Fetch Me My Cane

In my ward, I'm in the older half. By far. I might even go so far as to say that I'm in the older 25%.

A couple of weeks ago, it occured to me that I'm older than our bishop and his two counselors, our high counselor representative, the Sunday school president, the YM president, the RS president, and possibly the entire Primary presidency.

Sigh.

But I'm here to report that there is a silver lining, and that the timing couldn't be better.

I have a new visiting teacher and somehow (somehow!) she's around my mom's age. I have to say that as I'm about to deliver this puppy without my mom, sisters and girls - something I've never done before - there is something reassuring in knowing that this visiting teacher (whom I don't even know that well yet but is a grandmother and full of experience) is just down the hill (I'm serious - it's Utah - our backyards touch).

5 Days Later

Today I felt a little bit of Christmas.

Sure, it's New Year's Eve eve.

But as parents, sometimes we just get caught up in the hustle and bustle that we don't stop and 'smell the roses'.

I did stop today, without even meaning to.

We went to Kneader's for lunch, all four of us, even though it wasn't our first choice (unfortunately no one else was craving creamy pesto salad dressing from Spaghetti Factory).

We sat and ate our sandwiches.

By the fire.

With classic Christmas carols playing (by classic I mean sung by the best of them, like Judy Garland).

And to complete the scene by the fireplace with the lovely music, the snow (just for our benefit) changed to the large, puffy, slow-falling flakes.

We all paused.

And enjoyed our December 30th Christmas.

SO Over It

This morning I had a dream that I was back in high school. There were a couple of familiar faces, but not everyone was there.

I was happy to see the old 'friends', but they were NOT happy to see me, and went so far as to exclude me from many, many activities.

In the dream I was so sad, just as the real-life teenage version of me would have been all of those years ago.

When I eventually woke up, my grown-up reaction couldn't have been more opposite. Unlike some other haunting dreams, I quickly shrugged off the rejection of my former peers.

"Oh, well."

"Who needs 'em?"

Hmmmm... I wonder how different things would have been if I had developed that mentality 20 years sooner.

PS There was a lot of pink-brown influences in this dream. Even in my sleep...

Come and Gone

Look at me... I'm blogging.

Our Christmas houseguests have headed home.

The bedding has been stripped and washed.

Many towels have been washed and folded.

The fridge has been cleaned out (with the exception of the enormous pan of homemade mac-n-cheese).

The hardwood floors have been cleaned, but all it takes is for one person to walk through with their shoes on and it's all for naught.

Neither the microwave nor the garage door are working properly. Sigh

But I have to say, the nine days with James and Lynette (and their four kids) were better than I expected. They put up with my emotional state (caused by my physical state). They put up with the bitter cold and the icky smog. And they helped make our first-ever Christmas away from home special.

With their departure, is life-back-to-normal? Just temporarily. It's count-down to baby.

After our dentist appointments, OBGYN appointment, stake mutual activity, and mutual New Year's Eve party - THERE IS NO NORMAL.

It's Been a Rough Year?

A very kind person mentioned that they saw my profile picture on FB. He/she innocently commented on how much younger I looked.

That picture was taken in April. As in: 2009.

On My Best Behavior (Sort Of)

Have you ever 'pocket-dialed' anyone?

I've made fun of pocket-dialers for years. Who is careless enough to accidentally call some random person in his/her contact list?

Years ago I had a co-worker who unknowingly pocket-dialed the girl he was currently dating, all the while talking about a former girlfriend. Girl-on-the-phone heard enough to know she never wanted to see him again.

David pocket-dialed a co-worker a couple of weeks ago while we were driving. We're pretty sure her voice mail got an earful.

I thought I was above this, as I am Miss Caution.

Not so much. Thursday afternoon I 'purse-dialed' my brother. When he called back later to bring this to my attention, I had a moment of panic - did he hear me yell at the kids while on our way to the orthodontist? No, we were just chatting. And who better to pocket dial than my brother - someone who loves me unconditionally AND is one of my best friends.

As I've thought about this (sort of) close-call, I've tried to be more aware of the things I say and do. I've tried to carry on each conversation with more patience and kindness, as if there were another in the room, listening and watching.

Because as we all know: there is.

While Visions of Sugarplums Dance in Their Heads

I hate those nights when - 5 minutes after the kids are asleep - I am filled with regret. I wish that I had hugged a little tighter. Listened a little closer... and had been WAY more patient.