I Didn't Just Wake Up This Morning With A Craving
I Write To Understand. I Write To Stop Time
If we were having coffee, we would be happy to settle into our usually Sunday Spot, and I’ll watch out the window while you get your drink. You had a really hard week at work, and while tell me about it, I silently give thanks that Cohiba’s job allows me to stay home with the Wee One, because I love doing it.
But at the same time,
If we were having coffee, you would wander in slowly. You had a rough night last night, but a lot of fun. I was happy to hear details about your trip to a party your husband’s coworker threw, and I was happy to get you a coffee. And speaking of party,
If we were having coffee, I would remind you of those guys who were barbecuing last weekend and had the loud party and woke me up… I saw one of them do something yesterday that really bothered me. They were playing with the neighbor’s kids again, water fights, but it was almost all the kids in the apartment complex having a water fight with these guys. The thing is, there are like five of these guys and some are better than others. On the good end, one is patient and kind to the kids, helping them out even as they were “adversaries,” talking friendly smack. On the bad end, they were cursing at the kids and bullying them.
There was one girl in particular; and I’ve seen her around for awhile. She’s not as liked as the other girls, though I know she wants to be. She’s the tallest and she’s Indian, to name just a few differences, and it’s hard to be different.
One of the guys was bitching her out for being rough with a younger kid. She was trying to apologize, talk to the younger kid and trying to take responsibility, but this asshole wouldn’t stop badgering her. He was actually cussing at her. He’s a grown ass man, getting into the kid’s stuff, and bullying her.
I was disgusted and also a little convicted – should I do something, I wondered? I was bullied as a kid, even by some adults. Would I have wanted intervention? I didn’t end up doing anything, though I did get the Wee One out of there. I didn’t want her seeing such crap. I know I can’t spare her from it forever, but I’ll probably try.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that the crochet project I am working on is not coming along like I had hoped. I am not able to crochet as often as I would like, with the Wee One. I’m afraid my friends won’t let me sell anything with them. Maybe I will just give The baby her own ball of yarn to play with-like a cat.
You giggle, and then you wince. Yeah, I’ve been there.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you how, on Saturday night, I was kind of hoping those guys, the bullies, would again throw a party so loud I could call the cops. Cohiba said “You’re in the ‘I wish a motherfucker would’ mode.”
Oh yeah, and that night, after we left dinner, I had black beans smeared by my ear-the Wee One is beginning to leave a trail behind her wherever she goes. I had trusted food on the front of my shirt, because she puts her open mouth on my chest. (Wanting to nurse) My kid is subtle.
I meant to post this in February, but, you know. Life.
There was a video released on the White House Facebook page of a 106 year old woman meeting the president. She was so happy, and to think of all she had seen and lived through – from 1910 until now – its moving.
As Super Tuesday has just passed us in the United States and we are gearing up to inaugurate a new president, I wanted to share memories of Obama’s first inauguration in ’08. The first time a black president was inaugurated. A day that will live in history will live well in my memory.
If we were having coffee, you would come in with a sunburn. What were you doing?! I’m not sure if I’m jealous or piteous for you right now. You assured me you were having fun riding your bike, and I find I’m still feeling a bit of both. I don’t have a carriage for the Wee One while I’m biking yet, but we did get a Deuter hiking pack for her, which is more structured and puts the pressure more on my hips than the Ergo does. She also sits higher so she can see more and it’s more a kind of pack Cohiba would wear. I took her on a short walk in it while I was trying to adjust it, and I think it’ll be good once it’s set for her.
I have been thinking about legacy lately, which was the word of this Daily Prompt. (I still hate the one-word thing, but it works for me today.)
I was thinking about the best way to save for her future and then I was thinking about writing up a will (now that I have a child) and who I would name as beneficiaries for my belongings. At first, I was thinking of things like books and CDs, and it was like the Senior Wills we wrote in our last year of high school. “Would I leave certain books to my social work friends and other books to religious friend?”
