{"id":4958,"date":"2022-05-23T20:06:45","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T00:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/?p=4958"},"modified":"2022-05-23T20:06:45","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T00:06:45","slug":"i-close-my-eyesonly-for-a-moment-and-the-moments-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scheumann.us\/blog\/?p=4958","title":{"rendered":"I Close my Eyes?Only for a Moment and the Moment’s Gone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

My goodness what a big week it was for the Scheu family. There were lots of tears this week. It was a week filled with several memorable moments and a couple of huge milestones. Matt continued working a couple jobs up on the north side of Indy. He saw Ms. Taylor off, who is going on a vacation to Hawaii after completing grad school last week. We enjoyed seeing him this weekend and spending time with him. He?s always such a breath of fresh air. Abby wrapped up Finals Week and completed her last semester with a 3.8 GPA! She graduated from college this weekend and we enjoyed celebrating her accomplishments at commencement and enjoyed seeing all the grandparents come to support her. We moved her home this week, but that came with challenges from both the weather and vehicles. Luke had his final full week of high school classes. He had his final sports competition this week, which left us all a little emotional. He passed the second big test for getting on to the fire department this weekend, which was a written test, taken at the city hall, which is very exciting! He has such a bright future ahead of him. Oh, the finality of it all? I know it has spanned 26 years, but this child rearing thing?when I reflect back on it, it went so fast. It was like a streak of lightning that flashes and fades and the moment?s gone. Ann & I have really enjoyed the ride. We had weather all over the place this week. It was hot and humid early in the week and then severe weather pushed through and it dropped down into the 30s overnight. Is it a coincidence that it coincided with Dad & Lynn coming back to the state? I don?t know?if it happens once or twice maybe, but when it happens repeatedly, you have to wonder? We happily opened up the house this weekend, we dealt with seasonal allergies and enjoyed several beautiful sunsets this week. But what really made this week so special was that we got to spend it with our family. These are the moments we truly live for?and we enjoyed every moment of it? Hello again and welcome to the latest episode of the Scheu Family Blog.<\/p>\n

It was back to work and school on Monday morning. I won?t lie, it was a rough one. Ann & I were both on the struggle bus as we commuted back to Columbus. It has rained overnight, finally, but was dried nicely and turned out to be a gorgeous day ? much cooler than last week. I think it only got into the mid-seventies that day and there was a strong, cool breeze the whole day. Luke drove Betty White to school since the Hot Rod Lincoln is out of commission. I called Jerry & Lexi that morning, but they are booked solid for the next two weeks. After school, Luke went to track practice then worked out at the YMCA before going out to Oakley?s house for most of the night. I caught up on paperwork all morning and then went to lunch with Victor. We went back to the Ye Olde Fish House for a plate of fish with a side of fish ? yum! In the afternoon, I was able to knock out several reports, leaving just my Safety Committee report for the month. I was a little late getting out of work, but Annie was cool with me getting her late, which allowed me to play 18 holes of frisbee golf. I saw my new friend, Jonathon, who is the architect of the course and the coordinator of next week?s tourney. I threw a 31 on the 1st 9 and a par (27) on the 2nd 9 for a total of 58 on a blustery day, which made things tricky. I was hoping to play a round or two, back in Greensburg, but I needed to spray the lawn for weeds. It was a little breezy at home, but the front wasn?t too bad. So, I proceeded with spraying 4 bottles of the good stuff. Unfortunately, the back spigot broke after my second bottle so we?ll have to call Danny to see if he can put us on a couple new ones (the front one broke last year). I only got the front yard done when I was over it. It took me about 90 minutes to do the front and the two side yards and I was ready to go sit down. I grabbed some leftovers and we watched some DVR?d shows until we fell asleep and went on to bed. Here are pictures of Luke?s Senior Prom (I?ll try to have After-Prom pictures ready next week).<\/p>\n

