Peanut Butter!!!

I just finished making a batch of peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookies...yum! Unfortunately, I had to scrape the peanut butter jar and didn't have the full amount for the recipe, but that's because I loved giving the girls peanut butter as a special treat. If they were here tonight, they probably would have gotten the remaining peanut butter, and I would have opted for chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

 

Ginny, Part 16: Unexpected Thoughts

Maggie and I took our last morning ride today.

I find it amazing the way God puts unexpected thoughts into our minds. As pre-occupied as I've been the last 24 hours with all the "lasts" with the girls (last dinner, last cuddle, last ride, etc.) the thought on my mind on the way to 7-Eleven was how special Ginny Doyle was and how fortunate I was that God gave us Maggie to bring us together.

(This is just my personal perspective and could be all wrong.)

Ginny was the youngest of four children. I only know "her side" of the story, but it seems to me that people knew she had athletic talent early on.

It appears to me that the Doyle family was united in supporting Ginny in her athletic endeavors. I've heard stories of Joe & Ginny practicing tennis & basketball together. I imagine they followed Ginny to tournaments, etc. They all know women's basketball in detail and I assume that has a lot to do with Ginny's involvement in the program throughout her life.

Even as an adult, Joe & Mrs. Doyle especially continued to follow Ginny's career to the extent of staying in town for extended visits in order to see a number of her games...as a coach. They also traveled along the upper east coast for some of her games. Families support each other throughout life, but you must admit that was pretty extensive for adult children / siblings. As I've told Joe, my brother lives with me and I don't know nearly as much about him as he knew about Ginny.

University of Richmond also knew Ginny was special. Assistant coaches usually leave a program when the head coach moves on, but University of Richmond held on to Ginny through at least three head coaches.

The outpouring of support the family and we have received since her passing further shows what a special lady Ginny was.

So, I firmly believe that God brought Maggie into our lives so that I could experience and appreciate Ginny. As I've said over the past six weeks, I'd rather have known Ginny and gone through this pain than to have never known her. Ginny gave so much of herself to my family and we will never forget her. She has left an impact on each of us which we will carry on to others in her honor. Thank you God for crossing our paths.

Ginny, Part 15: Trust II Each Other

To me, trust is unspoken. It's a feeling. Sometimes it's earned, other times it's assumed until something happens to break that trust. It's like love. You're born into a family and the love is assumed. But you learn to love non-family as you get to know them. Somehow, the trust between Ginny & us was natural. Nothing was done to earn it, except maybe the promise to take care of Maggie. It was never questioned, either way. Neither one of us ever questioned whether we'd watch out for each other, each other's houses, and each other's families; it was just natural.

I can't say for 100% certain, but I really think that the first time I went into Ginny's house was to check on Maggie and I was by myself. I remember the first time I walked into her house and the feeling of amazement at how nice, "magazine"-perfect her decor seemed to be. I just figured she was a "bachelorette" with a busy lifestyle and this was where she landed when she was in town, but she really created a beautiful, warm & welcoming home. I was a mom living in suburbia working from home and my house never looked so good! She even had dining room furniture...we still don't!

Anyway, like I said, I think she literally handed me a key the first day she left Maggie to go to work and trusted me to go into her house, take care of her dog, and lock up when I left. Can you imagine? Yes, we lived next door to each other so she could certainly find me if something went missing, but talk about entrusting me with everything that's valuable to her!

And so it went...I'd got into her house a few times a day to let Maggie out of her crate, let her outside, play with her in the house, then do it all again in a few hours. As time went on Maggie graduated from the crate to a section of her kitchen, to the whole kitchen, to the downstairs, and finally to full reign of the house.

If Ginny was running late at work, she knew all she had to do was text me and we'd check on Maggie some more. I would check out the front door every couple of hours to see if Ginny was home from work yet and if she wasn't we'd go check on the Moo.

The trust went both ways. When Maggie started spending her days at our house, we gave Ginny a key to our house. If she got home and it didn't appear like anyone was at our house, she'd let herself in and get the dogs.

I knew best that Ginny trusted us when she'd be on the road. She'd go a day or two without checking in, because she knew the girls were well taken care of. But I could tell when she was ready to come home because she'd check in to see how her girls were doing. Of course, I'd shoot her pictures or text her stories whenever there was something cute or monumental to share.

Her last act of trust in us was on her last day. I saw Ginny on Wednesday. She told me that she & the girls were going to Philly for Mother's Day weekend and would leave on Friday. Pierce saw her on Thursday and thanked him again for mowing her lawn while she was away the previous weekend. Nothing was mentioned about the hot air balloon ride to either of us.

When I left for work that Friday morning, I looked toward her house like I always did (and still do), saw that her car was gone and figured they'd hit the road for Philly already. It wasn't until after work when I got on social media that I learned she was at the hot air balloon festival. She was supposed to go up in the balloon early that morning and they postponed it until the evening. As best as I can tell, she never came home that day. Her family has learned that she went to work.

