bflynn

Roller Coaster Ride

It’s taken me years to finally figure out the rhythm and the schedule of the grownup me. It’s hard when you leave behind the beginning and conclusions, the milestones, the counting down of your school life. All of a sudden, there are no logical breaks. You do not get a fresh start every fall. You do not matriculate, commence or otherwise change. It feels as though life is now a blur of barely differentiated days: a gradient instead of an ordinal scale.

But finally, after more than a decade of careful attention, I think I have it figured out. Beginning in January is a long, slow slog up the tracks of the year. We go seven or eight months with only a handful of three day weekends. There’s a particularly appalling stretch from mid-February to the end of May when every single week has five workdays in it. Before I had kids I resented this time of year as boring, undifferentiated, tedious. Now I find it enjoyable in its own right. That slog-uphill time is the time of year when not every weekend is claimed, when I have time to read novels or play video games, when yes-I-can-get-together-this-Friday happens. You spend a weekend doing something that doesn’t Make Great Memories and somehow it doesn’t matter as much. I mean, it’s not like you wasted great weather this weekend.

As the weather warms, the snow melts and May arrives, things start heating up. Suddenly, “it seems like a pity to waste” re-enters the vocabulary on Saturdays. I realize that the next three weekends are fully committed. Whole blocks of the calendar disappear under markings like “Camp Gramp”, “Gen Con” or (this year) “London”. These are, of course, completely awesome things. Summer is the high season for adventures. The pictures pile up on the memory cards, the laundry is carefully calibrated around how many bathing suits my eldest son has (and his !$@#$ summer camp t-shirts that must be worn twice a week) and take-out menus get a good workout. But still, there’s that feeling of space in life. It’s summer. Vacation is coming. This is going to be great!

Sitting in Ashland, sipping my 93rd cup of coffee at Dragonfly while reading “A Civil Campaign” (again), I had this sensation of being on a roller coaster. All winter and spring it had chugged its way up the mountain of tracks as I gazed around at the altitude-revealed scenery. That moment in Asland we were at the very top of the tracks, and only the weight of the cars behind us kept us from our full plummeting speed.

So today… wheeeeee!!!!!

From here to 2013 is a crazy ride. I’m conducting a wedding on Saturday. Adam goes to Gencon soon. I have approximately 93 batches of jam to make. We’re camping again. School starts. My MIL arrives. My birthday happens. I get started on the labor of love that is my Christmas cards (yes! In September!). Then Grey’s birthday. Somewhere in here we go apple picking and then make at least two batches of apple butter. Two weeks later, Adam’s birthday. A week after that, Thane’s birthday. Three days after that, Halloween. Two weeks after that, Mocksgiving. Two more weeks to Thanksgiving. (Ironically, the only breather in this schedule. Unless I get inspired to go somewhere … which knowing me I probably will.) Then holy-cow-how-is-it-Advent-already? Then Adam’s gone for a week for a work conference. Then Christmas, followed by New Years. And all that stuff? That’s the EVERY YEAR stuff. (Well, except the wedding this weekend.) There are always exceptional and unusual events added into that mix. Zoom! No wonder I feel like my schedule is picking up speed.

I find it funny that this month, of all months, I would decide to start a big new project (http://technicallypretty.com) that requires consistent attention. I think I do this every year. It takes me a few months after that ride to get my breath – and my courage back. But then my lizard-brain notices a pattern of several months of under utilization! Obviously circumstances have changed and I now have more disposable time! Let’s come up with some new ideas we want to try, ok? Great idea. My lizard brain has not figured out the pattern that my mammal brain lays out here.

Still, maybe this is the year that, uh, somehow that schedule is not jam packed? Maybe my new writing time plan (on the bus on the way home on a teeny netbook) will somehow mean I actually DO have more disposable time for my new blog? Even if not, in the most hectic days of October I will be able to remind myself that come January it won’t be quite so crazy.

Does your adult life have a consistent seasonal pattern? How much does it line up – or do you make it line up – with that old academic calendar? When are your busy times and your free times, or is it more consistent for you?

