My Essay Published on The Plum

I love this photo that The Plum team selected.

I'm happy and proud that my essay--"I Had a Baby After 40--and Now I'm in Homeschool Hell" was published in this time of tragedy and fear. I think it might bring a smile to some faces....the most frequent comment I've heard is that it's honest.

I'm grateful for my wise and insightful editor. You can't take that for granted.

I am happy to be honest. I hope I have not revealed too much of Punchy's life story. I tried to be careful, and I noted to my editor that I was watchful not to call Punch our daughter. [Because we are her legal guardians; her birth mom retained parental rights.] Punch is always adamant about that.

My all-time favorite writers are the ones who transport me to where they are. I hope I did that, too. I tried.

Truman Capote--"A Christmas Memory" puts me right in the kitchen where pecans will be shelled and fruitcakes will be baked. Can't you smell the scent of spices and fruit? See the Christmas tree dragged home from the woods by a young boy and his elderly cousin?

Joan Didion. I once wrote her a letter, complimenting her for, among other things, her detail-rich writing. I think I said of one of her stories: "It's not just ice cream at your daughter's birthday party, but chocolate-marshmallow ice cream." She even wrote me back. I remain very grateful.

The short story "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen, copyright 1961. I was transported right from the title. I read it in college and must read it again. On my list.

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar. Instant flight to NYC magazine world.

I have measured out my life with coffee spoons 
Do you remember that line from the poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot - 1888-1965? I think of it often, especially in this time of endless cups of coffee.

I hope all is well. #holdfast #hangtough

TCOY

1. Made banana pancakes w four ingredients--rice flour, bananas, baking powder and eggs--and pinch of sea salt. Punch liked them, and she can be finicky.
2. Private Benjamin appt. Yes, one hour therapy at 1 pm on the phone, sitting in my car.  The weather went from rumbling thunder to rain to sunshine. I was parked back by the garage, near our Bleeding Hearts flowering plant. I also talked to Sis for a while and to two Mainers--my mother-in-law, who is 90, and my sister-in-law Martha, who is teaching eighth grade from home. I asked her for tips on homeschooling Punchy because it's hard to be back after last week/spring break. I left messages for Moey, Anne and my brother Will. When I walked into the house I said to Dan, "That was the best two and a half hours I've had in the last five weeks." We laughed.
3. Hope to take lavender bath soon. It is already 7:19 pm.
4. Watched 2 episodes of "The Closer." Love it.

$ UPDATE, MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Up til 3 am Thursday morning [rough day w. P and too much coffee?] Ordering from Amazon in dark of night, two great books, one bottle coffee extract for my Café au Lait Pots de Crème, total $33.63.
• STITCH clothing boutique, must help keep them and myself afloat in these rough times, cute blouse, $78.
• Cash donation to raise money for face shields for front-line workers, $48.
• SLA Thai dinner, I sent Figgy to get curbside pickup for 4, $93 + $15 tip, so $108--that was our big spring break treat. Figgy got vegan pad Thai with tofu, no eggs.
• Kings, large pot of strawberry-ice-cream-pink hyacinths to later plant in garden for next year's bloom, $4.20.
• Season 2, many episodes of "The Closer," $29.99.
• CVS, ordered free 2-day rx delivery, added 4 Clif bars, toothpaste, 2-pack Glide dental floss, can of whole cashews, bottle of Caltrate pills, 4 cans Bumblebee solid white tuna in water, about $54.

Total from Wed. April 15 thru Tues. April 21: $355.82.

Ongoing monthly spend as of April 21: $1,715.56.

Avg daily spend: $81.69.

Compare to previous months:

March--the effect of coronavirus quarantine and not working in NYC for now

Total monthly spend as of March 31: $1,916.15.

Avg daily spend: $61.81.

February

Total monthly spend as of Feb. 29: $2,480.34.
Avg daily spend: $85.53.

January

Total monthly spend as of Jan 31: $3,063.60.

Avg daily spend: $98.83.

December 2019 [Christmas and all that entails]

Total monthly spend as of Dec. 31: $3,998.16. 

Avg daily spend: $128.97. 

November

Total spend for November (30 days): $2,979.03. 

Average daily spend: $99.30. 

October

Total spend for OCTOBER 31 days: $2,495.36.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $80.49.

September

TOTAL SPEND FOR SEPTEMBER (30 DAYS): $2,214.43.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $73.81.

August

TOTAL SPEND FOR AUGUST (31 DAYS/PLUS VACAY IN HERE): $2,895.06. ⬆️

AUGUST AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $93.39.  ⬆️