Lessons on Starting Over

One of my dear friends said to me tonight "I knew I had to make this job work because I don't know how many first years I have left in me."  I have turned into a bit of a crank.  I didn't know this about myself until I started a new job (at age 47) this fall.  I still have a lot of energy, a bit of humor, and some flexibility.  I also carry with me an internal standard of how to do my work.  When I was younger, I looked for an external framework.  Around job # 3, I realized that some external frameworks are termite-ridden and you better build a back-up for yourself.

The building takes awhile but if you do it mindfully, you get pretty attached to it.  I like mine, that's why I bring it with me now.  The trick is in presenting your framework without dissing everyone else.  There are many ways to do things, I just know what works for me.  I hope that I am not holding up my way as the way but just a way.  Cut to home.

When you go back to work, you have to turn over some stuff to your partner.  Then, you have to be OK with how he/she does it.  Go easy on yourselves, all the way around.  I was was giving this very speech to a friend when my husband casually walked up to me and said "Oh, I was supposed to pick up Luke"...and turned around and left to take care of that.  We are eating on the run, skipping food groups, and the house is never, ever, ever in drop-in condition but we will find our balance. 

Meanwhile, my kids see us both sharing in more of the responsibilities of home and that work is equally important to both of us.  Two salaries in this economy make a good back up plan.  Some of my friendships seem to be taking a hit but in the end, your friends hang with you through all facets of your life and so you might as well get that sorted out now, before illness, old age, and hospice.

See, I think I have maintained my cheery outlook:)

Peace to us all.

Notes from the Pew

Let me start by saying "Holy Cow".  Working full-time after 10 years of doing the part-time thing is an adjustment that I completely underrated.  Kinda of like childbirth, heart surgery, and writing my thesis.  All good things that looked less complicated on paper:)

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/HouseSession5258/start/0/stop/241

Take a look at this CSpan clip.  It is our very own Reverend Judith leading the opening prayer on Wednesday at the House of Representatives.  Then, she gets cited by Representative McGovern for doing good. 

  Reverend Judith has set the bar high by doing good all over the world but I'm going to start smaller, and just do good within spitting distance.  In fact, I may just start by not doing bad:)

I hope to get back to writing more often and staying in touch with all of you more when I swim to the surface.  Who knew I could hold my breathe underwater for 3 weeks?

Peace to you all....I miss this blogging energy!

It's time

In no particular order of importance, we have survived the following this week:

1.  Returned from Bermuda unscathed by rough waters or sunburns.  We did get a coral rash but it was a small price to pay for seeing the beautiful underwater vistas.

2.  Hurricane Irene with no power loss.  We know have 100 lbs of extra ice and may try our hand at building a luge run this week-end.

3.  Started a new job in a great place with great people.  To be yourself with like-minded colleagues in a school with an appreciation of what you bring to the table is nothing short of miraculous.  Amen and Blessed be.

4.  Eldest started middle school.  Now that I think of it, this one should be right at the top of the list.  He is doing a great job and I am so very proud of his courage.  Youngest started the 3rd grade, and she is rocking it as well.

5.  Husband is acclimating to the fact that his company declared bankruptcy right before we left on vacation.  He has decided to not freak out and I am trying oh so hard to meet him in Calmsville.  He hangs out there a lot and I only visit so I'm trying to get the lay of the land.

6.  Soccer, karate, and one asthma attack.  I won't get into how I was reading my Kindle at karate while my son was hacking up a lung at the dojo and one judgemental yet prescient mom said...and I'm quoting here "your son has an awful cough".......no, no, those are seasonal allergies...."Really, sounds like a bad case of bronchitis to me."  Hard stare.  He is being treated for allergy induced asthma and the moral of this story is do not ignore all bitchy people.

In short, we survived the summer with all its glorious together time.  I loved it but when it's time, it's time.