The tiniest egg I've ever gotten from a chicken! About the size of a large marble! My baby must be growing up!I believe I left off at lunch time which went pretty much without incident. However, I did notice that as I was gathering up the plates of hot dogs and glanced back at our table, Iris had fallen back on her chair and the nice little mommy sitting next to her was helping her right herself. By the time
I got to the table, she seemed none the worse for wear so that was a good thing.
The girls soon finished their meals and were off to the races - or at least their habit trails! - again. But it wasn't long before little Iris came back to me in tears because the older girls had hurt her feelings--telling her they didn't want to play with her. That prompted her climbing into my lap for comfort and I don't know who got the best of that deal--Iris or me!
The feel of her small body as it clung to mine. Little arms around my neck! Exquisite! She could have stayed there forever as far as I was concerned! And she did stay for a long time--at least a 1/2 hr. if not 45 minutes. Between you and me, although she might not have closed her eyes, I think she was really taking a nap--at least rejuvenating. I was happy to serve as her mattress and pillow--one advantage of having gained more than a few pounds over the years! At least I'm fluffy and soft and comfortable--I hope she remembers that as she grows up!
Finally, she was ready to re-join the group after which Adrianna, the best friend, came crying to me about Iris' bothering her! Such is the world of 4 and 6 yr. olds!
I was very much aware of the time and the adventure that awaited me in getting my three charges back home safely. All I had to do, I told myself, was reverse the printed directions which would mean going towards Portland instead of Seattle. Right! I also wanted to get out of there in time to avoid the heaviest of rush hour. I lived most of my life in the Chicago area and am well aware of heavy traffic and horrendous rush hour traffic!
Patiently waiting for the girls to decide it was time to leave (after gently planting the seeds of warning times), I began to herd them up convincing them to retrieve their shoes and Adrianna to return her sox to her benefactor. They all trooped out and into the van which, by now, I'd figured how to open up!
It was hot and the a/c needed to be adjusted--ah! success! The seat and mirrors were already pretty much in place. I started off, successfully navigating the left turn needed to get back on the road home.
My memory failed me. I couldn't remember exactly how long I'd stayed on the road to my son's place, but I saw signs coming up; one pointed to Seattle; the other towards Portland--that must be the one and took the opportunity to enter the expressway and successfully merged!
Too late I realized that although headed in the right general direction I was on the wrong expressway! Horrors! I was on I-5--not I-205! How big a difference was that, I wondered? And now I've got traffic whizzing by me right and left and the sweet young things in the back of the van developed potty mouths!
I never knew 4 and 6 yr. old girls talked like that! "Penis, penis, penis! Poopy! Poopy! Poopy!" And they were virtually screaming it! Rather than trying to stop them, I figured the behavior was best tolerated in favor of my paying attention to the road in hopes of finding a way off the expressway I'd gotten on in error.
Finally, a familiarly named road (4th Plain) came into view. All I had to do was maneuver the car over to the off ramp and then figure out in which direction to turn it--east or west? Although I was inclined to go west, I reasoned that way was toward the coast and, therefore, big water! Since my son didn't live anywhere near the Pacific Ocean, the direction I needed must be east!
Success! I was on 4th Plain (but every other road in their area seems to be named after some sort of Plain!). I hoped I was on the right one! I reasoned the hotel where we were staying was on 4th Plain so all I had to do was recognize that intersection and I'd be home free--so-to-speak.
Meanwhile, the potty mouths in the back kept up their pace, getting louder and louder if anything. Remembering my past accident and traffic ticket history, I knew better than to take my mind or eyes off the road for even a brief second. Although this might not be the heaviest of rush hour traffic, it was certainly beginning to build and I knew I was miles away from the section of the road I knew.
Nothing looked familiar! Street after street, intersection after intersection, building after building. Where the heck were the signs for Westfield Shopping Center--where the hotel was located?! Where was the sign for Mall Road?! Where the heck was Covington and how in the world was I going to manage to get in the left lane without hitting anyone or getting creamed?! Try as I could to remain calm (and I did!), the fact is I was scared to death! Where was my gentle voiced navigation system when I needed her?!
Naturally, of course, everything worked out otherwise I wouldn't be here writing this post! Ultimately Covington came into view with enough notice that I navigated my way into the left lane and found my way back to my son's house without incident to his car or his daughters.
You know the saying, "what happens in.............; stays in.........." Well, I can assure you that what happened in the back seat of the van (the potty mouths) in gramma's presence, did NOT stay with gramma!
As relief flooded me at having made the trip successfully, that was the first thing out of my mouth! The complete re-telling of the potty mouth episode spilled out to the girls' mother. Megumi was wise. She called the girlfriend's mother and then took her daughters aside to reprimand them. And that helped me.
I was still riled up about the driving adventure but that didn't really spill out until the next morning--didn't realize how I'd pent it up. I'll cover that in tomorrow's post and how it relates to the title of this blog. Stay tuned!...........
Peace and love,
Carol
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