Dave’s Uncle Jerry passed in July, and we traveled to Port Huron for his service. It was a sweet and tender send-off.
What gave me solace were these tiny windows that flanked the altar. Knowing a little bit about the art of creating stained glass windows, I was charmed by their simplicity and their whimsy. How many children have passed a sermon staring at the balloons, or made up a story about that butterfly?
I certainly don't know the stories behind these windows, but I'd like to.
I'm having some high school angst, and I'm 36 years removed from my own graduation.
I'm having mom-of-high-schooler low self-esteem issues.
Scenario one: I took two days off to help with band uniforms. I was good enough at it that we got the seniors, juniors, and all but two of the sophomores fitted in on Monday. I had to work Tuesday, so I had Wednesday free. I get a text message that I was not needed on Wednesday.
"Not needed" set me to anxious. Why was I not needed?
OMG, calm down...
Scenario two: The next week was Dave's turn, and he planned to be there all day, every day, for a week. I was going to show for lunch and dinner to help do dishes, clean up, and help with snack duties. The benefit of this was free lunch and dinner. One day, I show up for lunch, everything was already taken care of, and I was invited by the lunch lady to have lunch.
I was gently chastised for taking lunch when I wasn't volunteering, which was said to me as I was putting dishes away, asking the crew for something to do to earn my keep. A slight misunderstanding that my head made a mountain out of a molehill.
Drama much?
Scenario three: dropping Will off to perform in the local parade, I asked casually if I could help. I was ignored completely while they were whisking around doing this and that. So I left.
The parade was nice.
I found solace in pitching in to help with athletic boosters, first cleaning the concession stands, then selling spirit wear at the community celebration event. Low risk, no drama, even gave me time to walk around with my family to see and do things. And I'm holding out hope that the cheer moms will be welcoming.
I don't know, people are too busy to be running around massaging my ego, but some friendly inclusion would be nice. Or maybe I need to step aside and let all of this be about Will and Pia - it does not have to be about me.
Well, the cheer moms HAVE been welcoming and now I'm one of the athletic board booster representatives for cheer. Be careful what you wish for!
Where’d I get it? The clearance rack at Old Navy well over 20 years ago on a work-free afternoon when we lived in Saint Louis.
It has survived this long because frankly, I was too fat to wear it for a couple of years. I put on weight struggling with fertility and then again after I had Will. It was a New Year's goal back in 2012 to be able to wear it to my class reunion in November, and I was able to start wearing it again by May.
It’s effortless chic, a simple A-line with a slight ruffle at the neck and cuffs, the fabric is light and floaty, and it drapes but doesn’t cling. It dresses up with nice shoes and jewels or down with sandals and sunglasses. Falling just above the knee, the length is neither scandalous nor frumpy.
It still fits, but alas, the fabric is wearing thin and discolored in the armpits, no matter how carefully I have hand-washed and air-dried.
Twenty years, clearance rack, it doesn’t owe me a dime, but I can’t seem to part with it. Maybe a new effortless “it” dress will allow me to let it go.
She smiled at me radiantly and said, “Oh thank you for noticing, it’s the only fine thing I own. I cherish it.”
This threw me for a moment. I was in a room full of beautiful people, a scene straight out of Crazy Rich Asians, with guests decked in expensive gowns and jewels. And then there’s me; while I am no Hilton or Kardashian, I still had my pick of many wonderful clothes and adornments to choose from for the occasion.
I love and cherish mine too.
We weren't able to have a conversation, she seemed self-conscious and didn't seem to know anyone else there, a plus one, the guest of a guest. Our thing in common was the necklace and being in the same place at the same time. Still, she made me recognize that I have more than one fine thing to wear, appreciate, and cherish.
Goal: write a song a month, with the resolve to not self-edit or worry if it’s crap. I shouldn't have to work hard at this, it’s summer. And we finally went to our first PotatoeBabies show - it was Dead Kennedys meets B-52s.
Get to the show early,
Space on the rail.
Leave the pit to the kids,
Thrashing? I’m gonna bail.
Get that shirt - get that shirt
The roadie just threw it out
Get that shirt - get that shirt
The crowd jumps and shouts
Air guitar paper airplanes
Toilet tissue gun,
Hit with a box of cereal?
This is so much fun.
Get that shirt - get that shirt
It hit me in the head
Get that shirt - get that shirt
Blue, black, or red.
Dancing in the heat
"Jump jump" the rally cry
Insanity rules the day
Punk fans ride or die.
Get that shirt - get that shirt
Some kid just got a bike
Get that shirt - get that shirt
Pink ice pop - the kind I like.
Get that shirt - get that shirt
It might be too small for me
Get that shirt - get that shirt
It’s my favorite price it’s free!
"Can I sail through the changing ocean tides, can I handle the seasons of my life?"
