I spent last night dealing with my son’s junior high girl problems. I won’t give you details, but since you have probably been in junior high, you can guess. Anyway, he was upset and I made a few calls. I thought I had things squared away.

Later he became upset again, worried that “nothing would change”. He actually started throwing up! I thought, come on, this kid’s thirteen years old. He shouldn’t be getting himself so worked up over this junior high garbage!

After several trips to the bathroom, we both seemed to come to the conclusion that maybe it wasn’t just a matter of being upset. Maybe something else was wrong. He thought he had eaten to fast. I thought maybe a flu bug. Anyway, we decided that maybe an early bedtime was in order.

Such is a mom’s life. Oh, and my reward? Today I’M sick!

Don’t blink
Cause just like that you’re six years old and you take a nap
And you wake up and you’re 25 and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don’t blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
The next thing you know, your better half of 50 years is there in bed
And you’re praying God takes you instead
Trust me, friend, 100 years goes faster than you think.
Don’t blink
----from “Don’t Blink” by Kenny

This song tells us to slow down and savor life. It’s common (and good) advice. Sometimes we are so focused on the future, what’s next, what we have to get done, that we forget to enjoy what is going on right now. Then we lament, how did time go by so fast?

I’ve had my moments
Days in the sun
Moments
I was second to none
Moments
When I knew I did what I thought I couldn’t do
Like that plane ride
Coming home from the war
That summer
My son was born
Memories
Like a coat so warm the cold wind can’t get through.
Looking at me now you might not know it
But I’ve had my moments.
---- from “Moments” by Emerson Drive

But don’t forget, time includes present, future, and past. I don’t want to wait until I’m on my deathbed to reminisce about the good things that have happened in the past. I hope that as I slow down, I can also take the time to appreciate the warm memories of yesterday. I’m not saying live for those memories, but they can keep you going when times are bad.

So, stop and smell the roses. But also take time to stop and remember.

Lora got no more answers, although she asked many questions. Jaric simply continued to say, “Eventually, you will understand all.”

After a few hours, they left the arboretum. They went down in the elevator and snaked through the bright institutionally white hallways again. When he stopped her in front of a door, she hesitated.

“I know you don’t want to return, but I promise things will get better.”

He opened the door, and she began to step forward. Then she froze again. Everything was different.

“It’s a different room. I thought you would be more comfortable here. All of your things have been brought from the old room. If anything has been forgotten, just let me know. I will take care of it.”

The room actually was more like a small apartment painted in a pale yellow that reminded her vaguely of sunshine. The door to the corridor had opened into a small kitchen, including a range, microwave and refrigerator along the left wall. A small table with two chairs stood to the right. Just beyond the table a door to the right opened into a bedroom, but Lora did not inspect it. The kitchen opened into a space that looked like a living room, and she continued forward. There were a couple of stuffed chairs and some bookcases full of volumes for her to inspect later. A couch stood against the far wall. But what really got her attention was the large picture window above the couch.

“You are free to rearrange anything you like,” Jaric said. Lora barely heard him. A window! How long had it been since she had seen the outside? Lora sat on the couch and stared at the view, which gave a view of a small courtyard. There were trees and flowers grass and sunshine!

“I thought you would like the window,” Jaric said. It does not open, and the glass is unbreakable. Even if you were to get through to the courtyard, there is nowhere to go other than back into the facility. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy the view. “

Lora sank into the couch and just stared at the garden outside as Jaric quietly left.

I have been considering many writing topics. A few of them have merit. Among those are:

Self-confidence

Doormat vs Submissive

Don Quixote

Time flies

Many of these are inspired by country songs. (Self-confidence-If I Could Write a Letter to Me, Time flies-Don’t Blink). Some are just interests of mine. Anyway, I have been thinking about some of these things, but I feel like the ideas are only “half-baked”, if you know what I mean, and I want to do them justice. But I do feel like they are “on the tip of my pen”. Sometimes I feel like that; like I have a great idea, and I am working it out in my head but it’s not quite ready to go on paper yet.

So I will think about them some more and let them stew a little longer. Soon. Very soon. They will be ready.

Yes, on my interesting day I managed to start a small fire in my home. Now, don’t get excited! The only casualties in this fire were a box of tea and a bag of skittles. My house smells a little funny, but that should fade with time….

So how did I start a fire? Well, I was making myself some tea. More accurately, I was finished with my tea and was shutting the stove off. At least that was my intention. Unfortunately, I pushed the wrong button. Instead of shutting off one burner, I turned another one on. The box of tea and the skittles were nearby. I was sitting at my computer when I smelled the smell. Take my advice, never attempt to cook your Skittles. If they taste anything like they smell, they won’t be edible.

I put the flaming tea box in the sink and started the water, and I managed to blow out the fire that remained on my poor son’s Skittles. But, all ends well. No harm done other than a pungent odor. I think I have had enough excitement lately.