In the Sheepfold

1.  Since I have a proclivity to whine about the weather, I have to say Augusta has been so very beautiful of late.

Now, we had nearly ten solid days of rain that left everyone feeling like they needed to buy a happy light. And ten days of rain wreaks havoc with the soccer schedule. We're always thrilled when something gets cancelled, but it's just coming right back at you at a less opportune time. This week we have six games scheduled over about four days.

Six.

But the weather is now beautiful. Beautiful.

2.    So I've made the great leap forward and bought a smartphone. I ordered a case on Amazon expecting that my two day, free shipping deal would have it here in a jiffy. Alas, I didn't read the fine print. Tracking information indicates that it will arrive in Augusta, Georgia, between May 15th and June 6th.

Seems it just boarded an inflatable Spiderman raft in Shanghai and is headed out into the East China Sea with a six-year-old at the helm.


3.   I have an alter-ego and her name is Mrs. Pattmore. Remember this exchange?

“Is there any aspect of the present day that you can accept without resistance?” Cora asks after introducing the idea of, gasp!, a refrigerator. Mrs. Pattmore, a woman after my own heart, responds,“I wouldn’t mind getting rid of my corset.”

I'm glad we're not stuck with restrictive underwear, but new technology intimidates me. I'll just admit it here: I'm afraid of my smartphone.


4.    Mostly I'm afraid of breaking the darn thing. Hence the case. For years I've watched nieces slide their fingers across splintered glass and wondered if they still have intact fingerprints after all that shredding. Quite possibly they could embark on a life of crime and never get caught.

You know, you don't really worry about dropping a $10 phone. Believe me, it's been dropped, dunked, even cooked. Now, this smartphone? Not cheap.


5.    Dave and the gang of boys joined a robotics competition last week. This is a first for our school, and from the kids' response will be something we continue.

Team mascot.

6.    So John garnered a first place trophy in the Pinewood Derby, an event that will surely make saints or sinners of us all.

I am a much more mild version of my former self in regards to the venerable Derby. I set my expectations low and then am happily surprised if all goes well. This year, when I realized John was winning quite a few heats, I walked away and stopped watching.

So the top three finishers from each den compete to decide an overall winner. In that final round John came in second or third, and at that point you could just forget about the glory of winning a first place trophy just moments before. Friends were snickering as I attempted to get a shot of John smiling with his trophy.

John, ordered to smile for the camera.

"There's only one kids in the whole room who's happy right now," my friend Sarah told me.

Yep, and that would be the overall winner who was not my John.

Twenty-four hours later, John had regained a little perspective and, in fact, slept with his trophy. When they're not pouting about the Pinewood Derby, gosh, I love seven-year-old boys. Love them, love them, love them.




7.  And then we have five-year-old girls.

Ainsley likes to be near her people. Since she was tiny, she's wanted someone to lie down with her at night. It's never been an ordeal. She just likes a little company when she drops off to sleep, which used to take about a hundred and twenty seconds and now takes maybe five minutes.

And if we're engaged elsewhere, she's happy to find spot to curl up nearby. Maybe on the piano bench.

Love my girl. Love, love, love my girl.

Head over the Kelly's to add your Quick Takes. She's talking Kristin Lavransdatter, quite possible my all time favorite book.