I am having a weird summer. I had mono one summer. This one’s better than that one. It’s a strange time in my life. It’s mostly not about me, which is abundantly clear to me, and which is as it should be, roots and wings and fledglings and all that, but they’re called growing pains because ow.
Let me tell you the best medicine for my growing pains — sleep, ice cream, cocktails, and what True calls Dippy Fings. Any fing you can dip into another fing to make the first fing flavored. Chips and salsa, bread and soup, fries and chetchup, pita and hummus, apples and peanut butter — Dippy Fuckin Fings. I’m pretty sure those are also the best remedies for the menopause. You know what women don’t need during menopause? Being subjected to the mood swings of young women.
People comment on how loving and fun we are around here, and we are, but there’s been a lot of tension in the house lately. Sibling rivalry or someshit. There was a screaming fight about cake. Passive-aggressive squawking about television usage and dishwashing. I’ll be away from it all, getting texts like, “Don’t tell Mottern1, but …. ” and “Will you please speak to Mottern3 about her….” and people are all sarcastic and snippy and avoidant. Three is an unhappy number of siblings, cause Tag Teams.
I don’t spend much time on my sofa. It’s in the boy’s room. He doesn’t have another room. Because he’s twenty-fucking-six.
Remember how in March he had to go in and out of hospital and they’d partially mend him and pass him on to the next better hospital? Well, praise be to puppies, we live in the city proper and the boy went to one of our best hospitals with one of the nation’s best surgeons and they fixed him right up on the first shot and he does not have to endure a more invasive worst-case-scenario procedure. He even recovered faster.
No offense to people who enjoy rural living, but have y’all thought about maintaining your body beyond the fresh air and scenic hiking? As my husband put it, “Redneck General” : not an optimal medical facility. So, on day three of recovery, when Bubba no longer needed his pain meds, I said, “Oh good, does that mean they don’t need to live on my coffee table anymore?” He smirked and asked me, “Where do you want me to put them?” and I said, “In your apartment.” He smirked again, but he’s looking at apartments.
I know somewhere there’s someone thinkin I’m not as supportive and compassionate as I should be. Anyone who thinks they have more support and compassion to offer, more clean surfaces they’d like cluttered, well, they can hit that Contact Me section and submit an application. It takes a village, you know. I joke. You can’t have him, he’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I am tremendously proud. You can’t tell, mea culpa.
We had a cold front. We slept with the windows open. It was DIVINE. Still, my hair is like a Chinese finger trap, and other proof it’s summer.
Work is good. I’m almost through a momentous pile of rusting projects left by predecessors. I have one more struggle of this sort. From where I sit, my metal’s all shiny and hot. I like this metaphor. I’m a blacksmith. I forge swords. Mentor wields them. Haha, occasionally I wield a lil bit, but then I run back to her quick, sometimes like, “Didja see me? Didja see me?!?” and other times, like, “Oh dang! Cover me!”
TGIF/DMCV
The Mister and I are feeling old and tired. He’s old and I’m tired. Still, every weekend is a holiday and we sit around smugly enjoying the chaos.
Happy Friday Everyone!
joeyfullystated 
LOL you make me appreciate my situation every time 🙂 We have the sibling thing as well because we have a 31 and a 22. The 31 was out and came back, the 22 graduated college and came back. Dad wants em all out ASAP but around here ASAP isn’t so. Glad I have my studio in the backyard. I like the sound of Dippy Fings. Happy Friday to you.
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Bubba really did suffer complicated extenuating circumstances. However, he’s healthy now and he has a master’s degree and gainful employment and WE LIVE IN A BUNGALOW. If I bring Dippy Fings, can I come hang out in your she-shed? 😀
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Yes!!!
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Bless you!
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This weekend can be ‘1/2 Christmas.’ So, drink, dip, and be merry, but don’t sit on the boy’s bed. 🙂
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I’ve sent you a photo of the boy’s bed 😉
Thank you! Honestly, this weekend is a go-go-go one, but Sunday will come and I will rest and dip and sip!
