Fix Your Face

The dust is settling. All the crap required to go anywhere overnight has been returned to its proper locations here at home. Buckaroo is napping (I hold my breath). And I'm sort of shivering away the frenzy that I seem to acquire as a mom when we stay away from home.

Woodworker and I had a gift certificate to a great rental house/cabin in the woods near Mt. Baker. I invited my brothers and sisters and their little ones to join us. The setting was glorious, the accommodations delightful, and the company sublime. My most fabulous friend AmyW came from Minneapolis to join us.

She and I fell in friendlove several years ago when she was the manager of the apartment complex where I lived for a time in Seattle. She moved to MPLS right after I moved to the north woods to be the Woodworker's wife. That means we haven't seen each other for over two years, which is super stupid. She'd never met Buckaroo; she'd not seen our new house since we moved from the woods to the Skagit Valley. We missed each other tremendously. So many occasions I've wished I had her here to help me make decisions, to help me pull my head out of my butt, to keep me from disintegrating into frump, to celebrate with, to cry with, to create a hangover with, to appreciate with. I've had so many AmyW moments without her!!!

We totally bawled when we met up, and again when she left. I could not control myself. It was one of those hard cries that you can't stop. When she drove away, down the long driveway and out of the woods on Sunday, I wanted to have a tantrum. Instead, I cried into Woodworker's neck. And he, perfectly, said "Amy would say 'fix your face'." I stopped crying but it was before I wanted to stop. I'm still not done, dang it. But I think that is a crucial element of adulthood. Sometimes one must cease crying prematurely. Sucks.

But the weekend was stuffed full of giggles and dumb jokes, new jokes and old jokes, excellent food, absolutely beautiful weather, and a very much needed change of scenery. Plus, it was quite affordable. Now, I must admit, it was a great weekend in the "new normal". Still had crap sleep because Buckaroo has a broken sleepometer. Still constantly monitoring, moving, cataloging, cleaning, kicking, and begrudging the piles of gear needed for the tiny creature's existence. Still missing out on some things because Buckaroo has to nap. Still worrying about potential disasters in unfamiliar surroundings. Still reeling from it, really. So, it was "the new great." My sisters keep proving to me that it gets easier. Or different, in an easierish way. And I will not forget the monitor next time.

Here is a pic of some of us at Artist's Point, the very end of the road on Mt. Baker Hwy. Its the top of the world, seemingly.

L to R: Leo, little Nik, preggo sassy sis Olga, the Woodworker with Buckaroo, moi with dumb hair, fabulous precious AmyW. Various other siblings and babies not pictured.

August and September are full of mementos - miraculous birthdays, tragic anniversaries, glorious anniversaries, holidays and getaways - memories to feel, memories to make. And it ain't easy. Now I look towards October, my favorite month. The visual drama of autumn. We have little planned, which is good. There is always much to do around here in the "fixer upper" department. Also, ahem, the cable guy is here right now. So, there will be football.

I love you, AmyW!!! Thank you for coming and reminding me what I need to know!!!
xo nellie