Starting The Year Over

OK, well, January...not so great. In fact, January SUCKED. So I will NOT be counting January into my year. Nope! Sorry January, you LOSE! As the clock strikes midnight on Jan 31, 2011 and we embark on to Feb 1, 2011...my year will begin!

I know technically this does not change anything, but hey, it makes me feel better. So everything that I had mentioned previously holds true...beginning Feb 1!!!!

These past couple weeks have been super busy! Last weekend I headed back home, to Pismo Beach, for my friends funeral. I still can't believe what has happened. Lots of tears and hugs that day. Melinda was just beautiful, all around beautiful.

Ugh....the struggles with Meghan. Her seizures are still under control, but we are still dealing with teething (2 year molars). This leads to one unhappy, sleep deprived, all around cranky parents child.We finally got around to converting her bed from the crib to a toddler bed since she was continuously climbing out...although more graceful since the first time!Well with this new found freedom she has, she feels that she can take it upon herself to get up at 2:00 am to watch a bit of TV, and seriously protest when made to go back to bed. Hello dear Meghan...you are only 2 years old!

Elizabeth! Minus her serious attitude that she has developed...hello dear Elizabeth...you are only 6 years old...she is doing really good! I actually see improvement with her reading! Thank you God!!!! She did however, lose some ground in Math. So being the type A mom that I am, she goes to a math group, at school, four days a week before school starts. And two days a week she stays after for reading group!! AND, on those two days, she goes over to do friends house and do homework with him! For the first time in months, I feel like she just might make it to 2nd grade (Yes I stress).

My Friend, Melinda

My friend of 26 years was killed Friday, Jan 7, 2011. Melinda Tackett Yager was one of my oldest and dearest friends. We met on the soccer field in 1985. We became fast friends and remained that way since JR High.

I graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 1994 whereas Melinda graduated in 1995. We both attended Alan Hancock College together and tried our hardest to take the same classes. For a few years I would pick Melinda up in the morning, we would stop at 7-11, get a machine made capaccino, a Tigers Milk bar, and head off to college. After school we would drive back home, drive by the Five Cities Ambulance station...hello central coast folks, weren't they all HOT...just to see who was working...then end up at her house to change for work. From there we would head on over to Burger King to make the most fabulous meals for all to eat.

I have tons of memories of Melinda that would bring a smile to anyone's face! My most favorite is this:
I had moved up to Sacramento to attend California State University Sacramento. It was my very first semester, 5 hours away from home. My besties Crystal and Melinda came up from Pismo Beach to visit me. We went to this random club...The Rage...in Sacramento. After closing, Melinda, Crystal and I drove through a Del Taco to get a mid-night, hang over helping snack. We got back to my apartment, parked and started walking up to my door. As we were walking, I expressed my complete displeasure about this stupid motorcycle who parked in the most "prime spot" of all! So the three of us got the brilliant idea of moving this motorcycle from the parking spot up on to the sidewalk. So we carefully set down our Del Taco bags and the three of us, with all our might, tried to push the motorcycle up over the curb on to the side walk. Hello...motorcycles are way heavier than they look. Ten minutes, in our intoxicated stupor, we lost interest in attempting to move the motorcycle...we pick up our Del Taco...and proceeded to the apartment to dine in pleasure! Oh we laughed and laughed about that night.

Melinda...I will miss you so much. I've never ever thought I would experience the loss of a friend like this. Kaylee has the most special guardian angel watching over her. A day will never go by where you are not in my thoughts or prayers. Thank you for the laughs Mel...I love you so much my friend.

Melinda died at the hands of her husband. They were in the process of a divorce and she so wanted to come back to California, from Colorado. Melinda being the responsible person she was, she was trying to make sure that all legal requirements were met prior to leaving the state (she was divorcing him and bringing her daughter Kaylee to California). Friday, 1/7/11, they had a court date which did not go in his favor. He went to the house. She called the cops to report him, in which they dispatched a trespassing call. I don't know what happened then, but the corner said she put up a good fight. Melinda was found in a neighbors yard, by the railroad tracks, dead. She had bleed to death from cuts to her throat. She bleed to death while running from him to get help.

Here are some pictures of Melinda some years back!

Me and Melinda

Melinda in the Gap hat

Melinda in the Gap hat

Melinda...bottom row...second in from the right (long blond curly hair). 1988

Kaylee...Melinda's 15 month old precious baby girl is left without her mother. A trust fund had been set  up for this adorable little girl who will never know her mother. Please, if you can, find it in your heart to help little Kaylee Yager! She is just another innocent victim in this unfathomable tragedy! Or, please just say a prayer for little Kaylee and Melinda, and for her family!!! I love you Melinda! RIP my sweet friend!

For donations for Kaylee Yaeger...please go here...http://www.kayleesangel.com/

Thank your so much for your prayers, or donations for Melinda and Kaylee.

Tragedy

I've gone through bad news, I've cried until I have had no more tears. Today though...I hurt. Today, I lost a friend, a dear friend that has touched so many lives.

It wasn't an accident, it wasn't an illness. It was her husband. My friend was shot and killed by her husband. I've read about this, I've seen this on the news and CNN's Nancy Grace. But today, my heart is a part of that hurt.

See, not only did I lose a friend today, but a 1 year old precious angel lost her mother at the hands of her father.

Melinda...RIP my friend. You defined the word amazing in so many ways. The lives and the hearts you touched are beyond words. I love you and will always cherish in my heart those many times that we spent together.