He
re in Leave-It-To-Beaver-Land we have our annual harvest festival, celebrating the local peach crop. There is the large parade, the small parade, beauty pageant, the typical events with all the trimmings. It’s been said, that “Peach Days” is one of the grandest celebrations in all the land.
Of course it is the family favorite and attending all such things is a must.
On Saturday, the entire town was crawling with people, and the city gussied up in all its glorious pageantry. I attempted to attend the parade. I geared up for the candy throwing, bright costumes and lots of noise. As I got settled in, snuggled deep in my lawn chair. Bottle of water in hand, and quite comfy. We had just stood for the passing of the flags, when the cell phone rang and we were called home.
At home, I found myself alone with Ethan and Mom. Ethan who was crying non stop and Mom who was insisting that we go celebrate.
I tried to express to her, that two wheelchairs and one pusher is not a good combo. I went over the scenario with her and explained that I was not capable of taking both of them by myself. She insisted. Profusely. She begged and pleaded and begged some more.
So on the hope of getting a hold of my kids on their cell phones and having them meet me. I geared up for the journey and packed them both in my car along with both wheelchairs. Speed dialing all the way there, hearing nothing but voicemail, I really started to get nervous.
I found a parking place four blocks from main. Still no answer on any of the cell phones. Hoping to catch the tail end of the third largest parade in Utah, I pasted on my determined look and helped each of them into their wheelchairs. Pushing my Mom and pulling Ethan I headed towards Main Street, with hope of finding my teens. I did have a general idea of where they would be.
I finally wrestled the wheelchairs to the corner of Second South and Main Street. There were so many people. It was hard to maneuver the chairs through the crowd. We were at the corner awaiting the light to change from red to green, ready to head across the street. I had the wheelchairs in front of me. One hand on each chair. All of a sudden, with no warning-no word of caution, at all. My Mom turned towards Ethan and puked. Projectile vomit. Enormous amounts of vomit. Everywhere. All over Ethan, all over three perfectly dressed, composed strangers. Everywhere.
I swear, all of a sudden time stopped. It’s like in the movies, where the entire world stills and the camera swings around. I took it all in. Ethan screaming, strangers gasping, my Mom looking stunned and horrified.
I’m not sure what happened after that. Frantic searching for wipes, paper towels, napkins. People assuring me, it was no big deal. Screaming into Victoria’s voice mail. “WHERE ARE YOU”- like she could hear me. Turning around, and heading back.
Finally finding Vix and Jay. Leaving Ethan and Mom with them. Finding the car. Packing them up and heading home.
It wasn’t quite the day I had in mind.
We survived though.
Peach Cobbler, made it all better!