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June 22, 2009

thickah den thieves

Terri, Gayle and I often joke about how we should have the Real Housewives of Fredericksburg. We figure with our motley bunch of friends we'd make for an interesting reality show. When we all get together there are lots of hilarious conversations, lots of happy kids and sometimes, very aggravated bystanders. Terri, Becky, Tree, Gayle, Maddy, Sarah, Amy, Angel, and Suzie...when these girls are together, there's bound to be fun. We each have our fair share of crazy and there's not one of us who lacks a strong opinion about one thing or another. We tease each other and argue politics and we yell at each others' kids. We share our gossip and our beer and our lives. Thursday we had a semi-impromptu gathering of girls and kids at my house. Dan came home from work and helped gather and return folks to their rightful homes. After that, he and I sat outside and watched the remaining kids playing in the pool. It was such a happy night for me. I always wanted the big crazy family with lots of eating and playing and noise and now I have it.
***
So we have had Gayle's kids and their dog, Roscoe, at our house since Thursday while they house-hunt in Florida. Yesterday my folks came over for Father's day dinner and my mom and dad jokingly asked Dan how he likes being the father of so many kids. He said that he really doesn't mind, just as long as Gayle and Wil come back for them! haha. I told my mom that the thought did occur to me that they could skip town and leave us with two extra kids and a dog, but I felt pretty confident that they'd be back. Mom said something about "the kids of Fredtalk" and I said "well, it does take a village"
After we ate lunch we watched our kids, Gayle's kids, and Caylor, playing in the pool. Mom watched me smiling so happily at the chaos. She said that I get it from my Nannie Williams, taking in strays. She's said that before and I always love it. Nannie did take in strays; staying at her house on weekends meant sharing space with pretty much anyone who arrived at the door needing food or someone to talk to. Nannie always had something to offer to people in need. I know that I will never ever be the woman that Nannie was. Her motives were pure and good. My motive is selfish. I like being surrounded by love. I don't like a lot of people so the ones I do like, I want to be with. Of course, I also have an expiration date on all of this freaking joy. Once I don't get my Sunday nap, or once I do dishes for the 40th time or once the kids ask "so ,what's for dinner?" at 8pm after I spent all morning preparing a huge effing father's day lunch, that's when it expires. I was so very happy to get up this morning and go to work. I'm alone, it's quiet. Nobody wants a thing from me that doesn't involve installing software or swapping hardware. I'm about as complex as a speck of dirt, but I do have two sides. Today I'm embracing the flip side.

Posted by krystal at June 22, 2009 10:45 AM