warm memories from a cold season

I am amazed at how time disappears. My life is slow-paced and relaxing, for the most part; yet, time still goes fast. I guess that's humbling proof that I'm getting older. But with age comes experience...which generally inspires wisdom. At least there's one thing to anticipate!

I've been spending a lot of time with my family... well, when they're home, that is. Our best conversations usually happen over the dinner table where we compile a ridiculous assortment of random facts, dreams, songs, and memories. I discovered that Mom and I can still laugh until we're both in tears...even when the incident isn't that funny!

I had a "most embarrassing moment" the other week. This particular day started after a night of three hours of sleep, continued with nine hours with a sick, fussy baby, and tragically ended with a stop to the grocery store. Please note that I am not an experienced or efficient grocery shopper. Nevertheless, Grandma and Mom had sent me on this errand with a tidy little stack of coupons. I found everything with relative ease, minus the fact that I retraced my tracks several times and bumped into the same people more than a few times. I unloaded my groceries at the counter, made polite conversation with the cashier, and then politely refused to load up the cart to pull around and pick up the groceries. "I can carry them!" I declared confidently. However, my confidence faltered as I loaded up one arm with a 10-lb bag of potatoes, a gallon of ice cream, and several containers of laundry soap. While I was fishing for the key in my pocket, the man behind me valiantly picked up two gallons of milk and assured me that he would carry them out to my car for me. I was mortified, but led the way to the car. I stuck the key in the truck lock and twisted... well, I tried to twist. The trunk would not open. I shot a nervous glance back at the patient gentleman holding two gallons of milk along with his own groceries. "You can set them down. I'll get them!" I chuckled as I went to the driver's door. "Oh, I'll wait. I'm not in a hurry." So he bemusedly stood by as I unlocked the driver's door and reached back with groceries dangling off my arms to unlock the backseat (power locks should be a necessity for moments like this). When I finally was safely in my car, I laughed the whole way home.

I wrote about Asta the snoring dog in my last post. Here is an Asta update: I fear she is quite disillusioned with me. I made her go outside in the rain after she'd made it clear she didn't want to. She gave me sad eyes, but I was firm. Then I forgot about her until she was shivering and extremely grumpy. I would've felt worse if I hadn't been the brunt of her reproachful eyes for the next several hours. She did try to make up with me when I was on the floor with Andrew. She placed to furry paws in my lap, and scurried away when I lept up and yelled at her. I assume she will have to work through some emotional baggage before she takes such liberties again.

I had a mouse in my room (notice the tense of the verb HAD. *victorious chuckle*). I was on the floor by my desk when I heard a rustle outside my closed door. I assumed it was someone outside of the door and didn't even look up until something black squeezed under the door and shot for cover. Startled, I believe my first thought was "Cockroach!" (the result of spending a year in Mexico, I suppose). For the moment, he was safely hidden. Later in the day, I was on my bed when I heard another rustle and then a pointy black head peeked out from under my desk. He saw me and froze. He then eyed me while judging the pros and cons of exposing himself to an obvious villain...and promptly vanished again. I maliciously recruited my brother to set a trap. By nighttime, we had our long-tailed friend.

Despite cold (and colds), life has been good. I've had good times with family and friends: long walks, deep talks, hot chocolate, conversations in faltering Spanish, Mexican restaurants, offers of green tomato pie, times in the field during harvest, Tony's Italian love songs, cookie bakes at Grandma's house, and good books. God has been faithful in the most encouraging and frustrating situations of adjusting to life in the States. I suspect it will take a long time to feel entirely adjusted, but I'll just live un día a la vez!