cgersic
Well-Known Member
Sorry!
It's not just Florida. I-95 in general is nonstop semi trucks. The population age where I'm at is the issue, but I'm much further southwest. You'll be fiiiinnnne!!!
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Trip Report Readers Chick Chat and Guy Gabbing Thread!
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It's not just Florida. I-95 in general is nonstop semi trucks. The population age where I'm at is the issue, but I'm much further southwest. You'll be fiiiinnnne!!!
It'll be great they said!Sorry!
Can always count on you, thanks!
Thanks Max, and I'm bummed, the move was supposed to be the week you guys are there and I was hoping we could meet and do the secret magician hand shake over a tasty beverage!Thoughts and prayers are with Gary
Good luck with the move - I am no where near where you are going so I do not have any advice on the drive
But I love the satanish cat comment!!
Max
cgersic
Well-Known Member
I was just thinking this morning that I'm bummed you won't be here at the same time too. I was also thinking that since there's apparently going to be a few of us down here, and I'm going to be traveling solo, I need a "code word" to let fellow Magicians know it's me. So if I approach you and say "are you my Magician?", please say yes! You can also feel free to use this if you happen to recognize me. I don't have a lot of pictures on here, but there are a few. And Cindy, please keep us posted along the trip if you can. Good luck!!It'll be great they said!
Can always count on you, thanks!
Thanks Max, and I'm bummed, the move was supposed to be the week you guys are there and I was hoping we could meet and do the secret magician hand shake over a tasty beverage!
Love the idea of a code word, but I was picturing the face of some random person (that is not a fellow magician), if you say this to them!
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
Is anyone else going to be there at the end of July /first half of August?
Darstarr
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Mid july
TheMouseFan
Well-Known Member
It's been awhile since I've posted anything, so thought I'd give an update. The past month has been has been really difficult. Lily's 18th birthday was really hard, but Logan came home from school and the four of us took her boyfriend, Eithan, to dinner at her favorite restaurant and just hung out for awhile. Her ASL teacher and classmates painted the school rock for her that day.
This past weekend was prom. Lily found her dress in early December, so we had already purchased it. It was so hard to see it hanging in her closet. Here it is:
Earlier, we received this beautiful plaque as a thank you for donating her corneas.
The school always hangs senior banners throughout the town and they put hers up.
I'm not sure how we're going to make it through the next few weeks. Next week Brian and I are presenting scholarships that our family and friends collected money for to some of Lily's classmates at the senior awards banquet, then the following week is graduation. They are presenting her honors diploma to us at Baccalaureate and some of her friends are doing something special that night to honor her. Then we will attend the graduation ceremony to support Eithan and her friends. They are going to have an empty chair for her with her cap and gown on it. Then we have lots of graduation parties that we will make an appearance at because I made photo books for all her friends and have gifts for them.
To help distract us from all of that, we are busy with Owen's spring soccer.
And we traveled to Georgia to watch Logan participate in the Collegiate Club Triathlon Nationals.
He is going to do a half iron man in June. That's a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. He is crazy!!
We have decided to go to Dollywood for our vacation. Unfortunately, between the iron man and the start of Owen's summer soccer, we are very limited on time that we can go, so we are only doing Dollywood and not getting to spend time in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. The week we planned for happens to be the week Sevier County residents and workers get into Dollywood for $5, so it is going to be ridiculously crowded. I am open to any and all suggestions to help us get the most out of our time there. We are staying at the DreamMore resort so that we have transportation to the park and we get TimeSavers (like Fast Pass) for each of us.
This past weekend was prom. Lily found her dress in early December, so we had already purchased it. It was so hard to see it hanging in her closet. Here it is:
Earlier, we received this beautiful plaque as a thank you for donating her corneas.
The school always hangs senior banners throughout the town and they put hers up.
I'm not sure how we're going to make it through the next few weeks. Next week Brian and I are presenting scholarships that our family and friends collected money for to some of Lily's classmates at the senior awards banquet, then the following week is graduation. They are presenting her honors diploma to us at Baccalaureate and some of her friends are doing something special that night to honor her. Then we will attend the graduation ceremony to support Eithan and her friends. They are going to have an empty chair for her with her cap and gown on it. Then we have lots of graduation parties that we will make an appearance at because I made photo books for all her friends and have gifts for them.
To help distract us from all of that, we are busy with Owen's spring soccer.
And we traveled to Georgia to watch Logan participate in the Collegiate Club Triathlon Nationals.
He is going to do a half iron man in June. That's a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. He is crazy!!
We have decided to go to Dollywood for our vacation. Unfortunately, between the iron man and the start of Owen's summer soccer, we are very limited on time that we can go, so we are only doing Dollywood and not getting to spend time in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. The week we planned for happens to be the week Sevier County residents and workers get into Dollywood for $5, so it is going to be ridiculously crowded. I am open to any and all suggestions to help us get the most out of our time there. We are staying at the DreamMore resort so that we have transportation to the park and we get TimeSavers (like Fast Pass) for each of us.
ajrwdwgirl
Premium Member
What beautiful tributes to Lily! Thank you for sharing updates and I wish strength and peace to your family.
