Page 121 of Through Quick and Quinn
Note to self:
Our first day back after Spring Break was more of a struggle than I expected. We had such a nice time in Oregon, and between the weather being so beautiful this time of year and school letting out in a month… I wasn’t expecting to drag my feet, but it totally makes sense why it took more effort than normal to do the usual. The feeling was short-lived and has already subsided though. I am back in the groove and I’ll get to go back to seeing Quick every day, so it’s all good.
Ever since the protest, my mom is like an entirely new person. The a-ha moment she had must have been a serious one because she is all about making up for lost time with me. She is literally soaking up every ounce of fun that could possibly be had. Even the ridiculously long car ride to Oregon was a blast, especially when she hosted her own version of “Name that Tune.” She made the hotel time fun, my favorite part being when we played hide-and-seek on the entrance floor, and Dad was super cool about taking the pull-out couch so Mom and I could watch chick flicks from bed. And when the time finally came, she floated that river like a boss. I have to admit, I totally empathized with the story she shared about her first attempt at floating. It was a conscious decision on my part to accept the boulders and put the oar down, but I’m so glad I did. It was beyond awesome to experience nature and its gentle force in that way!
The ride home was just as eventful, but in a different way. We engaged in meaningful conversations, and for the first time it started to feel like we were chatting as mutual, adult friends. She didn’t lecture me. She didn’t chastise me. She didn’t judge me. Not once. And, no surprise here, the topic of Quick was a major one. We talked about our friendship and how it evolved over the last two years, our commonalities and our differences, our growth as individuals and as a unit of sorts, and the unknowns regarding the nearing changes in our lives. Processing with my mom, even if my dad is driving the car and quietly loving every moment, is what I’ve always craved. Throughout my whole adolescence, I have needed her and have missed her. She gets me, and every time we have a good talk, I feel so much lighter afterwards. And wiser.
When we were almost home from our trip, out of nowhere, she suggested we invite Quick to the Triple Tradition. Talk about utter shock! I had never even considered including him. It never crossed my mind. But it crossed hers? Once the surprise wore off, I thought about how Troy would love it if Quick was there. Besides, he is almost like family. Anyway, it turned out to be great with him there. He was the perfect balance of reverent and light-hearted, and sharing Troy with someone new made the three of us feel as though my brother was even more present. By the time we were stuffing our faces with cake, my parents officially adored Quick. As they should.
He’s adorable.
…Q
Monday, April 28, 2025
Note to self:
Wowza! Today had quite the unexpected twist!
I went to jump on my bike to head to school, and I was greeted by a single red rose. It was lying on my seat with a poem attached:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I know it’s not our thing
But it’s something we gotta do
So pick out a dress
No doubt you’ll be breathtaking
I’d love to take you to our prom
For more memories in the making
He never ceases to surprise me. I didn’t even think I wanted to go, but once I read the poem, I turned into the giddiest little girly-girl who absolutely want to go to prom with Quick! I want to experience all of life with him. All of the silly, all of the mundane, all of the exciting… All of it.
I tried to match his effort with my response, but I definitely fell short. I left a poem on his windshield so he would see it after school:
You are my Quick
And I am your Quinn
I’d love to have prom
Be part of “Thick and Thin”
I can’t wait to go through this with you!
See? Lame. But he loved it. He’s biased though.
Oh, and Mom is the most excited of all. When I told her, she squealed, “Dress shopping!” as though she were an opera singer on opening night.
…Q
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