Becca hates the Ohio State Highway Patrol

According to history, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. It originally started with our own American Civil War, but then through time and losses, it honors all who fought for the freedom of our country. Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the mess we have going on now in the Middle East. It is an important day, and one that I do believe is a very special event for all of those individuals who deserve that recognition.


Memorial Day Weekend, 2010. I was looking forward to my 3-day weekend. I didn't have huge plans other than to get the current apartment ready for the big move the following weekend, and to have a Girl's Night Out with some dear friends. In order to start the weekend off with a bang, I left work around 2:30pm to head up north to pick up my dear friend Courtney to come home for the weekend so she wasn't trapped in her apartment alone for the 3-day weekend. Besides a Girl's Night without her is just NOT an option. That simple.

As I begin my journey up 71 North from Columbus, I realize that it is going to be a very traffic filled ride as everyone else has plans to head out of town as well. I don't mind - I have no problems sitting in the car in the sunshine with the iPod blasting my speakers. I actually find it quite relaxing. As I continue up the highway, I notice that the Ohio State Highway Patrol is out in full force and ready to hand out tickets to any deserving people who cross their path breaking the law. Being that I don't trust my foot on the gas in these circumstances, I put my car on cruise control. No way am I going to receive a ticket on this Holiday. I've had a ticket on the 4th of July years back, and I learned my lesson on Holiday driving!

I get to Courtney's, we load of the car, we stop for a bite to eat and some Power Ball lotto tickets and then we are on our way for the oh-so- familiar drive that I could probably drive in my sleep. I've got the cruise control on, the navigation system on in case we need to hit a back road for traffic and we're cruising the open road with Ron & Ginny (my Godkitties, Courtney's cats) in the back enjoying the ride as well. According to my speedometer, I am doing 70 mph. According to my navigation system, I am doing 70 mph. Glad to see that they are the same, and I am likely going exactly 70 mph.

Heading down 71 South, a little past our 1/2 way point to be back in Delaware - almost to Mt. Gilead in Morrow County.


When all of a sudden.......... I see this.......


A Ohio State Highway Patrol standing in the middle of the right lane of the road motioning me to pull over. Courtney says, "Is he waving you over?" My reply, "I think so." What the hell?? I look at my speedometer, still doing 70 and still on cruise control. Seriously?? Like the good law abiding citizen I am, I pull to the side. He comes to the window and, quite confused ask the skinny and tall officer if I was speeding.

"Yes, Ma'am. I clocked you going at 80 mph coming down the hill, and then again at 76 mph."

WHHAAATTTT??!?!?!?!?!?

At this point, in my head, I am giving myself a pep talk to be polite and not to get an attitude in hopes if I am nice, he lets me off the hook. I tell him that it is impossible as I had it on cruise control, and I have been driving on 71 for the past 3 hrs knowing full and well that it was crawling with cops and I wouldn't speed knowing this on a Holiday weekend.

He doesn't care, clearly. Asks for my license, registration and insurance card. Great.

I locate the license. I locate the registration. Where is my most current insurance card you ask? On my bedside table at home in an envelope. @$*@)(%(@$(@$!!! Thankfully, I did have an expired one from 2007 with the same info that I was able to use. Whew.

He goes to his little car, he does his little job of making me sweat wondering if I'll get a warning or a ticket. Courtney and I discussing how in the hell I could possibly get a ticket when I wasn't speeding and I was on cruise control.

He gets out of his car, comes to my car with...........

A FLIPPING TICKET OF DOING 80 MPH IN A 65 ZONE!

Is this guy serious?? Now my attitude is starting to spark. I was nice in the beginning, but now this is just flat out ridiculous. He lets me know that my ticket is $119. It's due June 10th. My court date is June 10th in Morrow County if I want to go dispute it. Oh, and if I don't pay it - they'll issue a warrant for my arrest. Do I look that dumb to not pay my ticket? Granted, this gift he is providing me is falling on the exact same paycheck of rent in my new place, rent in my current place, car payment and cell phone. Thanks, Officer String Bean. I appreciate it.

