Lemon

835pm, October 25th.

I have a piece of pizza balanced on my knee as I sit with one leg folded under me and the other with my foot on the seat of the kitchen chair, across from Chase as he practices writing to 50. I’m multi-tasking, as always, helping him and writing this, bites of pizza periodically. This is my dinner. Welcome to motherhood. 

Today was jersey day for Chase’s red ribbon week, which is kind of a spirit week that educates about bullies and such. I’m not a sports minded individual, so I called on his dad to hook him up with a jersey. And he came through, going to the store after work and finding one, and dropping it off to us this morning. 

The only problem was, I overslept. Usually I’m up between six and six thirty, but text messages from him at almost 730 is what woke me. I hurriedly threw on my robe and rushed to the back door to retrieve the jersey from him. Not how I wanted to start my morning. But at least I had a jersey for Chase, and a nice one at that. 

I asked Matt, who was sitting at the kitchen table eating, why he hadn’t woken me up. I received a shrug in response. Oh well, can’t be helped now. I had an hour to get myself and chase presentable. I skipped yoga and water and went straight to coffee, woke myself up with a cold shower, and dressed in a nice sweater and slacks, both a little more than big on me, but not so much as to look sloppy. I ran a brush through my hair and opted to not straighten it. One day out of 7 wouldn’t kill me. 

It was then that I remembered that I had eviction court today downtown.

“Ah, fuck. Today of all days to wake up late!” I exclaimed to myself and looked at the time. 750am. Nothing to be done now. I spent 5 minutes on makeup to make myself look halfway put together and got Chase up, dressed and fed, and rushed out the door.

The rest of the day went much of the same way; construction most of the way to downtown, and even in the heart of downtown, the road to the parking garage blocked so I had to find another route. My appointment after court was early, making my lunch break late. From not eating I felt my headache ghosting up in the back of my head and caved and bought an energy drink. Which tasted fabulous, might I add.

And when I got out I remembered that Matt had requested to go to the Halloween dance at school tomorrow.

And that he wanted to go as a lemon. For fucks sake, this kid.

So that’s why I rushed home, threw a frozen pizza in the oven, and after helping Chase make a bird out of construction paper, had grandma keep an eye on the boys while I went to the store to find the items for my son’s lemon costume. Oy vey.

And that’s why I was typing and eating and doing homework at 835pm. 

And why after getting Chase to bed I spent two hours inside a book, ignoring my hectic life.

And why it’s now after 11pm and I’m finishing this piece instead of curled up in my blankets.

But hey. If this is the one life I have to live, at least it isn’t dull. 

Happy Almost Thursday folks!