stuffed

A day from hell.
Woken to a door slam as Oldest leaves extra early for work with the hopes of an early release. (The hardest part of this is that I haven't seen Oldest for days - have not spoken to him. This is the letting go part that people talk about. I cannot talk to his boss like his teacher, I can not take the temperature of his moods each morning -- he is out there. Without me.)
Get everyone else off to school/work.
Do a walk which I really have no time for.
Pick up the turkey.
Pick up the wine.
Go to the bakery.
Get some coffee and some pancetta.
Continue the prep of side dishes.
Bathrooms.
Iron the table cloth.
Brine the turkey.

A veritable litany of excitement. I know.

Middle has been a tad cranky these last few days.

And Youngest.

Have I mentioned the penmanship/neuro thing? Well, Youngest decides he shouldn't run for secretary of the student council because of his penmanship.

What about running for another job? I ask

No, too many other people are running for those jobs and they will totally SMOKE ME.

(This is where I start to tear up. THIS is the job he wants and he is -- is -- well, I was gonna say handicapped but it's not THAT bad.)

You can type up the notes after you write them out -- so people can read them, I say.

Yeah. I guess.

But I need a letter that says I want the job. Now. Today.

(It is five minutes to bus stop time.)

We, I, start writing, while he dictates -- because there is no way in hell he can even begin to write this letter before the bus comes, or I have to drive him -- and I think I have mentioned my schedule for today. Driving him to school does not work in the plan.

Letter written. Bolstered with some new confidence, he's off.

At least I can have some control of one of their lives.



UPDATE:

Town is bustling with holiday excitement!
A news crew in the bakery!


and a little gift --

a woman on line for her pumpkin pie, turns to me out of nowhere and says:

I feel great. I have so much to be happy about, it's going to be a beautiful holiday.


And with that, I had a little spring in my step, new optimism and am feeling very grateful.

Could be the latte.

Comments

Anonymous said…
A really great post. touched on a number of things. and the woman in the bakery reminds me of a story from my just divorced past that brings a tear to my eye....I wont get into it, it probably doesnt translate. We really do have so much to be thankful for. sure, Im 37 and going to college, and have no money and don't know how we are going to pay for it. and christmas will be tight and we need to buy a car. but I have a great family, and a good life. the rest of it just doesn't really matter. I really do love the holidays.
Anonymous said…
A really great post. touched on a number of things. and the woman in the bakery reminds me of a story from my just divorced past that brings a tear to my eye....I wont get into it, it probably doesnt translate. We really do have so much to be thankful for. sure, Im 37 and going to college, and have no money and don't know how we are going to pay for it. and christmas will be tight and we need to buy a car. but I have a great family, and a good life. the rest of it just doesn't really matter. I really do love the holidays.