With every ounce of energy in my body, I bite my tongue as he hands me the clipboard to sign...
Of course, I do it.

@(*$)(@*$)(@*)(@@($!!!

Come to find out, yesterday I hear of a new law passed by the Ohio Supreme Court. Law Enforcement is now able to pull drivers over if they "look" like they are speeding. Radars are no longer required, and "trained cops" can just guess what your speed is and issue a ticket.

Thank you, Ohio Supreme Court. I am pretty sure it's your fault that Officer String Bean pulled me over guessing my speed since there was no radar in his hands and he was standing in the middle of a 3 lane highway.

Memorial Day 2010: I honor all military and public service individuals WITH THE EXCEPTION OF: the Ohio State Highway Patrol. May you enjoy the ability to pull people over with the guess that they "might" be breaking the law. May I find someone to provide me with an FOP card that I can abuse the privilege like other law breaking, cop related family members, people out there who are able to get away with speeding and other traffic violations.

It's the History Dork in Me

Many of you may or may not be aware that when I graduated from Ohio State, I did not get a degree in Business or Human Resources - regardless of what you may think since I do seem to enjoy my job and all aspects of it! Instead, I went the route that very few people take to study because most find it to be painfully boring. Not this girl - this girl finds it interesting and down right exciting! That's right my friends, my major was American History. (Boo's and Hisses can be inserted here if you must!)

All through my educational career, nothing excited me more than History. Cultural History, Religious History, World History, American History - it is all very exciting to me. I think a lot if has to do with my love for travel too and my burning desire to go work for the Travel Channel. In my ideal world, I'd work for the History Channel half the time, and the Travel Channel the other half of the time.

American History is probably my favorite area of History to study. Think about it - The Salem Witch Trails, The California Gold Rush, The Boston Tea Party, World War II, Nixon & Watergate... it all is super fantastic and gets me all excited. So imagine my surprise and excitement when I saw the preview for this:

That's right my friends, a mini series on our American History! It is by far the BEST series I've seen with the background to our country and the history behind it. Although the series is not over, I cannot wait to buy the video to keep as my own! (...and you thought that I wasn't a dork... Proved you wrong!)

What makes me laugh is I thought that I was the only one who was into History as much as I am, which I know that I get this from my Dad. He was always into History, as well as my Grandpa Jack. However, in doing some conversing with my dear cousins - I found two more History Dorks in the Warren Gene pool that too were excited not only for the series but who also watch some shoes on the channel for fun! I won't even lie, American Pickers is one of the best shows on the channel! Two guys driving the United States looking through people's crap, and finding a sign someone bought for $5 and turning around and finding out it is actually worth $5,000. Don't even lie - that is exciting! Wonder if I have anything laying around that I could have them come and sell from me... do you think that they would put an offer on a Coach Purse?

Ladies & Gentlemen - We have a Special Guest Today!

**So, obviously - I have not been too good with the blog writing lately, I am so sooo sorry for that! I am going to pick it up again, I promise. I need some topics! I feel like everything is completely boring and dumb. Let me stew on it a bit - and I'll be back. No worries! However, in the meantime... I am honored to introduce our guest writer for today! This note on Facebook was so amazing, that I had to post it for all of my dedicated followers to read as well. It's lengthy, I'll warn you straight up. Even if you love Summer, the blog should still make you giggle and laugh. I was lucky enough to see the rough draft while at work today, and it hit my funny bone so much that I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing silently! Ladies & Gentlemen: A Special Blog written by Courtney Ellen Scott.**

It's one of those days. I can't concentrate on my work at hand. Why you ask? Because I'M HOT. I turn into the crankiest most bitter little monster who can find anything wrong with anything. I'll completely b!tch out a bottle of water because I can't get the screw cap off fast
enough. I'll continue to verbally assault the thing as it begins to sweat all over me. Ugh. I hate summer.

