Life at the Lumberyard

You know when Michael Scott said “I’m not superstitious. But I am a little stitious”? Well I don’t believe in reincarnation, but, man, I’m really questioning some things lately. I’m just going to say it: My daughter might be my grandma Meyer.  I know, I know, I know.... no, Samantha. You're a whack. I know she’s not. I know that. I know.  But hear me out… The day before I officially found out I was pregnant was the day my dad went into surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his bladder. I hadn’t slept well that night because I had a sneaking suspicion I was pregnant, and I was so worried about him. But in a brief moment of peace that night, I had a dream that a man - who I just knew was a saint - held a basket with a white covering and inside was a cooing kicking baby. And he told me that my dad would be fine and dad would know this baby. He said more than once that the two would be very very close. I could really elaborate on this dream, but long story short — dad was and i...

I was caught off guard recently by a question that a close friend asked me: Are you a journey person or a destination person? Do you focus on the destination or do you live for the journey? Me? Destination person.  My husband Allen is (very obviously) a journeyman. I, however, am totally not. Not even a little. I’m so much a destination person it’s painful. I find the destination in every (EV.ER.Y ) situation. “Well once I do this, then I can do that, and then it will be over and done with.”  Or “Once the kids all are in school, I can do this or that."  Or "Once we get this paid off, we can afford that."  Or even the little things like "Once I grab the bread, I can then get the grapes, then the porkchops, and be out of there."  Or "After I do these two things next week and then finish that then, then I’ll be golden.” (Newsflash: I’m never golden. It’s always the next steps to a destination I can never seem to reach.)  My everyday mundane evening is a desti...

I sent her to school today with a mask. I smiled, and I could tell by her eyes she was smiling back at me. She's stronger than me. So so much stronger than me.  I sent her to school today with a lunch box. I packed a note inside it telling her to always be true to herself and how proud I am of her. I sent her to school today with a tear in my eye. I don't want it to be like this. I want medical freedoms for myself and my children. Are these the days Orwell wrote about? I ask questions. To myself and to anyone who might listen.  I called the school. Because I have questions. Is there any way we as parents can make a choice? Is there any way we can have rights as parents? Can we be welcomed to your school unmasked - creating our biome and strengthening our own immunities? Please...? The short and hard and final answer from the school: No. So I ask more questions: Who tells you what to do... what guidelines to follow? And who tells them? And who tells them? The short and hard and...

My kids are blanket kids. You know the ones: Show up barefooted at the sitter’s at 7:07 AM dragging a completely ratted blanket across the sidewalk. Though it looks like I never wash them, I occasionally do pull stealthy mama tricks and sneak them away for super quick wash and dry. However, the other day, I couldn’t be so stealthy. Baby Heidi smeared grape jelly all over her beloved blanket. I attempted to take the blanket without making a scene. But as soon as I started walking to the washer, she was hot on my tail and knew something not to her liking was about to go down. I threw it in the hot soapy water and she watched in horror. She was screaming.  She was yelling what was probably words to her, but just sounded barbaric to me. She was angry. She hit the front of washer with her little fists. Angry big tears welled and rolled down her face.  Immediate snot. More screaming. More yelling in her language. She laid on the floor and kicked the front of washer and cried. And cr...

We can do better. A saying you hear so often these days. Apply it to anything you want to in the news headlines - any side you are on: COVID… we can do better: (protecting ourselves) (getting the shot) (getting people to work) (explaining medical freedoms) (whatever) Afghanistan… we can better: (supporting our troops/veterans) (helping refugees) (protecting our rights/involvement as Americans) (whatever) LGBTQ… we can do better: (raising our kids) (speaking about love and judgement) (whatever) “We can do better.” My “we can do better” talk is no where (and boy, do I mean NO WHERE) as important as some “we can do better” talks, but it’s my story that is really making me think about a lot and what story I want to leave the world. ** Side note: The irony in this blog is unreal. I am FULLY aware that I am about to not be excited about technology while using technology AND am even more aware that I can do better by not throwing others under the bus. Don't miss my point though: We all (...