Breaking the chain.
My dear friend casually said today, "You haven't blogged in awhile."
Turns out, she's right.
Like an old ragged teddy bear, I didn't think my "author" presence was missed.
(I'm happy to know at least one has missed this old ragged bear.)
I have been waiting for something "funny"; something "outrageous"; something "everyone can relate to." But, alas, I have been busy entertaining kids in the summertime. Gearing up for school, mentally and financially. Scheduling everything that still manages to circumvent the soccer schedule. Signing on for tasks I may not have time for. Overseeing neighborhood kiddos on our front lawn on a whim. Picking up dirty laundry from all of the rooms that do not have a laundry machine in it.
Cat hair balls.
Worrying about family members who don't have laundry back-ups, but bigger obstacles.
Worrying about friends, sick and frail and worse, and way stronger than we are... because they have to be.
As always, the plan – of anything – is exciting.
The execution – not so much.
The reward – we don't know until we feel it.
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We have this round patio table.
One day close to our anniversary, eons ago, we went to a place that sells patio-anything and chickens. So we got one of each. The patio table top was a "big" purchase, and hence tumbled through our marital checklist: How big. Square vs. round. How thick. What color. Not that color! The base, is there a base? They deliver, right?
We have a big round patio stone table now.
Just a few years old, this table can tell stories. It has been through family gatherings, girls night out, kids birthday parties, and home-made bbq pizza parties. The table has been good to us.
A few years old, I had to clean that damn table today.
I scraped candle wax off... from our last wine -tasting.
I scraped paint... from all the kiddos who have painted on it.
I scraped plaster... from the last arts n crafts.
I scraped that table clean.
And we are ready for new memories.
I have family visiting tomorrow. First cousins once removed.
That makes it sound formal, but, trust me, at our round table, it will be very relaxed and fun...
and the reward?
– we don't know until we feel it.
But all great memories are made at that round table.
