You know you no longer fit your blue-collar roots when...
1. Your grocery list looks like this:
2. You have rooms in the house that you don't often use.
3. Your DIY list stops at things like hanging pictures and putting together furniture from Ikea. (Actually, that's my husband. I stop at hanging pictures.)
4. You listen to NPR instead of WBZ.
5. Traveling is a chore rather than a treat.
6. You hire someone else to clean your house or move your stuff.
7. Your house has 2 or more bathrooms in it for only 4 people. (I grew up in a 1000 square foot house with 10 people sharing 1 bathroom.)
How has your lifestyle changed from when you grew up?
I have hated my dining room table for years now. Well, not hated it, exactly: just tired of it. The chairs I hated, from the time we got them and the color of them wasn't quite right (we had them stained to "go" with the table).
And then there is the hutch. We bought it when we had a 19' by 13' dining room to try to fill, and this one was BIG. Now...though it fit the space, it's just been too dark.
So, one day, as soon as Howard was game, I started plotting a change. Ikea was central. At first I had a vision of red chairs. In the midst of the madness, the dining room looked like this:
Then, I came to my senses. I found curtains that sang to me. They also told me to get black and white chairs. Table decisions and "hutch" decisions followed. Chairs got changed out because the first set was not sturdy enough. Boxes had to be put together (Samuel did most of that part).
Now, the dining room looks like this:
I couldn't be more pleased. It's got a touch of whimsy, and it's so much brighter now. My greatest surprise, though, was probably how much I love the shelves that show off all my lovely green and blue teapots and serving bowls and such. I love how they contrast with the light shelves and complement the wall color behind them. It might seem silly (sometimes it even does to me), but this change sets a new mood as I move about the space in my house.
What changes could you make to be happier with/in your environment?
I've been working on something for another post, but it's taking me longer than expected (doesn't everything?). In the meantime--a recent Samuel creation: The "Daily House." Enjoy!
What's the news at your house lately?
Our screened porch is an odd shape, the screens have holes in them, and it's in desperate need of repair (okay, it really needs to be torn down and rebuilt). It's also my favorite summertime spot. It's shaded, with mostly green surrouding me (except for the view I keep at my back). Every time I go out there, I feel myself relax instantly. It's one of the most peaceful places I have in this home that I love so much.
I share, then, a few pictures from "my" porch.
What nearby retreat brings you peace and contentment?
As anyone who knows me even a little bit knows, I am not a "summer person." The heat annoys me, and it leaves me exhausted (and for some reason seems to lower my already-too-low blood pressure even further). On hot days, I stay indoors and keep as cool as possible. Alas, no central air here.
But, after many hot days around these parts--not as bad as the midwest, mind you--I am dreaming of escapes. Such as:
Frolicking in the ocean. Cool water and sea breezes. Sadly, I have to work. Even more sadly, there would be others on the beach, and I don't like sharing.
Cultivating memories of snow. Remember that first, beautiful storm last December?
Dreaming of feasts. Lobster would be soooo good right now: juicy, messy, sensuous. Unfortunately, my spouse is afraid of lobster ("They look like big bugs" he says. So what if they have an exoskeleton?).
What gets you through the dog days of summer?
Three years ago today, Samuel's life changed permanently--and therefore ours did too. It was the day that my boy, my precious and sweet child, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
It was a complete shock, and Howard and I were like deer in headlights (Howard even more than I knew at the time). Sam had been increasingly lethargic over the weekend, and complaining of weak legs. He looked very thin. But: it was summer, and we thought he was just growing, logey from the heat...and whiney. Howard (keen eye that he has) noticed that our boy was going through periods of rapid deep breathing. But, we thought it was simply some little thing, and I even felt silly for having decided to take Samuel to the pediatrician that Monday morning. After that, we were supposed to spend a special "Mum and Samuel" day together.
Instead, by noon, we were at the emergency department at Children's Hospital, having him admitted. He was already a very sick little boy, in ketoacidosis. He ended up with IVs in both of his arms, and for a couple of days he was in semi-intensive care. My boy, who wasn't even born in a hospital, was terrified. At first he fought every single injection and blood sugar test. He begged to go home so that he wouldn't have to have shots anymore. It broke our hearts that going home wouldn't change that at all. But, insulin shots were going to keep the boy alive so, damnit, I was going to figure it out with him.
I can't even begin to thank all the friends, family, and colleagues who helped us through that first week or two. So many people listened to and comforted us; several shared stories of loved ones with Type 1 diabetes who lived long, healthy lives. I loved those stories then, and I still do.
It's hard, now, to remember what life was like "pre-diabetes." It's such an important thing that it quickly became routine. Samuel was so brave: within a few months, he was testing his own blood sugar. The school nurse was incredible, encouraging him and caring for him and keeping lines of communication open with us. Our team at Children's Hospital is superb. The kids' after-school program coordinators took initiative to make sure that all the staff there knew how to help Samuel. I'd like to think that we've done okay by the boy, too.
But, in the end: it's Samuel who has made all the difference, who has done the work to remain healthier than most kids without chronic conditions. He's an amazing kid. I know that I couldn't face that inset every couple of days:
It breaks my heart that, short of a cure, he will never have a day free of this--of consciously thinking about carbohydrates and insulin and blood glucose levels--for the rest of his life. But, every day when I open my eyes, I am thankful for insulin. I am thankful for the fact that my kid got a condition that he can live with--without terrible pain, without limitations on what he can do. He can have a long, full, active, rich life.
So, while I still hope for a cure someday, I appreciate today.
Three years and counting. I love you, Sam. You are one heck of a special kid.
"Mum! Mum! Look!" Anya is holding up her toes, splayed open. "I'm bleeding!" I take a closer look. "Don't touch it!!!" she squeals. I touch anyway, and tell her "Honey, it was a piece of fuzz from your pink sock." "Oh," she says in her own delightful way, drawing a two-letter word out into at least three syllables. She skips away happily.
Samuel asks "Can I have lorna doone cookies for a bedtime snack?" No, I tell him, those are only for after dinner and he already had an ice cream sandwich for dessert tonight. He looks disappointed, then gets a twinkle in his eye and tells me "Well, it's still after dinner." I laugh out loud, tell him "nice try," and send him on his way to think of another snack.
Another time, Sam comes in after summer program and looks worried. He tells me "I lost your flashlight. I'm really sorry." I tell him that it's okay, when I lent it to him for his field trip, I knew that might happen. We'll get me another one later. I hug him.
Anya, without asking, climbs onto my lap and buries her face in my shirt, inhaling deeply. She cooes and sighs, lingering there, and is content when she gets off my lap. Nothing soothes her like my smell, even at 6 years old.
From the kids' arrival in mid afternoon forward, my work is full of such interruptions. Sometimes it's frustrating, especially when they repeatedly break my concentration. But, in the end, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I love these children.
(okay, it's not a pic from the office, but how could I resist? )
What are your favorite work interruptions?
