Yesterday was interesting.
Weston's new globe beach ball (he informed me at supper time) had blown into a culvert and got stuck. After both ice and spiders were discovered inside the tunnel, Weston backed out and big brother Donovan stepped up to the challenge after Daddy's failed attempt to shove our neighbor's pipe through that then got stuck. Donovan was equipped with a helmet flashlight and shin guards to cushion his knees, and in he went. There was much encouraging from both ends of the tunnel as the brave 7 going-on-8-year old wormed his way through. He admitted to me later that he actually got scared in the middle, but he plucked up his courage and kept going. We were so proud. He not only shoved out the ball, but the pipe as well! He went on to eat two big helpings of salmon and spaghetti at supper.
Earlier, Weston and I had ventured out to the community dirt piles by the 9-trunk tree at the Russell's. I reclined on the tree, staring at its interesting bark pattern, and Weston actually took my picture! He did great, too! Oh, my boys are growing up.
Some quotes: Donovan in the tunnel: "Dad, the globe is in my vision!"
Weston, after I made home-made potato chips: "Mom, these are gooder than store-bought!"
I love it when they're full of glee... except when they refuse to do what I ask. Of course, that has also been frustrating. Now that David is in rehearsals, I've been single-parenting more.
Today was wearying. I was going all around Drumheller only to find I had a flat tire. Then after quickly getting fast food dinner and still trying to make it to soccer after doing all my errands on foot while the leaking air valve was getting fixed, we got stopped for 20 minutes!!! for construction on the 840. We were told not to expect longer than 5 minute delays, but NO. Ugh. It was sickening as I watched the minutes tick away from Weston's soccer session. We arrived so late... He didn't seem to mind, but I hated it. I was with the boys doing errands and all from 2pm-8pm. That is not wise routine. That is not routine at all.
At the shoe repair store, I forgot the man only takes checks or cash, and I had left my checkbook back in the van at the tire store. So, after much consideration, I left the boys on a bench at the little shoe man's store looking at magazines and blitzed it on foot to the bank to withdraw some cash. It worked, thank God, but it felt so vulnerable.
Then we had a strange scare in Drum walking back to the tire store. The boys and I entered a crosswalk on highway 9 and half way across an ambulance suddenly turned on its lights and siren coming right at us. We couldn't go back because a semi was coming right behind us, so our only option was to RUN the rest of the way across. Thankfully the boys obliged as I squeezed their hands and yelled. We made it across, only to see the ambulance careen into the other lane and whiz through the red light. -Why did it wait to put on the lights and siren til right in front of us? Anyway, it scared the bejeebers out of Donovan, poor guy. He thought we were going to get arrested. He was still thinking about it later and said, "Mom, the only other thing we could have done was lie down." "No!" I told him, "we did the right thing. If we had stopped, we would have been right in their way." Sigh.
On the way out of town, we noticed the ambulance and two other police cars guarding the entrance to Extra Foods grocery store. I hope everything ended up OK there.
So, fits of courage and fear go side by side. Obstacles demanding patience also provide opportunities for creativity. But far away seem days of lingering in a tree and staring at patterns in bark, or nights of snuggling on the couch watching movies.
I must be in a tunnel, half-way in half-way out. Partly done with evaluations, almost done with the show, but still needing to deliver in a diligent, thoughtful, and successful way. Oh, I want to rest, but the rest that comes after work well done is sweeter. I just need to pluck up my courage and keep going!
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