Memorial Day Picnic Fun!

 School's out, graduations are over and it's onward toward Summer vacation!  But, before we take off and get going we always enjoy the Memorial Day Picnic that has become a tradition now.  This year was better than others in some ways, and a little bit scary in other ways.  The Weavers usually have a Sheffield boat trip/picnic conflict which makes things hard for them, but this year the boat trip was scheduled just a bit later and that did away with the conflict.  Yea!  We had 31 people able to make it.  We missed quite a few, but we do what we can with who we have.  Jay and Brynn always come for that weekend and that's pretty much how we got the tradition started.  This year Paul was a bit down for it because of his recent knee replacement surgery.  We took a cot for him to lay down on and an ice chest full of ice to put on his knee.  He actually did pretty well.  And, it turned out that the cot was a good thing to have there for another reason...that was the scary part.  Moss brought along a hammock and he and Jay hung it up in a couple of trees.  It must have seemed solid, but not long after Moss lay down in it, it crashed to the ground dropping him on a chopped off stump which hit him in the back near his kidney area.  He sat rather dazed for a little bit afterward.  I know it hurt lots for him to do that.  Luckily he didn't land on his backbone on a big rock that was also below it.  Then he came over by the tables with Christie and suddenly he was turning pale and passing out from shock.  She and other people caught him before he hit the ground and managed to get him on the cot.  He was having a hard time staying conscious for a little bit and then Ferf stepped in to help with her skills and nursing bag.  She got his blood pressure and did other assessments.  Supe had 911 on the line just about to head our way when Moss seemed to come out of it so they didn't need to come.  They got him laid down and into the shade and calmed down and with Ferf's skills she found that nothing seemed broken or injured internally.  He did have some scratches on his back which she carefully took care of while keeping a close watch over him.  Christie was just about to lose it herself I think with worry for him.  So thankful that it wasn't worse than it was.  He's fine now.  It really showed me how much shock can do in a situation like that.  Moss is very able to do first aid on others, but this time it was his turn and there was nothing he could do to get past that shock without the help he got from others.  I don't think that he thought that it would hit him so hard. The rest of the day went well.  The weather was wonderfully cool.  Pine Valley is such a beautiful place.  The cousins and older peeps had fun visiting.  We had a great lunch of sloppy joes with lots of sides to go with it. Games were played, hikes were taken, people caught lizards and saw snakes (non-poisonous).  Juge and Lance brought their new kitten, Pippin, who was a real hit.  Supe and Beacher brought their dog, Auri, and she is much loved too.  Later we broke out the s'mores and had a good time roasting marshmallows for them and getting very sticky eating them.  It was just a wonderful, relaxing - except the incident with Moss - day!  I always want to stay longer, but the time came to leave so we could clean up and head home.  Jay and Brynn and girls went over to Moss and Christie's after we got home so their kids could swim in their neighborhood pool.  Paul and I stayed at the house because he needed to rest and get his knee up with ice.  It was a great day!  Happy Memorial Day! I remember Weed at this time when  people are visiting graves of military and other family members.  I don't remember Weed by visiting her grave usually, but that doesn't mean I don't remember her. So grateful for family members alive and those gone ahead.  And so thankful for those who gave so much for our freedoms.  I am thankful to live in the "home of the free because of  because of the brave."