In no particular order of importance while scraping paint and trying NOT to think about how much more there is to do...
I have been thinking how amazing it is that I have a 3rd cousin from half way across the country - that I have seen sporadically throughout the decades, but when she and her two boys show up for a night I feel like my long lost sister has come home. I wish they'd all move in next doors and more kids talk about them for days afterward. Our grandpa's were brothers and our grandma's are sisters - so we are double related and I have always wondered if that has made us somehow genetically more compatible or something... but it was a great visit and now I have a road trip to Atlanta to day dream about!
I have been thinking about Jessie. She is leaving tomorrow for a month long trip bak to China (smart for her, since the house got up to 90 today!). And my kids are already going to miss her so much. I think maybe we didn't think through how having to say "goodbye" to all of these people who will live in our house will affect our kids over the years. But tonight while playing Uno with 4 of the girls and watching Jude try to teach them a little Spanish while he quickly picks up Chinese, I have no doubt - we will all be better for the lifestyle we have chosen - no matter how difficult it may be. Bye Jessie - see you in a month!
I have been thinking about led paint chips. Who knew they could be so entertaining? They fall from the ceiling like many shaped clouds to spark young imaginations. When they land they become thick coloring paper - and if you get hungry a snack. (Think I could submit this to family circle as a family bonding activity?)
If not, maybe they'd prefer the basement mud puddle swimming. Ahhh... pressure washing a basement. A perfect family activity when the temperature spikes over a hundred. Completely UV protected.
Speaking of power-washing my basement. Jay was at it with a shop vac again today. The man has put in more hours than anyone on this house (other than my dad - who apparently has a death wish by heavy machinery). Anyway, Jay is volunteering his time of his own free volition (and I have even cut off the soda supply) and I am beginning to think he is a lot smarter than we give him credit for. He has built an amazing retirement plan in 2 short months. Who else has a guaranteed themselves FANTASTIC treatment from someone 30 years their younger? Unless I die in a freak train wreck, I owe him as many bowls of hand fed ice cream as his little heart desires!
While Jay is planning for the future - David is living it up now. I think he is on 4 consecutive days of nothing but playing with small children and pitting cherries.
I have been thinking about how strange it is that people come into your life and go - and sometimes come back 4 years later when you least expect it (like our little friend Annie) - or perhaps they come back every 4 hours like our neighbor boy Jason... none-the-less - our life is full of unexpected people -... and there always seems to be just enough food and plenty of smiles to go around.
My aunt said once that she strove for a better life driven by a memory of her mother struggling with wood to fill their stove in the basement. I wonder - will my daughter remember these days of my misery? Perhaps she'll never buy a house... because of some repressed basement horror. Or maybe she'll have an incomprehensible love for ONLY NEW construction.
I have been thinking of how awesome Bethesda's CSA is going to be next year. With the rains we have been having this year we have had asparagus, cherries, onions, broccoli, lettuce, strawberries, plums , apricots, cabbage, plus a million other foods I am forgetting.... Anyway, next year we are going to organize one awesome share program and I spend my days dreaming of organizational schemes.
I have been thinking about Urraco.
I have been thinking about how charmed my life is...
when I am NOT thinking about the basement.