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Gone and…gone. Oh dear. We turned your bedrooms info offices. For us. Sorry no more beds. HAHAHAHAH!
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He doesn’t have a bed here, either. He hasn’t had a bed in our home since we left Georgia six years ago. He had an air mattress for about a month, but it died, so now he couches. You did it right, Lois.
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This too shall pass. Or something like that. Or, praise the Lord and pass the whipped cream.
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Tis true. Everything passes. I’m grateful he came to Indiana and I’m delighted he furthered his education and I am pleased he found a good job in the city. I would like to visit him at his apartment. Pretty please with cherries on top 😀
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Be careful what you wish for. A friend of mine’s son bought a house late last year. She’s been over there every other weekend painting and hanging stuff and fixing stuff and stuff and stuff and stuff.
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Hahaha! Oh my. No. That wouldn’t happen. I’ve still never finished the back hallway here. Me first, Dan! 😛
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🙂
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It does sound like chaos.
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It is indeed. We made it all and sometimes we even thrive and delight in it. Lotta love in the chaos.
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Just be careful. If you nag too much, ask too many questions, want to know where he is at all times of the day and night, make him do chores and help around the house and carry things and clean out the garage, maybe he won’t want to sleep on your sofa, and then you’ll miss him a lot.
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Haha! Yes! You sound like a Pro! 😀
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Good news about your son, glad they finally figured it out. And I agree, this has been an odd summer. It’s half over and I still feel like it just started. I must be getting old…
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Yes, I am so glad, too. I am so grateful he’s no longer hurting or limited, very glad indeed!
We are all getting old. Don’t tell the others.
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Your secret’s safe with me…
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So thankful we are beyond the sibling chaos. We live in the sticks, but have pretty good hospitals. A cluster of retirees are a magnet for health care people wanting a piece of the Medicare pie.
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A cluster of retirees has strong healthcare pull, I agree — good call!
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I imagine that this summer with its weird wet weather has not helped you and your clan feel all the good feels all the time. I get that. Boy do I. I also get the open windows at night thing. We did that this week and all my cares in the world just disappeared. Fall, where are you?
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Fresh air and bug calls, I was in heaven 🙂 Fall is far. Very far. We must first get through the hottest month. I’m pretty sure that’s what the cicadas are excited about.
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You are right on about country living. i have 7 different doctors I have to see and 6 are at CHE. I am not about to move to a corn field and try to find a similar group to work on me. Happy Friday.
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I forbid you to move to the cornfield, Benson! No way! Also, we are Community people, too. I was born there and I do not venture into other healthcare brands.
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OMG, I had three teenage girls in the house at once, and then the youngest hit puberty at the same time I hit menopause. We had a code: “Raging hormones” meant “Cut me some slack, I’m in the throes today. Preemptive apologies.” If the boy one is over TeenBoyStink, I’ll take him. Otherwise, not.
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Marian, that makes sense to me. Bubba smells LOVELY. Very fresh, always. But you can’t take him, you’re too far from his work.
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Oh boy – well, sweetie, you’re not alone. This summer has been one long frustration. Nothing has gone has expected – I’ve pissed off family members and friends. At least the weather has been livable and I’m quite over menopause. But still.
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Sorry to know you’re having a rough go, too. I hope things get better soon.
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Our girls were both here and then gone, then they come back and go again. Finally I think they got settled. They still do occasionally get snippy with each other and us, but mostly it’s all good these days.
And, I love dippy things! 🙂
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Dippy things! 😛
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Interesting. My #1 texted HB to me today with a pic from NH or VT where he’s at a concert (Phish prolly, but I really don’t know). #2 was here today dropping off a self vacuum thingy operable from a cell phone. #3 called to see if I got the gift she was panicked over so I texted her a pic. Then she called.
They can check out any time they like, but they can never leave. Loved the youtube thing. Hope you’re into a great weekend, y’all.