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We were late getting to work and school on Tuesday morning. It was amazing that morning with temps down in the 50s. I wish we?d opened up the house last night! I drove Ann to her cardiologist appointment, which she passed with flying colors! Luke drove over to the hospital as well to get his blood drawn in preparation of his upcoming peanut challenge. Ann & I stopped by the new Dunkin, since it was on our way to work and got our workdays started. After I worked through a few IT issues, I was able to focus the rest of my day on my Safety Committee report and made good progress. Vic & I went to lunch at Steak ?n Shake for lunch then ran to the hardware store to pickup a couple backpack sprayers (one for me and one for Justin, who went home to be with his sick boy that day). After work, I was able to play 18 holes of frisbee golf on another blustery day. I did much better as my tee shots and approaches were much improved?my putts on the other hand were poopy. Still, I had a 1-over and then a 1-under to end with a 54 (par), despite the wind. I saw Jonathan again while I was out on the course and he had a disc for me ? the one that comes with the entry fee for the tourney, which I paid yesterday when I saw him. It is really cool but a little advanced for me yet. I was hoping to spray the backyard that night, but when we got home, it was too windy and it?s supposed to rain tomorrow. Instead, I went out to the park and played another 18 holes of frisbee golf. My first tee shot was a beauty ? I nearly had a hole-in-one! After birdying that first hole, I was feeling pretty confident and went for an impossible tee shot on 2?which landed three feet in the pond. I quickly went back to Black Betty and got my hook. I still had to crawl into the bushes just to reach it and eventually got it out?but not before getting completely grubby and scratching the hell out of my arms and left leg, which bled the rest of the night. I had several good tee and approach shots again, which allowed me to have decent scores, but again my putting was less than stellar. I had a 22 on the front 9 and a 26 on the back for a total of 48, which is 6 under par. I?m about 50\/50 with throwing my golf discs now but improving each week. Meanwhile, Luke went on to school and then track practice. He said he is throwing better than he?s thrown all year, but still can?t seem to break that 50? barrier. That evening, he skipped the extra workout and went with his buddies to Brookville to go swimming. He didn?t get back until late. We got some stuff ready for Abby, who we?ll see tomorrow and deliver suitcases and totes so she can start packing now, in preparation for her moving out of the dorm and back home this weekend. We watched a couple DVR?d shows and the latest episode of Bosch Legacy. Afterward, we accidentally began watching the pilot episode of Bewitched. It looked so weird in hi-def! Here are pictures of Luke at the EIAC conference track & field meet at South Dearborn high school last week.<\/p>\n

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It was dark and overcast on Wednesday morning. I?m glad I didn?t spray last night because once it started raining, it continued all day long. After dropping off Ann at work, I went in for a couple hours to do a few odds and ends and then picked her right back up a couple hours later and headed over to see Ms. Jami. We got our monthly haircuts then after dropping Annie back at the office, I called Arni?s and placed a lunch order. Having a little time to kill, I went across the street to Kroger?s and did a little Hot Wheels hunting. After eating my Arni?s Junior and pizza, I got all the paperwork prepared for Tuesday?s annual Competency Fair, since I won?t have time to do it before the event. Afterward, I finished up my Safety Committee report and then headed out to go play some frisbee golf. Mother Nature had other plans. I tried to waste some time and even drove around the course and sat in the car at the hole 1 tee for about 15-20 minutes, hoping it was stop. It never did. Meanwhile, Abby finished up her finals test (she only has one paper left to do and then she?s done!!) and then drove to Columbus to pick up Ann and go shopping at the outlet mall. I drove out by them, to the Exit 76 Antiques Mall, to do some more Hot Wheels hunting. Like earlier today, I found some more treasures out there and then drove over to get Ann at the mall. The girls were still not done, so I sat on a bench and played on my phone for about an hour until they finished up. We drove home through the country and caught up on each other?s days while Abs went back to campus to write the final paper of her college career. She planned to go out to the bar when she finished. We brought her some totes and suitcases so that she can start packing ahead of Saturday?s Move-Out Day. I enjoyed another mail call day when we got home, as three new discs arrived, as well as a Hot Wheels I?d been chasing since about this time last year. With the addition of the Show Hoss II, I am now down to just one more to complete my collection of the 1983 Street Machines series. I spoke to the gal at the Sand Pebble earlier that day and got the room transferred to Ann & I. I need to send her a copy of the deed tomorrow. I also spoke to Rob that day, who is settled back into Tennessee with Sharon. Their anniversary was last Friday and I can?t wait to spend their 10th with them next year, on the beach! We had a find-your-own dinner and watched the FBI trio of shows on the DVR and chilled with the dogs. Delilah is so fast. She went tearing out the back door and caught another unsuspecting robin. Like her older sister Molly, she just wanted to play with the little thing, but it was freaking out (as you might imagine). DJ needed some convincing, but she did leave it alone and came back inside. By the time she went back out, it had thankfully left the yard. Thankfully, she is not like her other sister, Lola ? who was a stone-cold killer in her day. Here are random pictures from our recent adventures.<\/p>\n

