Tuesday, August 26, 2008

WeepFest

Good lord; why didn't someone tell me what to expect today...?

Back to School
All the other Mommys around here look at me like I have three heads. While they hoot with delight as the school bus pulls away from the curb, I always dread the transition to a quiet, yet clean, house.

Making matters ever so much worse this year, I have not a single wee girl awaiting my return from the bus stop for watching Sesame Street in jammies or eating a second bowl of Cheerios...; no pre-schooler coming home just about lunch time and staying in on Wednesdays....

For her own part, Miss Lolly was over the moon. Better than the excitement of Christmas, I think, for her. I was brave and she had no clue of my ambivalence but goodness... sleepless night and everything. I told Rob we might be able to adopt an infant and he said he thought that was a great idea except perhaps I should talk to my second husband about it before making any definite plans....

It does make things better that she has two sisters in the school and most of the faculty/staff know her from tagging along with me to events. But what was most comforting was seeing Anna spontaneously reaching for Lindsay's little hand as they walked to the stop. I simply can't express how blissfully expectant Lindsay was. Wound up tighter than Tigger. Bouncy, too.

She did finally allow that she would like for me to stop by her classroom this morning. When she got on the bus, I waved them good-bye and hopped in the van to be waiting outside the class as all the kidlets were herded in groups to their first primary classrooms.... so cute.

She might have known I was there if she'd recognized my knees: her focus was firmly fixed at the height of about an average 5-year old. She's ready for this. And then some.

Of course I have every expectation that the notion of this beginning-to-let-go is far worse than the reality of it. I walked back to my van thinking of the lyrics to "One Less Bell to Answer" and intending to post both The Fifth Dimension's original and Steve Tyrell's recent cover. And then when I was listening I found it ambiguous with all the school bell associations.... So I opted for something else:

Boogie On Reggae Woman -- Stevie Wonder

Might as well have some fun, right? Isn't this a song guaranteed to cheer? I also have a a really amazing instrumental version with a harmonica lead---its hot, too (check Frederic Yonnet).

And then....
Just as I was getting myself together, Plum Blossom phoned from the airport for company as she tearfully awaited her flight to Beijing... despite years of anticipation of this very trip, sweet M. is going to be far, far away from her beau and largely very much out of touch with all of us. I did fine, just fine, until she interrupted me and said---"we're boarding! I have to go!" and then was gone... off into The Wild Blue Yonder, her voice not expected to fall on these ears again until mid-December.

As if that weren't enough...
BFF Dave called after many days of playing tag. You know, we don't talk on the phone very much probably because his absence still feels so raw to me. It invariably makes me teary and sad. But some sunlight, there was! We nailed down dates for my visit this fall and as soon as I wrap this post up, I'm going to buy the plane ticket (which amazingly is about half as much as it was in October of last year---non-stop, to boot!). I'm planning to spend a couple days with Cousin George in Seattle as well; I hope he's planning on it, too! As if that weren't cheer enough, Dave also gave dates for a lovely visit here with my family in late-March of next year.

And now something entirely different
Check out this WaPo story on my homegirls' work in the Health Department. We were the best of colleagues, heartiest of gigglers, most irreverent skeptics and really committed professionals. Happy Birthday, CJ! CE---you know we should be drinking wine and knitting....
I think that's enough for one day, don't you?

2 comments:

Shamrock said...

Ah!!! I'm so old...

Special K said...

Oh, little momma! I'm sure you'll find *something* to do!

Love that pic of your girls skipping off! Very cute.