More to come...
I have been so busy and stressed out, even though I know it
is all stuff that I am choosing. Because
our family is going on vacation, I had a separate uniform try-on for Missouri
Juniors. I missed meeting with the team,
but Ali was there! We did have a Zoom
with Coach Maci and our team to discuss expectations.
I tried to fit in as much time with Aaron as I could before
we left on our vacation. I went to his
house and he came to my house. Mom
signed me up for a Women in Sport conference but I didn’t want to go. I wanted to have more time with Aaron. She wanted me to give it a try, but I thought
it was a waste of time.
I got to go on a plane for the first time on our family trip
to Tucson! We got to the airport around
3:30 and left around 6:30. We were in Arizona before 10 AM! I loved being in a plane and said, “We should
take a plane everywhere we go” after we touched down. We had also been awake for so long and I said,
“Flying makes me hungry!”
It was so good to see Papa Rick and Nana Peggy again! We also got to see our Uncle Sammy for the
second time as well as his girlfriend Catie.
She has a dangerous hospital job and needs to have a car to get another
job. I really wanted to give her our
car!
We did so many things in Tucson. We went to two history museums, including the
Arizona History Museum which was really interesting. Afterwards, we drove around the University of
Arizona and ate lunch downtown. It was
at this point that I knew I would not be going to this school because the high
(every day) was 114 degrees! So
disgusting! While in Tucson, we also went
to the Colossal Cave. It was supposed to
be cooler but it wasn’t, and it smelled like bat poop. Nana Peggy took us to a Mini Museum and we go
to see a lot of miniature houses, etc.
Marie and Todd and Michelle came over too one night. We played pool volleyball with them, and I
enjoyed just visiting with them. I
really liked Marie.
The next day, we traveled by car to Puerto Penasco to their
Mexico house. Even though it was cooler
there, it was so humid and gross! We
went swimming in the Gulf of California the first afternoon, but it had a lot
of seaweed in it and was not refreshing at all.
It was warmer than bathwater. Mom
and Dad went swimming the next morning and said it was better, but I’m glad I
stayed in bed. Later that day, we went
to CEDO where they worked for over 30 years.
There was an ecohouse there that was made of tires and soda cans, a huge
whale skeleton, and we saw a baby coyote that they took in to
rehabilitate. Later that hot afternoon,
we went on the Mexican Rodeo Drive to go shopping. I bought Aaron’s family a lot of gifts there. That night, we walked around downtown like a
tourist and had ice cream. I saw a girl
in the ice cream shop who seemed to really like me and ordered the same thing
that I had. It made my night. I also saw a man downtown who was so happy
making music and that doubly made my night. Our last day in Mexico, we drove to
the estuary and had lunch. Emily and I
were fascinated with the ground squirrels and tried to feed them.
We headed back to Tucson and enjoyed the pool that afternoon,
as well as some yummy (and gigantic) pizza.
Sammy and Catie came over again.
Our last full day, we drove up Mount Lemmon and enjoyed lunch where it was
22 degrees cooler toward the top! Papa
Rick cut up a watermelon and we had a blast seeing how far we could throw the
rinds! On our last morning, we had a
morning swim and lunch with Sammy and Catie.
We made it safely to the airport, but our flight was delayed. We had to sprint through the airport and
barely made our connecting flight. When
we got back to Columbia, we found that our luggage did not make it with
us. It was at this point that I broke
down. I wanted my stuff so bad before
seeing Aaron the next day. It all worked
out, but I was very tired and emotional.
I got to go to several of Aaron’s basketball games when we
got back. We watched a family movie (The
Parent Trap). The next day, I went to
see the Barbie movie with my friends and LOVED it! I really want to watch it with mom. We had a high school sports “dead week” so I
was able to catch up on sleep, but unfortunately, Aaron’s family went on vacation
that week. My family is hoping to do our
vacation this week next year so we don’t miss out on as many things as we did
this year.
I was so excited when Aaron got back because we made it
through our month of barely seeing each other.
I spent the day with him, and was mad when Mom and Dad made me to go the
Battle High School sports meeting and then to hang out with family at Rodney’s
office. I was thrilled to start tryouts
for high school volleyball! One the second
day, Coach Sammi pulled me aside and asked how I would feel about playing on
varsity!!! That’s right, I’m on VARSITY!!! Not only that, but I am the only
freshman with no sophomores on varsity!!!
We met up with Aaron and his mom that night at Andy’s and went to walk around
Shelter Gardens and PetSmart. (I love
begging to get a cat and crying when I don’t!)
Emily went to Washington for a few days after that and I was
busy with volleyball practice in the afternoons. Our coach listed me as an outside hitter/DS,
but she is having me play DS. We had our
team pictures and because I am on Varsity, I go to play in the Call to Battle
game against alumni. It was so much fun
to compete on the court again. Aaron and his mom came, and Aaron even bought a
Battle volleyball shirt! All the girls on the team are so nice and welcoming. I particularly like Taylor and Janaya. Since I am the only one on the team who doesn’t
drive, they have offered me rides and included me in all the after-practice
team stuff.
Mizzou volleyball has started up again and we have season
tickets. Unfortunately, I am so busy
that I am not always able to go. I went
to the Black and Gold game with Aaron and also got to spend a day with him
before mom went back to work. It is
going to be hard to get together once school starts back up. Nana Arden came to bring us lunch the first day
Mom went back to work. Mom’s friend and
her family came over for a BBQ one Sunday night. She has twin 6-year-old boys and they were
crazy! I didn’t even know what to think
about them! I locked my door so they
wouldn’t get in there.
This year is going to be amazing! I can’t wait!
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