<p>SBmom - that is so sweet!</p>
<p>I believe you once offered to rent Littlest out, did you not, SB?</p>
<p>I think you can safely raise the rates now ;).</p>
<p>But if you lend him to me, I might not send him back.</p>
<p>jmmom, Okay, I am thinking it over, as there are plusses and minuses here… Would you QB his college applications? That might be a deciding consideration.</p>
<p>If Littlest Son also has smooth skin on his little face I am a goner.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, SB, what was I thinking?</p>
<p>I only want him while he’s, well, Littlest.</p>
<p>College applications are not part of that picture. I think the smooth skin will be gone by then, too, so Alu’s likely out.</p>
<p>I have to speak up in defense of the neatly hirsute. My smooth-skinned baby #3 looks much better with his beard. He’s still cute. And a good thing, cause he still does things to drive me crazy, like “forget” to deliver phone messages.</p>
<p>Sitting here in my hotel room drinking a good red wine…glasses all around, barkeep for my friends in SA. </p>
<p>I rode the 9 hours into town yesterday with number-one-and-only-son in his tiny, car to “help” him move into a new apartment in this new city for his internship. We both knew that he needed no help from me. He is a great, great kid: willing to pretend that I bring something to the party just because he knows I want to check out this new place. He’s all moved in and off with one of his new room mates right now, “Mom, really, you can come with us.” </p>
<p>I’ll take the train home tomorrow.</p>
<p>This is what we all want. And it’s difficult when it happens. And it keeps happening in different ways.</p>
<p>Now I have to think of something funny or light-hearted to write to stay in keeping with the tone of this thread…</p>
<p>Can’t do it, sorry. Maybe after more wine…</p>
<p>Cheers to all the parents of the too-soon-grown-ups.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>mafool, I’m feelin you. </p>
<p>Of course you can bring these moments here.</p>
<p>A nine hour ride sounds like a good long time to have one another’s undivided attention. What a nice, poignant time.</p>
<p>Good morning all… the fencersfamily is vacationing at Myrtle Beach as I write this. We came with some extra folks too, just so the fencingchildren do not get bored with their fencersmother or f-dad (go ahead, make fun). What a gorgeous change from home! Tonight I think there will be a full moon; it was almost full last night. When I walked the beach last night, it was like the scene from JAWS, at the beginning of the movie where Chrissie goes for a swim with the prep from Trinity (CT). I did not skinny dip, though I did consider it. </p>
<p>Here’s a nice bloody for everyone, and the breakfast buffet is now open!</p>
<p>Ooh. Breakfast at the beach. Yay. I love it when the glasses of juice they put out on the buffet start sweating in the heat.</p>
<p>So do you guys ever have a moment where you think to yourself, hmmm, there is a certain beauty to my self?</p>
<p>No, I don’t mean looking in the mirror. I just mean those moments where you can float above yourself and see the various strengths and weaknesses and quirks and values and you think, hmm, I didn’t see all this before?</p>
<p>I have a theory. I believe that all those years the Pretty Fairy held me to the ground. Held me inside myself so that I could not see my self in action. Never really appreciated what I offered the world.</p>
<p>As I continue to make friends with the Death Fairy (oh just search the thread if you want to see what I mean…), I find she is quite a good flyer. Lifts me up by my protesting arms, underarm jiggle and all, holds me in the air and lets me see why someone might be glad to meet Alumother. Why friends of Alumother might be glad she is there. Why children of Alumother might find comfort in her presence.</p>
<p>Just like when you fly home into your city, in the dark, and the lights are spread below you like necklaces. Very shiny, very happy, very welcoming in the dark.</p>
<p>A round of drinks for my friends here in the Alley, please. I have recently been elevated from “Junior Member” to “Member” here on CC. (Not sure exactly when that happened – I didn’t notice it at my 100th post.) Surely a momentous occasion, no?</p>
<p>OH NO!!! I just posted the above, and it’s still showing “Junior Member!” I swear it showed “Member” on the post I made just before, on another thread. A-H-H-H! What a bum deal. Oh well, everyone keep your drinks – we’ll just have to celebrate something else. (As she slowly fades into the background and goes to sit in the Naugahyde Corner…)</p>
<p>cbbblinker-
It takes 300 posts to graduate to member, so type faster!</p>
<p>Oh, and the cafe posts dont count… so come here to drink, not for the post count.</p>
<p>Alumother–on really good days (when I’m not feeling cynical) I can see the beauty in everyone. Short or tall, chubby or scrawny, I think fondly on my friends and their mental or administrative or people skills, their musical or dancing skills, their way of making other people feel valued…It’s a good way of looking at the world. Too bad in my inhumanity I can’t always summon up the warm fuzzies. I’m grateful for other people being forgiving and picking up the slack. 
</p>
<p>Too bad, CBBBlinker. I don’t know how the system works either. But I do have a reason for drinks all around:</p>
<p>Friends, let’s drink to the Coordination Fairy, who keeps us from klutzy falls. You never know when you might need her protection.</p>
<p>I was at a square dance social last night and we (mostly rank beginners, but having fun anyway) were all doing our best to sashay like crazy, when right next to me a woman fell, directly on her hip, and had to be taken away by the Life Squad. Turns out she broke her hip. :(</p>
<p>So any of us able-bodied persons can quickly become dis-abled cause you never know what is waiting around the corner. Not to be a fear-monger or anything! </p>
<p>but let’s do send quick-healing mental waves over to all those with broken bones in need of healing. And we may drink, but we will be careful walking, driving, and dancing. And certainly not at the same time. ;)</p>
<p>Maybe we ought to have a baton we pass. Who is feeling all-loving and all-forgiving that day, including of themselves, will wear it. The rest of us will grouse and suffer from self-doubt and hatred of Evil Neighbors as usual. The baton can actually be a t-shirt we pass around the Alley to wear. It can have all the fairies, like Sleeping Beauty ballets the which I have seen several:), the Death Fairy, the Pretty Fairy, the Funny Fairy, the Coordination Fairy - whatever we choose, dancing en ronde like the Matisse dancers in that poster…</p>
<p>Whee. Throw flowers! Drink up!</p>
<p>I think that thread on substance abuse in the Parent’s Forum gave me what we used to call a contact high. :eek:</p>
<p>Alu, your 50+ prose poetry blows your 2nd grader verse out of the water! Beautiful posts.</p>
<p>Yes, I have been having these moments too. And like mommusic once in a while I can extend the gentleness to others, too. The last poem I posted in Poetry Corner is RIGHT on this topic. May want to take a look…</p>
<p>Can we still consort with the Vengeance Fairy once in a while?? She’s so darn fun…</p>
<p>I sure needed the Coordination Fairy last night, when I lost my balance, took several stumbling steps, threw what I was carrying then fell hard on the concrete. So far nothing hurts too much and only one small bruise. It was dark so I don’t think any of my neighbors witnessed my klutzyness. I’m thrilled my hips both still work, so drinks are on me!</p>
<p>And I definitely think we need the College Loan Forgiveness Fairy.</p>
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<p>Can the t-shirt fit everyone perfectly like the traveling pants? Hey maybe we need to rip them off of those teen age girls as most of them look great in just about anything anyway.</p>
<p>Now those traveling pants with our magic baton t-shirts, whoa!</p>