June
When I finished my first year at Miller Park Elementary last May, I was excited and stressed to the max in the throes of wedding plans. Not only my son’s wedding, but Jeff’s brother Jim’s and my cousin Jon’s daughter Tara as well. My calendar was a non-stop blur, a completely filled itinerary of addressing invitations, going to showers and weddings, family meetings, rehearsals and shopping. I knew weddings were expensive…but holy moley! The combined costs to our families for invitations, postage, limos, halls, tuxes, dresses, flowers, cakes, catering, bar goods, photography, videography, music, hairstyling, manicures, professional makeup…have I forgotten anything?… was mind blowing! Jeff and I made the decision to get a small loan to help defray the costs, but we believe to the bottom of our toes that it was all worth it.

July
Even though the we were all stressed to the max, the wedding of our son Michael to the very lovely Kara Kopecky was a dream come true. We could not have been more thrilled. We had received 220 responses, we had set up for 280…well over 300 attended. I was touched beyond words that family and friends from across the nation came to Omaha (at no small cost to themselves!) The Craft Family and Aunt Dee from Pennsylvania, my brothers Bill and Don and their families from Texas, Joe Moe and Gwynn from Washington state and Tony & Don Pohl from Minnesota. Many others from the Kopecky clan that I cannot begin to remember all the names. Family and friends have shared all of the pictures they took, and they are truly a gift of love for which I cannot thank them enough! So thank you from the bottom of my heart to Sue, Chanta & Tara Craft, Judy Moe, Sue Lew, Rachel Gibson, Scott Roark Family, and Bill Roark Family for: The Wedding Album.

Shortly after the wedding weekend, we celebrated the 80th birthday of my Aunt Dee from Philadelphia on Wednesday evening. It was a rare opportunity to share our love for her while she came for the wedding since her birthday was the following Friday. So the Chin family again got together in celebration up at Cooper Farm to let her know how much we love her.

I drove my cousin Dona, who stayed for Aunt Dee’s party, half way home to Minnesota the following day. We met her hubby Tony in Story, Iowa where Dona and I did some antiquing before giving each other a farewell squeeze. I love my cobalt blue glass treasures!

I was completely wasted and in need of a rest when my brother Larry was to have a huge backyard party and birthday party for his sons Chance and Cody. This party had been postponed due the the wedding that happened to fall on Chance’s birthday. I am ashamed to say, I did not make it the the party…that weekend, I died. Okay, not literally…but I assure you I could not move and my body said to me quite clearly “NO MORE!” I had to make it up to my nephews and brother later. I love them dearly, I hope they will understand.

That next Tuesday, Mike and Kara stopped by in the middle of the week after work. Odd!? They don’t normally make a 20 mile trip to northeast Omaha on a work night out of the blue. They could not wait to tell us that they have a baby on board and are expecting at the end of March 2009! OMGD! Will the excitement never end?

Next up…knee surgery. I had postponed surgery on my left knee til after the wedding. By now the torn medial meniscus (cartilage) was screaming at me 24/7 because it was pinched and every movement of my knee was a reminder that it was still there and very, very…very unhappy. Things like dancing all night at weddings is a very stupid thing to do to your knee when you are badly in need of repair. So I finally checked myself in on July 24, for an “in and out” arthroscopic procedure that my orthopedic Dr. Watson assured me would consist of 3 tiny little incisions, a repair of the cartilage, and a brief recovery in the recovery room. My surgery was scheduled for 8:30 am, so I was pretty sure I would be home by 1pm at the latest. HA!

General anesthesia! not a good thing for me. I was so sick with motion sickness after the surgery. Every little movement made me wretch. I felt so bad for poor Jeff who had waited and waited and waited, in the waiting room for me until around 2pm and then finally told the nursing staff that he had to go home to let the dogs out. They called him back finally at around 5pm to pick me up. I was still so sick that even the brief ride in a wheel chair to the car had me ready to barf what little fluid (about 3 drops) was left in my stomach. On the one hand, I wanted Jeff to get me home as quickly as possible so I could lay my head back down, but then again I wanted him to stop the vehicle and drive as slowly as possible so as not to cause any sensation of movement at all. Getting from the car to the house was horrible. Jeff had to get me a chair halfway there so I could sit down for several minutes to collect my stomach before trying again for the house. Even our neighbor Nathan was trying to help to no avail. When I got to the living room couch. I was done. I did not move for 24 hours. General anesthesia! not a good thing for me.

The following weekend was a slow recovery getting around on crutches, staying off my knee, keeping ice on it to reduce swelling etc. But by Sunday, I was off the crutches and doing remarkable well. A post-op visit to the doc on Monday confirmed it. I was on the road to a full recovery and no more knee pain. YEAH!

I finally felt up to visiting my nephew James’ wife Rena and their new baby Ella who was born on July 15th. I had wanted to see them when she was born but that week was so hectic. This gave me the opportunity to cuddle and quietly maul Ella with my Auntie charms! I love babies! It is great that Gabby, Ella and the new baby in March will be fairly close in age and get to grow up together!

August
August 1-2 brought all the Roark’s (’cept my brothers Don and Bill as they were just here for the wedding) to Omaha for the beloved Roark Reunion! Cousins came in from Port Isabel, TX, St. Louis, MO, Jefferson, SD, Kingsley and Creston, IA and of course all the Omaha Roarks. We partied at the Regency Mariott with swimming and pizza poolside til late in the evening. The next day was moved from a state park to my brother Larry’s home because of the triple digit temps. Larry and Becky have a pool and plenty of party room inside and out. It was a day of swimming, water volleyball, food and big ol’ Roark bear-hugs. Feeeeeeeel the love!

I just looked a the calendar and the school year starts on August 18! I have just a few days left of my summer to be totally and completely lazy. I have a couple friends to hook up with for lunch. I want to spend a few days with my grandkids before they go back to school. Gabby has started to walk and I want to watch! The dog days are upon me. But even so, my boss, Mrs. Marisett (our principal) called yesterday with hopes of me coming in early next week for some preparation before school starts. I truly don’t mind. I want to help. I am jazzed about my 2nd year at our little school. I can’t wait to find out which teachers are still here and what new ones are coming etc. etc. I have already called Cynthia, the school’s secretary (and my best bud at school) to get up to speed. I think a lunch date with her is needed next week for sure!

Even though the end of August is not yet here…I have scheduled Labor Day weekend already. An end of summer trip to Minnesota is on the calendar as Jeff and I will attend a wedding north of “the cities” for my cousin Dona’s son James. It will be a fast trip, but I can’t wait to finish off the summer of 2008 with yet another party! Dona is my closest friend and confident. I would not miss this for the world! Besides, I think our hotel is next to a casino! Time for some fun!