Jeepers! It's JARED!

                                    
                               Fans @ 10910 Arabian Way . . .


So 10 months seems like a long long time in mom time . . . and that's how long it had been since the folks @ 10910 Arabian Way had seen Jared.  

So March 19, 2009 was a much anticipated day - the day (or rather late into the night) when he would fly in from his work in Texas. 

     

   After the long flight . . .        

The little white dog knows who loves him!

 He headed off to the Lone Star state the Tuesday after Mother's Day last year.  He graduated from Northwest Lineman's College and had been offered a job in Corpus Christie, Texas.  I was excited for him . . . but sad to see him go.  He had been our sole resident . .. well if  you don't  count the little white dog and the older folks. . .

     

   Climbin' the pole @ NWLC     

Lots of smiles on Grad. day!

 We'd chatted lots on the cell phone and he always would tell me about his job and how much he enjoyed it and the guys on his crew. . . especially Nate . . . who is from Pennsylvania and graduated with him but came to Texas to join Jared.  They get along great . . . considering that they spend their days (many long ones) and the rest of their time together too.  He would share stories that involved crackling popping noises . . . balls of fire . . . enough to make a mom's hair curl!  But  he knows that every pray that's sent from this ol' Ma includes a special "keep him safe" part!  He's seen lots of Texas and other parts of the south in his work.  One of his favorite parts is the "storm work" . . . I think the paycheck makes that his favorite part.  Last September his crew did storm work when hurricane Ike hit the Houston area . . . the hours were long and rigorous . . . but people were excited to see them and their parade of bucket trucks come onto the scene . . . that meant they'd have power again.  One week he logged 90 hours . . . I decided that didn't leave much time for sleep.  He and his crew spent 24 days straight working  on that job.    

He also worked up (I'm never quite sure if "up" is the correct directional word) near  New Orleans around Christmas time during an ice storm.

    Christmas time 2008 . . . 

          we miss you Jerry!

  Spent 3-4 days there . . . and Louisiana just didn't make a great impression on him.  Didn't like their mud - said it was stinky and sticky.  And the folks weren't quite as gracious as the Texas folks during Ike.  Then in February they got called out on another ice storm just northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas.  Was impressed with the scenery there . . . said it reminded him of the scenery around Grandpa Bells.  

  

I should have known that he would be happy with a "hands on" job  . . . He has always liked being a real part of the action . . .  Can still remember him as a toddler driving his trucks around the living room floor -  I think I  could actually hear him going through the gears!  Can still see him riding his little red bike at the age of 4 wearing his shorts and his cowboy boots . . . and then movin' on up to trading the little red bike for his 125 Yamaha.   Was fun to watch him do wheelies on his motorcycle clear down the block . . . and watching him race motocross was exciting too - sometimes too exciting for a mom - especially the time he collided and lost a moment or two in time.  So am kind of relieved that now it's his big white diesel and a bucket truck.  

The #1 daughter and the #2 son . . .

        happy to see one another!

Christmas this year was difficult without him . . . for us and probably for him too.  But he has a great crew foreman (Eric) and his wife who always seemed to make sure that he had some "Texas family" during the holidays.  So when he called and asked me to get a plane ticket for him to come home for a few days in March, I was right on it!!  It was a great visit - just a bit short - but we'll get to see him when we all head to Texas for Adam and Susannah's wedding in June and hopefully he'll be home in July for a vacation in Idaho.  Til then the little white dog and the mom will just be happy for good memories and for the cell phone.  Sure do love that kid!