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Thursday went really fast. I finished up my reports in the morning and did my weekly rounds. Vic & I had lunch at the Fish House and then I had meetings all afternoon. I wound up getting out of work early and managed to find time to play a quick round of frisbee golf. They did not have the baskets out yet, which was a bummer, but I?d received a text earlier in the day from my friend Jonathan that they had a new surprise for me on the 9th hole. How could I resist? I was indeed surprised?as they had parked an old helicopter at the end of the fairway and had a mandatory rule that you had to go around it on the left for a dogleg right green and pin. It was pretty cool and makes the hole much more challenging now. I hope it stays! Although I really wanted to play 18 holes, I didn?t have time?so I stopped after 9 on another blustery day with the wind coming from the west at a good clip. The wind was a challenge, but I still had good drives. It was my putting that again let me down as I shot a 3-over, 30. I picked up Ann and we came home to let the dogs out, pickup up cameras and the cooler and hit the road again. We had planned to swap cars but opted to stay in Black Betty because its air is currently working. We got there in time to watch the discus competition, which Luke was only an alternate for. It was fun to watch Leo Maxwell from EC, who will attend and throw for Purdue next year. He again broke his own Sectionals record in the discus. They ended just as it began raining. We moved over to the shotput pits and set up under the trees for some natural protection, only to have some nasty stuff move in just as the boys were coming over to start shot. When the lightning hit, they announced that IHSAA has a mandatory 30-minute rule and that everyone had to leave the stands. We thought about staying but decided to go on out to the car and wait it out. We never got the chance. About 20 minutes into the delay, they called it. It was going to be another 60-90 minutes before they could start and it was a school night, so they just postponed it to tomorrow night. We talked to Luke and then came on home. Luke stopped by for a moment with Oakley then went out to his house to stay the night. Ann & I watched a couple shows, grabbed a find-your-own dinner and sat down to watch a couple shows?and fell fast asleep?God we?re old? I went on to bed but Ann didn?t make her way back until the 2nd round of storms rolled through the area sometime after 2 am.<\/p>\n

We had our typical Friday morning routine with going to Dunkin, dropping Ann off at her downtown office and me running a couple weekly errands. When I got back to the house, I planned on working from home that morning for at least a half day, but I didn?t even get 30 minutes into it and things started stacking up ? things that I had to get done before tomorrow, when all the fun starts. So, I notified Jim and just started knocking stuff out. I emptied the Barneymobile so that I can load it up with Abby?s stuff and bring it all home tomorrow when she moves out of college for good. That took a little longer than expected when I found that a window seal had gone bad and water from last night?s storms had leaked inside. I got it all dried up and sprayed with Febreze and then began mowing. The weeds are already starting to curl in the front and side yards. I now wish I would?ve just stuck it out and done the back because it is still a mess. I considered trimming but decided against it and just blew off the concrete instead. I had just finished cleaning up my tools, putting it all away and heading inside when I saw Ann was ready to be picked up from work. I got cleaned up and we went to Columbus to get Abby?s graduation present ? the new green iPhone. We also had a couple other things for her as well. Later, when Ann put her presents together in a gift bag, she set it up so that the bag had a false bottom so you couldn?t even tell the phone was in there ? ha! ha! We grabbed lunch next door at the Great Wall (Chinese) and then came home. Luke came home briefly before going back to school to meet up with Coach Jackson and the varsity track and field team to head back to Sectionals at East Central to finish up what they started last night. Ann napped real quick while I finished editing pictures and videos for this week?s blog entry. Before we knew it, it was time to load up Black Betty and head down the road to St. Leon to watch Luke throw shotput. He was seeded 3rd, though in the program it was 5th because the head coach didn?t update his information. But that was OK, because we love an underdog! Luke came out sluggish, but never once scratched that night. He managed to make it past the first cut and was ranked 5th going into the finals. He was way under, compared to what he?d been doing. He was hoping to crack 50? for the first time and push is PB past the 49? he threw at the EIAC meet last week. However, he never got out of the 45? range and sadly finished 5th ? which is not eligible to move forward. We were sad but very, very proud of him. And he gave us a little excitement this spring. We loved watching him?hell, all of our kids?compete. He was a fierce competitor, just like his older sister and their older brother before them. It?s been a hell of a ride? We thanked Coach Jackson and talked with him and an old college classmate, who was running the measuring software that he owns. Afterward, Jackson had some very nice words for Luke and us and we, of course, thanked him for everything he?s done for Luke over these last four years. He and several other coaches have left indelible marks on our children and our family. Although it was a bummer for the Pirates in the discus and shotput, it was a special day for the favorite ? Leo Maxwell. We first saw him when he and Luke competed back in junior high school. He was good then?he is great now. He easily won both discus and shotput. That day, he achieved not only a personal best, but the team record and the Sectional record on his final throw, which went 61? 1.75???. It was a really neat moment, especially doing it on his home field, with all of his family and friends in attendance. They had an impromptu celebration for him and we wish him luck at Regionals and State?and in the Big Ten in West Lafayette in the fall. We came back and made dinner and watched the Law & Order trilogy. Luke went out with friends to ElRep for dinner then came home, showered and went to bed early to get a good night?s sleep before his big test in the morning. Meanwhile, Dad & Lynn made it in safely from New Jersey. They stopped in Indy to visit Vird & Belinda earlier that day before heading on to Franklin. That evening, they met up with Abby (and I presume Will) and went down to the Grill Bar (formerly Mike?s Bar & Grill), just like he did with Mom about 30 years ago. We have lots of social media pictures to share this week.<\/p>\n

