One of the things I love about writing is that it causes reflection. I
went to bed last night feeling somewhat unnecessary, kind of like a caretaker
more than a head-of-household. But the act of putting my feelings on paper,
especially in a public venue, was rather therapeutic.
So, when Tito woke me up this morning, two minutes before my alarm was to sound, I had a different energy about me. I went downstairs and engaged with him during his morning routine. I can’t even recall what we discussed, but I recall spending good time with him. And when I woke Bitsy up a short while later, I repeated the routine. I just hung out and chatted with her.
I know my mom reads my blog, so I will just give her a quick shout out and say that I remember how you would get up each morning with me and I remember feeling like I wasn’t alone as I stared the day. And I really appreciated it.
After the kids departed, I went through the rest of the routine…dog…cats…chickens. But I chatted with the creatures during this process, and they appeared pleased. Well actually, Cash was the only one who seemed pleased. Cats never really seem much of anything, and chickens don’t have much in the way of facial expression. But, I had tried. So when I curled back into my warm bed an hour and a half after rising, I fell back asleep with a satisfaction.
After yesterday’s ten-snooze debacle, I made real progress today – arising after only three snoozes. I am about to enter my busiest time of the year, so the ability to just lay around at times is certainly satisfying.
Upon arising, I saw my jeans on the floor and had a decision to make. Put them on and do the right thing, or remain in shorts and take the easy way out. It was perhaps the reflection of trying to add value that gave me a nudge, and the jeans went on. This was important as this meant that Cash and I would be going for a walk.
We walked for a good half hour, much better than the last walk I gave him which was only fifteen minutes long. “Why even bother?” may have been the question I received upon returning that day. After our walk, Cash and I went into the backyard to find three eggs. I can see why Kacey enjoys the chickens, as you never know how many eggs you are going to find. Eggs are kind of like presents, and presents remind me of Christmas - except that with chickens, every day of the year is December 25th.
I fetched the mail (three days’ worth I believe), and found a package. This is not abnormal as Kacey frequently receives packages (or “prizes” as she likes to call them). But this prize was different – it was addressed to me. I opened the package and found a gift from heaven – 2 packages of K-Cups (34 in all) for my office coffee maker! And accompanying the K-Cups was note from a freshman student.
His note was a simple thank you for all I had done for him this past fall. Interestingly enough, this student was probably my favorite of the 95 students I taught this fall, long before he gave me this gift. So to receive a gift of appreciation from him was truly satisfying. Plus, there was a time this fall when my Keurig was broken and I taught some caffeine-free classes – and it showed, badly. Perhaps he is also looking out for my future students.
On my drive out to my consulting client, I called Kacey. She answered the phone with excitement, like she was actually happy to hear from me. And I felt loved, and I felt important. And when I feel like that, I feel as if I can conquer the world. Well, I may not have conquered the world, but I conquered some German and Italian tax issues and billed a few hours.
After back to back dinners of chicken wings, I decided to vary it up a bit and provide my children with a balanced meal of meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans. And when I say “provide,” I mean that I accepted my mom’s invitation to join them for dinner.
After dinner, I leisurely enjoyed a glass of Alexander Valley Cab and some good conversation with my parents. A bit too late, I summoned the children to head for home.
I arrived home to some restless creatures. The cats were meowing at me, being that it was three hours past dinnertime. And Cash was sitting patiently next to his empty food dish. Feeling a bit guilty, I may have given him a bit more than extra.
We were out of duck-based cat food so I risked it and gave the cats the chicken-based cat food. Within thirty minutes, DollyMama was hacking up a lung. And I made a plan to venture out to a pet store tomorrow for more of the pricey duck-based food. While I am not sure I like our cats enough to spend significantly more cash on their food, it does not seem right to effectively poison them. So for now, expensive cat food it will be, and I will hound Kacey to whip up a less expensive recipe herself.
As Tito diligently completed his homework, Cash and I went outside to round up the chickens, freshen their water, and food, and stuff them in their coop. They are struggling less when I touch them and pick them up – perhaps they are even getting used to me. Or perhaps they were just tired.
When I got back inside and plopped down on my easy chair, I felt better than at the same time the day before. For today, I felt as if I added value. That doesn’t mean I am missing Kacey any less, it just means I am embracing her absence a bit more as an opportunity.
