Canadian Buffoon's Disney With a Teen Vacation - 08/13 - The Wrap

[KathyM2]

Wow what a story. I would have cried too. Especially about the part where she seemed like such a happy girl and involved in so many things...so scary that it could happen to anyone and you don't expect it. But what a wonderful community you have.

 

[cindianne320]

Thank you for sharing. What a powerful story. We have so far to go when it comes to mental health, but it sounds like the young people at your daughter's school are headed in the right direction. I'm so sorry that they could have lost a friend that day, and that Molly is making progress.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Thank you for sharing that story. The teenage years can be so confusing and difficult. As time passes we forget what it can be like. Stories like Molly's help to remind us of how some kids struggle. Something I always try to keep in mind while raising my girls, one of them in the midst of the teenage years.

How wonderful of Kay to participate in that cause. You're lucky to have such a generous and responsible young lady.

As for the man card, you wear yours proudly, sir. You've earned it.

 

[SnowWhiteOz]

Man I should not have read your post at work - had to blame all those ninjas cutting onions nearby.

You and Ruby should be so proud of the wonderful young women you've raised.

Mental health unfortunately suffers when it comes to awareness and funding as it is not an illness with visible symptoms. Thankfully it appears that governments and other organisations are starting to spread the message that mental health is as important to take care of as your physical health.

We've experienced a lot of suicide in our family recently. Well my brother has. He is 24 years old and in the past 18 months he has had not one, not two, but five school friends commit suicide. Out of a class of 140. It's so hard to think what would make five young men in the prime of their lives think they have nothing left worth living for. And that is the problem - people struggle to understand mental illness if they've never experienced it personally.

So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story @pkondz.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Such a trajedy. So sad to hear when a young person can't understand that life is full of seasons and can't see they can get help. Wow, the kids really put togetherawonderful event. You are very proud, I'm sure. I know lots of others were crying, too.

 

[natebenma]

Wow! Thanks for sharing. That is all.

 

[Mrs T 2009]

What an amazingly heartwarming outcome of friends and fellow students rallying together for a fellow classmate! (*tears*)

it's great to hear that Molly is continuing to progress the way she is!
it's scary for anyone with children or siblings : really anyone..
I've had to deal with more suicides (friends/classmates) than I have thought I would already in my lifetime.
One still on my mind all the time as no one had any idea how sad/unhappy he was feeling or that he would commit suide. No alarms/warning signs.

Being someone with my own demons of anxiety and ppd, it's not an easy subject, let alone something someone thinks they can talk about.

You (and Ruby) are raising some wonderful young ladies!!

 

[Mrs T 2009]

Happy (belated) anniversary!

Thank you!!

I'd have to see a better picture of it
(as well as one of you - non photoshopped)

I will get on that!

That's too bad.
That's one of those things you can't really
tell ahead of time, unfortunately.

true. live and learn.

And what did he say to that?

He said "we will see" haha! I'll get him to agree, eventually.. I have a few years .

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

If you only want humour
and corny Dad jokes
(and poor writing, of course,)
then you may want to skip ahead.

Well, see ya later.

Just kidding, of course. Things can't always be fun and games.

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain,
except death and taxes."

And me missing out on the Darth Vader scene.

Kay: "Dad. I'm locked in the library
and I don't know what to do."

Oh man. I can't even imagine getting a message like that. Or perhaps I don't want to.

Kay and I got in the car and I asked.
"So do you know what happened?"
"I think someone tried to commit suicide." She said.

So sad and horrible.

Molly, a grade 11 student was found
in the school bathroom with a shoelace
tied around her neck.
It's unknown how long she was without air.
She was taken to a hospital
and her parents were notified.

I can't even begin to imagine
how they must have felt
when the police arrived at their home
and told them their daughter was
in the hospital.

Like you said...there are no words. None.

Molly was responding.

And slowly, ever so slowly, she's improving.
She may never recover completely,
I don't know.
But she is getting better, day by day.

Thank God! That must be so painful and difficult.

I was... crushed.
And I don't use that term lightly.
In fact, I've never used it.
There was this picture
of a beautiful young girl
with a mischievous smile
and a sparkle in her eyes.

This? This girl tried to kill herself???

It was unfathomable.

Agreed.

What could a sixteen year old kid do?


This event was.... overwhelming.

It sounds just amazing. Heartfelt, selfless, and profound.

I'll lose my man card again
(if I ever got it back in the first place)
but I don't care.

Not at stake here.