Ginny would have typically texted me to let me know she had gotten up especially early, which meant that the girls were fed early. She would have typically texted me to let me know she'd be gone so long. But it appears that she was so distracted by the excitement and perhaps anxious about the adventure that she never reached out to me. She knew she could trust me to take care of the girls while she was away from home and didn't give it a second thought. I wish I could take care of them for her forever.

Ginny, Part 14: Trust I: Dogs

For years, Maggie would ride with me to 7-Eleven for my daily diet Coke fix. She'd stand at the passenger seat with her nose out the window and her hair slicked back from the breeze.

While she waited for me to come out of 7-Eleven, she'd clean up any crumbs in my car from the last visit, and then lay down in a sunny patch until I returned. She trusts me that all was well and I'd be back quickly.

When Lexi came along and once she settled down a bit, I tried to bring her along for the ride too. But as much as she'd beg to come, she'd cry the entire way to our destination. Lexi is inquisitive and wants to be part of everything, but she's a fraidy-cat and doesn't like change or loud things. Poor girl. A couple of days ago, when we got to 7-Eleven, she tried to squeeze out of the car beside me; that was my sign that she shouldn't come on these rides anymore. She was so afraid she was missing out on something that she didn't enjoy the journey.

So this morning I took Maggie on the ride. Poor Lexi wasn't happy; but I knew she wouldn't be happy if she came along either.

Anyway...the other part of this tradition is that when we got back to my house, I would let Maggie get out of the car unleashed. This was the only time she was allowed to roam in the front yard since the run in with the car in the street. Maggie pretends to have a hard time getting into the car or onto a couch, but when she's motivated, she'll totally take the risk and succeed. If there's a treat on the couch, she doesn't think twice of jumping up. And if there's a little freedom in getting out of the car herself, she's spry like a puppy.

So this morning, Maggie jumps from the seat to the floor of the car and out the door as soon as it's opened and she follows her predictable pattern. She runs right to the patch of the Delaney's property where their dog Lady typically relieves herself, and Maggie "marks her territory" after finding the perfect spot (BTW, what IS with the perfect for a dog who needs to pee? why do they have to sniff everywhere first?!?!) She then prances across their driveway, sniffing her way up their front walk and to their front door.

I follow close behind, but not chasing her I know that she has a plan. I trust her. And then, once she gets to the Delaney's front door, I tell her it's time to go home and she meanders beside me back to our house. She's such a good girl who just needs her fix of independence.

During this adventure today, I really reflected on the trust. I am not really an animal person. I think many animals are cute and all, but I have a hard time trusting something I can't communicate with. But Maggie and Lexi are so different to me. Since we've known them from such a young age, we've figured out how to communicate with each other.

They scratch at the back door when they want to come in or need to go out. They rattle their food bowls when they think it's time to eat, or slide their water thing when it's empty. They come running when we open the coat closet door because that might mean it's time for a walk, and their ears perk up when the treat cabinet is opened. When they're outside and hear the back door open, they know to come inside (usually) and when they don't come easily I know all I have to do is say "treat" or "walk" and they'll come running.

Seven years ago, Ginny entrusted my family with her dog and, unbeknownst to me at the time, introduced me to the trust between dog and human.

Ginny, Part 13: Ginny the Neighbor

The hardest part of Ginny's death, for me, is that it's been so public and that all of the attention has highlighted Ginny the coach or Ginny the basketball player. And she was an amazing coach and a talented basketball player.

But I got to see the "natural" side of Ginny. I got to see her totally relaxed & overly stressed, sick & tired, and healthy & well. I got to see her being neighborly and shutting herself in to get things done or just be alone. I got to see her frustrated with things and ecstatic about others. In some ways, because of the arrangement with the dogs that meant we saw each other practically every day, she was almost like a sister.

I got to see Ginny down & dirty working in her yard. Ginny had a unique system. She would kind of let her lawn go, mainly due to her travel schedule, and then she would go gang-busters from dusk to dawn for an entire weekend bringing it back to immaculate. She was also known to mow her lawn in the dark; a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, right?

If she's hearing my thoughts right now, she's laughing along with me at this memory. One day I was in my house and heard the most annoying sound. It was just this repetitive "cough" that made no sense whatsoever. I went outside and she was literally pushing her mower into the ground. That thing was so beyond it's prime and wanted to stall on her so bad, but she just kept making it work. You had to hear it to truly appreciate the lunacy of the moment, but it sounded like a really loud plane puttering out and then getting just enough juice for another push to the finish line. She upgraded to a self-propelled mower soon after.

There are two "islands" between our houses. One of them is on her property and the other is on ours. The tree in the center of our island died and we had it taken down but we never did anything to fill that plat of land. Ginny asked if she could maintain it (in other words, she didn't like a boring old island of dirt) and planted four bushes which will now be a forever memory of our dear neighbor. I'm kind of glad we were lazy about re-landscaping that patch of earth.

I got to enjoy the sounds of Innsbrook Afterhours in the backyard with Ginny. I remember playing badminton while Sugarland was performing. We also went to a couple of Innsbrook After Hours concerts together. I remember her blasting country music while doing yard work; I still liked her, even if I didn't like her taste in music ;-). She knew I had a thing for Bon Jovi and would let me know when he was performing on TV.

