Saturday, June 24, 2006
Today I read a post on my Yahoo single moms board by a woman who is in the process of adopting her first child, and she was saying how much she looks forward to the dance recitals, Christmas caroling, etc. I posted this in reply:
“Carrie, the Hallmark moments are great - Alesia
had her first dance recital a couple of weeks ago, and it was a lot of fun.
For me, however, the unexpected little moments of
delight are the best.
Last night Alesia had a friend over to spend the
night. Alesia said with great reverence after her first bite of supper, "I
LOVE this pork roast!"
I had gotten the movie Little Women to show them.
Alesia picked up the DVD and read the blurb, then looked disturbed. I said
"What?" She said "Mom, how little ARE these women?!" LOL
I told her a few minutes ago we are going to beat
the heat and head to the movie this afternoon. Her response - "Oh Mom,
that makes me so happy!" She was being sincere.
When Alesia is happy her whole face radiates joy,
and she skips instead of walks. Seeing a beautiful cloud, or a bird, or a
flower will make her happy. Eating a strawberry, getting ready to go swimming -
these are her idea of happiness.
Those little moments - funny or just sweet - are
the best part of being a mother, to me.”
LATER
We just returned from seeing the new Adam Sandler movie, Click. I was really impressed. It was not a terribly original idea – about a father who spends too much time on work and not enough time with his family – but Sandler made us care about the character, like him, despise him, feel sorry for him, and yet really want to see him succeed. It was also very funny, at times. It reminded me of It’s a Wonderful Life, to some extent, but I don’t see that as a huge flaw.
It struck me with great force that there were several ironies at work this afternoon. I had thought seriously about sending Alesia off to the swimming pool so I could go into the office and work a few hours. I didn’t do it, and I am glad I didn’t. She was so delighted that I went with her to the movie, just the two of us.. I also thought Sandler, in the later scenes where the makeup people have aged him, looked a little bit similar to my father in his later years. My father constantly battled his workaholic tendencies, not always successfully. Anyway, the critics never like Sandler’s movies, but this one really touched me and I will recommend it to my friends.
* * * *
I got a mysterious package in the mail today – from Circuit City, some long-lasting batteries. No card was in there, and no invoice. I know I didn’t order them. I’m wondering if one of my friends ordered them for me? My birthday is coming up. It is the sort of present my brother would give me, but he never sends gifts in the mail. I am really curious who would send me the batteries.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Alesia and I went to see the Atlanta Silverbacks [women’s soccer] play last night. The new stadium is about 5-10 minutes from our house. I am no big soccer fan, but I thought it would be a good experience for Alesia, to see a professional women’s sports team. As it turns out, they are semi-pro, not pro, but so be it. Alesia still doesn’t want to play soccer, though.
The stadium was just finished. We had to drive up a steep hill to park, and the graveled road was rough on my little car. Then it cost $5 to park! We hiked back down the steep hill to the stadium. When we left, we had to hike back up the hill, in the 90 degree heat, amidst swirling clouds of dust. Yucko.
The game was OK, not terribly exciting. The Silverbacks beat Charlotte 2-1, and the two times they scored goals, that was exciting, but the other 89 minutes weren’t so great.
I chatted with my friend Maria, who had invited us to go, but we didn’t get in much of a visit. Maria didn’t seem to be in a very good mood. I tried to talk to her a little bit about my adoption of Matthew, and sports, and she clearly didn’t want to talk. She thinks I am crazy to adopt him and she has let me know that. I felt like saying “Look, I don’t approve of everything you do in regards to your family, but I don’t tell you you’re nuts, and I support your choices even when I disagree.” That’s what real friends do, they see each other through, like a family. It makes me sad that she’s doing this, because we used to be close.
There are members of my extended family [on Dad’s side of the family] who view me as crazy to adopt again. Since I’ve been grown, I’ve become sort of a black sheep of that side of the family, because I make jokes that aren’t always politically correct, I talk openly about my father’s alcoholism, and I don’t always go along with everyone else on family reunions or events. So my little family doesn’t always get included in things. It doesn’t hurt me or Bruce a bit, but it’s really painful to Mother. I can’t stand people who hurt my mother. However, I believe the bible says it best – “You reap what you sow.”
We have had a pretty leisurely Sunday, except for the flooding. We went out to lunch and when we came back, the back yard was under water, and the creek [normally little more than a shallow stream] was a swiftly-moving torrent. The French drains we put in last summer obviously are doing their job, though, because it’s still raining and now, a couple of hours since we came back, the flood waters have almost entirely subsided. I was praying we’d get some rain to alleviate the drought conditions, but this was a bit much! I just hope the water table gets replenished, and it quits before I leave for work in the morning.
