Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all fabulous. Thank you for keeping me in the happy writing zone.
Please note, this letter was written before Jim wrote the last letter to his brother by at least a few days. Thanks to the Enterprise email system, he's getting it several days after he wrote his last one. This should surprise no one. In deep space, nothing arrives timely. Jim likes this because he only gets yelled at if he does something extra stupid like violate the prime directive, again. He's trying to avoid that level of stupidity.
Also, out of an abundance of laziness, I decided that the 2260 calendar would follow the current calendar for holidays, so it just happens to be Mother's Day. This is going to be a loaded day for several people involved.
Day 82: Ramblings of the Oblivious
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Kevin KR
Time arrived: 5/13/2260 00:00:01
So why do spring finals feel like they just come a few days after midterms. I just thought I would have a few weeks to relax but no, we're already barely down the final stretch. It's awful. And it's kind of worse because we're taking our finals early so we can hop on the shuttle for Yorktown.
So, amusement parks with the babies were great until baby K managed to run away, and it took us an hour to find her. That child can barely walk yet she is very sneaky and getting a tracking bracelet. Is this what the next 10 to 12 months are going to be like? I'm scared.
So, Sue has had her lawyers draw up paperwork to make it all legal. Now we are waiting for Sulu to sign the thing and send it back to finalize it all. Considering you guys are somewhere far far away to the point where you did not have to participate in any Starfleet sponsored spectacle for the second anniversary of the battle of Vulcan, I assume it's probably going to take a while. It might show up by the time we meet up next month. Who knows? I hope nothing bad happens while you're that far out.
So, I think we can take care of a small child. At least the summer will be good. I will be interning and taking a couple classes, so I can have a lighter load during the school year. Liz is going to do the full-time mommy substitute thing this summer. I think this is because her biological parents were always working and deep down she's a little bitter about it. OK deep down she's very bitter about it and blames what their work habits for her sister dying on the planet of the damned.
I mean, the Admiral was always in space to, but I think it was a little different as well as the fact Sue was always around. I think Sue raised Liz like you raised me except that the Admiral was never a full on alcoholic, so that was an advantage for Liz.
Mom is mom still sober. I am still shocked about that. I hope it lasts until you at least see her again in a couple of weeks. I think it will, but I'm still worried. Anything can be a trigger.
When we get back we're going to have to go to Iowa to figure out what we're going to do with the house. Would you be mad if it was turned into a bed-and-breakfast? I think mom should sell it. To Winona, it is a house filled with ghosts. At the same time maybe, you want to keep it. I mean this is the house where your father was born. I know I don't have the connection to George Kirk that you do. I just have his last name and that's because Winona wanted all her kids to have the same last name.
In other mom -related news, I have been invited to participate in a very Chen Mother's Day. Because it's going to be Sue's first, it's supposed to be extra special with brunch at one of the best places in San Francisco. Mom has also been invited which means no mimosas for anyone. And we are back to conversations about Winona's alcoholism. I'm just going to end this letter before it gets way too depressing.
Write me back.
Xxxx
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: Kevin KR
Time sent: 5/13/2260 06:23:21
Father's Day has always been more of a trigger for mom, so I think we're good for another month. I'm trying to decide if being on a ship back to San Francisco on Father's Day is going to be better or worse for Winona. I hope it doesn't trigger any flashbacks. I probably should email mom today after I finish helping JoJo do breakfast in bed for Nyota. I hope there are no small fires today.
OK I assume that you sent this email to me before you got the last one because you're not yelling at me for doing dumb stuff. However, last mission was totally not my fault. Don't worry nothing like getting stranded on the planet for a few days will be happening anytime soon, I hope.
We are shuttling a couple of dignitaries between Star base. Then we're going to pick up personnel and stop at a few planets to pick up supplies and people to populate the new Yorktown facility. I think there might also be a diplomatic mission or two somewhere along the way. We have a little under a month, but hey no more getting stranded on planets.
