Reddick Family Web

Nobility, Humility, Loyalty

Benjamin Strikes it Rich in Grapevine, TX!

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Zombie Love found in Grapevine 

 

Zombie Love found in Grapevine

 

It took me nearly 15 years to come full circle and truly define what joy and contentment are for me in a relationship. As I have blogged before, I spent many years denying who I was in order to fit into a society that I did not really believe in. I feel my biggest downfall was to look for love in people who subscribe to this plastic reality that surrounds me. Every time I fell for someone I kept getting that sinking pit in my stomach that I was settling for less than what I wanted or that I somehow had to change and be someone that I am not.

Ultimately I gave up the search and decided to buy a house on my own and just go it alone. By chance I came across a special interest website for networking and dating. I suppose anyone can join but it is primarily for Death Rockers, “Goths” and Punk Rockers. I signed up in an effort to just find people I could connect with in an intellectual level because most of my friends just don’t understand me. After browsing the profiles and chatting with some people, I determined this site to be an enriching experience. On first browsing I passed over a particular profile because of some content that initially came across to me a snotty. Later,

I noticed that this person had viewed my profile too. I decided to take a second look and saw that some content had changed.  The new words hit home, and I knew I had to contact her.

We hit it off quite well, having so much in common. We chatted on AIM, she stalked me on Myspace, and when it came time to talk on the phone we both were a bundle of nerves. After our first conversation, we were convinced that we needed to meet in person. The tone of our next few conversations was to try to figure out how to overcome the physical distance between us and make this meeting happen. She talked about driving out to Lubbock but finding a sitter for her daughter proved difficult. I decided to fly down to DFW, and we found a package on Travelocity that worked so; off to the airport I rushed. When I arrived at the airport once again we were both very nervous. 

It was “Zombie Love” at first bite. After I checked in at the hotel, she took me to Deep Ellum, a district in Dallas that was once teaming with punk rockers but is now a bit run down as the city is rezoning the area into yuppyland.  It was then that I knew I wanted to marry her. I even told her so. There was still much to do and much to learn about one another. 

Ben, Amy and Emily at the Zombie Walk in February
Ben, Amy and Emily at the Zombie Walk in February

Eight months have passed and we have been spending every other weekend together as well as spending most of our free time together on the phone thanks to unlimited mobile to mobile calling. With certain maters of business behind us I figured it was time to make my move. We drove back down to Deep Ellum to Darkside Club where we had our first date only to find that it was closed for good. In fact all of the punk hangouts in the area are now closed. We decided to go to The Double Wide, another punk and psychobilly hangout on the edge of Deep Ellum. Fortunately they were open, in fact a favorite band of mine was scheduled to play there that night but their van had broken down and the show was canceled. One of the other bands in the line up had just finished playing acoustically in the corner of the bar and were packing out but decided to hang out for a while. 

After a couple of drinks I heard Johnny Cash on the juke box. It was “Ring of Fire” and I got on bended knee and asked her to marry me. With tears of joy in her eyes she accepted my invitation to this eternal journey and a winning team was born. Her name is Amy and she is a joy to know. We haven’t yet hammered out the particulars yet but we will keep you posted.

Nimajneb

Say Hello to My Little Friend…

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Abel, left, has a new friend, Honey.
Abel, left, has a new friend, Honey.

Wait, we’ve added one more to the bunch. Honey is a (approximately) 3 year old chihuahua. Abel is tolerating all 4 pounds of her. She on the other hand bears her teeth and snarls when he looks at her wrong.

 

The vet explained there is nothing to worry about – Like all married couples they will work it out.

Life Lately

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Aiden shows his crabby friend, "Meany-me"
Aiden shows his crabby friend,

I am done with my course work!!! Yea!!! Now all I have left is to complete my student teaching semester and I will graduate this December! I am so excited. I am planning on getting a summer job to save money for this upcoming semester of poverty.

Lilly and I got to tour her school this Saturday. She got accepted to a new all girls college preparatory school that opens this fall. She is so excited. I think that she was feeling a little anxiety (which should be expected with any move to middle school) – but at our tour she quickly buddied up with the only other girl that was accepted from her current school. I felt reassured too as the superintendent of our district explained that not only did they have the opportunity to select the cream of the crop from the applicant students, but in teachers as well. The school is small, but undergoing renovations and when it is complete, it will be equipped with the latest technology in the district.
At the tour Lilly and the rest of the new student body got to vote on the school’s colors. She voted on the combination of hot pink, black, and silver. Where else but at an all girl’s school?
Aiden is ready for summer! He often inquires about how many days are left in school. He looks forward to spending more time with his Grandma. He often declares how much he misses her. He decided to give her flowers for her birthday – “but you know, the fresh kind that you get at the market.” He also thought jewlery was an appropriate gift for a Grandma – I opted for the first suggestion. He is so insightful.
He is continuing to improve at soccer, though he has told his coach to call him Link. The first time we enrolled him in soccer he had his coaches, other parents, and the referees all convinced that his name was Link. A parent even corrected me once when I addressed him as Aiden. (I guess she didn’t know that I was Mom?? -Whatever) Anyways, the team that he has been playing with for the last year has another Aiden. In fact the two Aiden’s have the same middle name – so at times its confusing.
I have missed some of the games and practices this season because of my intensive school schedule. I was a little surprised when I took Aiden to soccer practice on Friday and heard his coach referring to him as Link. Whatever – he responds to it and the other Aiden doesn’t so I guess problem solved.
Aiden and Lilly have adopted hermit crabs. The four have been named: Clair (aka, Mr. Crabbs) Sushi, Sammy and Meany Me. Yes, it is Meany not Mini. Aiden explained that this crab is mean because it pinches hard. Aiden has been quite upset with me because I won’t by a milk snake or a tarantula. I am so mean. His life is so incomplete. I know because he tells me daily.
Kenneth is excited that I will have more time and energy to contribute to the house work. Who does he think that he married. 
Love,
Jenni

No stroke – Bell’s Palsy

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Well, at least we can be grateful it wasn’t a stroke. Should have been easy to figure out. It was only my face that was messed up, not the whole right side of the body. So Nancy and Marina had figured Bell’s Palsy even before Doc McCarty came in Monday. He confirmed their diagnosis. It seems that the palsy is an artifact of a little cold I have been dealing with.

Never trust a virus you can’t see with the naked eye.

The good news is that it isn’t a stroke. The bad news is there is no cure. The good news is it usually goes away on its own, in 3-6 months. Good news is that they can hasten the acute part of the process with steroids. Bad news is that [Read more…]