As a kid I liked summer just as much as any other. School was out for almost 3 whole months! I remember asking my mom. "Do we have school tomorrow?" her reply "nope :)" But I didn't stop there... "What about the next day?" her reply, the same as usual, "nope :)" I would
literally ask her roughly 90 times. I recount her actually sort of counting in her head the days until her answer would finally become "yes, on that day you do." I'd run out the back door and start the summer off right with an old fashioned mud pie.

I recall having lightning bug houses that were homemade by my parent's neighbor friend Charlie. They were wood with a wire mesh enclosure. I loved catching those things!! I would never squish them because I thought it was mean. We also had a swing set while I was growing up. I could have sat on that thing and swung for hours. My dad would come home
from work around 3pm and I'd promptly raid his lunchbox for his left over thermos of coffee to enjoy on my swing. Sometimes I would bring out the boom box (yes, boom box!) and sit it on top of the slide and listen to 97.9 while swinging away. ♪ Every Little Step ♫ by Bobby Brown anyone? 1989.. I was 7 years old. Good times....

Eventually my Mom was able to convince my Dad to buy us a pool. I think I was in 6th grade at the time (1993) I loved it!! You didn't have to worry about going to a sick public pool wear dirty people used it for bathing rituals. And you didn't swim by an old used band aid or a big
gob of someone else's hair... Public pools are a breeding ground for sick and disgustingness. I have a pool at my complex.. never use it.

Summer didn't phase me as a child. It was when I was in school full days that I'd started to hate it. Recess. Sounds fun right?! Every kids favorite part of the school day! Not mine. It was too freaking hot in the summer to go play on a blacktop make-shift parking lot turned
playground. NO way! You'd get all hot and sweaty, head aches would soon take over. You'd try anything to get the play ground aids to let you go in for a drink, but there was no budging them. No way. Big Al and Phyllis meant business. YOU MUST HAVE FUN. Um no. Thank GOD the bell would ring and you'd line up to go back in the building when your teacher came for you. I would wish every day for it to rain so we could play in the classroom! Bingo anyone?? I swear it would take forever for me to cool back down. I'd sit at my desk and rest my cheek on the cool fake wood surface. Ugh. My face would heat up the desk. So I fan the desk with my hand and then even out the other side of my face. Finally when I cool down.. It's time to go home. Out in the hot abyss once again! Ugh. I hate summer.

I know. I sound crazy for hating the summer season. There are things I like about it, sure. Swimming for one. And uh.. hmm.. well... help me out here... ???? ... LIGHT! It's lighter for longer! I love that! I guess that's it.. I'm sure your thinking "Man where do you live, the Sahara?" Nope.. I live in Ohio. No, I do not vacation to hot places such as any sort of beach. You could not pay me enough to go to Disney World or California. Forget it. I don't care how clear the water is or how white the sand is. No way Jose. I wouldn't be caught dead. Not to
mention the "pretty" beaches are out of the U.S... those places you can't even drink the water with out crapping your pants Charlotte Goldenblatt style. That sounds like hell,those of you who don't know me. I have red hair and fair skin. I'm pretty glow in the dark come to think of it. The whitest cracker out there. I don't tan. I burn and I peel and I'm white again. I don't
wear shorts or skirts out of pure respect for the other residents. I could stop traffic the way the sunlight bounces of my legs. BAM! It's that bad. The sun doesn't like me and I don't like it. I went out today for lunch at work.. I was outside maybe 8 minutes total.. my arms were
pink when I got inside. DUMB. So while all of these tan senoritas are out and about in their little sun dresses and tanks and shorts and skirts, I'm walking around in long sleeves and pants. So not only am I grumpy as all get out, I look like an idiot walking around in long sleeves and pants when it's a million degrees outside. Ugh. I hate summer.

