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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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She rolled in late on a Saturday night, tired from a long day at work. With one arm wrapped around a bag of dirty laundry, she sported a shiny new nose piercing, a slightly twisted combination of new found independence, but a hold on the ability to save a few quarters and use family’s household appliances.
This mom didn’t care-I was happy to have her home, even if it was only for twenty-four hours. I had some of the best sleep ever that night, knowing my house was full again.
Of course, laundry wasn’t the only item on the agenda for her trip home; in fact, it was really only a small part. The plan was really all about spending time with her siblings, especially Simon. The one who misses his big sister terribly, who wants to call her every day and sometimes sneaks a call in, not understanding that she can’t just pick up the phone whenever to take a call-even though she really wants to.
This weekend was special because it is when the annual city craft/food/game festival occurs downtown. One weekend that has become a tradition in our house, one where we walk down and peruse the booths, fill up sarsaparilla bottles and indulge in greasy, sweet funnel cakes. The last couple of years work or whatever has kept me from being able to attend, but big sister was always willing to take her little bro on his festival adventure.
When she left for college, I think he was a little worried they wouldn’t have their standing date. He asked about it lots days and days before she was supposed to come home. I assured him that yes, she would be here.
Yes, you will go to the festival.Yes, she is going to take you.
I came home from work that Sunday and there was chaos in my house, one bubbly boy very excited to be hanging out with his big sis, satisfied with their trip to the fall festival. There were neighborhood kids hanging out, which suddenly made me aware that my daughter’s absence not only touched our lives, but the lives of many people. At that moment I was even happier that she had made time to come home for a short reprieve.
Hamburgers and roasted potatoes are far from gourmet, but my oldest scarfed them down, grateful for a home cooked meal. I could have been eating cereal and would have been content, because my house was full and that felt so right.
The time for her to go home came too soon, and she left as quickly as she had come; only now the laundry was clean. A certain little boy hugged her tight, taking it in and trying to make it last and the next weekend comes along.
With a promise that she would text me when she arrived, she took her clean laundry and her shiny new nose ring and went back to school.
And with the reassurance that she had arrived, I slept well that night.
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