don’t know what her situation is and therefore it is not for me to judge! On another occasion - a few months ago - there was a young guy in his 20s and he looked disheavelled and a bit grubby. A young lady of about 30 years came along and offered him the use of a shower in her flat - which was close to Queen Street - perhaps she was a student! I thought at the time - what a brave young woman as she obviously did not know the man when giving him her phone number and address!

Anyway got to go and finish sorting out my summer clothes from my winter clothes today and also clean out the garage.

0 notes