Summer is annoying for many reasons. Yes most view it as a time to be social. But how many BBQ's am I going to be forced to attend where I sit in a plastic chair and sweat my butt off (literally) and eat a hamburger? Why can't we just go to Applebee's and order a hamburger?
When you say "no thanks" people look at you like you have just told them to go straight to the firey pits of hell. I don't know how many times I've been literally laughed at for saying "I hate summer, I'm not doing that... no thanks call me in a few months... camping? It's July.. no.. How about late September? Picnic? um.. I'd rather not have bugs crawling all over me and possibly in my food while the sun beats down and burns me alive." Not kidding.. when I'm asked to do something during the summer months, my immediate response is .. "is it hot outside? Hmm no thanks" People look at me as if I'm the crazy one.. Uh.. I'm the one trying to not get sunburned, skin cancer, and prevent physical illness. I think I should be asking summer lovers "are YOU crazy? Look at that burn!" People physically hurt themselves for a bit of daylight? Yes, I get it. Sunlight makes people happy blah blah blah... I agree. Sunlight
is nice and pretty but not over 70°. I love fall and spring. I embrace cozy sweaters and corduroys and stylish boots with out the need of a coat or half nakedness. I love the crisp dry air and the smell of dry leaves. It's the best.

I'll take snow any day over this heat. It's not that I love winter, because I don't. I just find it easier if your cold, put on a sweater or gloves. No biggie. You can't walk around naked in the summer and there are so many people who are highly confused as to what is publicly
acceptable and STILL be hot enough to want to inhale a truck full of ice. Snow does not give me a headache, make me want to vomit or accidentally take possibly dangerous naps. I once participated in an art sale in AUGUST. That was dumb of me. That was before I realized it was
ok for me to embrace my hatred for summer. To not be embarrassed. So myself and my friend Becca set up our little vendors tent and set up shop. We were there I think 4 hours maybe? Towards the end I was not doing so hot... I swear my brain was about to explode!! I felt like I would spew at any given time all over our artwork. Thankfully her parents stopped by and said, "Courtney, maybe you should go get some food and some water.." So I hop in my Air Ford One and zoom off to the nearest food joint to get some water and some sort of food for us... I happen to look at the temp... 104° O__O NO WONDER!!! We left immediately when I got back to our station. Stupid me... as soon as I got home... I laid down on the couch to cool off and fell asleep. My parents were out of town. Becca was calling me nonstop... I scared the crap out of her! She was afraid that I had passed out from heat stroke/exhaustion. Such a good friend! That was the end of my embarrassment of hating summer. I'm proud of it.

The heat makes me angry. Constantly angry. I have a theory. The reason there is so much fighting in the middle east is because they are all so hot and cranky!! Do we hear of Eskimos fighting in Alaska?? NOO. I rest my case. Alright people, can we get some air conditioning units moved in there?!

Top 13 reasons of why Summer sucks.

1. Don't you just love it when you go grocery shopping and when you return from your trip your a sticky mess who looks like they just urinated in the car?! MEEEEEEEEEEEEE It's the best!

2. Mmmm ice cream and ice'y treats are the best in the summer! Especially when it's so hot out that the sugar makes you feel like you want to hurl because it starts boiling in your stomach. FUN!

3. I don't know about you, but I LOOOVE not being able to sleep in the summer from the heat. I'm so comfortable when my pillow gets all hot and steamy and then I have to flip it over to get a cool side, to only have it heat up within two minutes. So cozy! :)

4. Air conditioning is the best invention ever right? I especially love how it rakes up my electric bill. Good times.

5. One of the greatest things in life, is knowing you may develop an ulcer due to your over usage of Advil to deal with your constant headaches from heat exhaustion.

