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End of the School Year Stuff and Hunting Rattlesnakes
By Margot | June 2, 2010
Andy ready to take on a snake
Charlie in the Lakers jersey that he wears every day
The boys showing us where they saw the big rattlesnake
Sam with his buddies at the end of last school year. I love this pic.
Sam with his 3rd grade class at the end of last year
We are wrapping up the school year -though California schools get out so late.  Andy is finally finished on June 21st.   The school yearbooks came out yesterday and they dedicated this year’s yearbook to Sam.  Sam’s friend Jayden gave me the above pictures of him from last year with the most awesome card that had me in tears before I even finished it. I love the picture with Sam and his buddies because I can tell from his side profile what a big smile he had on his face. Boy do I miss that smile.Â
Andy and Charlie went for a hike in Kate Sessions on Saturday morning with Neil and Coach Mike and they saw a snake, and as Andy says, “Not just any snake, a RATTLESNAKE!” They were hiking along and saw a little black snake and Charlie got down low to look at it and then they all heard the rattle behind them and turned around to see a large rattler all coiled up and ready to strike. They weren’t too close which was good but Charlie ran in the house afterward and threw himself on the couch and said, “I am freaked out!” Of course they took Uncle Matt and me back the next day to see if we could see another one and showed us the exact spot where he was.   Probably not the best idea to go back looking for a rattlesnake but hey, we are adventurous. We didn’t see any snakes on day two by the way.
Andy is super busy with basketball these days. The summer season is just ramping up. Neil bought the boys a basketball video with training drills from Steve Nash and they watch it and then Andy gives Charlie “training sessions.” It’s the funniest thing ever…. “That’s what I want to see Charlie, I don’t care if you make it, let me see that good form. Awesome! You’re on fire baby. Now do it again. Ok. No, no, you let it slip out of your hand that time, let me see the good rotation on that ball.”   I got it on video yesterday because it was cracking me up. Charlie is a very patient student. Then yesterday during Andy’s practice, Charlie was showing Jett and Tyler (both age three) his moves and they tried it and Charlie said, “No, No, let me teach you how to dribble. You are slapping at the ball, you can’t slap at the ball, push it down with your fingertips.” It killed me.
Grief Street counseling is going well. I think it’s good for all of us. The boys are really liking it, Andy got moved up to the older group and Charlie has made some buddies.  Andy’s grief counselor yesterday said she was so impressed because he described three different types of sadness and she couldn’t believe how articulate he is. I think it’s good for him to talk about it there because he doesn’t talk about it at home much.  It’s good for the parents too.  It’s helps me let down my shield a little bit and Neil and I have met some very nice people. I wouldn’t say it’s fun but it’s kind of like exercising, you feel better after you’ve done it.  Grief for me is like rattlesnakes. Every now and then I stumble upon something that I haven’t expected and it bites me. This weekend we went to the beach for boogieboarding and as I was getting the boys wetsuits out, I found Sam’s full wetsuit that we bought him for Christmas with the tags still on and lost it.   We did end up having a nice time at the beach. Andy caught some great waves, Charlie got wet, got cold within two minutes and sat wrapped in his towel eating his snack for the rest of the time.
We are going to New Mexico for a week in July and Andy has a few camps lined up. If anyone hears of a couple of extra coaching spots in the NBA, Andy and Charlie are free ;-).
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 5 Comments »
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Oh little Charlie- got to love him! Love the pictures of Sam and his friends!
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Love all the pictures. You should post the video of the “training” session. I’m pretty sure it will just about make my day 🙂
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 am
Uncle Matt willingly went back to look for the rattlesnake? that’s very surprising!
June 3rd, 2010 at 1:18 am
So much symbolism going on in the pictures…
Andy and Charlie, living right here in the present moment, at an age where self is king, can conquer the world…Little Arnolds. You gotta love kids.
Sam, marching with his friends, living in the present moment. Young enough to not dread the future.
Maybe it is what we all should do….live like we are kids..march off for rattlesnakes.
Beats hell out of beating your self up..
Peace and love and sending good thoughts to Sam, Andy, Charlie, Margot and my brother, Redman.
June 4th, 2010 at 2:04 am
Margot, Those snaps of Sam and his school buddies are great! Man, that kid loved school, huh? Like Mack has always said, “Sam can make anything fun.” Still can’t believe the boys saw a rattlesnake last weekend – they are always full of adventure and curiosity. Gotta love that. Regarding adventure and the wetsuit from Christmas – just a reminder, not sure if you remember – but Sam went down to the beach with us on New Year’s Day this year. Kirt took Sam and the boys in the Lincoln, with the top down, and big smiles on their faces — rocking out to Mack’s Michael Jackson CD. They threw the football around on the beach and eventually went in the water. Sam was a bit tired, so Kirt put him on his shoulders and Sam was super excited watching the waves from above. Huge smiles and joy. Neil met Kirt and the boys down at the beach. It was a beautiful first day of the new year, just after Christmas — and Sam was at the beach – he didn’t need the wetsuit — It really was a lovely morning. Lotsa Love, Lisa