Today I took a cab with the kids to pick our car up from the dealership. Our cab driver was a woman in her forties. The deep lines on her face told a story of a long time smoker who's delt with a lot in life. But she was very easy going in nature. I think her mind must have been heavy with thought about something for a while Midway through the drive, she jumped into conversation as though we were long time friends, as though resuming a past conversation that had been accidentally cut off. "So I spoke to my mom the other day. She's planning on moving to West Virginia. She's got family out there and wants to stay for a few months. I think I might go with her..."
It was strange to meet a local person from Sheboygan who felt trapped by this town. Life had been moving in circles for a while for her. She was the first I'd met who felt this way. Anyone else would take offense or feign blasphemy to criticism about this little eutopia. I was impressed by her gutts to take charge of life and seek new opportunity elsewhere. I think she wanted to hear herself speak so that the concept would feel more real. It didn't matter much what my comments were. You could see the hazey look in her eyes and her distant tone that her spirit was already leaving Sheboygan. She was a person in transition embarking on a journey on a hunch that she would find herself at her arrival destination. I wished her the best of luck profusely as we arrived at our destination. God only knows we are kindred spirits on this regard.
It's been a tough couple of years for our family with loved ones passing on and new ones born. We're still riding the highs and lows. Although my husband's career has been on the up, it also means that the work load has increased. The puritanical work ethic at this company is like something on steroids. There are times when I feel like a single parent. My friend jokingly dubbs us Kohler widows. Too bad I'm not on the company payroll for all the personal hours I've had to log in over the past six years. Please excuse my tone at this point. I've had a rough few days.
I am also a woman in transition right now with a plan to execute. I try not to cry over challenges and argue of its unfairness because then I'd be giving into defeat. I would feel deeper in a hole and be confined by self pitty. It takes the skill and fortitude I've developed over the course of my whole life to navigate solo around rocky shores. Wouldn't it be so easy to be sailing on someone else's ship? A bigger and better ship that would withstand all the little knocks and scrapes and turbulence? All I can do is pump my fist in the air and yell, "Screw you fate! You can't get the last of me." What else can I say?
It's been a rough week. We arrived home from a 23 hour car ride visiting family in Philadelphia. Hubby had to get up at 5am next morning to catch an overnight flight to Texas for business. In the last 24 hours, I've had to deal with 2 flat tires, the lower car plate falling off while driving on the highway, not having a ride to pick up my daughter from school, locking myself out of the house, not having my phone, the ever increasing expense of car repair, towing, and delayed pick up of our dogs. I'm on the verge of crying my heart out and probably should before my husband gets home. At the moment I am homeless and wasting time at the office. As the baby falls asleep on my chest, I look out the window at the overcast day. I'm going to really miss my tall window overlooking the tall wooded field outside. I wish I had spent more time here at my office by the woods. It will be sad to leave the quiet peacefulness.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
A quiet moment in the back seat squished between two baby seats. A Stephany Plum book on CD is plugged in the radio. We're entering the Appalachian mountain range in west Virginia. It's a beautiful sight and you do feel like you're in another part of America. We debate getting off at a local exit. I've been exposed to many cultures but
Appalachia hill billy is new to me and an unknown element. We're late on the road to Phili. The kids have been amazingly great on this trip. The long drive from the back seat has given me a lot of time to think about things.
Spring is here now. Dad says that my business karma for spring should be good. Casey is now a little over six months with one budding tooth on the way. It's time to put this liTle one in regular daycare. Next week, I'll be moving to a new office location. A very interesting place sort of like a business incubator. I hope that it will work out.
The past year has been interesting in terms of people met and mystery solved. It seems I've lived here long enough now to be scratching the surface of the core of Sheboygan society. Since moving here over six years ago, I have seen a mysterious woman in town who would walk downtown with a baby stroller in plump boots and a melon sized knitted beanie over her rastfarian like head and dressed in early 2000 club clothes reminoscent of the first Jamariquia album. I would see her walking nearly every spring with a stroller in this crazy get out outfit. She is soooo not from Sheboygan but is she an au pair? I saw her once fussing over groceries with a man at a house from their SUV. He was so corporate in his slacks and plaid collar shirt. Countless times I've been tempted to stop my car on the side of the road to ask her who she was and what she's about. When I walked through Goodside groceries last month and saw her behind the clerk's counter, it was hard to contain the giddy excitement. I was about to solve my six year mystery. A customer commented about her hat. It was a hot day and no reason for a hat. "Do you have more than one layer of hats?". "Yes, I'm wearing six of them.". Hmmm. Silence. I don't get it myself. Casey was an icebreaker. The girl cooed over her and told me she has several kids herself. I pounced at the opportunity to confront her at this point. "Are you from here? I've seen you around and it seems your kids are very young. Do you baby sit?". No, the youngest is about two and oldest about five. She's from Minnesota but they have a house in chicago. They just fell in love with Sheboygan and the affordable homes. They don't work in Sheboygan either and she's not married to the guy. There was a look in her eyes when she said this much and I decided not to press further. Perhaps she is someone's mistress and this was her hide away. Maybe she's got a big poppa. Very interesting but mystery not fully solved. I don't think I want to know any more to preserve the intrigue.
Appalachia hill billy is new to me and an unknown element. We're late on the road to Phili. The kids have been amazingly great on this trip. The long drive from the back seat has given me a lot of time to think about things.
Spring is here now. Dad says that my business karma for spring should be good. Casey is now a little over six months with one budding tooth on the way. It's time to put this liTle one in regular daycare. Next week, I'll be moving to a new office location. A very interesting place sort of like a business incubator. I hope that it will work out.
The past year has been interesting in terms of people met and mystery solved. It seems I've lived here long enough now to be scratching the surface of the core of Sheboygan society. Since moving here over six years ago, I have seen a mysterious woman in town who would walk downtown with a baby stroller in plump boots and a melon sized knitted beanie over her rastfarian like head and dressed in early 2000 club clothes reminoscent of the first Jamariquia album. I would see her walking nearly every spring with a stroller in this crazy get out outfit. She is soooo not from Sheboygan but is she an au pair? I saw her once fussing over groceries with a man at a house from their SUV. He was so corporate in his slacks and plaid collar shirt. Countless times I've been tempted to stop my car on the side of the road to ask her who she was and what she's about. When I walked through Goodside groceries last month and saw her behind the clerk's counter, it was hard to contain the giddy excitement. I was about to solve my six year mystery. A customer commented about her hat. It was a hot day and no reason for a hat. "Do you have more than one layer of hats?". "Yes, I'm wearing six of them.". Hmmm. Silence. I don't get it myself. Casey was an icebreaker. The girl cooed over her and told me she has several kids herself. I pounced at the opportunity to confront her at this point. "Are you from here? I've seen you around and it seems your kids are very young. Do you baby sit?". No, the youngest is about two and oldest about five. She's from Minnesota but they have a house in chicago. They just fell in love with Sheboygan and the affordable homes. They don't work in Sheboygan either and she's not married to the guy. There was a look in her eyes when she said this much and I decided not to press further. Perhaps she is someone's mistress and this was her hide away. Maybe she's got a big poppa. Very interesting but mystery not fully solved. I don't think I want to know any more to preserve the intrigue.
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