September 13, 2014

Up at 8: I had an hour and a half until the first friend was to arrive.  Perfect.  That left me enough time for yoga and coffee-time.  The yoga ended in a good sweat and I am THRILLED to be back though I refuse to weigh myself (did I already say that?).   Later in the morning with about an hour before go time I was preparing for Maggie's party and I learned the horrific news that the big brother of one of Ethan’s friends had passed away on Thursday.  Suddenly the little things didn’t seem to matter anymore.  I remember how devastated I was at losing the baby at 20 weeks.  I remember the hole in my heart after giving 2-day old Brandon up for adoption (he’s 22 tomorrow and Maggie is 11).    I rushed to set up a Meal Train for this family.  Spoke to Linda…she is, understandably,  beyond devastation. 

Time to meet girls at the Park ‘n Ride…though on the way, I came to understand why next year, I will make sure to double check:  One girl was already at the roller-rink (45 minutes away), and while Mags had implied FP Park ‘n Ride, she meant the Shingle Springs Park ‘n Ride (though one girl was at a fro-yo shop nearby.  <sigh>  L was NOT thrilled that things were in a disarray, yet we managed to get everyone to the rink and were just minutes late.  It wasn’t important <huge perception change as of this morning>  One thing to remember next time when transporting girls: earplugs.

I'm sitting here at the roller rink, trying to study, but tears keep falling.  I am watching these kids skate around, so careless and happy, and my heart is hurting.   I can't IMAGINE losing a child to cancer.  I can't imagine losing a child, and I remember inviting Michael to Ethan's skating birthday a few years ago and Linda telling me how helpful that was to Michael because of all the stressors experienced by the family because of the cancer.  Now, another birthday, more skating and such a different scenario.

I changed the location of the pizza, since there were only 2 mothers to contact.  We headed towards home.  The girls had fun and we sand Happy Birthday as Mags blew out the candles on the pie.  Later, I headed to Starbucks (Mags requested it and they were buying…I refuse to buy Starbucks) and then we rejoined Ivy’s dad  in the grocery store nearby where we sang and danced in the aisles, due to the amazing songs they play over the speakers.  Drew and I also spoke in various accents again.   Honestly? This place is where I should spend my Saturday nights.

Took the girls home and we went on a late night walk into town.  I saw a guy who worked at the coffee shop which  has since moved down the hill…he remembered me and asked me to come to open mike night (couldn’t because of the kids), but maybe soon.  Girls are now building forts in the living room, which is so rad.  They are 11.  Earlier, a car full of grown men whistled at them, yet they are kids, kids building forts in my living room.  Honor your childhood, girls.  The real stuff happens fast and it happens hard. 

A note:  I notice how reading goes UP when I write about titillating topics, and wanes when it’s simply about “boring” life.  At least when it was posted on FB I had no way of seeing how many were reading it.  I’m going to stop posting key words on what is included.  There will still be a link for a while, but I may stop that soon, too.   I never intended to subconsciously (or consciously, at times) make the posts “more” to get more readers.  That’s my ego creeping in.  I’ll just let it Be.

Picture:  A scene of two seagulls from last weekend, taken by Maggie.