Today I took over a colleague's job after she left the College for greener pastures elsewhere. I got to keep my old job too, making it twice the fun! And twice the stress.
I stumbled in the house around 7:45pm tonight, after my first full day with both titles. I was feeling grouchy, grumpy and slightly out of sorts, which did not go un-noticed by my youngest son, Luke. He is empathic always, telepathic on most days, and down right insightful on others. Tonight he noticed that jolly Mommy did not come home - she apparently stayed in Newberry. Thus, he began implementing his various strategies to chill me out.
At first I resisted. I knew I had at least 2 more hours of email to handle, and he had at least 2 hours of school work to do, and then there was dinner, and the laundry and the ... Well you know the mantra.
He is quite persistent, however, and finally around 10:30pm he came over to my chair, kneeled down beside me (he is over 6 feet tall so this was necessary) and lifted my chin so I had to look at him not my laptop .... then declared that I needed a hug.
He was right. He was genuine.... And I didn't want him to let go!
So I counted to 60. I prayed that he would continue the hug all the way to 60, and he did. For the first time in about 48 hours I relaxed and breathed deeply, and all it took was 60 seconds of someone caring enough to save me from myself!
Who gets your 60 seconds today? Someone needs it, I promise! Make the hug last!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
October Birthdays
October has always been a special month in my family because of the birthdays. It all started with Mama, the Scorpio, who at times lived up to that moniker. Her birthday was always about more than just her birthday - it was about making sure others were aware that it was her birthday. October 23rd marked the day of her arrival on this planet, and it marked the anniversary of that day for 66 years; but, I am not sure if Daddy ever remembered it on his own. It became a contest to see if he would remember, and how long she would make him suffer if he did not. I, however, NEVER forgot... for obvious reasons.
Her last birthday was spent in a hospital...... Her last year was spent in pain. Dad remembered it that year, and every year after she died.
My sisters-in-law, Mary Kay and Laura both have October birthdays. Mary's is the 13th and Laura's the 15th. I have been celebrating these milestones with them since I was eight (8) years old. (They were quite young when they decided to fall in love with my two (2) brothers, Tony and Mike.) They have always been sisters, not in-laws, and it is with joy that I wish them Happy Birthday again this year.
These three women taught me how to be a woman. They taught me how to be a wife, how to be a mother and how to face the mirror as time marches on, with grace and style. Happy birthday, ladies. I will love you always! Jane
Her last birthday was spent in a hospital...... Her last year was spent in pain. Dad remembered it that year, and every year after she died.
My sisters-in-law, Mary Kay and Laura both have October birthdays. Mary's is the 13th and Laura's the 15th. I have been celebrating these milestones with them since I was eight (8) years old. (They were quite young when they decided to fall in love with my two (2) brothers, Tony and Mike.) They have always been sisters, not in-laws, and it is with joy that I wish them Happy Birthday again this year.
These three women taught me how to be a woman. They taught me how to be a wife, how to be a mother and how to face the mirror as time marches on, with grace and style. Happy birthday, ladies. I will love you always! Jane
Saturday, September 28, 2013
I Just Finished a Book...
It's after midnight on a Thursday night, and I just finished a book that made me miss my father more than I have since he died, made me grateful for my brothers and the safety they bring to my life, and made me ache with love for my sons. The book is entitled And The Mountain Echoed by Khaled Hosseimi and I strongly recommend it. It tells a multi-layered story of inter-related families whose lived were impacted by the various wars in Afghanistan during the past 75 years. But, what it really does is examine the subtleties and intricacies of how families are made, survive and, sometimes, thrive... how the ties that bind are tighter than we often realize.
For me it was a renewed reminder the family is immensely important. How time together matters more than most anything else.... how without each other there is something missing .... how with each other we are stronger than without.
Once I turned the last page, and wiped the flood from my face, I had no option but to wake Luke up to tell him much he means to me and send a text to Jake telling him I loved him. Nothing else mattered at that moment but solidifying those ties, and reaffirming my commitment to and need of them.
Maybe I'm a just an emotional sap, or maybe the pieces are falling into place and the picture of what matters, really matters, is clearer now than ever before. Age will do that ... J
For me it was a renewed reminder the family is immensely important. How time together matters more than most anything else.... how without each other there is something missing .... how with each other we are stronger than without.
Once I turned the last page, and wiped the flood from my face, I had no option but to wake Luke up to tell him much he means to me and send a text to Jake telling him I loved him. Nothing else mattered at that moment but solidifying those ties, and reaffirming my commitment to and need of them.
Maybe I'm a just an emotional sap, or maybe the pieces are falling into place and the picture of what matters, really matters, is clearer now than ever before. Age will do that ... J
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