Power Of Two

In my self-induced insomnia last night/this morning (who knew that a large black iced coffee has SO much caffeine in it?!!), I rediscovered the song "Power of Two" by The Indigo Girls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qscYgRLCmKI

It clearly was not written about two sisters. But in my world, when I first heard it, H and M were just babes and it struck a chord with me.  I am now obsessed with it again and have listened to it five times already this morning. 

At some point, in their time at FSPA, they MUST sing this song together...I guess they'll also need to learn how to play the guitar...and the harmonica...no problem...I'll get right on that.

These two crazies.  They are somethin' else.



Sometimes...

...I try coffee and really want to like it.  I never do.
...I wonder how happy I'd be if my southern and northern cousins all lived in the same town as me.  Priceless.
...I envy watching G "work" the room at a party, while I try (and usually fail) at coming up with the next thing to say to someone.  I know you don't believe me, but it's painful.
...I wonder what other name I look like besides "Kim".  Pam?  Lisa?  Kelly?  Mr. Falcone always called me Pam.
...I can't wait until H and M can wear contacts.
...I laugh when I sing in church without a microphone and am perfectly loud enough.  Gotta love those Pecci genes.
...I am amazed, thrilled and terrified that we are responsible for raising two daughters.
...the laundry can wait.  The dishes in the sink, however, cannot.
...being kind is easy.
...it is not.
...I practice tap steps in my kitchen when no one is looking.
...I eat my lunch really early in the day and then get depressed that it's all gone.
...I sit at the piano and, for a split second, totally forget how to read a single note.
...I am in awe at the speed with which I change into comfy clothes after work.
...I wonder what I did in my free time before facebook or this blog. 
...I can eat a sleeve of oreos without anyone noticing I even opened my mouth.
...I am embarrassed at how little I know about so many things.
 ...when I pull in to this driveway, I wonder why I'd ever want to be anywhere else.

...I think about my best buds scattered around the country and I laugh out loud for no particular reason.
...I think we should get a dog and then I realize that that is the silliest thing I've thought all day.
...(always) I am beyond words thankful for my parents.
...when I listen to my recorded voice, I want to vomit.
...I take out stuff to dust the tv or furniture, remember that Ingrid will be here in a few days to clean, and then I put the dusting stuff away and watch tv.  That, my friends, is the epitome of lazy.
...at various times throughout the winter, I honestly think that summer will never get here.
...you (and you know who you are) should never wear a thong.
...I wonder what I would do if I didn't live in my hometown.  (Just today someone said to me, "aren't you Franklin's Miss from a long time ago?!?!")
...I worry myself sick that I won't be around to meet and love my grandchildren and great grandchildren.
...I feel like I could run forever.
...I feel like I couldn't run to the end of (my very short) driveway.
...I smell "childhood smells" and I am instantly nine again.
...I just sit and listen to H and M talk to each other.  And I smile.
...I get so angry I say "I could spit nickels" (just like my gram).
...I am so full and yet I eat more.  Much more.
...I am amazed that I haven't broken or lost these sunglasses yet.
...I wish we didn't have a mortgage.  I don't need millions.  Just no mortgage, please.
...I think that if I were 15 pounds lighter, I'd be happier.
...I know that if I were 15 pounds lighter, I'd be happier.  (Sorry, Hol.)
...I watch G build something and it makes me love him even more (especially if it's something that I told him we didn't really need, but he insisted, and he was right.)
...ice cream for dinner is just what is on the menu. And tonight is that night.

Daddio

We spent part of the weekend with good friends of ours who are expecting their second child.  At the time, they were not sure if they were having a boy or a girl.  (Today they found out that they are having a girl!!!)

It made me think of when we found out we were having two girls.  I think I've said this before but literally the first thing out of G's mouth was "Oh God, they will be thirteen one day..." and then he went pasty white and got all clammy.  (Well, maybe I made that last part up, but he could have.)

He honestly thought that he didn't know the first thing about being a dad - especially the dad of girls.  Well, he proved himself wrong really quickly.  I'll never forget Day One in the hospital.  He, who had never changed a dipaer before, was a champ after the first change.  He was wrapping them in their baby blankets (in our house, aka Baby Burritos) in seconds flat.  Every day since then, he continues to prove that he was made for this job.  (Don't get me wrong - sometimes he's a bonehead, but aren't we all at times?)

It makes me laugh because he is the BEST dad for H and M. He totally "gets" the whole piano, dance, performing "thing" and at the same time, teaches them all about sports, wrestles with them like nobody's business and has no room for any unwanted or unnecessary drama or angst. (Surely, all these things come with both boys and girls, I'm merely generalizing for generalizing's sake.  Please don't get all PC on me.) You know what I mean.
 
I feel as if this is like a Father's Day Card a few weeks early.  Does this mean that I still need to be nice to him on June 16th, 'cuz I may be all out of compliments...