6. Is it possible that taking a shower can actually make you feel hotter? In the summer it can!

7. Oh oh oh!! How about when you are out and about shopping or what not, and it may be crowded and you get to smell all of the lovelies near by who sweat profusely and either don't know what deodorant is or just refuse to wear it? There should be a home fragrance made from that. It's my favorite.

8. How about when you do decide to go to one of those dingy public pools because you just can't take the heat and oops, your AC is out of commission... I know I love seeing people squeezed into bikini's that shouldn't. Maybe I'll buy one this summer.

9. This one is for the ladies.. How many of you LOVE the feeling when your face starts to melt off and run into your eyes and you swear for a few minutes there you are actually going to lose your eyesight from all the rancid burning? Awesome.

10. "Yes, it is too hot to hold your hand and cuddle. Don't touch me." Who has heard that before? I know I've said it.. So romantic.

11. You've heard the expression "you could fry an egg on that!" Welp, who wants to get into a car that's like that?! And if you have black seats.. OUCH! Don't get me started on leather seats. You literally feel your flesh melting off and becoming one with the seat. By the time
your through, your thighs are numb and you can use the seat as a
slip-n-slide within 3 minutes! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

12. Bugs. Need I say more? Bees love me. I think they can sense that I'm allergic and they all take a nose dive right at me. Mosquito? Those too. Hello west nile virus. I welcome thee. Lets not forget our little buddies the gnats! They are so needy. Always flying around in your face like "look at me!! over here!! Hey!! What are you doing? Hey look at me!"

So friends, during the months of May-Septemberish do not call me and ask me if I want to go to the zoo, go shopping (outside), go to an amusement park, go for a walk, go to a picnic, a cookout, a beach, camping, outdoor party, outdoor concert, festival or fair, or even sit in your back yard. The answer will be no. Please don't be offended. It's nothing against you personally. I just hate summer.

Diary of a Single Girl

Most of you who know me, know that I am a single 29-yr old girl. It's nothing that I am ashamed of, nor is it anything that I hide. It is truly just one of those things in life where I know that my time will come. However, I have known so many situations of girls who will bend over backwards just to have a boyfriend. I'm not that girl. I'm also not the kind of girl who will start a relationship with someone whom I have no connection with just to fill that missing void. Don't get me wrong, there are days were I wonder to myself just when my time will come, but the thought is quickly diminished by something else of more importance.

Over the past few weeks, I've honestly had some time where I have sat and truly thought about various things that make being single even more okay than I thought it originally was before.

• My time is my own: One of my most favorite parts of the day is coming home from work after a long day. I come home to a quiet house, and I virtually can do whatever I want to do for the rest of the night. If I want to go to the mall, I can. If I want to take a drive and just randomly drive clearing my head, I can. If I want to go to the gym, I can. If I want to just come home, sit in my big red chair all night long... I can do that too. I can do whatever I want.
  
• I am and will continue to be picky: I have had my share of relationships, and clearly since I am single now - they didn't work out. I am okay with this, and know that I took from every relationship exactly what I want and what I do not want in my future mate. I've waited this long, so why not wait longer to get exactly what I want instead of rushing into something I know that isn't going to be forever.
• Less Drama: Do you know how nice it is not to have to have a lovers spat, rather sit on the other side of the table and helping a friend/family through their battle? I'd so much rather be their shoulder than be on the other side of the table with the drama. I will always be there for any of my friends or family who needs an ear - but by being single, I'm shedding years of drama of my life and am totally okay with it.
  
• Impressing myself: In the morning, if I have a hair out of place or decide not to wear make-up fully - I can. Though you don't want to make these days too frequent or you will find yourself single even longer than you anticipated - but being single always a little more freedom. I'm here to impress me, myself and I. In my eyes, I know I have imperfections - but in my eyes I also see perfection and no one tells me otherwise.
  
• Being spontaneous: I am very lucky that one of my best friends is also single. Being that we are both single, this allows us to do whatever the heck we want to do. If we want to jump in the car and drive to New York for the weekend, we can - and oh we have. You might as well consider us Thelma and Louise because it is the most amazing feeling in the world to be so free to go wherever and see the world.

