So we usually use this site to note the events and happenings of consequence in the lives of Danny and Heidi. Today is different … we have to record a traumatic event in the life of little Jake.

First, we should begin by mentioning that Jake has an incredible memory for things that happen to him. When he was only 18 months old, he was in the basement with his Daddy who was using a power drill in the ceiling. For some reason or another, the drill dropped and scared Jake, causing him to cry. He still remembers this event and loves to tell the story of when Daddy "uffed" the "enh-enh". (Jake-speak for crashing a drill.) Or ask him about the time that Daddy picked up a snake from the bush in front of his house when he was only 20 months. He doesn’t forget events easily.

Nor does he forget people. Every night when he’s going to bed, we always ask him who he wants to pray for. It’s always the same two people: "Ate-mama" and "unca Cag". That’s great-grandma (or Grandma Rule) and Uncle Craig for those people who haven’t learned the dialect.

This week combined both things – events and people. On Saturday morning when he woke up, "Ata" wasn’t sleeping soundly in the other bed.

"Ata downstows?"

"No Jakey, Ata go bye-bye."

"Ata bye-bye? Bye-bye?"

The face is enough to break the heart … and every morning it’s the same conversation. Jake has lost the first person who ever shared a room with him.

Traumatic events. 🙂