Went to see Azure and her Classmates sing for a Christmas performance today. I remembered the time, but I went to the wrong place . I was going to surprise Azure so I didn’t tell anyone I was coming. I drove all the way to her School in Brownsburg. When I got there I found out the only thing going on was a basketball game. I called Missy and she told me that it was at the Indiana State museum.
I was not happy. ( I was very sad actually. I had let Azure down) Immediately I headed towards Indianapolis thinking maybe we could all meet for lunch afterwards, That way I could at least have a chance to tell Azure that I was sorry I couldn’t be there for show but that I tried… It was 50 degrees out and sunny and somehow the traffic parted and I got through every light but one… I think God answered a prayer and wanted me to be there to congratulate her. Props to SIRI also.
When I arrived I saw Tim, Courtney and Missy. They were all just as surprised to see me there as I was. But I was THRILLED that I made it.
Courtney told me that Azure is staying with Olivia tonight. Zarah was crying a little because she wanted to stay all night at Olivia’s too. I thought about my plans for the rest of the day and decided, “who cares”……I brushed Zarahs hair back and asked her if she would spend the day hanging out with me for a few hours. She nodded a tearful yes.
The Girls Talked with Abraham Lincoln for a few minutes.
I walked through the gift shop with Missy, Courtney, Tim, Azure, Zarah, and Olivia. I congratulated Tim on his new position. We hung out for about a 1/2 and hour. We decided to leave at about the same time. Missy gave me 5 dollars to get out of the Parking Garage. I had no cash and that was greatly appreciated. Zarah and I got in the car and realized that there were too many people leaving at the same time. We were blocked in.
I asked Zarah if she wanted to go back in for while, to let the traffic die down. She said yes. We got out of the car and went inside to the Concession stand at the IMAX . I got her a kids package. Popcorn, Drink and a treat ( Sour patch Kids) . We sat on a bench for a while while she ate it. She used her finger to trace all of the mazes that were on the side of her “Kids Meal” food tray.
After she got done she said that she wanted to go upstairs. We checked out the Ayers Christmas window store display for a minute. Then Zarah went into a kids play room and played with some giant lego sorta things for a about 30 minutes. I sat in a chair by the wall wondering if we were supposed to have paid to be in there…lol
We left and drove to downtown and found a sweet parking spot by the Circle. I thought man, what a great day. We walked towards the “Worlds largest Christmas tree”. I took a couple of Pictures of Zarah.
On the way we saw a street performer playing congas and a whistle on the sidewalk. I gave Zarah a dollar and told her to go put it in his bucket.
I asked her if she wanted to go inside to the Civil War Museum. Went went in for about 10 minutes and Zarah said that she wanted to leave, I asked her why. She wouldn’t tell me, she just crinkled up her nose. I believe she thought it was dark and scary…She really wasn’t acting scared. But I didn’t press the issue and we walked out. Outside, I was secretly proud of her, smiling to my self at how well she had played it off.
On the way to the mall I heard and saw another “Street performer” playing an electric keyboard. He was punching out some lame and lazy chords. He wasn’t really doing anything special. But I was like “don’t judge”. I gave Zarah another dollar and told her to go put it in his bucket. She did, and when she came back she said “We are the first ones to put money in his bucket.”…. I laughed.. Lil miss nosey was checkin’ out how much money he was making. But I wasn’t surprised. He was lame.
Whatever though, at least he is trying.
We walked over to the Circle Center Mall. On the way ALL I saw everywhere was Green Spartan cloths and Yellow Iowa clothes. If I didn’t know better I would have not believed I was in Indiana. It was swarming with out of state football fans. There were many people walking the sidewalks with open beer cans.. I was sorta shocked.
Earlier at the Monument I noticed some “kid” sitting on the steps nursing 3 beer bottles. And as Zarah and I were going up the escalators into Circle Center Mall I turned around and that same dude was right behind us.
I was like whoa. Better check into this. I turned around again and said “Whats up with all the green and yellow?” He said it was a big 10 tournament. “Oh I see” I said back to him. ( Legit question tho, I had no idea) But with another scan, I could tell that he was nothing to worry about.
I texted Courtney and asked her why she and Tim weren’t down here. She said “Expensive” but if you find some cheap seats let us know. I was pretty hungry I hadn’t eaten yet today.
I had gotten up at 8:40 am today, fed the chickens, did my laundry, fixed a lock on one of the bathroom doors, climbed up a ladder and taken down a defective security light on the back of Deeya’s house, took a shower and left. Somehow in that time I had forgotten to eat breakfast.
Anyway the mall was PACKED. I went to the food court and got Taco Bell. I love cheap!! (“Full for 4 bucks” should be their slogan ) I turned around to find place to sit . the place was packed. I was like “We are never gonna find a place sit.” then boom I looked down and right smack in front of us was a clean table.
While I ate Zarah stared at all the people. She said I’ll bet there are 200 people here. By now I was full, Zarah finished my chips and coke. We go up and left. I said “Well, lets walk around and look at toys. We can’t buy anything today, but I might tell Santa if you see something you like”.
First though we went to the top floor to the Arcade. I spent 18 dollars or so letting her play rip off games. We were in there for about 45 minutes. Our winnings culminated into two miniature plastic ponies and about a dozen temporary tattoos.
Went went down one floor to a toy store. Zarah looked at all of the toys and eventually bartered her way down to a 3.99 Shopkins toy. I agreed. She gave the lady the money and said “Yay” when the cashier handed the sack over.
We walked back to the car and made our way back towards brownsburg. Zarah and I played the “Opposite” game while I drove. Light/Dark, Up/Down. Cold/Hot, North/ South, happy / sad……I kept thinking about the countless times Azure and I had played that same game in the car 5 years earlier. We had lots of fun. “What is the opposite of left?” She said to me…”Right” I said. …”Wow I forgot to say that one to her” I thought to myself. … I could tell it was making her think. I was proud of her for making the connections…. We drove on.. As it got dark she told me that she was excited to get home and play with her new shopkins toy.
I pulled up to her house just after dark. Courtney met us at the door. I gave Zarah a hug and peck on the mouth and drove home…… I am so blessed.
