Bosom Friends

Anne tipped the vase of apple blossoms near enough to bestow a soft kiss on a pink-cupped bud, and then studied diligently for some moments longer.
"Marilla," she demanded presently, "do you think that I shall ever have a bosom friend in Avonlea?'

"A--what kind of friend?"

"A bosom friend--an intimate friend, you know--a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I've dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will too. Do you think it's possible?'

"Diana Barry lives at Orchard Slope and she's about your age."

-- Anne of Green Gables VIII
*****
I am a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables, though I haven't seen the movie or read the book in some time. And I totally know where Anne was going with this one. We have all kinds of friends in this lifetime and they each serve their purpose. But if each of us were lucky enough to have one "bosom friend" we could count ourselves among the most truly blessed. To me, my bosom friend is Kimberly. She totally gets me, and even though we can go long periods without talking, I know that we can pick up where we left off without any explaining. For that I love her, and she will always be my bosom friend.

Homemakers

It was not that long ago that I used to think, "What do stay-at-home moms, or 'homemakers' do after the kids are in school full time?" Well, I totally get it. There are some times that I wish I could have more alone time at home to just get the boring stuff done. Like groceries, bills, meal-planning, cooking, laundry, etc. I feel really torn on the days I have with the kids - should I do fun stuff with them or make them help me with chores? They're pretty good about doing their fair share, and they understand that it takes everybody pitching in to get it done. Still, I feel guilty. And being the super-organized person I am, I would love to take things to the next level, like freezing meals ahead of time, making a recipe database, sewing clothes and costumes, etc. Don't get me wrong, I really like my job and would never make it as a full-time stay-at-home mom. I'm just saying, I can't wait until Clare goes to Kindergarten and I get Monday afternoons and Fridays to myself. Am I horrible?

Endings and Beginnings

Today is a happy and sad day for me. It's Jonas's last day of Kindergarten. It has been such a wonderful year for him, and it's been great watching him blossom. Last night I went through the stack of papers that showed his educational progression and it is truly amazing. He went from writing a few words to writing paragraphs, not reading to reading level 1 and level 2 books, counting to doing math problems. He had a FANTASTIC teacher and I can only hope that he will be as blessed next year in his new school. An ending to a school year, a beginning to a relaxing, fun summer ahead of us.

On another note, today was a beginning for Clare - her first field trip to the park. Her first brown bag lunch (she was so proud of that!). Usually she is a slow starter in the morning and we have to constantly prod her along. This morning, she was dressed, backpack on, lunch bag in hand at 7:10! I'm so glad the weather is nice today. As long as the bugs leave her alone, I'm sure it will be a great picnic.

Charged

I'm beginning to think I carry a mysterious electromagnetic charge.

Case #1: This morning I tried to close the garage door and it kept re-opening. I got out and examined it and then realized that one of the "eyes" near the bottom of the door was not lit, thereby causing the problem. Since I had to get going, I called Aaron on the cell and told him the situation. When he got out to the garage the light was on and the door closed just fine.

Case #2: Yesterday when I turned on the radio in the van I noticed that the screen was going crazy. I could hear music OK, but the display kept scrolling and showing weird characters. When I turned off the radio and then on again, it still happened. Later I shut off the car and parked, and the next time I turned on the radio it was fine. Weird.

Case #3: Twice in the past several weeks the living room light/fan has gone out without warning. I went down to the breaker box to check things out when I heard Aaron promptly shout "It's on!" I didn't touch a thing. Again, weird.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, or maybe I watched too much Lost over the years. You be the judge.

Roles

Being a sister-in-law really stinks. I know my role as a sister: friend, confidant, adviser, cheerleader, shoulder-to-cry on. Likewise the roles of mother, daughter, and wife are clearly defined. But where does sister-in-law fit in? How do you try to get close, yet back away from the "true" sister relationship that exists? How do you say "you hurt me" without getting cut off and ignored. Real sisters are sisters for life. You can tell them what you think and though they may not like it, in the end they will come back to you. At least that's the way it is with my sisters. Funny how I've been a sister-in-law for nearly 11 years and I'm still trying to fit in. I wish this journey wouldn't be so painful. If only I didn't care so much.

Christmas card list

This weekend I made a decision. No longer will a certain acquaintance from high school be on our family Christmas Card list. I'm not exactly sure how she got on the list in the first place, but said person faithfully sends us a card each year. Do we have much, if anything, to say to each other? No. Do I care about what is going on in her life? Not really. She is known to be a person of gossip, and I sneakily suspect that she uses our annual letter in conversations with town folk at her leisure. I saw her at a wedding over the weekend and she didn't even say hello. I'm sure the alcohol consumption on her part didn't help, but I am no longer making excuses. If she chooses to send a card each year fine. But don't expect me to reciprocate.

It's a start

My good friend from college inspired me to start a blog. I'm sure she doesn't realize her part in this yet, but she regularly blogs, and I truly enjoy reading her posts. I feel closer to her, if only in thought. Then I realized that she doesn't have such a tool to read my thoughts, hence this blog. I've never been one to consistently keep a journal - mostly because I'm lazy and don't like to write. Typing is another matter, though, and since I spend so much time in front of a computer, I have no excuse not to utilize this medium. Will anyone read this blog? Hard to say. But if it helps me get things off my chest and try to reconnect with the English language, the purpose will not be lost. To my unknown audience - welcome to my random thoughts!