Continue reading “Legacy, or Writing For Throwback Thursday”
If we were having coffee, I would talk all about the gym I joined and the swimming I started doing. While I know how to swim, I was never on a team or anything, but I joined this gym that has child care! So I can leave the Wee One somewhere safe and exercise. I started swimming because I know what good exercise it is, and its something new for me. I had to go buy a cap and goggles, but I really like it. I like the meditative quality to it.
If we were having coffee, I wouldn’t be around for very long, and I wouldn’t be drinking coffee. I would be drinking tea and some sports drink to replenish some fluids I lost last week. I have had the stomach flu all last week, and now I feel like I’m coming down with something respiratory. I couldn’t even do my Top Ten Tuesday, I felt so icky! You groan in commiseration, because its no fun to be sick. I was also really homesick during that time, more than I usually am. I was hurting and didn’t know what was happening, and I wanted my mom to tell me I was okay. I know both my mom and mother in law wished they could be here to help, which is sweet.
If we were having coffee, we would both arrive at the same time, a different shop than we normally go to, this one out in the woods. There’s a large truck idling outside, and the noise and gas its belching clashes with the serenity of the trees around us. We’re not happy about that, but the gentleman barista brings us our cappuccino. I like this part, I say to you.
If we were having coffee, we would be glad to walk into the warm coffee house. It’s colder outside today than normal! I remark when I see you push the hood off your head, shaking raindrops off. It is wintertime, but I have been so pleasantly surprised by how mild the winter has been, particularly since I’ve heard how nasty it is in the Mid-West. The Wee One and I were even able to go hiking this past week!
Speaking of hiking, a woman walks in pushing a double stroller with twin toddlers. They’re subdued under their blanket, but she still struggles getting the stroller through the front door and between the close small tables. Seeing them all makes me miss the Wee One, who had daddy-daughter time these days I go and write and have coffee with girlfriends.
Today when I left, he was skyping with his parents and showing off her standing up skills. She will position herself standing by something, and then let go, just to do it. She’s not showing off for us, she’s practicing and testing herself. I think she’s remarkable. All babies might do that, you point out; I don’t want to know! I exclaim. My daughter is the most extraordinary creature EVER! I say with a wink and a smile. Of course, you agree.
If we were having coffee, I tell you about talking to my best friend last night and how nervous she is about going on a first date with someone. Do you have first date horror stories? you ask me, and I make a face remembering it. There was one guy I met bicycling the MKT Trail outside of the Columbia, Missouri. We enjoyed talking and raced each other to the Katy trail. He was an Air Force vet and kind of cute, but I was getting more and more uncomfortable as we rode back in. He gave me his number (this was before cell phones) and I raced home reciting it to myself. I dialed the number when we got home, as I had promised I would, and asked for Gary. “Gary?” the guy who answered started laughing. “Who’s Gary? You mean Greg?” Ouch. That’s embarrassing and I hate being laughed at. Then Gary/Greg got on the phone, and it was so awkward and weird, I was happy when we hung up.
Etta James “At Last” comes over the speakers, and my heart clutches as it always does. We both stop talking to sway in time to the song. I had wanted this to be the first song Cohiba and I danced to after we got married, but I didn’t have that kind of wedding reception. We did have a first dance, though, just after the ceremony and then a dinner with our guests at one of the restaurants in EPCOT. As a compromise, we put the song on our wedding video, over the high reel.
If we were having coffee, I wonder aloud is that is why I like to watch people and try to read what’s going on., particularly when I think its a first date. First dates can go in so many directions, it’s like a crap shoot. Even over the course of the date itself, things shift. Still, she’ll come home with a story, hopefully better than the one I just told.
Now Sam Cooke is playing. The tunes in here today are live and on point.
I had an article run on She Knows! I answered a call to write an op-ed on feminism and it came out yesterday. I loved being able to write about something I have a strong opinion on.
The feminist movement is so 1970s; tired and completely unnecessary to women of today. This was the takeaway from February news stories of social gaffes by Gloria Steinem and Madeline Albright while campaigning for Hillary Clinton. Women are have choices and equal rights, and so there is no need for feminism anymore.
How I wish that were true.
Read more on the she knows website!
I Didn't Just Wake Up This Morning With A Craving 