It has been busy around here. We had guests. I took two days of a drawing class (woo!). Then we had guests big time. In addition to the wonderful Devra and Gavin visiting from England, we had the joy of Juan and Kristi and family from El Paso. And then my sister and brother in law and niece one night. One night there were 15 people in my house!
Maybe that sounds awful to some, but I loved it. I like communal living most of the time. It is pretty nice to have other folks around, especially people as thoughtful and helpful as these folks. Everyone helped out, food got made, the toilet didn’t back up. All was well.
I was thinking that one of the reasons I like all the people around is that I actually get MORE freedom than I do when I am by myself. And that is because I am never by myself. I haven’t been by myself for…. hmmmm….. maybe my last dentist appointment? Oh wait, I think the hygienist was there. Anyway, the life of children means that you are never really alone. I mean, you can SOMETIMES go to the bathroom alone (and I do mean sometimes), but basically you are always with some little person. Carol Burnett singing “Little Girls” and ripping doll heads off just popped into my head! Why was that there?
Sooooooo, my point was suppose to be that when there are other people around I have this rare sort of freedom. Maybe I am not technically alone, but my kids quit bothering me for a moment, so I can be more alone in my own head. And people are all over the place so I can do things like walk to the store or run an errand without worrying about who is watching the kids. Because these particular friends like to play games, I can run off with the girls for a bit or zip out for a long walk.
Now everyone, (and I do mean everyone as Francis and Zephyr are at the grandparents’ all week), is gone and that is also nice. There are lots of little jobs to do, but they are small and not too unpleasant. I am making beds and thinking of who was just in them a couple days ago. It is summer and there is all the time in the world. I am walking around barefoot and watching the chickens and feeling peaceful. I am getting all zen on my life and trying to appreciate just where I am.
I just realized that I sound very stoned. Sorry. What a bore to read.
Mmmmm... peaceful.
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Hey, I love to get my teeth cleaned! It’s like a little massage for my mouth. And no, I am not stoned, but maybe I sound like it, too.
I can appreciate this freedom you get when others are around. I feel the same way, since nobody else occupies or watches my child (except Gus), unless I go visiting friends or family, and there are other kids and grownups about.
It also recently occurred to me (thanks to you, Ingrid) that I can also send my kid off with her grandparents, now, so they’ll be taking her for three nights, later this month. Yaaaah!! 8^D
Squeeze yer kids for me, missy.
July 1st, 2009
Iggy, you are the Queen of “Comfortable Hospitality”. It is so wonderful how you let everyone descend upon your home, and find a place they fit. That is a special gift you have- and we all appreciate it!
I know what you mean about getting all zen in everyones’ absence. Sonja leaves this morning, and even though I’ll be cleaning and such- I still think a perfect vacation is a few days alone in my own home.
Enjoy the quiet!
July 2nd, 2009
Good for you Maria! It is so right to share your children with the grandparents. You are doing good things for that relationship.
Thanks Kirstin. Very kind! Zen out girl. Maybe hit my house while you are at it. I just can not muster the energy to deal with folding the laundry. So there it sits…. being very zen. Maybe it is meditating and I should not bother it?
July 2nd, 2009
I remember when my kids were babies and we would go to large events and people would want to hold the baby. They would apologize about taking the baby for so long, but really, it was kinda nice to have a bit of a break. That is the very reason I go for walks. I insist that I go without kids because I just need that alone time.
July 2nd, 2009
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