Buck Naked!

Jim blows through the door about 5:30ish with a big ambition of not only cutting the grass, but doing the trimming as well. I cannot hide my excitement at getting both big tasks done this early in the week. My lucky day for sure!

I go about my business of finishing up my own work and smile to myself as I hear the lawn mower going and Morgan barking, just happy to be outside.

Wrapping up work takes a little longer than I thought as I remember at the last minute an email that must be sent. Signing back on, I hear the weed trimmer going. I smile again as this is just amazing.

Silence outside. Wait for it ...

In come Morgan and Jim, but I know they're coming long before they enter as the smell of gas from the lawn mower permeates the air.

Wait for it ...

I look over and there stands my triumphant husband. So proud of his accomplishments for the day. There he stands ... still in his polo and khakis from work.

I know. I can hear a collective groan from the ladies out there.

Yep. He cut the grass and did the trimming in his good work clothes. Now, how do I salvage the goodness of this day all the while less-than-happy at the condition of his work clothes?

"Don't sit on the furniture," I say as he hops back up.

"Guess I'll go shower." I nod in agreement.

"Strip," I say laughing at his look.

"You aren't taking those smelly clothes upstairs. Strip 'em all off and leave 'em in the laundry room. I'll wash them right now."

Amid his protests of not being able to do that because ... well, he never woulda done something like that before, I remind him that we no longer have kids in the house. We can run naked through the house if we so choose.

Buck naked, he runs through the kitchen yelling "whoooohooooooooo"!

And as I sit in the family room laughing, I wonder about the freedoms that lie ahead. Our 50s are looking better and better.

Listen to myself

While driving Jayme back to Boston we were talking about what she hopes to accomplish during the next softball season. She was venting about how she wants to be able to hit home runs because she feels that’s what gets all the attention.

Home runs are exciting and definitely add the dramatic flair to a game. It’s like a huge punctuation mark, but not everyone’s role is to hit home runs. And thus I shifted into motherly-advice mode.

We talked about how there's a need for balance on a team. Some are there to add power to the mix while others are there to get on base, however they can, and steal bases.

“Jayme, you need to see your skill set and know that what you bring to the table has value,” i said with great conviction and encouragement.

“Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, focus on what you CAN do and be the very best at that.”

That is the very same advice I’ve given Sara over the years when she would fret about not being able to run or play sports (“like the others”) or any number of things. My focus was always about recognizing limitations, accepting challenges and focusing on what you can do.

Whoa.

Am I listening to myself?

I need to.

All my tears about a time gone by and the sorrow that goes with missing something so amazing … I’ve spent so much energy there that I’ve missed the power of what I can do.

I feel empowered in finally recognizing the obvious. It’s been right there before me all along clouded by a fog of hormones and sadness.

Whoooohoooooo! I’ve turned a corner out of sadness and into … hmmm … I’m not sure what I’ve turned a corner into yet, but I can at least look in the rear-view mirror and see that I’ve left darkness behind. I'm excited!