Yes, the spring semester always feels like midterms and finals are way too close to each other and it's that way on purpose because they still like to line up midterms with the Easter holiday which makes very little sense since so much of the population doesn't celebrate Easter. Although I guess the spring equinox is a thing for a lot of people, but different planets have their spring equinox at completely different times so yeah, I don't get it. Maybe it's just about chocolate.
I am glad that you're doing the internship and doing a few classes. Yes, it probably would be easier on you if you get some stuff done during the summer especially if you're going to have a one-year-old living with you. But hey at least you can get Sulu's boyfriend to babysit so you can have private time with your girlfriend. Just remember to wrap it up because you don't want children full-time just yet.
Bed-and-breakfast is fine with me. If you do, keep the original house and barn. That way when I'm feeling nostalgic I can always get a room there. Although I don't think I will. That's also the house of Frank. If it wasn't for the fact dad was born there, I probably would've burned that sucker to the ground. You almost did your first Mother's Day with us. Hope you're better at cooking now.
So yeah, I think it's best Winona never goes back there. If she is staying sober in San Francisco, then she should stay in San Francisco. I assume she has a better support system. Not only does she have you, but friends as well.
Okay, a certain preteen just knocked on my door demanding that I supervise her attempts at non-replicated pancakes (except apparently, we are trying our hands at replicating raw eggs because she doesn't want to do the vegetarian version). I'm probably going to regret this.
PS: Jo Jo says she would love to hear from you again soon, but understands that you have to put baby D first. She says that's what good aunts and uncles do. I feel like that something we are going to need to unpack.
Xxx
From: Spock's_cuddlebunny
To: W_Kirk_wellness_Hills
Subject: Happy Mother's Day
Time arrived: 5/13/2260 15:15:21
Happy Mother's Day
So, chances are you will get this about a week and a half after Mother's Day, but do I still get credit for sending it to you on Mother's Day? Regardless, I still want to say sorry that a week ago I was stuck on a planet with no email access.
Away missions are nowhere near as much fun as the brochure makes it seem. I never seem to get stranded with Spock when I really want to be stranded with him somewhere. But it's all good now. However, any presents I'm planning to send will be hand-delivered when we see each other in a couple of weeks. I'm glad that you're able to come.
I got an email from Kevin today. Just so you know I'm not planning to retire in Iowa for like 40 years. I'm pretty sure Spock is planning for us to move to the new Vulcan colony and adopt a bunch of babies grown in gestational pots, even though I've already said I don't want to be more than uncle Jim. So, if you're given a good deal on the farmhouse, feel free to sell it. I think you like San Francisco better. Always do what's best for you. I'm married with Starfleet children and Kevin is co-parenting with his girlfriend for at least the next year. We are both well-adjusted members of society which considering everything, means you're kind of a miracle worker.
Xxxxx
Excerpts from the therapy Journal of Josephine Jamie McCoy
Dear Mom:
Margarita says that I should write you a letter today to help me process my first Mother's Day without you. But I'm not really that upset about it because I have Nyota which has made me feel guilty. I also didn't have to participate in a mother-daughter brunch where I would pretend to be happy and smile when I did not want to be there at all while I tried to be as perfect as you needed me to be. Again, I felt guilty about being happy I didn't have to do that.
I'm still sad and angry a lot of the time, but I have Nyota and dad, so I'm getting through it. Nyota was happy at my attempt at pancakes. (I didn't tell her about the present that Uncle Scotty helped me with because maybe I want to wait until it's done). The pancakes were slightly burnt, but she ate them anyway. She doesn't yell or scream at me when I'm not perfect. She doesn't make me feel like I'm worthless. I don't feel like I must walk on eggshells all the time with her. This is the first time on this day that I've had a real mom because I don't know what you were, but motherly wasn't it.
I don't know what else to write. I'm still trying to untangle all my feelings about you. Margarita says it's a work in progress and Uncle Jim agrees. I'll figure it out eventually. I hope so anyway.
To be continued