Ginny's wardrobe was predictable: she wore University of Richmond athletic gear 90% of the time. I'm pretty sure she owned 100 pair of Nike sneakers. I can only imagine house many UR sweatshirts & t-shirts are in her closet! She was a spider through and through. It's what she wore to work and what she wore for play.

I remember the first game we went to; I couldn't believe it...she was wearing a pant suit and had her hair down looking all professional. Some people have commented that they didn't recognize her in pictures media was posting right after the accident because they'd never seen her with her hair down. Ginny always wore a pony tail. I won't post it because it's upsetting to some people, but one of the very last pictures of her, going up in the balloon, actually makes me smile because I can see that tell-tale ponytail of hers.

Ginny loved Halloween. Most nights we'd never know what time she'd be home, but she was always home in time for trick-or-treating on Halloween. She always had the best candy and would set Maggie and then Maggie & Lexi up on the porch so they could see all the kids. We'd walk the whole neighborhood with Colin and then she'd let us take Maggie up to the veterinarian around the corner for a bone.

Ginny tweeted this picture in 2012 with the caption:

"wishing they could get out there and

trick or treat with all the kids!"

Ginny let me borrow this costume a couple of times...

such a fun memory!!!

Kayla (black mail) and Sharky...I mean Moo!

Ginny, Part 12: What are neighbors for? Sharing Recipes!

Neighbors watch out for each other.
Neighbors see you "at home"; a different perspective than anyone else.
Neighbors help each other.

Whether you're a "nosey neighbor" or not, you've probably picked up on some of your neighbors habits. Maybe they always put the trash out the night before, only mow their lawn every other week, tend to keep to themselves, or always offer a helping hand.

You may have neighbors who you've never met, or some that you talk to every day. You may have neighbors who you only know through social media despite their proximity to your house or a friendly wave as you drive off to work.

No matter, there is a special kinship about neighbors. When a fire truck goes down the road or an earthquake shakes things up, you all come together in your own way to lend support.

But, there are those neighbors you share a special bond with. And, so often, that bond includes FOOD! Come on...you know the image of borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor, right? Have you actually done it? We have! We've also shared some other food stories with our dear neighbor Ginny:

Ginny wasn't much of a cook.

Being a single woman, on the road so much, and working late hours, Ginny didn't do a lot of cooking for herself (until the last couple of years when she changed her diet.) It was kind of a running joke. I'd borrow her crock pots and have to dust them off before using them. We'd borrow her oven for holiday cooking and it was spotless from lack of use (except for the time she made Amish Friendship Bread and it overflowed ;-). )

Actually, Ginny WAS a cook, she just didn't do it often. But when she did, she rocked it! Ginny's "go to" recipe for a party was Buffalo Chicken Dip. Several years ago she tried it at a party, got the recipe, and made it her trademark. She was so excited about it that she just made it one day and brought it over to share. Then she started bringing it whenever we had a pre-planned gathering. One year, she made a batch just for Pierce for his birthday. And, of course, she made a batch for Kayla's graduation party last year. The recipe is common, but the love she put into hers made it special.

In the last year or so she picked up on a recipe for a dessert made with ice cream sandwiches. This stuff was so sweet and versatile...and she loved making it so much she even posted a picture:

"Desserts made for tonight's WBB team gathering. 

Heath, caramel ice cream cake and Oreo hot fudge ice cream cake."

I visited with Ginny's mother and brothers yesterday and Mrs. Doyle shared a recipe with me...I'm so excited to try...and so glad the tradition of sharing recipes continues!!!

Ginny, Part 11: Whose Dog is Whose???

So, remember that Kayla is Maggie's primary doggie day care provider. My mother in law recently shared this memory:

I remember , Ginny telling story of her walking Maggie  in morning, meeting Kayla going to bus stop & Kayla getting on her knees to talk &  pet Maggie. She noticed the bond between them.

Maggie was a blessing. The pet Kayla always wanted.

But what happens when you add Lexi to the mix? Ginny wasn't about to let either dog lack attention and continued to spoil my family. Maggie became Colin's responsibility and Lexi became Kayla's responsibility. (But when spending the night, they both stayed together in Kayla's room.) And the dogs really bonded with their respectful caregiver, even though we all shared responsibilities.


Maggie was pretty content at either of our houses. Lexi was fine here but LOVED when Ginny would come to get her. It was a race to the door whenever Ginny would come to get them and ring the doorbell. As soon as the doorbell rang, both dogs would come from wherever they were.

Now, picking up two dogs is a little tricky, so Ginny & I made a game of it. Whichever dog made it to the door first got to see Mommy first. Lexi usually won. Whenever Lexi won, Maggie was pretty content to go back to what she was doing while Ginny & I would chat, but when it was time to go, she'd jump in Ginny's other arm and away they went. But on those rare occasions that Maggie won, I would have to grab Lexi and hold on tight or she'd jump out of my arms to Ginny!

And now they both shared the window which allowed them to keep an eye out for us.