“My life has a superb cast but I can’t figure out the plot.” ~Ashleigh Brilliant
Things have been a little light here lately, no? Perhaps it’s the early darkness that causes me to retreat to my bed with episodes of Arrested Development by my side at 5:30 PM. Also, I have recently discovered some fantastic technology wherein I can order sushi from under the covers. But it begs the question: If I can get lo mein, eel rolls, pizza and a bucket of chicken delivered to my front door at the ready, why cannot I not get a nice bottle of Malbec by my bed in 15 minutes or less? Hmm? Anyone want to develop that app?
I have had my ass kicked lately. Not in a horribly dramatic or traumatizing way but I will give you this tale: One day I phoned my mother from my office to her office at 7 PM. She asked why I was still there and I said that I was working, of course. Conference-calling to be specific. Then I did a heavy sigh and told her that I got it. I totally get IT and so much of my childhood. Thought it was less of a realization and more of a God Bless You! You, my friend, are up for Saint Hood! I was in awe that she went to work every fucking day and then came home to us and dealt with our bullshit every fucking night. This isn’t a knock on our profession it’s just that work – any work – takes its toll. Children take their toll. The combination of the two forces is like some Professor X vs. Magneto type shit and the world falls off its axis. The end. I don’t know how she did it and will not fully comprehend until I am there but at this moment in time, I’m 99.9% sure that my mother carefully hid her Xanax prescription for like 18 years.
So my ass has been kicked and hopefully the end of January will roll around and I will see visions of Houston, New Orleans and Austin dancing in my head. I can practically hear Susan saying “I’m so glad you’re here” and Karen being Karen and when I’m running those 13.1 miles with Danielle and she’s telling me that no, I will not die right here in this street this way so keep going. And the next day I’ll eat beignets and be all, hey, that wasn’t so bad. Let’s do that again.
It always happens that way.
4 Comments
There is such grace in getting it.
OMG, now I want beignets.
I sooooooooooooooooo relate! I love love love your writing, and have said the same to my mother. And, myself! Hang in there. I can’t wait to read more of your blog, huge fan already!
The other day I was complaining about my kids and my mom said, “Well, when things seem really bad think of what things were like for me when I was your age. You were a baby, your 17 year old sister was using LSD, your 16 year old sister had a crazy boyfriend and 14 year old sister started fooling around. Oh, and I worked full-time.”
It turns out, having to run my kids to Cub Scouts and basketball practices and getting laundry done isn’t such a big deal after all.