Friday, March 24, 2023

Loosen Up, Woman

I am SO far behind on my regular routine this evening and as I have discussed before, I am way too rigid in my ways and days. I have got to learn to be a little more flexible. At least. Or is it time to simply accept that this is how I am and that this rigidity in routine is a crutch and a coping method? 

I don't know. 
I'm tired tonight. I've been somewhat tired and quiet all day although it was a busy day. Jessie and Vergil had to go to Jacksonville to deal with some business and so I picked up the boys from their schools and then brought them out here. The plan was that they would spend the night at Lily's house to celebrate Gibson's birthday. So they hung out here for awhile and had a snack and we read some books and then they watched a few minutes of TV while I made up our bed with the sheets I washed this morning because it's Friday and Friday is the day for clean sheets and that's all there is to it, so sayeth the Lord.

Then I took them over to Lily's where I got hugs from all her kids and Levon and August flowed into the general population there like cane syrup on a biscuit and could barely stop exploring their cousins' toys long enough to kiss me good-bye. I tried to get a picture of all of them but didn't have the heart to force them to pose for me. Maggie did let me take her photo sitting in front of the vanity her mama gave her for Christmas, so lovingly painted and glittered. 


She showed me how she had her eye-shadows and brushes and nail polish all arranged so neatly. She loves it. What girly-girl wouldn't? And as you can see, August and Levon are already plundering her things too. 
It's going to be quite an evening, I am sure. I told Lauren when I left that she and Lily were brave women to take on two extra for the night. There is a lot going on in that house. Not just the children but two cats, two dogs, and a rat habitat condominium.  
I am sure they will all survive. Well, the kids at least. I am not quite as sure about Lily and Lauren.

Mr. Moon is on his way home from the river. He took the boat out, just to cruise a little, get out of the house and into this beautiful spring world. He's had enough of sitting in his chair and I don't blame him. I know he's a happy man. 
And I will be a happy woman, sipping a martini and being grateful that my years of day-to-day child-rearing are behind me. I think even when my children were still at home, I resisted changes in my schedule whether due to ball games or unplanned events I had to attend. I feel quite certain that one of the main reasons I never did pursue my dream of becoming a midwife was because if there is anything less certain than a midwife's schedule, I do not know what it is. 

Anyway, it is definitely time for me to start our supper. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love From Your OCD Friend in Florida...Ms. Moon




29 comments:

  1. There's worse things than a little rigidity, Ms. Moon! I don't envy the adults in that household either. Sounds as if they're fine with a lot of action though.

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    1. Yes. They have definitely earned their stripes.

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  2. Happy Friday to you! Your Maggie is so beautiful😍Have a sweet evening..❤️ xo, Rigmor

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  3. I am absolutely ridiculous when it comes to routine and schedule. It's definitely one of the things I love about BOH. Like the other day I was thinking how you'll be saying First of May, First of May, 😀. And I can't wait!!!

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    1. Yes! I will be saying that! I look forward to that all year because it reminds me of Lynn and makes me smile.

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  4. sometimes it's just time to change it up......without guilt...whether routine or *crutch*....... and be Ok with it. I'm working on that too. Not sure if you are having grands for sleepover tonite or not......but at least clean sheets and Martini's on tap!
    Susan M

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    1. *crutch* was not the word I intended to use - it so often has a negative connotation but I can't go back and delete. I meant *coping mechanism*...... Susan M

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    2. Hell, woman! I'm the one who said "crutch" and I mean it.
      No, we did not have any grands. They were ALL at Lily and Lauren's.
      The martinis and clean sheets were both delightful.

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  5. I fully understand the love of routine. Covid was a godsend in many ways! No unexpected interruptions.
    I hate change in any way and yet I crave it at the same time. I think I am a bit buggered.

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    1. I felt so guilty during covid because I had the perfect excuse to stay home. I think it was one of the happiest times of my life. Ironically, my anxiety levels were very low.
      I, too, sometimes crave change but it has to be a sort of change I really want. Like you picking up and moving- that sounds terrific is it's what you really want to do and I think it is quite brave of you.

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  6. I love Maggie's sparkly vanity and hope one day I can do something similar for the twins. I like routines too, although I'm less rigid since I retired and don't have to be at work on time.

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    1. Maggie adores that vanity. Her mama made it just for HER! No sharing needed.
      Retirement can be a big relief, I bet.

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  7. I have found that in becoming older there's more routine in my daily life and less randomness which might seem strange to say as I was once a schoolteacher with a timetable and an annual schedule to follow. I guess there's comfort to be found in rigidity - like a sapling tree being supported by a post driven into the ground.

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    1. Yes but we are hardly saplings anymore, are we? We are the post, I believe, that the sapling is supported by. But wait- what's the sapling? EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD! Or at least that's how I feel sometimes.

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  8. everytime I think about changing my morning routine, between waking and breakfast, thinking is as far as it gets.

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    1. Oh god, Ellen- once more we are so much the same.

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  9. You seem to enjoy life, Ms. Moon, and that is what counts.

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  10. I see what Maggie is "into" these days, as always, mermaid outfits and pretty shiny colors. No babies? The cousins are so connected, something that they will cherish forever, well, for as long as they can anyway.
    I suppose routine is a good thing, I would not know- I don't think I have ever done the same thing twice. My downfall. (one of the many), going where the wind blows, gathering no moss , rolling with the punches- sounds like a good thing to me. Mr.Man is opposite- so we get both sides.

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    1. And it is the flexible tree in the forest that does not get blown over. I admire that in you so much!
      Maggie does indeed live in a world of color, glitter, sparkle, and tulle. But she can still kick ass.

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  11. I can only imagine how hard it would be to have a job where you'd be on call all the time. I mean, reporting is a little like that, but only in the most dire emergencies was I ever called in on my day off. (It happened a few times, though!)

    I can identify with Mr. Moon's need to get out of the house at this time of year!

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    1. Midwifery is absolutely a calling. It's so hard to never know where you'll be at specific times. And the women who do it who have children- good Lord! And yet they mostly do. I admire them so much.

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  12. Give in to your tiredness and rest xx

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  13. There are worse things than schedules. Sure, you could change your sheets whenever you happen to feel like it instead of on Fridays-- but would you be able to look back on all these years of blog-writing if you hadn't scheduled your writing time?

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    1. And that is a part of it. Some things absolutely have to be scheduled in order to get them done. My blog-writing time is sacred to me. I know that sounds ridiculous but it's the absolute truth.

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  14. If it's any consolation, just reading about you putting line dried sheets on the bed and having your Friday martini with the Mr wraps up my week and puts a bow on it. Routine gives us a secure framework. Even yours. As always, your grandkid posts are inspiring and heartwarming. Sending love. xx0x0 N2

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  15. 37paddington:
    Cousins are are true joy in life, those you enjoy at least. I don’t know where I or my children would be without our cousins. Glad Mr. moon got out on the river.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.