Thursday 13: SIGH....

How I would like to write a witty comical Thursday 13 today. Instead, I'm choosing the messier path of congruence. I'm not even sure what to write, but I'll at least try to make it real.

1. After three months of rehab. for her broken hip, for the first time in my life, my mother is temporarily living with me while we all figure out her needs and options.

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2. She is a wonderful terrific magnificent person, with a great sense of humor and a never-ending desire to do her share, but let's face it: the natural world does not facillitate grown adults sharing an established life and living space with a parent. I know this arrangement occurs frequently in some cultures, and maybe my life is too full for its own good, and I'm trying to be calm and sweet, but hey!--this is hard for both of us. (I also know I may get some flack for this: I mean no offense).

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3. # 2 affected my twice a year writing group at the Big Yellow. There, a dozen or so writers and songwriters get together, write, read, sing and share for the better part of a weekend. With a knee problem I didn't know I had, and a mother unsure of her surroundings, I hobbled in and out this sacred event with rollercoaster emotions. But when it was all over, I can only say it was again totally wonderful. This is a special group of people who will again reconvene next April. I have no doubt some of us will become successfully "established" in the craft of writing.

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4. I am buying a guitar. Then I am going to learn to play it. Then I am going to sing songs outloud, even though I can't carry a tune.

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5. Every year I tell myself I want to be done with buying Christmas presents by Thanksgiving so I can spend the holidays baking and making artistic-type things. I also think if I start early, I won't have those sky high credit card bills. I fail every year, but that doesn't stop me from trying.

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6. I hate malls and avoid them, except for book and stationary stores.

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7. This is partially why I do not like my wardrobe. I don't shop enough to find really cool clothes, even though I like really cool clothes.

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8. I forget that I have a temper. Sometimes getting mad is helpful to me and sometimes it's unnecessarily hurtful to others. Recently I overreacted to a perceived slight: I went to bed feeling justified and woke up feeling terrible. That must be where the term "sleep on it" comes from. I am shocked when I just "snap", and that's what I did.

9. I've gotten better at understanding that my interpretation of something isn't the same as someone else's, but that doesn't make it any easier in the heat of the moment--not until we both know it's about understanding and/or compromise, not about winning or losing. Would you rather be right or happy? No contest.

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10. jb and I finally won our battle with the City for their snowplow damaging our fence. It took 22 months 3 denials, and 4 appeals of our claim. That temper of mine swings into high gear when something doesn't seem fair, and it doesn't matter whether it involves me or someone else. I couldn't find a lawyer to take on this little fence injustice so I handled it myself. And I'm glad and proud we won afterall.

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11. Our friend Liz just celerated her birthday and we found the perfect wall-hanging present for her. She opened it, held it in front of her, and said with the widest smile, "Oh, my God--it's me!"

12. Here he is: Mr. Ryan. Can't you just tell what an interesting fascinating wonderful human being he will always be?

13. I found this visual on someone's blog and cannot remember who to thank for it. But it got me thinking that I want my blog to be worthy of this "award", "announcement", or whatever else it may be. I'm into kindness these days, and I say this after I've spent the last 24 hours being quite a jerk....

Addendum: From nowhere comes # 14, complements of Jimmy James' "Living From the Heart Blog":

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You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving. St. Francis De Sales

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Hope it's a good weekend.