And I'm glad Logan and Owen are finding success with their sporting activities. I hear Dollywood is very nice, its been years since I went but I enjoyed it. Have a nice time.
sheriffwoody
Well-Known Member
Oh I LOVE her dress @TheMouseFan, so beautiful. I cannot even imagine how difficult it is seeing all of her classmates doing the things she should be doing right now. Sending you all the love, and I pray you experience some pockets of comfort in the midst of unimaginable grief. I'm glad her classmates are making space for her and honoring her memory.
Logan is a beast!!! I did an olympic distance triathlon and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and he'll be doing like 20 more miles...and double the running, which was the hardest part! Tell him we're all cheering him on!
Dollywood is so much fun! Even with the locals, it'll be fun. We went during opening week, which was also spring break, and we mostly did stuff in the morning. We wanted to be back to my aunt's by dinner, so I think we left at like 3 or 4? You could easily pop back over to the resort during mid-day rush then back for the evening.
Logan is a beast!!! I did an olympic distance triathlon and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and he'll be doing like 20 more miles...and double the running, which was the hardest part! Tell him we're all cheering him on!
Dollywood is so much fun! Even with the locals, it'll be fun. We went during opening week, which was also spring break, and we mostly did stuff in the morning. We wanted to be back to my aunt's by dinner, so I think we left at like 3 or 4? You could easily pop back over to the resort during mid-day rush then back for the evening.
Big hugs to you @TheMouseFan
I can’t imagine how difficult the next few weeks will be for you all but I think down the road you’ll be glad you did all of those things.
And @sheriffwoody did a more eloquent response than I ever could. I wholeheartedly second everything she said.
I can’t imagine how difficult the next few weeks will be for you all but I think down the road you’ll be glad you did all of those things.
And @sheriffwoody did a more eloquent response than I ever could. I wholeheartedly second everything she said.
I can't really add much more than has already been said except that you will get through this. I have never lost a child nor would I ever want to think of it, but time heals. Better days are ahead and I thank you so much for sharing as I have followed your TRs for many years. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers through the next few weeks as I know it will be hard.
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Swissmiss
Premium Member
I have thought of you often over the past few months. Including Lily in all the end of year graduation events speaks volumes about her impact on your community and the amazing person you helped shape her to be. My heart goes out to you and your family.
rshell68
Well-Known Member
@TheMouseFan I have had Lily and your family on my prayer list since her accident. Such beautiful tributes coming for such a beautiful girl (and family).
As always, thank you for sharing your family with us!
As always, thank you for sharing your family with us!
cgersic
Well-Known Member
@TheMouseFan I'm mostly at a loss for words because of all of the support that Lily and your family continue to receive from all who know her (and those of us that never met her). The stone as thanks is such a special gift and really says so much. I sit and grieve with you and also lift you all in prayer. I think Dollywood is the perfect place to reflect and immerse yourself, and what a great time to be there, with all of the people that make it run! Thank your for continuing the updates on the boys and I sure hope you'll do something here for the trip. Lots of hugs coming from Florida! 
k8einwdw
Well-Known Member
@TheMouseFan My heart is so heavy for you as you prepare for the coming weeks. I pray that you feel Lily’s presence with you, and that it brings you peace to know how much she was loved by so many. 
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
I've been thinking of you all the last few months and I know this has to be the hardest time of year because of all the events you expected to be experiencing with Lily. It's absolutely lovely how much the community has shown support and honored her. I love that they hung up her graduation banner. It's great you got a picture of her in her prom dress... That's a great memory for later, even without actually getting to go to prom.
It's amazing how successful the boys are despite the difficult year. Congrats to them! They are so strong! I'm still praying for you all!
Edited to add: when I was in high school, one of our classmates passed in our sophomore year in a car accident and we did the same thing when we graduated with a cap and gown in the chair where he would have been sitting, with his picture in it. We also walked in holding black candles and had a moment to honor him before we blew them out. It was a really beautiful thing, but I wonder if it was maybe really difficult for his mom to be there, even after 2 years. It's great they are doing all the tributes, but ultimately, if you find it too difficult, you shouldn't feel obligated to do everything. I'm sure no one would be angry and they would understand.
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donaldtoo
Well-Known Member
@TheMouseFan …
We are Disney fans, but, not frequent WDW travelers. I do read many trip reports here (although I don’t participate in many), and yours have been among those I’ve read over the years.
I haven’t read this thread in a very long time, so was unaware of the horrible tragedy that befell your family, and can’t even imagine the pain and grief that y’all have been going through over the last several months, and continue to endure.
My wife and I are the parents of 3 (2 daughters, son in the middle) now grown children, and we also now have 2 young granddaughters. If anything happened to any of them I’m not sure I would even be able to draw breath anymore, much less function on a daily basis.
But, a strong, loving family does what it needs to get through, as y’all continue to do.
My sincerest, deepest condolences, and I pray y’all find peace in her memory.
We are Disney fans, but, not frequent WDW travelers. I do read many trip reports here (although I don’t participate in many), and yours have been among those I’ve read over the years.
I haven’t read this thread in a very long time, so was unaware of the horrible tragedy that befell your family, and can’t even imagine the pain and grief that y’all have been going through over the last several months, and continue to endure.
My wife and I are the parents of 3 (2 daughters, son in the middle) now grown children, and we also now have 2 young granddaughters. If anything happened to any of them I’m not sure I would even be able to draw breath anymore, much less function on a daily basis.
But, a strong, loving family does what it needs to get through, as y’all continue to do.
My sincerest, deepest condolences, and I pray y’all find peace in her memory.