cc: file, Andrea, Tony Hafen, Sara and Des Penny, & Maxine Shirts
"All things come to those who wait. Even though it might not seem like it is every going to happen after one has waited for nine months. You might note Taylor Wright's birth did occur on Melanie's due date, and so, even though she was not born on Valentine's Day 2004 (../0407.html), she actually came right on time.
First granddaughter! Wow! Makes me feel old. As I look around me and see all of the stuff that is happening in the world, it causes me to worry. However, when it comes right down to what I can do, there isn't much good will come from worrying. So I choose to have faith in the future, hoping Taylor will have a wonderful life, and loving Taylor, her brother, her cousins, and their parents with all of my heart.
As I hinted at last week there were a lot of prime number's tied to Taylor's birth. It was 12:30 (note 1, 2, 3, 0) when Melanie called 1307 Emerald Green (note 1, 3, 0, 7) to tell us she was in room 307 (note 3, 0, 7) of the Beaumont Hospital with her new daughter Taylor, who was born at 7:00 AM (note 7), weighing in at 7 pounds 11 ounces (note 7 and 11) and 21 inches long (note 2, 1, or 3 x 7). I'm really not a numerologist. I just like prime numbers, and thought it was an interesting set of numbers noted last week (0407.html).
After eating lunch last Sunday, I drove over to Beaumont while Andrea read the paper and we talked. Jared said he thought we must have flown over, we got there so quick after Melanie called us. The Wright's were there, along with Sister Wright's mother and some of the kids. I took 19 photographs while we were there and Andrea took 5 when she went back over on Tuesday and Wednesday. For those of you not in Houston, these photos are on the web at: ../photos/Family/05_JaredMelanie/02_Taylor/040215-18/. I have attached one of the photos for you, and I will post 8 of my favorite ones with the on-line version of this Thoughtlet. These 8 digital pictures show:
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| My first photo of Taylor, with her Great-Grandma partially hidden in the background. | Andrea holding Taylor. |
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| Melanie, Jared, and Taylor. | Melanie, Taylor, and me. |
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| Taylor on the blanket Andrea made for her. | Melanie, with Taylor laying on the blanket at her feet. |
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| Colby sitting in a Rocking Chair at the Beaumont hospital. | Taylor at home with Cammy holding her. |
It is amazing to remember my baby Melanie's birth in Dallas, and to be faced with the fact she now has two babies. I have been trying to find the words to describe my feelings this week, and I haven't found them yet.
On Monday Melanie called in tears and told us that Damon, her brother-in-law who moved into Jared and her townhouse right after getting married a few weeks ago, was hit by a drunk driver on his way home from school. The air bag did not inflate, he had the full force of the wreck was on his face. Broken nose, big slash, broken skull, concern of swelling which would cause brain damage. He was taken to the same hospital Melanie and Taylor were at. As of this evening, Damon is out of ICU and has his own room. The neurosurgeon who did the work the first night said he didn't think he would make it. He was obviously wrong. He looks bad. Colby did not recognize him today. He has staples from one ear to the other and his eyes are swollen shut. He will be out of the hospital in two weeks. He is talking and is allowed to eat. Damon wants to get out of the hospital, and he still has his personality.
Andrea went to Vidor Tuesday morning after seminary, and came back Wednesday evening. It is really sad, but Matt and I didn't make it through the first evening without Andrea here before we were at each other. He refused to tell me about some problems with grades, and so I refused to sign a schedule approval, and it escalated from there. He refused to get off of the phone. I do not like constantly being talked back to, and ended up attempting to get his attention by breaking his phone before I gave it back. Wasn't my best response, nor my best evening. Nor was it Matt's best evening. Oh well!
On Thursday I received a nice note from my sister. It is interesting to me it was the only note received in response to my request for feedback last week (0407.html). Sara, I guess I am writing these Thoughtlets to you, even though you is on the cc line. In case someone else reads this, I will include your comments because I think they will be of interest to more than just me:
I was sorry to read about Brian's illness, and glad to read
he is OK. I have never considered myself a gambler, and yet
as I read Aunt Sara's words I realized I am. Certainly I am
less risk averse than most. I didn't realize I considered
Sara's advice out of line, and so I went back and reread what
I wrote about getting a real job (../0037.html), and I quote:
A year-and-a-half and lot's of credit card debt later, it is
pretty obvious to me I was wrong. I've always been somewhat
cynical as to what the Lord cares about. I don't think He
cares what kind of car we drive or what kind of house we
live in, as long as we are serving our fellowmen and meeting
our obligations. Based on the financial stress of the last
year-and-a-half, and how poorly I've done in meeting my
obligations, it is pretty obvious to me that my being
`firmly convinced' was misplaced. Oh well! Starting today
I will once again work my hardest to do better. All any of
us can do is repent, not dwell on our past mistakes, and do
the best we can as we go forward.
I have taken a job with Geophysical Development Corporation (../0346.html). They finally came out of their financial reorganization, and are getting started on building up the business. I will be a consultant for the first month, and then an employee. The first week was mostly spent learning their products and services. I hate the commute, as it takes an hour each way, and this is completely wasted time. Somewhere I have a little cassette player that I can listen to books on tape, and hopefully I can find it tonight and settle into a routine. There is a lot of politics for a little company. However, the folks I work with are good people, very smart, and doing interesting things. They want me there, and after the baloney with HyperMedia Corporation and Continuum Resources this feels nice. I believe I can contribute, and so the next couple of months will demonstrate to all of us if this is going to work out. Fred Hilterman has left the company and gone back to the University of Houston, and they are attempting to recruit him and bring him back in. We spent half a day together this week, and it was a joy to be with him again. I think he likes working with me too! We had a lot of fun when we worked together at the Seismic Acoustics Lab.
They are sending me to China the end of March, and so I will be going through the L.A. airport a couple of times, if Ethan and Ben or Sarah happen to be available meet me for a brief visit. If not, we look forward to seeing you this summer when you visit, and hopefully in Cedar the week before July 4th.
Audrey has started her training as a Delta / Sky West Flight Attendant, and she asked for our marriage license this week. Maybe we will be able to visit Ethan (Ben and Sarah) and Grant (Paul and Kate) a little more often than we have the last couple of years. No, Colby and Taylor (Jared and Melanie), neither Sky West nor Delta fly to Vidor. We will just get in our car and drive over, like we did to celebrate Taylor Wright's birth."