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Saturday was a blur. We were up early that day as Ann & I headed up to FC for Commencement Day. We dropped off tickets for Gma & Gigi before heading up to meet up with Dad & Lynn. Before we left, we tried calling Matt several times but couldn?t reach him. With Taylor gone on vacation, we were worried that he might sleep through the day?s events, like his sister did yesterday. She had a big interview yesterday morning (very poor timing, if you ask me) with a perspective company that could be quite lucrative. She was up and even spoke to Ann on the phone and acknowledged that she was in the process of getting up and getting ready. Then Ann didn?t receive any notifications that she left campus but didn?t think too much of it. Sure enough, Abs slept right through her interview! ? She was in tears but put on her big girl pants and called the owner and apologized profusely. I figured she had blown her opportunity, but he was willing to give her a second chance, thankfully. This was so out of character for her, but he wouldn?t know that? Anyhow, Matt finally saw all our texts and VMs and let us know that he was awake and would meet us at commencement. Luke was up early and out the door to go down to city hall to take the next test in his venture to get onto the fire department. We didn?t hear anything for a while but then during Abby?s ceremony we got the big news ? he PASSED! He was so worried about it and so this will be a big boost to his confidence. We met Dad & Lynn at the college. Commencement was inside, which we were glad for ? since it rained. The ceremony was very nice. Matt & I yelled for her as she crossed the stage. Matt was so loud that even the president (which is who handed the kids their diplomas) whispered to her as they were taking their picture, ?I think your brother is here!??? ???? LOL! Mom & Sandy came that day as well as Matt, so it was nice to have them all there for her. We took lots of great pictures outside, which was bright and sunny by that time. Afterward, Dad & Lynn went back to their hotel to pack and checkout. Mom & Sandy went sight-seeing around town. Ann, I and the kids went back to the Sig house and had a beer to celebrate Abby?s accomplishment. Next, we went uptown to the Willard for lunch. We met up with Dad & Barb, Mom & Sandy, Dad & Lynn, Mary & Julia (who surprised Abs), as well as Abby, Will & Matthew. We reserved the back room for us, but when we got there, they still had another family still eating in there. Once they left, we were able to move the tables around and then we could space out a little and had plenty of room. We enjoyed a couple rounds of drinks, some fried pickles & cheese cubes and then had a nice dinner. I opted for the fish platter, which was really good. Abs opened up a few presents and enjoyed visiting with everyone before we had to say our goodbyes. It was really storming but it lightened up a little, allowing us a window to get out and be on our way. Dad & Lynn went on to our house while Ann, Matt, Will & I went with Abby to move her out of the dorm. They have to be out by 10 on Sunday, so this was the best time to do it. The problem was that she hadn?t done anything to pack\/prepare. Ann helped motivate her and the girls got things packed up?but it was a slow process. I sent Matt & Will over to the Sig house since there was nothing to do. I took a nap in Abby?s living room, waiting on stuff to load up in the Barneymobile. It stormed so hard that there was actually a tornado warning for our area. I never stopped loading the car, as it was fine in our area, but it hit the St. Paul area (just a few miles away) really hard. I-65 was closed when the wind overturned a semi. The back way that we always take (421 between Shelbyville and Greensburg) was also closed for downed trees. Eventually, we got everything loaded up in the van, but by then it was about 6. We said goodbye to Matt and then to Abby & Will, who spent the night to attend ?Senior Night??? at BoJack?s that night. We went slow and thankfully missed all the severe weather. But there were trees and limbs everywhere. All told, I?d say we saw about 100 trees impacted ? some worse than others, obviously. When we got home, Luke had returned from Oakley?s house (he helped them clean up storm damage from trees that fallen on their property). We unloaded a couple things, but left most of it for Monday afternoon, after Dad & Lynn leave for Missouri. Thankfully, they got to the house before the severe weather hit. There were several places without power in this part of the state ? including Ann & I?s work. Ann?s place, of course, is closed on the weekend and we have a generator at my place, so it didn?t have much impact, thankfully. Ann ordered Pizza King pizzas for dinner (and Luke & I got a couple spicy burritos too, which would bite me in the ass at about 3 am that night!) and we visited with Dad & Lynn for a while. We watched a long movie called Death on the Nile. I watched it for about two hours but then fell asleep and missed the end of it. ? Ann fell asleep about 5 minutes into it. Dad got up suddenly and disappeared. We figured out later that he had gone to bed without telling us! Lynn was the only one that stayed up the whole time but wouldn?t tell me who did it. Ann wouldn?t get out of the chair, so we left her out there and just turned off the lights. Luke went to the Y to lift then drove out to a friend?s house and spent the night. Here are pictures of recent additions to my Hot Wheels collection.<\/p>\n

