I Blinked
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 As quickly as it began, summer break is ending. Oldest Boy and Middle Boy return to school next week. The school they attend resumes classes after Labor Day so we enjoy a summer break like the kind I had when I was a kid. Three full months. I love having the boys home and will join Toddler Child next week as he mopes around the house muttering, "I miss the big boys."
Our summer is ending with an assortment of tales to tell, but I've not had the time to chronicle everything publicly.
Shortly after giving birth to Oldest Boy, I asked Chris if he got any good pictures or video. He said, "I decided I wanted to experience the birth of our child, not worry about documenting it." There's balance in that philosophy. We have photos and journals that I'm thankful we have, but many, many years from now will any person really care?
Abbreviated Tales
Death: The boys were prepared for Mamaw's death. They were even prepared for the death of Susan Nelson, the wife of blogger, Fat Cyclist [Elden]. But they weren't prepared for the death of their beloved kindergarten teacher who passed unexpectedly due to a pulmonary embolism. She was only 48. These three deaths all occurred in August. We parented through the death of a woman who had battled breast cancer for several years and left behind her husband and four children. We parented through the death of an older person, blessed with a full and long life. And we're still discussing the death of a teacher who appeared healthy one day and the next, was gone. Rough.
It's Not Funny Anymore: I had another incident with the car. I dropped off Oldest Boy at his teacher's house for an ice-cream social. As I backed out of the driveway [too fast], I hit the front of her husband's parked car. No one was hurt. When I called Chris to tell him what had happened, his normally calm and understanding tone was replaced with irritation as he said, "Are you effing kidding me?"
NOTE: My parents are refusing to take any calls from me if they see I'm calling from my cell phone. [I only use my cell phone in the car. For the record, I was NOT on my phone when I backed into the parked car.]
Birthdays: Middle Boy turned ten on August 30th and Toddler Child will turn four next week. Middle Boy thinks it's cool to be in the double-digits, and Toddler Child says he wants to be two, not four. I told him I wish time worked that way sometimes too.
Hummingbird: We had a hummingbird in the garage. It flew around and rested on different brake cables of the bikes hanging from our garage ceiling. I won't make this tale longer than it needs to be. We were excited at the time. You would have thought we had a bald eagle nesting on our trash can. I have too many pictures of a hummingbird sitting on my bike's brake cable.
History: We can't rewrite it. Isn't that both a tragic and a glorious thing? For now, this tale will remain very abbreviated.
Goodbye Summer: I can't believe it's over! I say this at the end of every school year, holiday, vacation, etc. And I know I'll say it again. I'm trying to enjoy the last few days before school starts by ignoring the toys that are left around the house, delaying wiping fingerprints where there typically are none, and avoiding yelling up the stairs, "Take it down a notch, boys!" when I hear them roughhousing.
Today I took my camera upstairs instead of requesting the boys downshift their play.
I miss the big boys already.
Chris, Family, Misc. Daily Thoughts, Parenting, Pooch, Dog and Pup 
Reader Comments (21)
Oh, and the parenting gig? It just gets harder. So sad when the littlest one goes off to school and the oldest no longer wants to be tucked in.
And we had a hummingbird camp in our garage for a wee bit too! They like to swoop in from my wife's flower garden, just outside the garage door. Very cool . . .
If so, I'm never having coffee with you again.
;-)
Love,Claire
Your post was sweet, touching, loving, and melancholy. I love the chapters! And The photos cheered me up. Thanks for that.
Gosh you're young. My baby just stared college!
And you're right, summer goes by way too fast and I don't even have any kids.
I'm sorry we haven't been able to meet, yet. I'm still trying to get restarted in life and well without a car, getting around is a challange.
I'm so sorry for your losses last month. HUGS!
But it does go by so fast - and just because school has started shouldn't mean an abrupt end to all that summer fun. Besides, it's still 99 degrees - we can certainly get into the spirit.
Great post as usual girl!
Keep smiling. Yours is a beautiful one!
I hope the hummingbird is a sign of happiness after the rough August you've had with so many deaths.
Take care!
I know it's hard to see it right now, but moments of loss and tragedy are also moments of strength and growth. I'm with you in spirit, BB. *Hugs
It's kind of ironic that something as fastmoving as a hummingbird chose brake cables to rest on. Maybe a sign to slow down? Sorry, I know I overanalyze. I hope your September is much more cheerful :-)
I have wondered about this too... "We have photos and journals that I'm thankful we have, but many, many years from now will any person really care?" Sometimes I think it is more for US than any future generation we make and keep these things for, tho I'm sure your boys or their - yikes - wives will enjoy them too.
And lol on your parents not answering any cell calls for you.
And how will you and Toddler Child pass the time? Will he do any mothers day outs or a couple days pre-school a week? Or are you going to hang onto him as much as you can, to squeeze out every last lingering mommy-kiddo moment?