Having grown up in a household of three sisters and then raising ten of my own daughters interspersed between eight sons, I know how to do girls.
Girls make sense to me, annoy me and yet... I get them. It's been my normal.
And now I find myself some 40 years since that first little girl was placed in my arms, surrounded by boys.
Teenage boys.
It's a strange often alarming way to finish this job.
Now, these aren't bad/evil boys, but everything is different.
Nobody wants to sing songs with me, or go to museums or sit and talk about their feelings.
They even eat different.
I make lots of meatloaf now.
So sometimes when I feel alone in my girl-ness, I make the meatloaf and they get to sit at a very lovely table.
One of them said tonight, "Dinner looks different Mom."
I'll take that as a compliment.
James and I headed to the Mountain House to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary this week. We got married when I was 18 and he was 19, so this many years later I find it remarkable that it's still our best thing. Very best.
Luckily we married in October so our celebration trips, which we manage to squeeze in every year, are in the fall...the best season.
Today James agreed to hike up to Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory in Monroe County, WV.
I don't think he loves hiking, but fortunately he does love me. It was a briskly, chilly, sunny day - perfect for hiking. It's a short 0.9 mile hike, but ascends to 3,800 feet.
It was worth every rocky step and shortage of breath when we reached the top.
The view was spectacular, although we saw no raptors. There were some serious bird watchers in the tower, but I think you'd have to have a bit more patience than me to see an eagle or hawk. I thought James was cuter than the birds anyway.
It was the best day.
Aaron is one of our 26 grandkids and today he turned four. Luckily, he lives right across the street, so it's easy to borrow him for a few hours to celebrate.
His dream birthday included:
#1 Lunch at McDonald's where he ordered fries and a vanilla milkshake. That's all.
#2 Trip to Walmart where he randomly threw toys into the cart and a Black Panther t-shirt. Simple enough.
We then dropped him back off to his mom because we told him she missed him and probably wanted to hug and kiss his little face. He said that "was just gross".
Grand-parenting is pretty much the best.
I offer my apologies to the wonderful, honest people of Hopewell, Virginia. I misjudged you on my shallow perception of your character, based on my observation of your town. You have obviously experienced hard times as noted by the many closed stores, neglected homes and run down streets.
Yesterday we ate in one of your restaurants. There was an interesting group of fellow patrons. One elderly lady had hair color that rivaled the brightest sunset. I couldn't look away. Most were dressed in things I had never considered wearing and some people seemed as though they had worn the same clothes for a month. I felt as if we were in a different country.
When I got to the car I realized I had left my phone inside. I was sure I would never see it again...because... well... you all looked very different from my family.
Shame on me. I went inside and asked and YES, someone had turned it in!
So to all you amazing people in Hopewell...Thank You! I'm glad to have my phone and even happier for this lesson in being humble.
So sometimes when I feel alone in my girl-ness, I make the meatloaf and they get to sit at a very lovely table.
