Erisue’s Weblog

A very, very dear friend of mine, Melissa, did not show up for work yesterday morning so her boss contacted her daughter.  Her daughter is a sophomore in college and decided to live at home this year instead of living in the dorms.  When she got up to check on her mom, she found her dead in her bed.  No one knows for sure how she died other than it looks to be an accidental insulin overdose.  She was going through a horribly bitter divorce and her would-have-been ex-husband seriously has some mental issues (when Rich told me yesterday, I thought for sure he was going to tell me that bastard killed her and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear he actually had something to do with it).  She was only 51, the mother of four (her youngest one found her), and she was one of the most beautiful souls I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  I am incredibly saddened by Melissa’s death, and I am saddened for her children (who were her life).  The only thought that brings me any kind of peace in this at all is to think that she no longer has to be hurt by Pat. 

Ethan told his teacher this morning that I was kicked out of Canada and can never go back.  Yes, apparently, I am a maple leaf thief and can no longer visit Canada because of it.  Why does my son think I am a maple leaf thief who is banned from our neighboring country, you might ask – because his dad told him so.  Last night, they were talking on the phone and the story was told that I was kicked out of Canada because I stole a maple leaf from their tree.  Not only was I kicked out, but I can never return either.  (Nacole was with us at the time, heard us talking, and corroborated the story.)  Well, Ethan had already asked me if I have ever been to Canada because one of his favorite cartoon characters is Canadian.  I told him no.  Now he thinks I only told him I’d never been to Canada because I didn’t want to tell him the truth about my leaf thieving days. 

We are planning a trip to Toronto in the next couple years.  I suppose I will have to tell him the truth before we cross the border and hope that he believes me.  If he doesn’t believe me, I will have to make sure he keeps his mouth shut and doesn’t tip off the Mounties that I’m trying to sneak back into the country to capture more maple leaves.  I can see it now – being detained, finger printing, strip searches…  That boy will be SO grounded!