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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Marvel

Above: Punchy and Sunshine's eldest son at horse barn birthday party in April.

Today after the school bus dropped off Punch, we went over to our friends' house. The parents are neighbors I'll call Sunshine & Strength, and they have four children. The eldest is 6, in first grade. The youngest was born just before Thanksgiving. In between are another adorable boy and a lovable little ballerina girl. All are really cute, and really young. S & S are attractive and likable.

I marvel at them. We were there from 4 to 6, and Sunshine was managing so much, and so gracefully. She noticed when the middle boy bumped his head, when the tiny dancer was rifling through the cabinet for snacks, when the big boy needed help with the shoulder pads under his Giants jersey that Santa brought. All the while balancing the newborn. I was happy to help in any way I could. I adjusted shoulder pads and jerseys, and checked homework. I held the baby a little.

Sunshine is in her early 30s. She heads out in the dark for an exercise class a few mornings a week at 5:30 a.m. She serves her kids healthy foods. [I helped cut strawberries and avocados today]. Her house is neat and organized. She has a background in teaching young children. She has swingy, healthy auburn hair. And she's fashionable! We share a love of chic clothing and shopping.

Both S & S have supportive, close, loving families. And they are an admirable team. I love the way they work together. They have date nights. They have good friends. They just moved into our tight-knit neighborhood about two years ago.

I'm marveling, that's all. I'm nearly as old as Sunshine's mother [who is also lovely and helpful], and I feel lucky that this young mom and I are friends. Punchy brought us together, because she loooves babies, and fell in love with the baby girl. She clamors to play with the brothers. And she is in awe of Sunshine. We have to hold Punch back from running up the block and ringing the family's doorbell daily. I can get her out of bed and dressed fast for church if the sunny family will be at an early Mass.

I choose not to feel old, tired and plain in comparison. I will let some of Sunshine's energy, smarts and style rub off on me. I can be a bit more organized. I can plan healthy fruits and vegs. I can pay attention. Like Sunshine, I hire sitters when I need a break or some beauty time.

That's it, that's all. Just a capsule view of a mom I admire on a January winter afternoon. When I think of my Mom with the four of us, I can see it must have been so.much.work and so.energy.zapping--in a time and place where she probably didn't get a lot of space or money for sitter breaks and beauty indulgences. In a cultural moment when dads mainly worked full-time and mothers held down the fort. I remember her applying Pond's Cold Cream every Saturday morning....was that the extent of her beauty treats?

Good night to you.

TCOY
  1. Boot camp in Gary's studio; my friend Sue gave me a ride and also treated me to a latte after at Java Love. We had a chance to catch up. It was so funny. Sue ordered a decaf soy latte and the counter guy called the order in as "a sleepy vegan white girl."  A regular latte was a "wide-awake white girl."  Sue reminded me about the Whole Life Challenge, which she is starting Jan. 16. I think I will, too, but on the least demanding level [can still have milk]. Sue did it last year and lost 15 pounds, which she has kept off.
  2. Walked a loop on block with Sug.
  3. Warm bath with lavender salts.
  4. My cauliflower soup for lunch. Tasted good.
  5. 8,290 steps on my fitbit. Can't bring myself to head out in the cold now with Sug to hit 10,000.





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