Seen But Not Heard

That is the way it’s been around here the last few days. No, not talking about the children – talking about me! The family passed around an upper respiratory thingy. I thought I might escape, but it seems they wanted to share with Ol’ mom as well. Bummer.

I could feel it coming on by the time I went to bed Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday I couldn’t speak above a whisper. So, I took it easy, putting most things on the back burner. Taking care of the ‘must do’ items only.

Times like this can often be blessings in disguise. It has reminded me once again of what an amazing family I have. C and L pulled more than their fair share of household chores and child care. M looked the other way when the laundry wasn’t caught up and his wife was not the best of company.

It also has been a reminder that a quietly spoken word will often get better attention than the same word spoken loudly. I was very aware of how many words I would normally use to express my thoughts, but under these conditions was able to convey my requests with only a few whispers. I see how I speak without thinking, stringing many words together hoping someone hears, hoping someone figures out what it is I am trying to say.

The most difficult part of this infirmity – I was not able to voice ‘Thank You’ for all my birthday surprises! I appreciated everything my family and friends did for me to make it a special day, but couldn’t voice it out loud. I hope they know how much it meant to me, how much I love each of them.


And as an extra bonus – M stayed home today to run my extra errands and do some things around the house so I could take it easy and kick this thing. I can now speak with a gravelly tone and octave or two lower than my usual voice. There are lots of events and projects coming up so I need to be in my top form. Time for my tea w/ lemon and honey!

Big Laundry Monday . . .

. . . has turned to Big Laundry Tuesday

I was up and ready to tackle Mount Laundry yesterday morning, right after breakfast. The assorted mounds were ready and waiting – and then -- no water. What? Couldn’t be. Yes, NO WATER

Apparently, the main water line was accidently cut by a contractor. At noon, the faucets were flowing again, but I never did get back to the laundry room.

And so, this morning, as I throw a few more items on each mini-mountain, I enthusiastically work to scale Mount Laundry once again. I am determined to conquer! We have a big camping trip coming up this weekend, and so need clothes ready for packing, and then when we return – oh, my! I’ll deal with that another day (go ahead, call me Scarlet)

But as I stand there, facing the challenge, I smile. My day would be easier without all these dirty clothes to clean, fold, put away. But then where would I be? No pitter patter of fat little feet slapping down the hallway, no beautiful bouquets of dandelions, no sticky kisses, no scratches and scrapes to miraculously heal with my special healing cream, no late night talks over coffee and hot chocolate, no opportunity to fuss over beautiful young ladies and handsome young men wearing their finest, no chance to be amazed by the talent of a budding young photographer or the ingenuity of a young carpenter . . . I could go on, but you get the idea.

My mounds of laundry have already begun to diminish. My first two are gone. Instead of doing laundry for 10, I’m only doing laundry for 8 and one day I’ll reminisce about how nice it would be to have more dirty clothes to wash again.

I wouldn’t trade Mount Laundry for anything. I going to happily take on the challenge week and week. What challenges are you happily tackling this week?