under the weather

So I write this ode to blogging...and not even 24 hours later, suddenly I don't feel like doing it. 

Can I say I have a headache? 

Even if I don't?

I realize I could skip a day.  It's not like anyone is taking attendance.  I could get a note from V excusing me--if he wasn't sleeping.  But I don't want to excuse myself just because I had a stressful day and I'm in a crummy mood.  Blogging is meant to be immediate and spontaneous.  Even if it doesn't come out particularly funny or inspirational or useful or clever or doesn't even make sense.  Which tonight it might not.

Basically I'm distracted.

 Daniel is due home tomorrow for winter break.  Anyone who knows me knows how I adore my kids and pull out all the stops for them.  But right now I am feeling like a slacker mom.

Jane's kids are coming in tomorrow with the grandchildren and she's busy cooking.  Last week I talked to Laurie the night before her kids were coming home from college and she was busy cooking their favorite meals.

Oy.   I'm trying to calculate how many actual meals I've cooked in the 4 months Daniel has been gone.  I''m not positive about the exact number but it's probably in single digits.  I could be using the oven as a file cabinet right now.

 Not only have I not cooked, I haven't even shopped for food yet.  Even though I know that Daniel's friends will descend on our refrigerator as soon as I get him home from San Francisco airport.  But I don't want to follow this line of thought any further.

Because cooking for Daniel tomorrow could be a moot point because of the other thing distracting me. 

Last week I wrote about my worrying when Daniel was traveling home for winter break last year.  I thought confessing my neurotic behavior was really healthy.  Once my anxiety was out on the internet, it disappeared in real life. 

This year I learned from last year's mistakes.  He'll take the bus in the morning (Friday) from Madison to Chicago, and fly out of O'Hare.  And this time, I didn't worry one bit.  Didn't check the hourly forecast.  Didn't check the daily forecast.  Didn't think of calling the Highway Patrol.  I didn't even think about the weather at all until Daniel called like the responsible kid he is and said HE"S been checking the weather.  He suggested I check for myself and here is what I read word for word:

MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT SOUTHERN WISCONSIN IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS...

A MAJOR WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE AREA BEGINNING TONIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY LATER TONIGHT AND WILL BE DANGEROUS FRIDAY MORNING.  (I did not capitalize this just to exaggerate; the weather people did. The bold face is theirs, too.)

I thought lightning doesn't strike twice.  Well, apparently snowstorms do. 

If he gets stuck out there, tomorrow night I'll have a headache for real.

Comments

[Jody]

I'm not good with the "cooking/baking" thing,
either, which is perhaps why I got it into
my head to make a cake every time my son came
home from college (thank God, he's graduated
now).

I don't make a good cake.

But it made me feel wonderful to see it on the
cake stand, all lopsided and pathetic.

All of which is to say: channel the anxiety into a cake. Be sure to lick ALL the batter.

[Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky]

"It's not like anyone is taking attendance."

[Annoying buzzer sound] Thank you for playing, Ms. Darryle, but that was the wrong answer! Although I am not teaching at present, I never stopped taking attendance. Since you hooked me, I need to read your column every day, just as I do the local newspaper. Sorry, you created this monster, and you have to keep feeding the beast!

[Duchess]

Hey, I am taking attendance too.

I stopped by because I thought you might enjoy this counter for your blog: http://www.backwardsbush.com/

I always feel irrationally happy when all my children are home and in their beds. Hasn't happened in a couple of years, but at least my lovely daughter will be back from Africa on Sunday. (Unlike some, I do know it is a continent, but she has been travelling for 3 weeks and I don't actually know where she is.)

[Darryle]

Well I am rushing out to head for San Francisco airport with no time to bake a cake. Great idea though, Jody, and think I'll pick some apples off our tree tomorrow to bake a pie. Or three.
Meanwhile as for you two taking attendance.... I was such a goody-goody I never skipped school in real life. So I guess it's too late to start skipping now.
PS Duchess thanks for the counter: love it. I haven't had my kids under the same roof either for a year and know just what you mean. But glad to hear your daughter is heading home. A Midwest blizzard is tame compared to wandering around Africa.

[Ron]

I absolutely love how much you adore your kids. I hope they realize how truly lucky they are to have a Mom like you. Tell them they can always call me if they want to hear what it feels like to have parents who were the polar opposite. Actually, this the second time I am writing this comment (it seems the first got lost in cyberspace). In my first comment I asked you to please let us know that Daniel arrived home safe and sound. (Having read your latest entry, I now know all is well and that you are reveling in the joy of having your family and their friends together for the holiday). Peace and love (how 60's) and all things wonderful to you and yours.

[Darryle]

Thanks Ron and it makes me feel great knowing that my love for my kids comes thru cyberspace so clearly that you can feel it . Also feel sad that you didn't know that as a child---but it's apparent that didn't prohibit you from becoming a caring and sensitive adult. Thanks so much for your thoughts and wishes and the same to you for the holidays. Peace and love might sound 60's but sound pretty good to me right now.