So, when Tito woke me up this morning, two minutes before my alarm was to sound, I had a different energy about me. I went downstairs and engaged with him during his morning routine. I can’t even recall what we discussed, but I recall spending good time with him. And when I woke Bitsy up a short while later, I repeated the routine. I just hung out and chatted with her.
I know my mom reads my blog, so I will just give her a quick shout out and say that I remember how you would get up each morning with me and I remember feeling like I wasn’t alone as I stared the day. And I really appreciated it.
After the kids departed, I went through the rest of the routine…dog…cats…chickens. But I chatted with the creatures during this process, and they appeared pleased. Well actually, Cash was the only one who seemed pleased. Cats never really seem much of anything, and chickens don’t have much in the way of facial expression. But, I had tried. So when I curled back into my warm bed an hour and a half after rising, I fell back asleep with a satisfaction.
After yesterday’s ten-snooze debacle, I made real progress today – arising after only three snoozes. I am about to enter my busiest time of the year, so the ability to just lay around at times is certainly satisfying.
Upon arising, I saw my jeans on the floor and had a decision to make. Put them on and do the right thing, or remain in shorts and take the easy way out. It was perhaps the reflection of trying to add value that gave me a nudge, and the jeans went on. This was important as this meant that Cash and I would be going for a walk.
We walked for a good half hour, much better than the last walk I gave him which was only fifteen minutes long. “Why even bother?” may have been the question I received upon returning that day. After our walk, Cash and I went into the backyard to find three eggs. I can see why Kacey enjoys the chickens, as you never know how many eggs you are going to find. Eggs are kind of like presents, and presents remind me of Christmas - except that with chickens, every day of the year is December 25th.
I fetched the mail (three days’ worth I believe), and found a package. This is not abnormal as Kacey frequently receives packages (or “prizes” as she likes to call them). But this prize was different – it was addressed to me. I opened the package and found a gift from heaven – 2 packages of K-Cups (34 in all) for my office coffee maker! And accompanying the K-Cups was note from a freshman student.
His note was a simple thank you for all I had done for him this past fall. Interestingly enough, this student was probably my favorite of the 95 students I taught this fall, long before he gave me this gift. So to receive a gift of appreciation from him was truly satisfying. Plus, there was a time this fall when my Keurig was broken and I taught some caffeine-free classes – and it showed, badly. Perhaps he is also looking out for my future students.
On my drive out to my consulting client, I called Kacey. She answered the phone with excitement, like she was actually happy to hear from me. And I felt loved, and I felt important. And when I feel like that, I feel as if I can conquer the world. Well, I may not have conquered the world, but I conquered some German and Italian tax issues and billed a few hours.
After back to back dinners of chicken wings, I decided to vary it up a bit and provide my children with a balanced meal of meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans. And when I say “provide,” I mean that I accepted my mom’s invitation to join them for dinner.
After dinner, I leisurely enjoyed a glass of Alexander Valley Cab and some good conversation with my parents. A bit too late, I summoned the children to head for home.
I arrived home to some restless creatures. The cats were meowing at me, being that it was three hours past dinnertime. And Cash was sitting patiently next to his empty food dish. Feeling a bit guilty, I may have given him a bit more than extra.
We were out of duck-based cat food so I risked it and gave the cats the chicken-based cat food. Within thirty minutes, DollyMama was hacking up a lung. And I made a plan to venture out to a pet store tomorrow for more of the pricey duck-based food. While I am not sure I like our cats enough to spend significantly more cash on their food, it does not seem right to effectively poison them. So for now, expensive cat food it will be, and I will hound Kacey to whip up a less expensive recipe herself.
As Tito diligently completed his homework, Cash and I went outside to round up the chickens, freshen their water, and food, and stuff them in their coop. They are struggling less when I touch them and pick them up – perhaps they are even getting used to me. Or perhaps they were just tired.
When I got back inside and plopped down on my easy chair, I felt better than at the same time the day before. For today, I felt as if I added value. That doesn’t mean I am missing Kacey any less, it just means I am embracing her absence a bit more as an opportunity.
I so enjoy your blogging therapy! It is a wonderful thing when we realize the value other people bring to our lives. Hopefully we realize we too are valuable in other ways.
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