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We enjoyed sleeping in on Sunday morning. Even the dogs allowed us to sleep until almost 9! Dad joined us a little later and then Ann made breakfast, which was a breakfast casserole and biscuits. Lynn eventually joined us as well. I did a few household chores while we talked in the kitchen for hours. In fact, I don?t think we ever left the kitchen until later that evening. We enjoyed catching up with them and swapping stories. Abby called from school, telling us that she had finished moving out, that her car was packed but that it would not start! We sent Luke up to see her with a batch of tools. We thought it might be her battery. However, he pulled it and took it to AutoZone and found it was good. I asked Luke to go get a hammer and tap on the starter to see if he could get it to turn over at least once. Sure enough, he looked on You Tube and watched a video and voila ~ he got it running! Way to go, little buddy!! They drove back to town and went straight to Jerry?s and dropped it off for him to fix it for her. Sandy let her borrow her car for a couple days while its in the shop. Meanwhile, Dad, Lynn, Ann & I were still in the kitchen when the kids got back home. We hadn?t moved. Instead, we sat and laughed and told stories for hours. The kids were hungry when they got home. We did a few things, got cleaned up and then went to El Reparo for dinner that night. The three pitchers of margaritas went down very easy and we laughed and ate until we were miserable! We came home and returned to the kitchen. Honestly, we didn?t leave that room the whole day. We broke out the cocktails, Coca Bombs and the beers and enjoyed several games of euchre. Ann and I were unstoppable early on but Dad & Will finished strong and won the night. I love playing cards with Dad and wish we lived closer so we could do it every week. We stayed up way too late and nearly saw the sunrise before making ourselves go on to bed and call it a night. I?m so glad he and Lynn could make it down and then stay with us. There were so many highlights to this week and especially this weekend, but there was one that really stood out. Dad & Lynn gave Abby a very heartfelt gift that evening ? something Mom wanted to do for her but obviously couldn?t be there with us. There wasn?t a dry eye in the room and it was a really special moment when he gave her Mom?s music box, a lovely necklace with diamonds from both her wedding ring as well as Grandmaw Brown?s wedding ring. And if that wasn?t enough, there was also a letter. It was a letter that Abby wrote to Mom when she was really sick and nearing the end of her life. It was really special and Dad & Lynn hit a homerun with that moment?<\/p>\n

Next up is our Waybac section, which is starting to wind down with pictures from Aunt Sue. I have a couple more batches and then I?ll have to dig back in to find some more good ones from Deanna?s digital camera. This week, though, we focus on the Scheu family. We lead off in the 1930s: a postcard that I think might be Granny and her mom (?) as well as a picture that says, ?Cloud burst & flood at the Club House on 7\/18\/39; the 1940s: Aunt Sue with the Deerr women (I?m guessing?), circa ?43, a good one of Granny, Pug & Sue in ?44; an early photo of Uncle Chuck on May 6, 1945; the 1950s: a couple pix of Aunt Sue?s graduation day at St. Mary?s with Aunt Sally (and then the 2nd one says with Jack Brake & Bill Metzinger) in May ?56, and a great picture of Dad & Uncle John at a baseball game in Sept ?56; the 1960s: Billy?s newborn picture in Oct ?62, and several good pictures of Aunt Mary?s First Communion Day in 1964; and then we move on to the best of the lot?the 1970s: I vaguely remember this day, back in July ?75 at Granny?s house on Highland Ave with Chris, Kimmy & I riding our Big Wheels (well, Kimmy had her trike) and hanging out with Barney and Granny?s three cats on the front porch; and then Jason?s birthday party in September ?75 with many of my cousins. What a great batch of pictures!<\/p>\n

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Next up is our video segment, which features one new family home movie this week as well as several from around the internet.\t<\/p>\n