I cried.

I cried for the sheer beauty of the melody.
I cried for the families and friends.
I cried for the kids who played for one of their own.
I cried for Molly.


I want to say how incredibly blessed I am
to have been able to witness that evening.
It wasn't some random organization that did it.
It wasn't some adult group that put it on.
It was the will of one young lady.
And the collaboration of other young people.
All to support a friend.


It gives me hope for the next generation.

Pkondz, this was beautifully written. Well said. Thanks for telling the story. Sometimes the brightest lights come from the darkest times.

 

[rndmr2]

Wow, so sad that anyone, especially a young person, feels they have no other options

Glad that she was unsuccessful in her attempt and she is responding to treatment.

Beautiful girl

What a great night, so awesome that the kids come together to make it happen

 

[irene_dsc]

So sad, and uplifting, at the same time. I hope she can make a full recovery, and come out the other side. Proud of your kids, too.

 

[pkondz]

Thank you everyone for your kind words.
I've been playing catch-up everywhere
(and still have a ways to go!)
but will respond individually soon!

If anyone wants more information on Molly,
PM me.

 

[RMColosimo]

Thank you everyone for your kind words.
I've been playing catch-up everywhere
(and still have a ways to go!)
but will respond individually soon!

If anyone wants more information on Molly,
PM me.

You sir are one of the best virtual people I have ever met. Actually you are one of the best virtual or in person I have ever met. That story needs to be seen by everyone that has kids.

Thanks for taking the time to share, I know that I will reflect a little longer on these types of issues in the future, and hug all three of my daughters tonight a little longer.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[afwdwfan]

That was a very well written and touching story. Thank you for sharing. It really is a sad situation, but it is great to see all the other kids rallying behind her and trying to make something positive from all of it.

And I'm with Mark... no worry about a man card here. If a young girl struggling for her life and watching her peers pay tribute to her doesn't get to you, I don't know what will.

 

[TheLittleKatie]

The rest of the famn dambly was sitting in the car
(Don't worry. I cracked the windows.)
when Kay spotted something on the hood.

I'm imagining how much fun Chromosome would've had if he was there since the hotel, enjoying the ride

Today we were going to drive the road to Hana.

Haha! I totally stole this answer from other comments.

Also, please don't deduct my stolen points.

If you Google "Best drives in the world"
your chances are pretty good that
you'll find the Hana highway listed.

Cool!

How could we pass that up???

You can't!

She had requested a stop there.
Why not?
I keep telling you, no agenda!
Are you not listening?

If you are listening, it's not going to help.

There's no audio with this chapter.

WOWEEEEEEEEE in Maui

Omg @BibbitybobityLu are you seeing what I'm seeing

This drive was a blast!
Some people may not enjoy tight, twisty roads.
But I thought it was fun!

I've driven through the Alps before... TERRIFYING. Some seriously amazing views, alongside seriously dangerous road... I'm surprised more people don't get distracted umming and ahhing and plummet off the road and down the mountains.

Elle just moved (rather quickly) away from the tree.
Good thing, too, since this little guy
was hanging around there.

Oh my LIFE how big is that???? I need something for scale.

Several sources (guide book, internet)
had said this was a good spot to buy
banana bread.
Who was I to argue?

You DID NOT get banana bread without inviting me...

We bought two little loaves of banana bread

Dammit!

So cool!!! I actually think I've been to a black sand beach, maybe in Lanzarote (Canary Islands). I need now that I'm old enough to appreciate it more

But, hey! If you're gonna go golfing,
you're gonna want to have clean balls.
Am I right?

Correct.

They were pulled over to the side,
and several were lying under the truck
looking up and trying to figure out
if they'd broken a spring or a shock absorber.

This place just screams Hawaii,
don't you think?
(And that makes 4 beaches for the day.)

This picture is literally what I imagine when I think of Hawaii, even down to the surfboards

Worth it, though.
Think it was?
Tell me if you think it was
or was not for bonus points.

It SO was.

There's the Pools at Ohe'o.
Aka: The seven sacred pools.
Except they're not remotely sacred.
(It was called that to get the suckers...
er, I mean tourists to visit)
And honestly, when I heard that there
was a fee to see them... it just turned me off.

the ultimate scam. I'm going to start a business by placing a sign at the top of my road saying "SACRED ROAD", and collect my millions.

Green enough for you?

I was just thinking, Hawaii is so green

Kay yelled "Dad! Stop!"
I hit the brakes.
"What?!?!?" I yelped.
Had I hit something?
Did she drop her phone out the window?
What?!?!?!?

