Sunday, July 24, 2005
Hi. This is javajennifer, posting for my sister, Sara. She is trapped in Omaha, under heavy objects, and therefore can't post a blog.
Quite seriously, she is on assignment for her job, and even though they give her a laptop for work, she has no access to email or internet from the laptop. So it is almost as bad as being trapped under heavy objects.
She is halfway through a four week assignment. She is without her hubbie, cat, dog, or internet. Thank goodness the sixth Harry Potter came out so she has something to do with all that time. Read slowly, Boo Boo!
She'll be back soon . . .
Quite seriously, she is on assignment for her job, and even though they give her a laptop for work, she has no access to email or internet from the laptop. So it is almost as bad as being trapped under heavy objects.
She is halfway through a four week assignment. She is without her hubbie, cat, dog, or internet. Thank goodness the sixth Harry Potter came out so she has something to do with all that time. Read slowly, Boo Boo!
She'll be back soon . . .
Friday, July 08, 2005
She's Baa-aaaack
Scary. That scary, freaky little girl who was haunting me last summer was back this week. I had almost forgotten her. Occasionally, I have seen her knocking on other neighbors' doors and being turned away. I was afraid that she would show up on our doorstep on Halloween and scare me, but I guess she didn't want to go out in the rain.
I was working in my office and Kevin was working outside in the yard. He came in calling my name in a way that told me something was terribly awry.
Kevin: Ummmm...Sara?
Me: What? What's wrong?
Kevin: That freaky little girl is outside.
Me: (shaking my head wildly back and forth)
Kevin: She wants to pet the dog. I told her Top was sick.
Me: (still violently shaking my head "no") No. Deal with her. Make her go away.
Kevin: No way. Nuh-uh. She has all this make up on and she's standing out there in this little bikini thing. It feels weird. You do it.
He had a point. It wasn't appropriate for him to be out there conversing with a ten year old little freak in a bikini and a face full of makeup. Where is her mother? I go to the front door and open it slightly.
Me: Yes?
Shannon: HI! DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
Me: Sort of. (I lied. Of course I remember her. She burns down my house and laughs at the horror in my nightmares.)
Shannon: Can I pet your dog?
Me: No. Top's sick. Really sick. She's not taking visitors.
Shannon: WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER?
Me: She's, umm, sick.
Hearing her name mentioned, Top, who is not sick, came prancing to the door, bouncing around happily to be having company. She loves children, even evil ones.
Shannon: HEY! THERE SHE IS!! (She starts pushing her way in the door to get to Top) ARE YOU SICK? ARE YOU SIIIIIIICK?
Me: Yeah, she's...uhh...ummm....really sick.
Shannon: I CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF HER!
Me: No!
Shannon: ONE TIME, MY DOG THREW UP! I GUESS HE WAS SICK, TOO!
Me: (silence)
Shannon: CAN I PET YOUR CAT?
Me: No. You can't pet the cat. Go on home.
Shannon: (deflated) Alright.
We locked the door and peeked out the front windows to watch her leave. She went to her bike and danced around for a bit pulling on her swim suit as if there was a bee. Finally she picked up her bike and took off. When she had turned the corner I told Kevin it was safe to go back outside.
Kevin: She's creepy.
Me: I know! I told you!
Scary. That scary, freaky little girl who was haunting me last summer was back this week. I had almost forgotten her. Occasionally, I have seen her knocking on other neighbors' doors and being turned away. I was afraid that she would show up on our doorstep on Halloween and scare me, but I guess she didn't want to go out in the rain.
I was working in my office and Kevin was working outside in the yard. He came in calling my name in a way that told me something was terribly awry.
Kevin: Ummmm...Sara?
Me: What? What's wrong?
Kevin: That freaky little girl is outside.
Me: (shaking my head wildly back and forth)
Kevin: She wants to pet the dog. I told her Top was sick.
Me: (still violently shaking my head "no") No. Deal with her. Make her go away.
Kevin: No way. Nuh-uh. She has all this make up on and she's standing out there in this little bikini thing. It feels weird. You do it.
He had a point. It wasn't appropriate for him to be out there conversing with a ten year old little freak in a bikini and a face full of makeup. Where is her mother? I go to the front door and open it slightly.
