Thursday, February 4, 2010

Where I've Been When I Haven't Been Here

I've always assumed that bloggers who suddenly disappear from sight do so because of some major catastrophe. And some do, I suppose. But probably many are more like me: The tide of everydayness comes and picks us up, sweeps us away, and we watch helplessly as the shore grows more and more distant, unsure of how to make our way back.

Or maybe shit just happens. But it sounds better as an ocean metaphor, doesn't it?

Anyway, while I don't really owe anyone an explanation, I know, I feel like I, well, like I owe you an explanation. And so, here, in no particular order, is where I've been.

1. At a psychiatry appointment for N, at which an M.D. finally--FINALLY--used the term PDD without the word "not" in front of it to describe him.

2. Caring for N after an outpatient surgery. All's well that ends well, and this ended well.

3. In Big Bear, making chicken soup for 9 adults and 10 children under the age of 12. Also: talking, drinking, drinking, talking, bowling, cooking, eating, drinking, eating, talking and talking.

4. Celebrating my birthday (January 24; 46 years) and then, soon after, N's (January 26; 9 how-is-that-possible years). (Those are his special birthday sheets--a gift from Grandma and Pop-Pop--over to the right.)

5. At Em's soccer games. Dear god, so many soccer games.

6. Meeting with school psychologists, talking with our advocate, writing email after email, gnashing teeth and rending garments...all in preparation for N's now-later-this-month-though-it-should-have-been-over-already IEP. (Preemptive worrying. Don't you even try to pretend you don't do it too.)

7. Giggling with my daughter. Really, I could spend the rest of my life giggling with my daughter. She's so much fun--so smart and so quick. And she can outsarcasm me any day of the week...which is really saying something.

8. Giggling with my son, too. That kid is about as silly as they come when he wants to be.

9. Working. OK, OK. Trying to work. Showing up at work. Sometimes even doing activities that could be mistaken for work. If you don't look too closely, that is.

10. Trying not to get swept away in mudslides.

11. Starting the planning for Em's bat mitzvah, which is in July, people! OMIGOSH! JULY! That's, like, THIS YEAR! And not even at the end of it! Oy.

12. Not cleaning my kitchen. Not cleaning my bathrooms. Not cleaning my bedroom. Not decluttering my office. (Not doing all of these things takes time and effort. Shhhh. It does so.)

13. Reading. Cross stitching. Cooking. Gardening. Editing my temple's newsletter. Laundry. Laundry. Laundry. Laundry. Laundry.

14. Trying to remember the giggling. Trying to see the beauty. Succeeding, sometimes. Getting swept under by the rest, now and then. Surfacing, eventually.


7 comments:

Green said...

I can't remember if I told you this or not, but the rabbi told my parents that they should schedule a vacation for after our bar/bat mitzvahs because it really IS that stressful.

I still have my haf torah memorized - my favorite prayer is the one said before the torah is taken out.

P.S. Happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

I love this post. Life in a nutshell!!

zb said...

I've tried to train myself to remember that people usually disappear because life happens, rather than because there's been a catastrophe (but, remember, the preemptive worrying).

So, thanks for the update. But, I also always remember that bloggers are at no obligation to provide them! after all, life is more important than keeping the strangers in the internet updated :-)

TC said...

Thanks, guys!

Green! The Torah service is the one Em's been practicing now, and she and have both been going around the house singing it ALL THE TIME. Religious prayer as ear worm! A little strange to be singing God's praises as I vacuum spilled rice from the kitchen floor, though.

Or maybe not.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with all that is coming up. I know about the busy-ness. And then just too dog-tired at night to write anything.

Ambre said...

They let GIRLS do that now?

*snork*

Sorry, carry on.

Niksmom said...

Meh, life happens. We're just along for the ride. ;-)

Seriously, glad you're back. You are back, right? We're here for the soup, the laughter, the beauty, the non-cleaning, the preemptive worry. Especially the latter!