"There's a cow back there!" She exclaimed.
"Right on the side of the road!"

I started to laugh.
"Can you back up?" She asked. "Please?"
"Um, Kay?" I started.
"What? Dad! Back up!" She cried.
"That cow's just back there!"
"Kay..." I said again.
"Please Dad!" She begged. "I want a picture!"
I cut her off. "Turn your head to the right."
She did.
This is what she saw:

They're so cute!

Also, I only just saw this one!

About that green....

(Why did the stream cross the road?
Tell me why for bonus points.)

BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING... erm.. RUNNING... ... ... ... Ah screw it that's all I got. Because it was running.

As we passed the truck, a young man's
high pitched voice rang out
in the still, dry air.

"Lookit my bum! Lookit my bum!"

Elle's eyes were drawn to the sound.
She let out a little wail.
It was a combination of "ew" and "nooo!"
Sort of an "Ewwwwnnnoooooeeeewwww!"


She'd just experienced her first full moon.

Hahahahah oh god no!

"Elle got mooned! Elle got mooned!" We all chanted in unison.

You sound like a fun family

We rounded a bend and saw a sign for "Maui Wine" winery.
I thought about stopping,
but didn't think anyone else would be interested.
Too bad.
I wouldn't mind possibly picking up a bottle for my Dad.
"Hey." Ruby says. "Why don't we stop and see
if we can get a bottle of wine for your Dad?"


Sometimes Ruby's kind of spooky.

Or she's your soulmate.

Hula was banned in 1830,

WHY?

but the king brought it back.

Good boy.

A Maui sculptor was asked to carve the stumps.
He carved them into Hawaiian guardians,
obelisks, an infinity vessel and King Kalākaua.

Wow! I love this.

This one was much easier

And I had to have a loco moco.
In this case, the Kanak Attack Combo Moco
Teriyaki Chicken, Teriyaki Beef, Chicken Katsu,
2 eggs, onions, mushrooms all over white rice
and topped with gravy.
Very healthy and light.

That looks so good!

Next round:
1. One last excursion before we leave.
What is it?
2. What treat did we eat? (again)
3. Might as well keep the trend going...
How many beaches do we visit?
4. Did you see it? Of course you did.
It was obvious. If you didn't, don't wine.
Just go back and look.
Bonus points if you saw it.
5. So you saw it. But did you see the other one?
More bonus points if you did.
6. What place do we re-visit for a sugary snack?
7. Who gets picked for TSA pre-check?
8. Who gets patted down at security?
9. Our flight was not on time.
Early or late? How early or how late?
10. What do I unfortunately have to do
when we get home?

1. Volcano!
2. Shrimp!
3. Two!
4. YES!
5. YES!
6. Krispy Kreme!
7. You!
8. Ruby!
9. Late by 30 mins!
10. Go to work!

 

[TheLittleKatie]

Just read your real life update, how heartbreaking. Cherish your family every day pkondzi, I know you do anyway

And as for the man card - crying definitely ADDS to the man card. Truly caring about something enough to cry deserves everyone's respect. No one likes a robot

 

[cinderkelly]

Beautifully written Ponzi. If that doesn't get you your man card back I don't know what will. Thanks for taking the time to share that with us, as sometimes it's easy to forget what struggles others are going through as we live our day to day lives. You're a pretty awesome dude

 

[vrajewski10513]

You're the only person on the Dis who can make me cry
That is so beautiful that the students and community all came together to show their support for Molly. I hope she was able to feel love!

 

[Steppesister]

A beautiful tribute from a beautiful soul. I will need to time to re-read and mull over what is there... for now, thank you from sharing from a deep place in your heart.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Whew! I've got some catching up to do!

And pkondz does not cook while on vacation.

I'm the same way! I also won't do laundry unless absolutely nessicary.

"Okay, Kay. Say goodbye to your little friend.
It's time to go."
"His name's Chromosome." She stated.

Today we were going to drive the road to Hana.

The distance between the two towns is only
about 50 miles,
but it takes about two and a half hours
to drive the narrow twisting road,
assuming no stops.

Yeah, this has always been on DHs bucket list but after reading your report about it I looked at him and told him that would NEVER happen with me.

According to Wikipedia,
there are 620 curves
and 59 bridges to navigate
almost all of them one lane.
Sounds like fun.

