A few weeks ago I was leaving Big Lots with some Pampers and diaper wipes for a baby shower I attended that same day and a sack of groceries. I pop the hatchback to quickly throw my newly acquired goods into the car. As I am doing so a bum, a man who is at least 6'4 and every bit of 330 lbs, approaches me in the parking lot to ask for some money so that he can go to the McDonald's. He asks for cash. I respond, "I don't have anything."
He takes a few steps closer, "Come on! I'm hungry." He demands, "Just give me a few bucks!"
At this point I loose it. This man does not know me, what I do for a living, my situation, that I have been on a strict diet and exercise regimen for weeks, in spite of that I have been spending money on delicious groceries that I cannot eat, and I am hungry. He is big and he wants to bully me into a few bucks for McDonald's or whatever is he is going to purchase. I put both of my hands up into fists in front of my face. I squinch my face and bend at the waist and knees in a modified squatted position. As the bum walks closer I jump up screaming the first thing that pops into my head, "I'm taking care of three kids that aren't even mine! What don't you understand? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING!!!"
He looks terrifyingly at me like I might shoot period blood out of my every orifice at him. He puts his hands up like a police suspect waiting to be frisked. Very quickly he backs away, "Okay, okay. Okay ma'am, okay."
I feel like an awful person for screaming what I said. I'm not always perfect, but I am always proud of these Little Rottens that are not even mine, but act too much like me to deny them.
On Sunday morning I wake up to hear the front door brushing open, "Jeff, wake up. Someone is in the house. I just heard the front door opening."
"What? You are asleep. How do you hear the front door opening?"
"I don't know, but someone is in the house."
He comes back into the bedroom, "It was someone for you. She's gone now. Go find what she left for you."
In the kitchen, left on the stove top, is a dozen hot pink and red zebra striped roses with a beautiful hand written note from Pandora as a gift for "Maternal Figure Day." The note brought me to tears. I may not be perfect, but Pandora's appreciation shows me that I do something right.
This week we have some big things happening.
He takes a few steps closer, "Come on! I'm hungry." He demands, "Just give me a few bucks!"
At this point I loose it. This man does not know me, what I do for a living, my situation, that I have been on a strict diet and exercise regimen for weeks, in spite of that I have been spending money on delicious groceries that I cannot eat, and I am hungry. He is big and he wants to bully me into a few bucks for McDonald's or whatever is he is going to purchase. I put both of my hands up into fists in front of my face. I squinch my face and bend at the waist and knees in a modified squatted position. As the bum walks closer I jump up screaming the first thing that pops into my head, "I'm taking care of three kids that aren't even mine! What don't you understand? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING!!!"
He looks terrifyingly at me like I might shoot period blood out of my every orifice at him. He puts his hands up like a police suspect waiting to be frisked. Very quickly he backs away, "Okay, okay. Okay ma'am, okay."
I feel like an awful person for screaming what I said. I'm not always perfect, but I am always proud of these Little Rottens that are not even mine, but act too much like me to deny them.
On Sunday morning I wake up to hear the front door brushing open, "Jeff, wake up. Someone is in the house. I just heard the front door opening."
"What? You are asleep. How do you hear the front door opening?"
"I don't know, but someone is in the house."
He comes back into the bedroom, "It was someone for you. She's gone now. Go find what she left for you."
In the kitchen, left on the stove top, is a dozen hot pink and red zebra striped roses with a beautiful hand written note from Pandora as a gift for "Maternal Figure Day." The note brought me to tears. I may not be perfect, but Pandora's appreciation shows me that I do something right.
This week we have some big things happening.
On Monday, Maverick earned the rank
of Life Scout in the Boy Scouts. His next step is working towards Eagle. I am so very proud of him and I know his Dad is too!
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| Maverick is being congratulated by a troop leader. |
Also this week, Phaedra had her first and last performance with the 201 group at School of Rock. She is moving up to the Performance group! Congratulations to her! That's so awesome!
Here are a few photos from her performance.
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| Phaedra's teacher, Myra tuning guitars backstage before the performance. |
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| The Green Room backstage before the 201 performance. Phaedra is in the background being too cool for a fun group shot. |
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| Marc Gurley, the owner of School of Rock, introducing the 201 performance at the 1884 Lounge in Minglewood Hall. |
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| I warned Phaedra that when she began performing keys I would be the worst kind of stage-Mom photographer since I specialize in music photography. She thought it was a threat. This is her moment of realization that I am telling the truth. |
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| She is a serious Rock 'n Roll artist. |
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| This is my favorite shot. Phaedra remains this pensive while she practices at home. |
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