Deep Thoughts From Noah #93

Noah: Mom, I named my voice crack.
Me: You did...what do you call it?
Noah: Jimmy
Me: As in Jimmy Cracked Corn? Noah, you are too much.
Noah: Who is that? No, I just named it Jimmy because I can.

Deep Thoughts From Noah #92

Me: Noah, I just received a call from Shrewsbury Parks Department -- You got the job!
Noah: Really?...So, I guess it was because of the interview?
Me: Yes! You did a great job!
Noah: Mom, would you email them and tell them it would be an honor?
Me: Of course.

June Who?

Natalie recently entered the St. Louis County Library's Write Stuff writing contest. She was competing with 6th, 7th and 8th graders and had to create a story 500 - 750 words, based on the following concept: someone wakes up in the morning, and no one remembers who they are. She didn't win the contest, but her story is a winner.

June Who? 

The sun rose, roosters crowed, pigs snorted and turkeys gobbled.

June lifted her head off her pillow and squinted at the acres of land she could see through her window. Cattle were scattered across the fields, grazing. She heard footsteps and threw her beloved stitched quilt over her head and pretended she was still asleep.

“Roy! Taylor! David! Get yer lazy bums off yer beds and get up! The cows need a-milkin’ and the chickens have laid eggs during the night and…” a stern voice yelled.

She knew immediately it was her Grandma, from the toughness in her voice and the slow-as-molasses walk. The floorboards creaked, bedsprings groaned, and door hinges squeaked as June’s three eager brothers leaped out of their beds.

“Breakfast!” they sang in a happy, hungry chorus.

The smell of bacon and biscuits and gravy wafted through the hallway and June sighed as she slowly flipped her covers off of her. She put on her favorite button-up shirt and overalls, stumbled into the hallway and into the kitchen. As she slumped into a chair, she realized her family’s eyes were all on her.

“What?” June asked sleepily, snatching a piece of bacon off her plate.

Her Ma’s eyes and mouth were wide open. Roy’s eyebrows were arched. Taylor’s forehead and nose was squished in confusion. David’s face was covered in gravy.

It was Grandma who first spoke.

“Excuse me, do we know you?” she said.

June dropped her bacon. She giggled nervously, thinking her family was just playing a big joke on her.

“Um, I’m June. Remember?

David looked up from his meal.

“I don’t have a sister.” he said, unhelpfully.

Ma slowly backed away.
“Dear, we don’t know who you are.”

June frowned. This joke was getting annoying.

“Guys, quit fooling around.

Ma picked up the telephone.

“Hon, do you know where your parents live? Do you know their phone number?”

June huffed, “Stop! I am June! You know exactly who I am!”

The family shook their heads in unison.

“You...you all don’t remember who I am?” asked June.

David put a messy hand on her shoulder.

“It’s all right, lil’ girl. We’ll find your Ma and Pa soon enough.”

June huffed, “You really don’t know? Are you people insane?”

The family shrugged.

“Unbelievable!” shouted June.

She grabbed another piece of bacon and a biscuit and stormed back to her bedroom, where she hid under her covers, eating her food and getting massive crumbs all over her bed. June sniffled and pulled out her prized storybook, Alexander the Dragon and 525,600 More Stories about Dragons.

A few hours later, Ma walked into her bedroom and sat down on her bed. June poked

up from underneath her blankets, pouting. Ma began to stroke June’s head.

June huffed “So you remember me now?”

Ma smiled, and started to laugh.

“Actually, honey, the strangest thing happened! We were going to call the police to help

us solve this mess, when David noticed something on one of our flour packages!”

June perked up.

“There was apparently side-effects under the list of ingredients! ‘Craving of walnuts,

extreme memory loss (for a few hours) and the mindset of a chicken...’ You better

believe we will NEVER use that flour again!”

June began to laugh, and the two hugged and felt relief. She lifted her head toward her

mother, and suddenly frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Ma asked.