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Sounds like a good brood 🙂 Nice use of Eagles line, Bill. Haha! Weekend good. Amazingly productive 🙂
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I like the song… I am glad your weekend is a good one. Mine too 🙂
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🙂
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love the blacksmith metaphor – and be back to comment more —
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glad Bubba is on the mend
and i wanted to just say how awesome you are –
and don’t forget that your support will anchor him
and stay with him his entire life.
i have appreciated many things my mother did for me – and this summer a few of my siblings and i (from a litter) were sharing how she always did what she could – and always had our back. always.
the couch and coffee table medicine cabinet –
he will always have that memory and the love that goes with
i know it is family and all – and some would say “it is just what family does” –
but it is not always – nope-
and…
hope his apartment unfolds at just the right time
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I appreciate that. Thanks so much. He’s a fabulous human, but he’s even more fabulous when he’s here to VISIT.
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haha – yes – visit being the key word –
and another thing I was just sharing was how when I back to spend summers with my mom (um, in Flrorida back in summer 93 and summer 95) it was because I was broke and needed reprieve. And later I saw that those months were special because I related to her different in my early 20s than I did late teens – and all these decades later (gulp) I am glad I was so needy because if I had more moola – I would have had other arrangements for those summers. Big time –
but I was right where I needed to be – with my momma and whatever grandkids were visiting.
and your 26 year old – by being there – is able to bond with the other siblings and you in a way that will be unlike any other time –
and while not ideal for the long haul – is very special but we don’t always see it at the time
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Agreed. I can see that completely. I’m sure that time was special for you and your mother. Unfortunately, I do not think it’s brought him closer to his sisters, but maybe they will appreciate his visits more later 🙂
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🙂
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Girl, it HAS been a weird summer. And hummus.
And I’m glad it’s not just my household. My husband has been downright ornery for no apparent reason (manstruating, maybe?) and if I have to pick up one more sock or candy wrapper from the bipedal pigs I share my home with, I’m going to F’ing lose it.
Sorry.
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SOCKS AND KLEENEX AND HAIRBANDS — they both got their hair chopped, so where are the hairbands coming from?!?!
Your husband needs a pint of ice cream with some bourbon sauce and a fat nap. Obvs.
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Poor Joey, you’re having a rough time of it … but omg you’re funny when the shit hits the fan.
“I am tremendously proud. You can’t tell …” bwahahahaha!!! I’m laughing out loud because IT’S SO TRUE!!! I think every mother on the face of the earth can relate to that comment on somedays.
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I’m so glad to make you laugh 🙂 Yes, I mean, it’s like anyone else, love the person even though they make you crazy 😛 Thanks so much!
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Glad your son is doing better! ❤
My kiddos fight around the clock, too, it feels like, but they had a night at their grandma's where they didn't fight AT ALL and were so sweet to each other that she swore she thought I'd either drugged them or made threats so bad they were scared straight. I did none. I guess the stars aligned and shit.
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Impressive! My girls are pretty consistent: the usually fight when we’re not home in the afternoon and love each other most before bed. Sister time is very important.
The older two fought much much more.
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As far as fighting goes, it’s good the siblings have each other. My girl and I had puberty and menopause at the same time with just the two of us in the house (and the poor dogs.) I could always say, ” Lower. Your. Voice. You’re upsetting the dogs.” Sometimes that would work after repeating it 4 times. Sounds like you have just the right amount of support and compassion.
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I feel your pain, Joey. For me menopause wasn’t too bad as we only had one teen left in the house by that stage, so no sibling drama. But when I was expecting her we had four teens living with us in a small house and the drama was bouncing off the walls. Luckily, we lived in the countryside at the time, surrounded by green fields and forests and I think that had a calming effect as nobody killed anyone. It makes a huge difference just having one offspring living at home when menopause arrives.
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Dippy Fings are good! Strangely enough, we are in a phase on no sibling rivalry. I glad that Bubba made it to a hospital that fixed him all up! I know too well about those kind that just shouldn’t exist because they miss everything. Blah. I do have an extra bedroom now, but I think it’d be much too far for Bubba. Plus, I like it for my backup on those nights when insomnia + sharing a bed with a snorer gives me a place for reprieve. lol. We are in the H-O-T. It makes me wonder where I live. Feels like Florida…without the ocean breeze. I’m glad work is good! 🙂
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