Umm...hello?

I feel like I am standing on the front porch of an old acquaintance quietly knocking on the door.   Knock, knock, knock.  Heyyyy...anyone home?  It's me.  Tyla.  I'm back for the moment.  (Insert awkward silence here)  No...Tyla.  You know, from Tire Swings and Fireflies.  That blog.  Tire Swings and Fire...Oh, nevermind. 

Yes, it has been that long. 

I would like to say that in my blogging absence I have gone on to do some extraordinary, blog-worthy things in my life...traveled the world, earned another degree, won the lottery...

In truth, I have, as of late, put out some mums and pumpkins, cooked supper (occasionally) and saw a movie or two.

I know, I know...I should slow it down and save some activities for my golden years.

Even though life is as simple as always, I wanted to check in and say hello, or as some in my neck of the woods would say, hidee! (here's a quick how-to-speak-southern tip:  make sure you stretch out that 'i' in hidee and make it a really long one)

And since I know you have been asking yourself on a regular basis these past several months, "Just what has that Tire Swing family been up to lately", here's an update.

Moi:  In addition to all those mums and pumpkins I've put out and all that cooking I've been doing, I have spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out my password for blogger.

John:  He continues to plug away as an assistant principal at the high school in our town.

Ren:  Ren is still a theatre major in her second year of college.  This past spring she asked her drama teacher if she could possibly be a stage manager for a show before she transfers to a larger school.  Well, he chose her to be the SM for this fall's play The Adventures of Nate the Great.  She had a great time doing this and learned a lot, but said she missed being in the play and, truth be told, she was a little envious of not being able to take that bow at the final curtain.  Ren is more of a front and center kinda girl, rather than behind the scenes.  If all goes to plan, she will finish up at her current school in the spring and will be off to finish her degree elsewhere.  She would love to attend a school in Chicago.  Of course, staying in state would be tons cheaper and her dad is hoping she will take this into consideration.  But, hey, like I told her, you never know when some long lost uncle could kill over and leave her a fortune.  Or, at least, enough to cover tuition at a pricey fine arts school.

John-Heath:  My baby boy is a fourth-grader this year.  Can you believe it?  He is also now taking karate and karate-chopping everything in the house, including his sister quite often.  And, of course, he is still ever so full of himself and not the least bit backward or shy.  I have a funny story I'll have to share with you in a day or two.  I'll give you a teaser...it took place at our local funeral home.

Well, that's about all the time I have today.  But I'll be back.  I promise.  Wellll..."promise" may be too strong a word.  I'm pretty sure I'll be back.  Okay, how 'bout this...I'm pretty sure that I am hopeful to be back soon.