Me: Yes?
Shannon: HI! DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
Me: Sort of. (I lied. Of course I remember her. She burns down my house and laughs at the horror in my nightmares.)
Shannon: Can I pet your dog?
Me: No. Top's sick. Really sick. She's not taking visitors.
Shannon: WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER?
Me: She's, umm, sick.
Hearing her name mentioned, Top, who is not sick, came prancing to the door, bouncing around happily to be having company. She loves children, even evil ones.
Shannon: HEY! THERE SHE IS!! (She starts pushing her way in the door to get to Top) ARE YOU SICK? ARE YOU SIIIIIIICK?
Me: Yeah, she's...uhh...ummm....really sick.
Shannon: I CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF HER!
Me: No!
Shannon: ONE TIME, MY DOG THREW UP! I GUESS HE WAS SICK, TOO!
Me: (silence)
Shannon: CAN I PET YOUR CAT?
Me: No. You can't pet the cat. Go on home.
Shannon: (deflated) Alright.
We locked the door and peeked out the front windows to watch her leave. She went to her bike and danced around for a bit pulling on her swim suit as if there was a bee. Finally she picked up her bike and took off. When she had turned the corner I told Kevin it was safe to go back outside.
Kevin: She's creepy.
Me: I know! I told you!
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Magic
I opened my eyes. The air was snapping with the excitement and promise of the day. I breathed deep. It was the Fourth of July. It has been many years since we have lived in that house with that yard, that pool, and those friends. Still, when I think of the Fourth of July, I think of my childhood and the best day of every year.
The holiday started early and ended late. Friends old and new gathered at hour house annually to celebrate. Our house and yard smelled like hot dogs, chlorine, sweat, sunscreen, and cookies. There was an abundance of food. My brothers and sister and I had our best friends and were thoroughly entertained. My mom would smile as she hosted the event easily, chatting with her friends, some of whom she only saw this one day of the year. My dad manned the grill, drank beer, and played horseshoe with the men. The day progressed in a hot July haze, kids and adults alike in and out of the pool.
Dusk is when the magic happened. Tired and burnt from the festivities, mothers and children settled together for the show. The fathers set off the extravaganza of fireworks into the country sky while we watched in wonder, snuggling just a little closer to our moms and holding our ears. Finally, the last sparkler is out, the last firework gone, and the smoke is settling. My parents see our guests off and thank them for attendance. I don't ever remember going to bed. I'm sure I was carried there and tucked in by my dad. The next day all is as it was. That's all we got. Just one magical day for the whole year.
I didn't do anything for the Fourth of July yesterday. Kevin was working. When it stopped raining, I put out the flag and stared at it awhile as it hung heavily in the humid air. I thought of what the day used to mean to me and wondered where the magic went, wondered if I would find it again.
I opened my eyes. The air was snapping with the excitement and promise of the day. I breathed deep. It was the Fourth of July. It has been many years since we have lived in that house with that yard, that pool, and those friends. Still, when I think of the Fourth of July, I think of my childhood and the best day of every year.
The holiday started early and ended late. Friends old and new gathered at hour house annually to celebrate. Our house and yard smelled like hot dogs, chlorine, sweat, sunscreen, and cookies. There was an abundance of food. My brothers and sister and I had our best friends and were thoroughly entertained. My mom would smile as she hosted the event easily, chatting with her friends, some of whom she only saw this one day of the year. My dad manned the grill, drank beer, and played horseshoe with the men. The day progressed in a hot July haze, kids and adults alike in and out of the pool.
Dusk is when the magic happened. Tired and burnt from the festivities, mothers and children settled together for the show. The fathers set off the extravaganza of fireworks into the country sky while we watched in wonder, snuggling just a little closer to our moms and holding our ears. Finally, the last sparkler is out, the last firework gone, and the smoke is settling. My parents see our guests off and thank them for attendance. I don't ever remember going to bed. I'm sure I was carried there and tucked in by my dad. The next day all is as it was. That's all we got. Just one magical day for the whole year.
I didn't do anything for the Fourth of July yesterday. Kevin was working. When it stopped raining, I put out the flag and stared at it awhile as it hung heavily in the humid air. I thought of what the day used to mean to me and wondered where the magic went, wondered if I would find it again.
