Setting: England
Primary character: You decide!
Enter stage right or left, I’m not sure, this is new
Cathedral Chaos Part I
We have a stone patio for our outdoor space. Neighbouring us, is a vast green field maintained by the Cathedral. There are many field trips attended by younger years at the Cathedral. The children regularly play in the field. Our girls often, daily, play in the green area at the Cathedral. An appreciable setting to get their energy out. A typical light rain, the girls were playing. Raincoats and bogs. Mum, working around the clock, Kate enters, grabs a snack. We chat an adventure away. She spins off into her room.
Moments and moments passed. Mum continues with her bustling house details. Caroline comes flying in, cheeks red, and eyes swelled. Mom have you seen Kate? Yes, she’s playing in her bedroom. Finger fiercely pointed, you need to talk with her right now! She needs to get into trouble. You better give her a time out! We were playing outside and then Helen and I could not find Kate. We screamed her name. Then we ran around the Cathedral 3-4 times looking and screaming her name. We thought we lost Kate in England! Caroline was adamant! And then sweet Caroline teared up from her bubbled frustration. We thought she was lost in England. That line hit me, hit me hard with a chuckle. At home would she say, we thought Kate was lost in Michigan or the USA.
Of course, Kate needs to tell her older sisters where she is going. We did have a talk. I’m sorry mommy. No time out. We do not do those.
Disclaimer: The size of the Cathedral and its grounds is a very good city block if not more. The girls received good steps that day.
Sisters
A rare moment I overheard, Caroline, I know you love yourself so much, but do you love me? Yes, Helen! Of course, I love you very much. The three girls walk often down the streets holding hands. How many combinations of holding hands with another person can you make using five people? That’s our puzzle. It’s a fun one.
My Love Pounds for You!
Before bed, Steve went into a story, I killed a spider by you the other night. It was huge– I mean it was huge. You know Lawrence’s tarantula….okay, it wasn’t a tarantula, but I think as big. Okay, it was a tarantula. A UK tarantula, a domestic tarantula. He showed me with his hand, he had to use both hands to show me the size of the spider with legs. Wow that is a big fish story! It crawled into my work shirt pile (right by my side of our bed in our tiny-tiny room). I had to dig thru all those clothes to find him. He tried to crawl away and I got him!
That is Steve’s “bear in the woods” story for me. That he would sacrifice his life for me. He DID sacrifice for me. Moments like that are how he shows, how he tells me he loves me. He might not always be great with words, or PDA, but I sure know we have something special.
Van to Volvo
Before Steve and I got married, I always wanted a Volvo station wagon. Chocolate brown. I wanted four kids. Two boys, two girls. You never know what you will get, right Forest Gump? Life has taken me to places, to depths that I never wanted to be, and then has brought me back to exactly where I long to be. Life is unexpected and life is full circle. The Volvo, maybe full circle—likely not, but a big smile for me. I’m still trying to teach Steve to drive a manual (stick). I am getting better at turn arounds. If I take the first exit, I’m in the first lane, if I take the 2nd, 3rd or 4th exit, I’m in the middle or 3rd turn-around lane, because it is just rude to be in the first. I can get to my daughter’s school without navigation. And I am listening to music while driving.
Discipline Strategy
I run the dishwasher twice for good measure. Once with the pod of soap dispensed and once without, to give them a strong rinse. Stressed? I can run a great distance again. Or eat a spoonful–or five of Nutella—and it is just as tasteful here as it is in America (side note: when I lived in Royal Oak and was pregnant with Caroline I asked the manager at Oakridge Market if he could stock shelves with Nutella—love it!). On this particular day, I went for the Nutella jar. Geez! What a disappointment! A huge taste of soap. It was drinking Sprite when it’s really water. Defeated? Absolutely not! Grabbed another spoon, rinsed and repeated under the faucet. Round two was a success. And from that day on I run the dishwasher twice. Soap in the mouth, is soap in the mouth, with or without chocolate. Nutella and soap, try it. Your child will never swear again.
Cathedral Chaos Part II
Our first viewing of our house, the realtor highlighted the entrance of the house and the stone used from the Cathedral. Our front sidewalk has nice slabs of stone. We have a cobble-stone street. It is lovely! Across the street from us, in a long row of houses dwells the faculty and bishops for the Cathedral. The main bishop’s quarters (diagonal from us) is magnificent.
We are still puzzling together the trash/recycling schedule. And here it is, I have it, trash is every other week, recycling and food waste is every week. We saw a few black garbage bags out on recycling day. Steve’s leaving for work. The girls are sleeping. Don’t worry, I’ll get the trash out.
We finished decorating/organising one room in our house. A lot of work. I painted it. I sealed the empty can of paint. I threw it in the trash. The paint can sat in the trash bag on our patio. The top of the bag had an opening. It sat through many rains. Do you see where this is leading? It was the last bag I dragged to our sidewalk. I did not remember the paint can in the bag. Surely, there was a hole in the bottom and a visible wet paint trail. It led from my back alley to my front stoop.
Recycling truck shows up. Love, garbage day is every other week. Today we just pick up recycling. I was frustrated as I saw a big paint puddle. I know, but we saw garbage bags out, so we just thought…..” No worries, love. He took it, he picks up the Cathedral’s trash every week. A few minutes behind was the real recycling truck. Now what to do about this paint puddle? I grabbed a pitcher and a small paint bucket (CLEAN!) and a scrub brush. I poured water on the puddle. Scrubbed. It spread and became worse. It was paint, not a paint puddle. I continued to run in the house and pour water over it. Now, this is seriously sac-religious. After some grit, it looked decent. In the midst, hey love, as you’re trying to conceal the evidence, there is a long trail over here too. Yes! I know, but that’s just on the gravel. Adds character.
Slightly anxious that the Cathedral staff may notice and per say be, disappointed. Windows are thin. Peter, Paul, John and Jeremy were outside my window talking. Not far from the crime scene. They were talking about a fundraiser for church. Likely, to cover the cost of the walk, or our rent when we get evicted. If approached my response, I prayed to Jesus, I asked for forgiveness and I said AMEN! I heard the cherub, Halleluiah!
It was fine. I understand. Anyone would be upset.
Everyone calls everyone “love” here. The women to me, everyone. It’s a special feeling.
Last One
I’ve made a few mum friends, it’s not facebook official, but they’re in my contacts and we have shared texts. I know a great friendship is budding. A mum came to my untidy house and we shared a capri-sun. The next day I went to her house in a similar situation.
And if I can count the entire library staff as my friend, then add them to my contact list. They know my name. How are you settling in Mrs. Sexton? Are these computers working yet? Yes, Mrs. Sexton, I’m turning them on right now. And Dave from the “key shop, shoe repair, dry cleaning.” I get free keys, because I am such a loyal customer. That was after four dry-cleaning drop-offs. Becoming local!
Xx
Abbey Row 