Brand-a and Me

My cousin Brandi from Kansas came to visit from Miami. She is living in Miami temporarily. Anna calls her Branda. I suspect she knows she is saying it wrong but is just keeping up the joke. Brandi and I had a really good time, or at least I did. :) She came at the peak of our lovebug invasion. I've never seen anything like it. It was crazy this year! I think they have already lessened considerably. Anna loves this picture, so I chose it. Dave was taking them and he kept saying SMILE! Whenever this happens, I am already smiling, and when I hear SMILE! I wind up trying to smile just a little bigger, and then it turns into a snarl. Anyways, I am really grateful that Brandi made the trip up because I really needed someone to talk to... for about 17 hours, apparently. She probably kept the radio off on the drive back to Miami to relish the sound of silence.
Thinking of Anna saying Branda makes me think of my aunt Vernie who always called Miami "Miama" (like My-am-uh).
I've never been to Miami. I've never been south of West Palm Beach. I get to go back to West Palm for a Rush concert (for Dave) in November. But I am thinking of making a trip down to Miami before Brandi leaves. It seems a little odd that my cousin from Kansas has lived down there now and I have lived in Florida so long and never even been to south Florida. And it would be nice to see her again.
I am out to tutor my favorite high-schooler this morning. Most of my jobs at schools have ended now. It made me so sad to say goodbye to the kids. I will really miss them. I said goodbye to 5 great kids yesterday and it made me feel very sad. Of course it helped that one of the first graders spent the entire time berating me for not bringing him gummy worms as I had promised to. That made the goodbye a little easier. :)