arrivals

if you've seen the movie Love Actually, perhaps you've considered the sentimentality of people watching at the arrivals area of an airport. prior to even seeing the movie, which has emerged as one of my all time favourites, i recall having a conversation with my mother about the very topic. we have noted how, in that very particular space, there is such emotion. such happiness.

obviously, not everyone has a waving auntie or jumping jelly bean grandchld to greet them, but where there are greetings, feelings abound. sometimes just a requisite hug, and kiss on the cheek. sometimes a deep kiss punctuated with the giving of red roses. sometimes a gallop to a tight grip that every onlooker can feel to the bones.

today i went to pick my mother in law up at the local airport, and i found myself lost in it. more so than usual, in part due to the fact that at the end of the week i will leave my family for a short time- for the longest period of time since having my babies. more significantly though, i think, was the impact of the size and location of the airport, and our area demographic.

it's smallish, the springs airport. as you wait for your arriving loved one there is time to note those sparsely scattered around you... the parents in their early forties, awaiting the return of their teen-aged sons from an early summer camp... the old man with the long hair, waiting to have his lover drop her purse and tote so he can kiss her proper... the young mother, fist full of 'welcome home' balloons, her two sons holding large pieces of construction paper carefully painted with "welcome home daddy!!"... the mother with the pigtailed princess trailing an american flag printed balloon for another soldier daddy...

... and you know, as i think on it, i believe this is what makes the springs airport arrivals gate significantly different from, say, denver or atlanta or philadelphia or newark. there is a bit less to soak in, and what saturates is the disproportionate number of servicemen and servicewomen being welcomed home. this town harbors the US air force academy, two air force bases, and an army base. so out of the five individuals or families waiting for an arrival, three of them were greeting military personnel. watching these reunions with our country's heroes is nothing short of riveting to me.

as i think about the daddy, quickening his pace to hug his sons around their hand made signs, the little girl racing into the security zone to hug her daddy home, or the woman in fatigues locking in the tightest, tearful embrace with her sister soldier, i know some of life's most important and moving moments are taking place right there in that small area, by the long hall of windows. right there, for everyone to see.

oh yeah, and it's great to see my mother in law too...

theories?

i've killed two ants and captured two moths in my kitchen today. JUST my kitchen (let's not talk about potential infestations in other parts of my household, shall we? that's a good reader...). while doing so, i was reminded of an odd occurrence that took place just prior to my last trip to Georgia.

it had been a particularly rainy week here at my colorado home. as an inhabitant of any earthly region, you likely note the behaviour of worms in such circumstances. in the east, they sprawled along sidewalks, living landmines. here, they are slightly less suicidal, but that might be only due to the reduced amount of rain we see. i don't think they get rained out nearly as frequently. let's not speculate. let's get to the meat here...

i opened my back door to let the dog outside during one of these moist, dreary days. the door is a wood frame glass slider, in desperate need of replacement (yes, todd- THIS MEANS YOU... ahem). when i slid the door closed, i saw something sitting in the track. it looked... well, almost like the root of a small sapling. dirty. swollen. i leaned closer... and sitting there in the track, wriggling slightly (no doubt damaged from being run over by mentioned glass door), was a worm.

i KNOW!
a WORM!!
IN my house!!
ON the DOOR TRACK!?!?
how does that happen? how could that POSSIBLY happen?


anyone??

junk to the highest bidder!

well, it has turned into a lovely day for a yard sale! the annual neighborhood yard sale and clean up is happening this weekend. for a change, i find myself laptopping in my front yard. sitting in the shade in sandals and capris, but two layers of long sleeves to keep warm in the late spring breeze.

it's really so nice that the weather is nice too. because otherwise i might be inclined to focus quite completely on the fact that NO ONE WANTS MY CRAP!

okay. that might be a little harsh. i have made about $25 today selling baby clothes and a take along swing.... but i thought for sure i would have sold my old kitchen table by now. it's not in great shape. it's rather rickety. but it has four chairs and two leaves to extend it beautifully! it's solid maple and i'm only asking $80 for the WHOLE SET!! no one has even made an OFFER! and SOME very nervy soul even asked if i would be willing to sell just a couple of the CHAIRS (and whore-ishly, i recommended they check back with me at the end of the day)!

... and what about my carseat/stroller set that is... well maybe 5 or 6 years old... and i know no one recommends buying them second hand... but still... the whole travel set for only $40?! and i'll take less!!

i think we're at a disadvantage. being set at the very back of a looped road is not good for marketing. we need visibility. flashing neon signs... a hot air balloon inflated overhead.

in our cleanout, i've found the corset style strapless bra i wore to my wedding. i strongly considered putting it on (atop my two long sleeve layers, of course, given the chill) in a valiant marketing attempt. it might attract buyers, it might deter buyers... but surely we'd get a little more attention. my how the neighbors would talk...

still, tomorrow's gonna be another working day...

some days, there is just too much to say, and not enough energy with which to say.

i am in Georgia, helping mom and dad during mom's recovery from her awful fall three weeks ago. i have been here for roughly 53 hours, and feel as though i have made a real contribution, though i suppose i can't be sure.

so many thoughts whipping through my mind- about physical incapacity, emotional capability, mortal humiliation... about saying appropriate/comforting things and doing appropriate/comforting things.

but for the now... i am directed by my tired bones to save my thoughts for later (if ever) and say only these two final words:

good night.