June’s eyebrows crinkled, “Do I know you?”

Pup Alarm Clock Fail

They say every dog needs a job. One of Truvy's favorite jobs is to wake up the kids. Each morning after I send Steve off to work, I turn to her to ask, "Do you want to go wake up the kids?" To which she responds by making a beeline for Natalie's room. Once I open the door she begins by nuzzling and licking Nat's face.  But the last two mornings I've noticed neither pup nor child at the kitchen table. When I went to investigate, this is what I found.

#pupalarmclockfail    #morningsarehard

To Middle Age...and Beyond

For months I have felt stuck or maybe a little misplaced in my mothering role. Putting down my thoughts and sharing "ah ha" parenting moments futile.
Don't get me wrong -- my kids still call my name multiple times a day -- to find their favorite shirt or to know where I've hidden the Nutella, but I've felt a shift that feels both unsettling and freeing at the same time.

This is what I know
1. Though my kids think 47 makes me "beyond middle age", age is only a number and my feelings of displacement are normal and are preparing me for the next phase of life. There is lots of life and adventure waiting for this old lady.
2. The frequency with which I require help from my kids to sort out techy things is on the rise. Also, I know my age is showing when I find it almost impossible not to say "please" and "thank you" to Suri.
3. Music favorites of my youth are now part of the oldies station.
4.  As my age number has increased, my social circle has decreased. I've become more choosy with whom I spend my time.
5. Though I think I want a crystal ball to show me what happens next, I've learned surprises can be a good thing. If someone had told me five years ago my allergies could be put to rest and our family would have a dog -- I never would have believed it. Although we got a dog for the kids...because for years Nat had been creating Power Point presentations to communicate her desire and Noah just needed a faithful friend to help him cope with new places/situations - I now realize I may have needed her most. Training her has sparked joy...something I had felt in short supply. She has also offered me mental challenges to mix up the mundane chores of running a household. In addition, her need for exercise has required me to get off my butt and move. Because of Truvy I have more energy, less jiggle and better health. When we got her, we knew we wanted to travel with her -- for her to be a support to Noah and just for fun. However, she had trouble with carsickness which led to anxiety. Because of this, we have spent months trying to reshape her feelings about riding in the car. For weeks I would lure her with treats to sit near the car -- not inside it, just near it. (her fear was so great). Once we were successful with that, Steve and I would bring her into the car and sit and feed her treats...next step involved turning on the engine. Finally we moved up to driving up the street and then to a local park. We stopped and started this process at least three times because she'd get to a point and then would get sick. I worried we'd never get to take her anywhere. Last weekend we had our first full-fledged successful car adventure with her. We drove to Rockwoods Conservation area. Not only did she do great in the car, but she adored the trail. And, Noah who had moaned about going...who vowed "I'm not leaving the house!" settled down once Truvy was successfully loaded in the car. Her presence soothing to him. Together our family walked a 1.5 mile trail called Through the Trees. It was windy, but it was wonderful.

To middle age...and beyond.

Musings From Natalie #157

Natalie: "Mom! Next week is your birthday! You'll be 47...that's really close to 50! You should should just start telling people you are 50 now!"

Me: "Hmmm..umhmm."

Natalie: (excited tone) "Mom, you just need to embrace middle age...oh wait, 40 is middle age...you are way past that."

Me: "I'm an overachiever."

Happy 12th Natalie!

Natalie's wishful heart wins again. Last night Mother Nature dumped 4 to 6 inches of white powder on St. Louis, whereby Nat scores a snow day on her birthday. It's not often we get snow in November much less enough to sled and play in. Normally a late riser and slow to move, Nat was up and dressed by 7 a.m. and ready to go on a birthday scavenger hunt created by Noah. Shortly after she romped around our yard with Truvy and walked to our neighborhood hill to sled with her Dad.

We love our girl. She's smart, empathetic, witty and joyful...always seeing the glass half full.

Happy 12th Birthday Natalie Grace!