I do look forward to the day where I do have another half, however for the time being I am going to enjoy singlehood for everything that it is and everything I want it to be. I absolutely refuse to be the girl to sit in the fetal position waiting for Prince Charming to knock on my door. I also refuse to throw myself at just anyone just for the sake of saying "I have a boyfriend." I will continue to wait, be patient, have fun and make my life whatever I want it to be.

I have never forgotten, and never will forget something my Mom & Great Grandma have always told me, "Be picky." Picky is exactly what I plan on being.

Spring is here... so are photo roadtrips!

Can you believe it!? After a whole month of having writers block, I'm actually posting another blog. Third one in a week! I won't lie, I am even impressed with myself. We'll see how long we can keep this going, but I will say that I do have a few topics in my brain that could be potential blogs within the next week. *Grabs pen to write down topics so I don't forget*

Spring in Ohio... that could be a topic in itself! However, I am going to bypass that as a topic for the moment and talk about one of my favorite hobbies that starts in Spring. Most people see Springtime as an opportunity to start hobbies of their own. Some get their motorcycles out of the garage to go on a ride. Some break out the flip flops knowing that because Spring is here, that means Summer is next. Then there are those who begin outdoor athletics, biking, baseball games, volleyball games, etc. This girl - she looks forward to jumping in the car and getting lost in the midwest with her camera and her tripod! Sure, this can be a hobby that can be done in the Winter as well - but as we all know, I hibernate and refuse to leave my walls unless provided truly an important reason. Besides, if I did this hobby year long... I wouldn't look forward to it nearly as much in the Spring when it's time to hit the road!

Photo roadtrips started probably 5 years ago. (Totally take a stab in the dark as to truly when this started...) Once Courtney and I reunited after a brief separation from just growing apart and going to different schools, we found our common ground again with our love for photography. Obviously being that she is truly a professional photographer, she loves it to a whole different level than I do. However, it is because of her profession that it has helped me to be as good as I am today! There was a Springtime within the 4 year span that we had a freeze on these roadtrips, but that next Spring we were right back at it again as if nothing ever happened.

I cannot even tell you the amount of times that we've jumped into the car on a Saturday and just drove. We may have a destination in mind, we may not have a destination in mind. Regardless of where we went, we always ended up having a fantastic time. The most memorable was probably being lost in Vinton County, Ohio and while outside we were hit by a massive rainstorm and we were soaked from head to toe. For those who are not aware of Vinton County, it is the poorest county in Ohio (sad, but true.) so you can imagine there is not much around. Thankfully, down the road - we found a Family Dollar. Thankfully, the Family Dollar does sell clothes... I walked out of there with a pair of 3x shorts and a shirt that was just as massive. There was literally no clothes in that store that were less than the size of 3x. Being that we were soaked, we sucked it up and wore clothes that we essentially swam home in. It is these stories that make these journeys SO much fun! I would trade them for the world!

Other places we have ended up:

• Niagara Falls, New York
• Westfield, New York (NY's Western Wine Country)
• Erie, Pennsylvania
• Astabula, Ohio (Northern Ohio's Wine Country)
• Hocking Hills/Athens/Nelsonville, Ohio
  
• Mohican State Park, Ohio
  
• Millersburg, Ohio (Ohio's Amish Country)
  

I can only wonder where 2010 is going to take us! We have up until October to continue our photo trips, and I am hoping that we can expand our territory and head south this year into Kentucky, West Virginia or even Virginia.

Enjoy a few photos from previous journeys!

*Upper Sandusky, Ohio*

*Niagara Falls, New York*

*Ashtabula, Ohio - Laurello Vineyards*

*Lake Hope, Ohio*
(The day of the rainstorm...)

