“And at that moment,
it was like all of the disperate shards
of his life all fell together..”
- The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards

There are some moments that are so surreal, even as they unfold, that you have to take pause.  I had a few in the past year of my life.. and because I have a bit of free time this afternoon, I thought I’d share:

• In the midst of one of her first Mary Kay shows, in the kitchen of the Hastings house, my dear Ra let it slip that there was a reason she couldn’t partake in the wine.. she was expecting our newest member to the Coven, Scout.  I felt so lucky to be in the room at that moment, a feeling of such intense intimacy that I thought only happened in an HBO series.  Nine months later, I held that beautiful baby girl, with dark, dark eyes and a barely full blanket of fingers and toes..
• I had been proud of his hard work, dedication, and determination all year, but it had finally come to fruition: the one-act was before a very hard panel at district Trumbauer.  The show he chose was like nothing else presented, and the kids had worked HARD to pull it together at what seemed like the last minute.  Then, the results were announced to an overpacked auditorium.. one All-Star cast member, the Best Actor award in District, and yes, his kids were going to state.  Walking out, hand in hand, with the underdog.. I had never felt so proud.
• It came in a text message: PREGNANT. PLEASE CALL.  I was supposed to go sing at Music, Martinis, and More for IMP, but this took precedence.  I received the message while walking to my car, and I remember huddling in the January cold while I calmly listened to her.  A month later, she was home for Krewe Ball, moaning about how fat she had become, while the rest of us broke out magnifying glasses to find this “baby bump”.  And now, there is this perfect baby boy, with precious cheeks and adorable cooing, and I wonder how we ever lived without him.
• And the moment that I remember most vividly.. The Coven had all walked to Big Spring Park to hear the free music, while dining on Stanlieo’s subs.  The threat of rain drove us back to Chateau Hyatt, where Scout, Ra, and Steve headed south.  Steph and I sat on her porch in the coolest June evening ever created and drank red wine out of her fine lead crystal goblets.  We watched BB play with the light-in-bugs and lightly gossipped.  Our men were both out of town on business, and we had nowhere to be, no schedules to adhere to.  And I remember thinking, We’re all going to be fine.  We’re going to be okay. We’ll make it.

There are moments in the silence where all the answers lie.  We just have to listen.

“He’s just not that into
if he’s having sex with other people.”
- He’s Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo

Long weekends never feel long.  They feel just right.  I’d be content to have a three-day-weekend every other week, like many of our army bretheren do.  Unfortunately, we don’t work the 9/80 schedule around here, so I’m only blessed with a holiday when the Government decrees.  This holiday weekend was to celebrate, by all accounts, my birthday.

And a glorious birthday it was.

Friday night, we went and tried a restaraunt of The Boy’s suggesting: Buffalo Wild Wings.  EVERYTIME WE EVEN PASSED THE DAMN TARGET SHOPPING CENTER, he would cry out, “Oh!  That restaraunt has mini corn dogs!  We should go there!”  We had avoided giving in until this weekend, when we were tired of our usual fare.  And, lo and behold, the child was right.  They DID have mini corn dogs.  And some really good food for adults, as well.  Along with fantastic trivia choices.. I think Bryan and I may have found a new favorite. 

The Boy was so cute as we ate there.  The food had BARELY even been placed on the table before he was ooohing and aaaahing over it, and encouraging us to do the same.  Before our teeth had even penetrated the food, we were facing the Six-Year-Old Inquisition: “Isn’t this food great?  How’s your food?  I love this place.”

(He later admitted he had only been once.  When he was a baby.  And once more, before he was a baby.  We still haven’t figured out the timeline on that one.)

After dinner, we walked to Barnes and Nobles, and The Boy and I read pirate books and tried to find Waldo while Bryan searched for a one-act.  After we left, books in hand, we headed home and went to bed.

Saturday began the WEEKEND OF SARAH’S BIRTHDAY GLORY.  While attending to our usual Saturday cleaning sweep, I mentioned how our house was devoid of a mop.  Bryan said he would rectify it.   I ran to the gym and to Daddy’s house to make some invitations, and we slaved away till almost four o’clock.  Sucked ass.  But they’re done.

When I hurried home, I noticed two birthday presents, wrapped in perky pink paper.  One was obviously a DVD.  The other?  Obviously a mop.  Wrapped.  I had to give him points for tenacity.

We secretly plotted to create a scene at the party, me pretending that I had no clue that he was getting me a mop, and Bryan poised to shout, “Well, you sure as hell could USE one!” when I opened it and looked hurt.  We were set.

He was brilliant.  He put my big present on the mop head.. an iPod Nano. 

BB and The Boy played nicely all evening while the adults had fantastic food, drink, and Cranium.  The girls won.  Dur.

I also received a GORGEOUS blazer from Ra and a complete wine set from Steph.  I say we all break in the wine set when Steph finishes her first day of teaching a public high school.

Sunday was my actual birthday.  I wanted to do nothing.  NOTHING.  All day.  So I did.  We went to the mountain and played frisbee, then we ate good food at Zaxby’s, then we napped, then we met Daddy at Red Lobster for more good food.  It was an ideal birthday.

Monday isn’t really worth noting, other than I got to sleep in.  That was nice.

I felt very blessed this weekend.  And loved.  It was nice.

Edit: I bought our book club book!  And am almost halfway through it!  I ROCK!!