There were a couple of people in the water.
They were either locals,
who knew what they were doing;
or idiots, who didn't.

Could be both.

I finally asked some folks heading
in the opposite direction,
how much farther the falls were.
"Well, it's not too much further." They said.
"Maybe another 100 yards.
But the fall's dry because there's no water."

She's not much of a swimming kind of gal.
Plus, the last time we were in Hawaii,
she managed to get a sunburn.... in the shade.

What I do know, was that there was
one pole, with three shower heads.
And while this boy, about 19 years old,
Elle and I were rinsing off...
I must admit, it was... interesting.

Pretty sure he had some golf balls
in a pocket...
Because as he showered,
he pulled his shorts open a bit
to rinse... well, everywhere.
And as he did so, he sang a sweet little song:
"Washing my balls! Washing my balls!"

They were pulled over to the side,
and several were lying under the truck
looking up and trying to figure out
if they'd broken a spring or a shock absorber.

And in case you're wondering what Hana is like?
So am I.
I must admit that I sneezed when we got to it
and I completely missed it.
It's small.
Blink and you'll miss it.

All that hype and traffic and there isn't anything there?

Worth it, though.
Think it was?
Tell me if you think it was
or was not for bonus points.

I can't quite remember what I was supposed to be weighing in on but I'll go with Sure I'm sure it was worth it for the experience.

We had some close calls on it,
heck, Ruby was almost killed on it.

There was a fairly good stretch where
the gravel road would continue for a few yards,
hairpin around a vertical cliff on one side,
the ocean on the other
and then go for another few yards,
hairpin back in the opposite direction
and then repeat.
Over and over again.

I started to laugh.
"Can you back up?" She asked. "Please?"
"Um, Kay?" I started.
"What? Dad! Back up!" She cried.
"That cow's just back there!"
"Kay..." I said again.
"Please Dad!" She begged. "I want a picture!"
I cut her off. "Turn your head to the right."
She did.

This is what she saw:

Moooving on.

(Why did the stream cross the road?
Tell me why for bonus points.)

to get to the other side.

So her face was mere feet from the parked truck
as we passed it.

As we passed it...

As we passed the truck, a young man's
high pitched voice rang out
in the still, dry air.

"Lookit my bum! Lookit my bum!"

Elle's eyes were drawn to the sound.
She let out a little wail.
It was a combination of "ew" and "nooo!"
Sort of an "Ewwwwnnnoooooeeeewwww!"

"My eyes!" She cried. "Can't unsee!"

We still talk about that event.
More so than anything else we did on the trip.

As you should!

The front of the vineyard is decorated with
these graceful carvings.
About 150 years ago, King Kalākaua planted
a ring of cypress trees and it was there
that he would watch his hula dancers.
Hula was banned in 1830,
but the king brought it back.
So without those trees, and King Kalākaua,
the tradition of hula might not exist.
In March of 2012, a high wind uprooted one tree
and snapped another in half.
Examination of the trees showed that they were
rotted inside and the rest would (for safety)
have to be removed.
A Maui sculptor was asked to carve the stumps.
He carved them into Hawaiian guardians,
obelisks, an infinity vessel and King Kalākaua.

We settled on a place called Da Kitchen.

A very Hawaiian named place to stop.

Elle ordered fish & chips.
It was enough fish to feed three people.

"I can let you have a late check out of 3pm..."
The front desk guy said. "For $100."

"Hmmm... six o'clock?" I queried.
"Any later than three will cost $500." He stated.

!!!

1. One last excursion before we leave.
What is it?

go beach exploring

2. What treat did we eat? (again)

spam musubi and or shave ice

3. Might as well keep the trend going...
How many beaches do we visit?

4

4. Did you see it? Of course you did.
It was obvious. If you didn't, don't wine.
Just go back and look.
Bonus points if you saw it.

5. So you saw it. But did you see the other one?
More bonus points if you did.

6. What place do we re-visit for a sugary snack?

the shave ice place

7. Who gets picked for TSA pre-check

kay

8. Who gets patted down at security?

you

9. Our flight was not on time.
Early or late? How early or how late?

late 1hour

10. What do I unfortunately have to do
when we get home?

laundry

I'm behind on several or your TRs/PTRs,
and for that I apologize.

not as behind as I've gotten! I mean I've been trying to give you time to catch up on the other trs

Molly, a grade 11 student was found
in the school bathroom with a shoelace
tied around her neck.
It's unknown how long she was without air.
She was taken to a hospital
and her parents were notified.