Irishgoddess’s Weblog

There is a billboard I pass daily that shows a cup of iced tea from McDonald’s encased in a block of ice, with the phrase “Iced to meet you.”

I think it would be funnier if it said “Ice to meet you.”

She’s so full of herself.  She pointed out everything in the house, down to the toilet, the closet, and the spatula on the kitchen counter.  “That’s MY closet.  I love it!  That’s MY spatula.  I love it!” etc.  Then she bounces – not walks, not runs – BOUNCES like Tigger on coke, all over the house.  She finally crashed on the big bed around 10 p.m. and DTE and I slept with her between us.  What heaven it is to sleep with a sweet breathed two year old who likes to snuggle.

Our daughter corrupted us.

I am crazy fond of her.  We were SO bad and it was so much fun!  One of the great things about getting older – hanging out with your kids.

I’m in the middle of an incredible, once in a lifetime trip.  We only drove to WI from MI, a trip we frequently make.  But this trip is so full of nostalgia and serendipity.  I have so much I want to write down, to preserve.  Right now I don’t think I can get my words to match my feelings.  So I’ll work on it.

Last week I came down with strep throat which has sidelined me more than I thought.  Add what seems to be a nasty bout of PMS emotionalism and I’ve been a complete wreck.  I cried when my dad said something to me that bothered me.  I cried when I got in a fight with my best girlfriend.  I bawled like a baby last night when saying good bye to a friend who is moving.  Mind you, this is a friend I see once every 3 years or so.

So there is my excuse for not writing lately…no time, too much to say.  I’m in an incredible place though…just trying to experience it all in the present.  I’m so content and thankful.

Last week he ASKED me to take him shopping for some new shirts and a new zip up sweatshirt.  He hasn’t removed his old sweatshirt a/k/a Invisibility Cloak a/k/a Security Blanket in almost two years.

So off to the store we went.  He told me he was only interested in collar-less shirts, monochromatic, with no logos of any sort.  We found a good selection, and I even convinced him to try one with a mock turtleneck type collar that zips.  He tried each one, and came out of the dressing room to model it for me.  Each one I said “I like it!” and he would say “yeah”.  Then he came out with the zipper-collar one.  He looked shockingly good.  I didn’t want to scare him away from it, so I said my usual “I like it!” and he looked up at me (amazing in itself) and SMILED and said “I do too!”  He actually told me then that he’d like to see if it was available in other colors.

Forgive my dry writing, but this is just so huge for him, and for me.   He resists change to an obsessive degree.  He physically tries to hide his face and body from his peers.   For him to, of his own motivation, ask me to buy him new clothes and for him to take interest in what looks good on him – god, he’s going to be just fine.

After downloading the soundtrack from Grease, in anticipation for my reunion next week with one of my best 7th grade friends, I also bought the following:

Minnie Riperton, Loving You

Paul McCartney and Wings, My Love

Elvin Bishop, Fooled Around And Fell In Love

Captain & Tennile Love will Keep Us Together

Dolly Parton, Here You Come Again

Neil Sedaka, Laughter in The Rain

Hair of the Dog, Love Hurts

Sweet Thing, Chaka Khan and Rufus

I have never been known for my great taste in music.  But I can tell you a detailed story about where I was, who I was with, when I heard these songs back in the 70’s.  Fantastic memories…

Tonight DTE took the kids to a haunted house.  I hate those things; they terrify  me.  So here I sit, with only 24 more pages to read in Torts II, and a bottle of wine waiting to be opened.  I’m going to sip wine, put on my flannel jammies, fold clothes and watch all the tv shows I want.  Life is so very, very good.

That I am more poor than I ever have been in my life, but I am happier than I ever have been.  My life is full and good.  I have a flexible job, with benefits, where I have never once wished I didn’t have to go.  School stimulates my brain.  My kids are kind and smart and growing and healthy.  My husband is happy.   I am so content.

In addition to my school load last week, work was intense and involved.  I had to get up at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday to attend a meeting.  I was whipped by the time 5 p.m. rolled around, at which time I leave work and go to a three hour Civil Procedure class.

I have never missed a single class, and secretly look down on people who do so for no good reason.  But, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I really, really wanted and needed to go home that evening.

And at 5:30 p.m. I found out why.  Lucy’s teacher called me and told me she was pretty sure Lucy had lice.  Yep.  I checked, and no doubt about it, she had a full family of the things.   The rest of the night was spent shampooing and combing out nits, washing and drying linens and towels and clothing.    No relaxing, but I was where I needed to be.