Thank you, Mr. FHI

Dear Mr. FHI Straightener:

I wanted to take a moment to provide you with a proper farewell. Look at you, just sitting there in my bathroom, very still. Hardly moving. The light bulb, blinking so bad that you can tell you want to turn on and finish the job. However, as of today, you no longer have life in you. You have moved onto a new home, a home that will help you relax and not have to worry about working as hard as you did to straighten my hair. You have taken your last breath.

I remember the first day I bought you, clear as day. Justine told me that by purchasing you it would be a great investment. I personally wanted to throw up at your cost being that I was only working part-time and going to school. So, naturally I put you on my credit card. Though I am likely still paying your interest 6 1/2 years later, Justine was correct. You are the single source of happiness to my morning routine, in making my hair presentable for everyone around.

Before you came along, my hair was curly. It was ugly. It was annoying. Most importantly, people made fun of my hair and called me names. (Granted, this was middle school and not as an adult, but still...)
In the 90s, it was cool to have a perm. Perms was great. However, later down the road - perms were not so hot. Once they went out of style, my naturally curly hair had not a leg to stand on and was nothing less than a hot mess. Because of you, you provided me with a new level of self-esteem that I had never had before. A reason to like my hair. A reason to leave the house without throwing my mop of curly hair up in a ponytail.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for 6 1/2 years of effort in making me beautiful. Though I will be replacing you tomorrow, I will think of you often and remember you fondly. You will always be my first straightener, and know that you were the single reason for my hair being straight for the past 6 1/2 years.

Love always,
Becca

A Community Coming Together: The Decker's Story

I apologize up front of my absence in my blogging, or lack there of I should say! I've had the worst case of writers block and couldn't for the life of me think of anything funny or witty to talk about! However, this blog is on the more serious note - I won't let my fan club down and will write a funny blog to make up for the seriousness of this blog. I promise.

As you may or may not be aware, I grew up for the first 10 years in my life in a small little cow-town called Enumclaw, right at the base of Mt. Rainier near Seattle, Washington. Though I only lived there for a short time before my Dad's job relocated us to California - I do have fond memories of this town and still visit every chance that I can. Thankfully, I was blessed with a pretty good memory and remember quite a few details of my days in Enumclaw. From riding my bike down to Montgomery Park and having a water balloon fight, or covering myself in Jessica's Debbie Gibson Electric Youth perfume, or having a matching Espirit bag as April... the memories go on. One of the most distinctive landmarks I remember is a big white house right in downtown not too far from the middle school. I thought that this house was one of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen, and to this day - I can still remember it as if I were seeing it in person. The house belonged to the Decker Family.

I moved away from Enumclaw in 1991, and have only been back to visit every now and again (aka: every chance I get!) and have never forgotten the Deckers. Through my childhood Enumclaw connections on Facebook, I ran across a group called, "We want to see the Deckers on ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition!!" The minute I saw it, I thought "It must be the Deckers in the big white house!" Reading more about their story, I found myself sobbing with my heart hurting for them. Their story is one that is truly a story of love, triumph and a community coming together to support a family in their time of need. That is the beauty of Enumclaw, it is a small town who has the togetherness to stick together through their residents time of need. I encourage everyone to not only join the group to support the Deckers, but also read the blog that goes along with it to learn about their story. Though I warn you, I know I am a very sensitive and emotional person, I would have some tissues ready if you watch the attached videos.

My heart goes out to the Decker family, and I applaud those in the community who help with those fundraisers to aid their medical bill challenges. If I were not 2,400 miles away - I would without a doubt do anything in my power to help and be apart of that community. For now, I am going to help by rallying with the Facebook Group to support Extreme Makeover Home Edition and spread the word to by pass the population of Enumclaw of 11,000 people. They are almost half way there, I challenge everyone to read their story and pass on the information if they are touched (I know you will be...)!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=112160658809224&ref=nf

http://sccsdecker.blogspot.com/