Category Archives: Twists and Turns

A Widow’s Confession

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Even though my dear soul mate has been gone for almost six months, I feel like it has only been days.  I guess I’m still in shock.  I haven’t discussed it with any other ladies I know who have suffered the same loss, but I imagine it’s much the same for them.  I just keep going, fighting through every day.

My community was very supportive and generous.  Bela and I got quite a bit of mail following the tragedy.  It shames me to say, however, that I have not been able to even read all of the sympathy cards we received.  Don’t get me wrong—I know who sent one, and all the love has been appreciated, but as far as sitting and reading each line…well, I still can’t.  I don’t know when I’ll be able to or even if I will be able to.  I have them saved here at home, though.  Maybe some day….

Picture Day

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Today was picture day at school.  I, however, chose not to participate.  (In my defense, when the call came for teachers needing a picture made, I had a class.)  Instead of donning a skirt and a fancy shirt, I wore my capri pants with a shirt paying tribute to Edgar Allan Poe.  I bought the shirt at Warped Tour when I met MC Lars.  He’s a clever rapper who rhymes about Poe.  He also happens to be a really nice guy.  If you’ll remember, he gave me a free CD.

I was rocking my Poe shirt today.

I was rocking my Poe shirt today.

I had a lot of questions about my shirt today.  The kids want to hear the CD about Poe, so I’m bringing it to class long enough to play my favorite track—number seven.

 

Sunday Snippet

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I woke up at four this morning, showered, dressed for work in scrubs and took the dogs out.  I was walking Jinx around the yard, and I looked up.  I always check the sky, even in the dark.  With no cloud cover, the stars were so clear and beautiful that I could have stared at them until daylight.

What is it about the sky that captures human imagination?  Is it the Christian belief in heaven?  Is it the sheer magnitude of the sky?  I’ll leave you to ponder that.  I’m waiting for the stars to be visible again….

Clouds are amazing, but so are the stars in a clear night sky.

Clouds are amazing, but so are the stars in a clear night sky.

 

Shopping Therapy

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I normally hate shopping for clothes.  I go when I have to, but tonight was one of those rare happy shopping trips.  I guess I should explain.

Every since the love of my life was murdered in March, I have felt like I’ve been waiting to die.  I haven’t wanted to shop or do much of anything.  Every day I just do what is necessary and no more.  Shopping is usually on the back burner.  I’ve never really liked shopping for clothes because I feel so fat.  It’s not the clothes I’m unhappy with; I don’t like my body type.  I have a healthy food baby.  🙂

Today I figured that my body is not likely to change since I’m lazy, so I might as well get some nice duds anyway.  I also realized that my dear Arold would have wanted me to have nice clothes no matter what.  He loved me fat or thin, and he never complained about spending money on food and clothes.

Lucky for me that Michaela, a former student, now works at Maurice’s, my absolute favorite store in the mall.  I was double lucky because many cool items were on clearance for 75% off!  (Ysabela, my daughter, even got a few things tonight.)  I felt better about spending the money when I got home and totaled up what I would have paid if things had not been on clearance.  I saved a whopping $260.

Michaela sent me this pic to use. Isn't she adorable?

Michaela sent me this pic to use. Isn’t she adorable?

I’ll post some pictures of the outfits Michaela helped me pick out.  I think those Maurice’s girls should get commissions because they are awesome.  Having a “personal shopping assistant” is like hitting the lottery for me since I have absolutely no sense of style!

 

 

 

The Spider Saga

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Last night Ysabela and I went to bed way later than normal.  She was online, and I was reading a book.  She finally took her meds and shut down her computer.  I assured her I’d be heading to bed soon.

She claimed she called for me twice, but with the TV, iPad and fan noise, I didn’t hear her.  I went into my room and turned on the light.  Soon after, we went in search of the fly swatter.  Bela had noticed a black spot on the ceiling.  Yes, it was a spider…no, we couldn’t determine what kind.  The only kind of spider I want to see is dead.

Bela must be a spider magnet.  It took a lot of convincing, but Bela agreed to be spider bait.  As soon as she gingerly crawled back in bed and I turned off the light, “Claude” the spider made his appearance again.  I called him Jean Claude van DAMN where did he go.  🙂

I could see Claude in the flickering light of the iPad movie we were trying to watch.  I made the mistake of telling Bela to get up, get up, get up!  As soon as she started scrambling out of the bed, I flipped on the light and made a grab for the fly swatter.  When Bela moved, Claude did a stage exit (and so did Bela!).  Claude’s exit was between the bed and the wall, and Bela’s was to the living room.  The score was then Claude 2, Humans 0.  Sad day for humanity, I know.

Bela made herself comfy in the living room chair.  By this time, it was after three, so I was more than willing to have a truce for the night.  It was up to Claude.  I got snuggled in bed, movie playing and two dogs close.  Chance was strategically located between me and the edge of the bed.  He was perfectly positioned to keep me in when I needed to be out.  The moment I was drifting off to sleep, I spotted movement on the wall.  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Claude was on the move!

Chance nearly got squished when he refused to move out of my way.  In spite of floundering around like a beached whale, I was, amazingly, able to grab the fly swatter in time to…deal with Claude.  I had finally won.