You've Moved!!!!!!

July 20, 2019

Dear Noah and Dylan,

The unexpected happened...your dad bought a new house! Of course, true to Ken K style, he kept it a secret all throughout purchase and sales, closing, moving some stuff from one house to the other and then called me to invite us over to use the pool. I was excited thinking, "Hey! I finally got invited to your dad's pool!" But then, after pulling a switcheroo on which day we were invited via text, 😰🙆  I called him to voice my disappointment,  and in true Ken K fashion, emulated after Grandpa K, he cut me off to say "Well, Kim, you won't recognize the house because..as Dad would say...we moved!" Well, my jaw dropped, and that was before Uncle Joe showed up with my ice-cream while we were at the electric charging station in Freeport, NH, en route from our Bailey Island vacation headed home to go jump in your pool. And then I knew. He bought the house your mom told him about, his dream house with the in ground pool, basketball court, screened in room next to the pool, 5 bedrooms, an in-law sweet already occupied by a friend( in case your mother was thinking of selling her house and moving in which is probably why he kept the whole thing a secret) I was a bit horrified thinking your mom would be most upset since she had suggested that maybe they both sell their houses and buy that one together. When your dad told me about that, I was flabbergasted, as I often am after many phone conversations with him for one reason or another, thinking he was actually considering such a proposal, moving in with his ex-wife as a platonic relationship to share expenses on a cool house. Number one it would NOT work out for either of them, especially if trying to meet others. What the...? BUT, your dad decided to go look at the house and fell in love with it, decided he could afford it on his own and he deserved it (all of which is absolutely true) and long story short, he closed about 3 weeks ago. You both found out when he took you to the house and showed you your new digs. I guess you were in a bit of disbelief as well. He had you for the next few days so you got to enjoy the pool in between helping him lug all the goods from old house to new. I'm sure that is a moment you won't forget and don't need me to tell you in this journal.
     So Uncle Joe and I came over the following day, Sunday, for the grand tour and spent the day in the pool with a couple of your friends and their parents. Your dad has some really nice friends. I consider him and I to be quite successful in the friendship department, which is where in my book, it matters more than any other type of success. We both have worked really hard at maintaining our friendships throughout our lives. (an essay for another letter, ha ha) Anyway, it turns out that the original homeowner is the goddaughter of the Board of Director's Chairwoman at his work and loves him. She knew all about the struggles he had with the downfall of your parents marriage and shared that with the homeowner. The couple gave him a real sweet deal, completely furnished too. I wondered if this wasn't more of a "godfather" situation when I saw the house and all the furnishings!
    I guess your mom wasn't upset when he told her. She has enough other stuff going on dealing with Adam still. He is seeking shared custody of Emily and that's not going well, causing them both a great deal of stress. But apparently he got to have Emily for a day recently to take her out on his boat with his new wife. So maybe things are working themselves out. Adam is not one of my favorite people but he absolutely deserves to see his daughter and Emily needs to have a father. It is so hard for your mom because she doesn't want anything to do with him. Who can blame her after what she went through, but that is what they teach you in parenting classes when you divorce...do NOT put the kids in the middle!
    Not everyone in the family knows, not Grandma Chris, Uncle Don, other Auntie Kim, Holly nor Ryan. Maybe he is waiting to have a birthday party for you guys in August but of course he waits so long that everyone makes other plans and isn't available. They will also be quite surprised!
    Anyway, we had a great day there, talking about all the pictures in your yearbooks and enjoying the pool. Uncle Joe stayed in the water the whole time and played football or something with you guys and Nils and Sean's kids who kept splashing me in my old lady float. 😒
     We got together at our house the previous time we saw you which was a good time, too. Dylan entertained us, mostly me, with his imitation of the Canadian teacher in South Park. I could hardly breathe i was laughing so hard, eh?
   Love you both,
Off to go shopping with Uncle Joe in the heat wave. My computer needs a new battery and there is a store called the World Market I want to check out in Salem, NH.
xoxoxo
Auntie Kim who had a cat scan today, again, to see if freaking cancer is returning, since blood tests indicate it is so. 😱  I am horrified, of course, petrified in fact, but I expected it. This is number 4, and just starting 4th year with the disease. Hoping for new drugs coming down the pike to stop this beast in its path. Will see what Dr. Castro says next week at Mass General. Good times...NOT! I may have to go in and fill up more liters of "beer" but we won't take guesses at how many this time like last summer when your dad had to take me in for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. Ugh.