Flyin’ Solo

Chris was out of town this weekend.  His grandmother passed away and although he wasn’t able to make it in time for the memorial service on Thurs morning (he had a big launch on Thurs. night and had to work all night and into Friday morning) he went for the weekend to Modesto, CA.  I talked to him briefly one night and heard the sounds of my nephews in the background.  I have never met Sam, who is 5 months older than Harry, and the last time I saw Ben was when he was not much older than Harry is now.  I was feeling just the slightest bit sorry for myself about missing this family gathering, but then I had a moment of clarity.  Wait, how nice for Chris.  He can actually be an uncle, and a son and grandson, without having to be a father of 3 and a husband of 1 pain in the neck.  When was the last time he had this?  never.  (Well, he had a month where he  got to be just an employee while the kids and I lived with my parents last July but I don’t think that counts for much. )  And so although I was sad the kids and I were missing this family gathering I was reminded of why we sent Chris alone in the first place.  He could focus on those who needed him most right now.  And the kids and I managed surprisingly well on our own. 

For example, this morning I got up at 7:30, showered and blew dry and styled my hair, as well as  got all 3 kids’ teeth brushed, hair brushed, dressed, fed, cleaned up after breakfast AND unloaded the dishwasher and arrived EARLY to 9 am church service.  Holy cow.  Most Sunday mornings Chris and I can’t accomplish half of that between the 2 of us.  Dishes are left on the kitchen table, hair gets brushed in the car on the way there, teeth have to wait til we get home, etc.  The funny thing is Chris says the same thing about when it’s just he and the kids without me.  They have an easier more efficient time without me.  What’s up with that?
Anyway, after church we rushed home so that I could drop the kids off and I headed to my childhood friend Gwen’s baby shower.  I arrived  EARLY to this too (wow, early twice in one day even!).  The luncheon was lovely, view overlooking Lake Washington,  and Gwen has some very nice friends.  Here is what I notice in many circles in this area.  There is no 6 degrees of separation here.  Everybody knows everbody else by only 2 degrees of separation.  For example, I asked one woman how she knew Gwen.  “Well, my son Micheal and Gwen were friends growing up and then Michael ended up marrying Julie who is friends with Gwen’s good friend Debbie and Gwen’s cousin is from the same hometown as my husband and our dogs went to the same doggie camp for the summer and our boats were parked next to each other on the same pier.”  And I’m NOT even exaggerating.  This is the same sort of thing you hear from every person in there!!  It is crazy, as an outsider, of course.  But, i did find out that Gwen’s good friend’s daughter was at the same pre-k as Camille & was a little girl I knew.   And, I ran into Camille teacher at the gas station.  So give me about 30 yrs. and maybe I’ll only have 2 degress of separation too.
Anyway, I wouldn’t be telling the whole story if I didn’t also mention the fact that we had lots of help this weekend in my weakest department — feeding people.  Friday Camille had lunch at a birthday party and that evening we went to a neighbors for margaritas and snacks.   Those snacks, plus a hard boiled egg was “dinner”.  Sat night Jennifer and David  (pictured in crazy hiking blog below) had us for pizza and I brought leftover guacamole that I had made for the margarita party.  Sunday I was fed lunch at the baby shower and Leslie the babysitter fed the kids.  And for dinner tonight, David & Jennifer had us over again (yikes we owe them BIG,  Chris) and I brought salmon that Chris cooked before he left.  I think if none of us needed to eat, I could actually do just fine on my own rather regularly.  Hmm.  Don’t think not eating is an option though.  And this is why we LOVE and MISS Chris who is SO GOOD at feeding people  Here’s to a safe flight home for Chris.