Alicia Daniel

Sorry I didn’t get back to you about how dinner went and what the surprise was that Charlie had for the kids.  Dinner was nice.  The kids pigged out on pizza and pasta and I did too but I did eat some salad just for good measure.  Charlie of course paid for everything even though I came prepared to pay for our dinner.

Oh the surprise, well he had some really neat costumes for the kids.  My little angel is going to be Tinker Bell while my oldest is Captain Jack Sparrow and my little hand full, well he’s a little stinker so he’s going as a skunk!!  I loved the costumes and so did the kids.  I know Charlie paid a small fortune for the costumes because they weren’t the cheap kind you get at most department stores.  There were more like the costumes you get from a costume store.  The kids are going to have a blast tomorrow night.  Oh yeah,

Charlie had invited the kids and I to Pizza Hut for dinner tonight.  At first I wasn’t sure but since I did check him out pretty good, I thought we might enjoy a night out so I accepted his invitation.  I have talked to him a couple times over the past couple of weeks and so far, he seems harmless.  I just hope it stays that way.

He says he has a surprise for the kids.  I have no idea what to expect but I’m not going to accept much from him until I’m sure he’s just what he seems to be and that’s a nice older man looking to share a moment or two with kids to help make his life fuller since he’s all alone.  I feel sorry for anyone that is alone because I know how that feels.

I found a web site that tells you if there is a child molester in what ever radius you choose.  There was no Charlie Benson listed which was a relief to me.  I even looked up the number he gave me and it is registered to a Charles Benson so I think he’s okay so far.

Then I found a web site that lets you check criminal records.  Again, no Charlie Benson.  This seems so far to be just a nice older man that is lonely and wants a family to love.  I’m going to take it slow and easy and see if I can learn more so I can really make sure my kids are safe with him.  You just can’t be too careful these days with yourself and especially your children.

Today is my best friend in the worlds birthday.  We have been best friends since 4th grade.  That’s a long time.  She’s not only one of the most caring people I know, but also a great mother.  She has two daughters and the youngest was born just 4 weeks after my youngest.  The coolest part of that is her daughter and my son are best friends too.  Isn’t that just the sweetest thing?  I think so.

I was trying to decide what to get her for her birthday and decided the best thing I can do is to get her a Visa gift card.  That way, she can spend it how ever she wants.  She can go have her hair done, buy some new clothes for herself or take her girls out on the town and enjoy the day together if she wants.  I got her a nice card and mailed it so that she will get it this weekend and hopefully have a great weekend.  She already had some plans for today so that’s why I waited.

HERE’S TO YOU GIRLFRIEND!!!!!

Today the kids and I went to a local pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin to make a Jack-o- lantern from.  We found it and the darn thing cost $25 dollars.  Needless to say, I couldn’t afford it.  As we were walking away with one screaming and crying “I want THAT pumpkin” and the other two with long faces, a kind older man heard what was going on.

As I was getting everyone in the car, someone tapped me on my shoulder.  It was the gentleman that had been near enough us to hear the children cry and me say “I just can’t afford $25 for a pumpkin.”  There he stood with that pumpkin in his hands saying “Here, this pumpkin really needed to go home with your kids.  It was crying when you left it so I had to get it for the kids so they all could be happy.”  My children started hooting and hollering and each one gave the kind man a big hug and said thank you.

There I stood with tears in my eyes.  This kind soul was my guardian angel at that moment and I could plainly see it in his eyes.  I gave him a hug and told him that he had no idea how much I appreciated his selfless kindness.  He told me his name was Charlie Benson, gave me his phone number and told me that if I needed anything to help with the children for Christmas, to please let him know.  He didn’t have any family to spoil and would love to adopt my children as his grandchildren if that was okay.  He then asked if he could call from time to time to just speak with them and hear how their day or week had been.

I’m a bit nervous about giving him my number and I hate to say it but I will check him out before I allow him to be much of a part of my children’s lives.  You can’t be too careful in this day in time but my heart tells me he is what he appears to be, just a kind old man with no one who wants to help.  I sure hope so because my children would love to have a ‘Grandpa’ to spoil them all.