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#Post#: 27354--------------------------------------------------
Summer '23 - A General Update
By: Jack Date: July 6, 2023, 6:15 pm
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Do you ever have those events where someone brings something up,
and one thing leads to another, and pretty soon you’re talking
about something totally different? That just happened to me.
I was telling a story that most of you have heard before, about
how boys react to their full name being used, which led to a
discussion of underclothes, then underclothes for sports, which
reminded me of Noah’s old friend/boyfriend, Blake, which started
me thinking about when he first started hanging around here, and
how much different things are between now and then.
So, an actual update for the summer of ‘23.
The only actual children (i.e. - minors) I have living with me
at this time are Craig, Connor, and Curtis, who are 17, 14, and
12. Craig is working this summer, so it’s just two boys around
the house, unlike the old days (say, a decade ago), when I had
Daniel (18), Mickey (17), Noah and Barry (both 16), Johnny and
Josh (15), Bryce (14), I think Parker (12) was already living
with us then, and Van was 10. I think this was after the Colter
boys moved in with us, so that would have been Jeremy and Ethan
(both 13), Leif (10), and Kenny (8). Of course, this was back
in the day when Jordy and Dex, the Malones, Marchants, Strouses,
Cavanaughs, Tidwells, Loomises, Reasoners, and Lanes - probably
amongst others - were all regular guests (some of them more or
less living here at times).
These days, most of the younger boys friends are my grands
(children and nephews). Rhett (14) and Ryder (12 - Chris’
boys), Dylan (17) and Brennan - 15, PJ’s boys), Glen (15) and
Paden (12 - Marcus’ boys), and my Steve’s cousins' sons - Andy
(14) and Ollie (12). I think them having that many friends who
are related to them might have slowed down us meeting the number
of large families we had in the past (or so many kids from large
families making friends with our family), but Linc (15) Bo ,
(12), and Royce (11) Tidwell all hang out here a lot, as does
Ennis Strouse (15 - and still a favorite of mine for a number of
reasons) and Dillon’s boys Drake (15) and Ed (12). It is a
decent sized group, but nowhere near as big as we used to have.
Also, none of the boys are as sports crazy as Noah and Mickey in
particular used to be. Between those things and what seems to
be increasingly hot summers (last year was the fourth hottest
summer on record for this area, and we’re already on pace to
beat it), and the smaller number of kids hanging around, we’re
not being as organized. We are still getting out early in the
day to do some active stuff, and we are still doing the weekly
reading series, but it’s a lot less organized.
I should say we do have a much bigger group home for vacation.
Colleges are still recovering from the pandemic (rather, college
schedules are, I suppose I should say). Kenny and Devon both
graduated high school this past May, which is why I didn’t count
them as minors, and they’ll both be going away to college this
fall.
The boys home for the summer are Colt, Leif, Kaden, Van, Parker,
Liam, and Ethan, and Chance. The last four should have already
graduated, and Parker did graduate on time. Chance just
graduated in May (same with Parker, but he’s younger), while
Liam and Ethan still have to go back for a bit of finish up,
after the pandemic through their plans off major league.
Parker’s degree is heavily involved in computers, so it wasn’t
as hard for him to keep up with a lot of his work as it was for
Ethan, who’s degree required a LOT more supervision and
performance. Parker already has a job, and he’ll be joining my
sub-territory in Austin later this month, where he has a
starting job in a kind of commune, where he’ll be making good
money working on game development, but he’ll also have help and
supervision available if needed.
Chance had planned to live here one more year, until Craig
graduates, but Craig is working, and they’re both pretty happy
and stable, and Craig received an offer for a really good job in
Dallas, so he’s going to be moving soon as well.
I think that’s it for the general stuff for now.
#Post#: 27357--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer '23 - A General Update
By: Zyngaru Date: July 6, 2023, 9:43 pm
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Jack,
When you started and only named Craig, Connor, and Curtis, I
thought oh wow, that big house is going to be so empty you'll be
able to hear echos up and down the halls. But then you kept
adding more and more names of boys who are there or visit
regular enough that they might as well live there, and for me,
it doesn't sound like it's all that less of a crowd.
I mean, it sounds wonderful. Having a house full of boys is
probably the most wonderful thing in the world.
I only have two nephews, 8 and 9 that stop in here regularly and
soon they will actually live right behind my house, so they will
be here pretty much every day if they can slip away from their
mom who is a real control freak.
Oh! Record high hot summer here also. Before anyone jumps to
conclusions. No! It's not unusually hot. We have these high
temp summers in cycles. It goes back hundreds of years.
Remember the song. "It don't rain in Indianapolis in the
summertime." Hot dry summers are normal for us. Tornados are
normal for us.
Jack have fun this summer. With less boys, that could mean more
opportunity to do more with them. More one-on-one time?
Thanks for the update.
Z
#Post#: 27358--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer '23 - A General Update
By: Leti Date: July 6, 2023, 10:09 pm
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Hola Jack!
Thanks for the update, I was wondering how many of your kids
were going to go to summer campthis year.
Aww all are grown up!
Hugs and hugs.
LL
#Post#: 27359--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer '23 - A General Update
By: Lia Date: July 6, 2023, 11:54 pm
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Thanks for the update Jack! How is Zeke doing?
#Post#: 27360--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer '23 - A General Update
By: Jack Date: July 7, 2023, 2:38 am
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[quote author=Leti link=topic=2971.msg27359#msg27359
date=1688705673]
Thanks for the update, I was wondering how many of your kids
were going to go to summer camp this year.
[/quote]
Of mine, just Connor and Curtis, though all the younger grands
went with them.
[quote author=Lia link=topic=2971.msg27359#msg27359
date=1688705674]
Thanks for the update Jack! How is Zeke doing?
[/quote]
I had started to mention Zeke here, but then got to look at his
bio post, and decided I should do a separate update on him.
I'll try to get it posted soon, but for now I'll just say he's
doing well.
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