An oldie but one of my favorites.

The Race

I had just finished my first marathon.  I was about 25 yards from the end and saw my family in the stands.  I ran over to them, of course, for a minute and then they hurried me off to the finish line.  (My mom, being surprisingly competitive, wanted my time to be as fast as possible and didn't want them to be the reason to slow me down.)  I love that about her.

I didn't even see her in the stands even though she was sitting right with them. I wasn't looking for her because I had no idea she was coming.  It was one of her very rare days off.  Why would she possibly want to spend it there?  It was a beautiful fall day and not one that you'd want to spend driving to and from a race for this meathead, me. 

After I crossed the finish, I saw her as I was hugging the girls.  I couldn't believe she was there.  She said she wouldn't have missed it.  I honestly get a little teary every time I think about it.

If you had told me ten years earlier that a) I'd have finished a marathon and b) more crazily, that she'd have been there to cheer me on, I'd have told you that you were on the crack cocaine. 

Life is like a marathon.  You just have to take is slow and steady.  That first mile might be difficult, but once you get past it, the rest is a breeze.

The Birds and the Bees

So, word on the street (at least in our house) is that H and M are finally going to watch “the puberty” video in school today.  They are totally stressed out about it. I can’t WAIT to pick them up from school, as the post-worthy quotes will be flying from both of their mouths with rapid speed, I am sure.

I, of course, have talked with them about “stuff”.  Probably not as much “stuff” as I should have at this point and probably not as accurately as I should (I just don’t like to say some of those words…) but we have talked about it.  We tend to have these talks when G is out or away.  He'd be WAY too nervous to be around.  But we still have a long way to go.  I’ll get to it.  I promise. Just give me some time.

It’s actually a miracle that I have two children.  My mom NEVER talked to me about “stuff”.  Ever.  EVER.  (Hmmm…I wonder where I get it from?!)  I find that hysterical.  All's well that ends well, I guess.

Maybe she and I will have to have “the talk” this weekend.  At least this time, we can both drink wine.  I’m sure that’ll make it much easier for both of us.

1-800-REALLY?

So, a few days ago, we got a letter in the mail telling us that we were eligible for a "no strings attached" cruise for two to the the Bahamas.  Now, clearly, there are strings attached but I thought "well, why not call when I have a few minutes and see what's what?  Maybe we'd have to sit through a spiel about buying something but whatever - lemme see.  If it means a few days in the sun for 'free', sure!"

I had a minute today and I called.  I told the woman on the phone that I was calling simply to get some more information on the "deal".  She filled me in and then asked if I was ready to commit to the trip.  I said, "um, no.  I'm sorry if I was unclear. I just wanted to get some more information.  I'm definitely not going to commit to anything before talking to my husband."

She said, "well you are only allowed one phone call per mailing and your account was activated at the beginning of this phone call.  You need to commit now or you won't be eligible."  I said, "oh, okay, well if that's the case then, my apologies.  I misunderstood you.  I'd want to talk to my husband and such. Thanks for your time."  I couldn't have POSSIBLY been nicer to her.  Sometimes, I annoy myself...

Dimwit puts me on hold and her manager comes on the phone.  I go through the whole "apology" thing again (still not sure what I did "wrong" but it's in my nature, I guess...) and the manager gets livid ... and hangs up on me.

Really. I wish you could have seen my face as I sat at my desk.  Priceless. 

That's how I started my day.  It clearly improved from there.

Friend

Do you ever wonder if there's anyone in your life that you've had an impact on and you don't really know it?

I bet that happens to all of us. We are so busy going about our daily lives that we don't realize that a lot of what we do and say affects others in a very positive way.  We get so caught up in our own lives that we don't see how we impact others.  I also think that sometimes we take our relationships and friendships for granted and we don't always recognize that sometimes just being there for others is so important - even if you feel as if you're not doing anything out of the ordinary for someone.

Well, I want to give a shout out to someone who really has a made and continues to make a huge impact on H and M's lives.  I have tried to tell him, but he just rolls his eyes and makes fun of me.  (Or maybe I just think he's making fun of me.  I tend to do that.)  He truly has no idea how much they think of and care about him.  They see each other so often and sometimes don't have much more than a "hey there" before they all go along their merry way.  Other times, they spend hours together.  He is a HUGE part of our lives and I'm not sure that he knows how special he is to them and to us.

Either way, he is making a huge impact on their lives.  He makes them smile.  He makes them think.  He makes them laugh.  He makes them feel important.  He does that for all of us.   He is beyond words generous with his time, his effort and his heart. If I told him that's how I felt, he'd not believe me.  But it's way true.

He won't even know I'm writing this.  But it makes me happy to write it anyway and, because this blog IS all about me, I'm going for it.

That he doesn't realize what a gift he is to us it truly a puzzle to me...
Our lives are more full (or is it fuller?) because of him...

So, thanks.