Happy Birthday Baby

Today is Rachele's birthday; my oldest daughter, my right-hand girl (Krissy you are my 'left-handed girl' since you are a lefty). Yesterday she had an eye doctor appointment which brought her home, and with a little enticing from me, she spent the night. It was so nice waking up with her on her real birthday! The small things that mean so much to a mother. While scrambling, both of us, to get to work on time, we managed to have coffee together and I did make her a killer egg sandwich to eat later for breakfast. Thinking about her birth, already so many years ago, the memories flood my mind at an alarming rate - and they are so rich - so real - so special. There is something about the birth of your first child. The first time I held her in my arms, marveling at just how tiny yet complete she was, I couldn't believe that she was mine. Especially exciting was that I thought I was having a boy the whole time I was carrying her; but to my complete surprise, I had a daughter. I knew right then and there that I had a best friend for life.

What I didn' know was that through the course of her twenty-something years, just how much I would learn from this daughter of mine. Yes, we teach and teach and teach our children don't we? And that's the way it's supposed to be. But then there are those lucky few of us that happen to get a kid so special, that sometimes we wonder who the child is and who the adult is. So it is with me and my Rachele. She makes it her job to take care of me and the rest of the family. She will drop any plans to come to a family get-together, because it's so important to her. Never hesitating to give her opinion, she will advise me on what to wear, what to buy, what to do with my hair, etc. Sometimes I listen and sometimes I don't, but I always love her for trying.

I have spent this entire day thinking of my little Rachele, my sweet baby. But I also think of my grown-up girl and how much fun we always manage to have, no matter what we do. And she knows how I count the days til she comes home for a visit.

Happy birthday my sweet baby girl - I hope all your wishes come true. I know I have wishes of my own for you, but I'm not telling, cause then they might not come true.

January 12th, 2010 - A Golden Knight

Tonight I get to go back to my old high school for perhaps the last time (for a long time?). I have such mixed emotions - it just so happens that James' high school plays my old high school in basketball. It's always been this way, at least since Charles was in school. I remember stepping foot in the gym for the first time in so many years. The feelings that flood back
from those good 'ole high school days are incredible; some memorable, some not so. Through the basketball years I've enjoyed those visits more than not. Especially meaningful for me is being in that gym. I was a cheerleader (back then cheerleading was really cool - if you were a high school cheerleader, you had it made). Yes, the Golden Knights - my Golden Knights. Tonight will be the 8th year, and since James is a senior, my last year that I'm back for basketball.

I guess I'll get there a little early so I can really spend some time. I might even take a walk down those oh so familiar halls. Maybe I'll even check out the trophies - ah the glory days, you can never get them back. This I tell my two senior boys, all year long I've been telling them. Make the most of it - you'll regret it if you don't (do you think they will listen to me? I'm not sure. For their sake, I hope so - no regrets please boys).

Yes, I am really sentimental tonight. I think I even have to wear some blue and gold. I was even remembering some old cheers today and saying them out loud in my car on the way to work. Call me crazy, once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader. So here's to a night to remember - a Golden Knight.

Back to the Grind -

So today is Sunday, January 3rd, 2010. Here we go new year, here we go! And so it starts - yesterday, Charles left to go back to school. He has basketball, so is able to spend very little time home during the holidays. I woke up early and cooked as much food as I could in a few hours to send back with him. I miss him.

Today, I made two trips to the train station; Kristin decided she had enough home time and wanted to get settled back into her apartment before the work week, so she left at 2:30. Rachele on the other hand needed a couple of more hours of home, and left at 4:30. I drove both with regret. The sound of that train just gets me in the back of my throat; it is responsible for bringing my lovely daughters both to and from our home. I miss them.

I took down the tree today. What a sad thankless job that is. And what a beautiful tree we had this year, so full, not a bad bare side on it. A miracle that it lived as long as it did in our house; Luke thought we brought it in for his pleasure. Throughout the Christmas season, he drank all his drinks of water from the base of the tree; and when bored with nothing exciting around the house proceeded to chew off all the bottom branches. Yes I vacuumed every day. And yes, my biggest fear was that Luke would pee on the tree (he doesn't lift his leg yet). Never once did i imagine that it would serve as his holiday entertainment. I miss my beautiful tree.

Tonight we will drive out to Charles' game. Even though it is below zero out with the windchill factor, and flurrying all day, and the perfect night to get ready for school after vacation, we will make that drive because we have to see him play. We need to see him play. Tomorrow, tired but happy, I will miss this past vacation.

And we will all get back into our routines, our everyday ordinary routines. I will miss the stress and beauty of this Christmas Season - how 'bout you???