Technically Pretty

The other day I had a good idea. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always waited (usually in vain) for the Good Idea Fairy to strike, so when it came I got very excited about it. My good idea was this: I would start a fashion blog for women in technology. This blog would be about how to use the skills of fashion to look better… but without all the cultural baggage that usually surrounds anything fashion.

I feel like I’ve gone through a transition that has been useful, and that other women might appreciate. Apprenticing myself to my mother-in-law, I’ve gone from a girl who wore ankle-length black skirts with white athletic socks (I have photographic proof) to a woman who consistently looks nice when she walks out the door in the morning. I’ve gotten and maintained a good haircut. I’ve developed a wardrobe that suits my lifestyle, my profession and my figure. I know how to use makeup to subtle good effect. In an interview recently, I was described as “polished”. That word stuck with me. Of all the compliments I’ve gotten in life, it might be one of the most unexpected, and hardest-won.

I have learned these skills of ‘the woman’.

But I haven’t bought the hype. I hate shopping for shoes. I could care less about this season’s hot colors, unless they happen to be my favorites. I don’t judge people differently based on how they look (at least I try not to). I’m playing the game, but my heart’s not in it. I still schlep in jeans and athletic socks and snarky geek t-shirts on weekends. And reading fashion magazines makes me either slightly ill or very sarcastic. So maybe, perhaps, I can teach the skills of looking good without the judgement and insults of so many other fashion venues.

The idea went from good to great when I thought of the domain name: Technically Pretty.com

So it has come to pass! I currently have a zillion ideas for things I want to write about. I’d love this to be far more interactive than this blogs. (After all, I’m no expert in fashion. If I’m a competent journeywoman, I’m happy.) I have thoughts for recurring posts (outfit of the day! this seasons hot fashions in bullet points! review of best and worst fashion magazines! product reviews on cosmetics you can buy at Target!). I’d love to have surveys, reader stories and in-depth discussions about what it means to be a professional woman, what it means to be a technical woman, and what it costs us to spend precious time and money on looks instead of books.

What I don’t have is a readership. So I’m asking you if you would bop on over and read my posts. Follow the blog. Add it to your syndication (if you like it and it seems relevant). If I earn your trust with good content… share my link. If you have questions, thoughts or discussions – hash them out with me there. If you know of other good blogs/tweets/sites I should be following, bring them to my attention.

Camp Gramp – 364 days to go!

Guest post by my mommy!

I know, I didn’t post the end of Camp Gramp. It is like a roller coaster — things get to happening so fast! We did have a good end to Camp Gramp. Our last activity was Smallwood Park in Eatonville followed by ice cream cones. The kids now think I know everyone in Eatonville since I met 5 former students, and one from next year.

So many wonderful things happened. I can’t thank my children enough for sharing.

Jello — none of the kids had ever had Jello. They think it is wonderful! (They also like Kraft Mac and Cheese and S’mores — so what can I say?) How can you understand Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs if you haven’t eaten Jello. I am only sorry I didn’t have the time to do a proper Jello mold. I am not even sure I still have one.

Merry Go Round — Almost everyone has taken those out of their parks, but there was one in Seattle. There is so much to learn about physics from a Merry Go Round. The kids really enjoyed this. Baz and Grey also celebrated tree climbing at our picnic!

Dreams and nightmares were a topic of discussion. We all have them. Why? We talked about our brain doing housekeeping! Inquiring minds want to know!

Conversations with Baz about destiny and leprosy only vaguely related. He really listened to Sunday’s sermon. He even told his mother the opening joke, and told it well. He is growing to be quite a gentleman. I appreciated his leadership and tolerance with being oldest — therefore asked to participate in activities beneath his dignity! He was a big help!

Kay’s imaginative play and care of Thane was awesome. She always had an eye on him, making sure he was safe. Poor Kay, the only girl, but not intimidated by the rough and tumble boys. She adds to the ideas about what to play. I love her stuffy stories. She is developing quite a fashion sense!

It is such fun to watch Grey enjoying the land of the literate. He likes his books! (Although I don’t know about books called “Stinky” — this is literature?) Grey is a real competitor, and wants to do everything Baz does. How frustrating to be younger, therefore smaller. He practiced after the Olympic Games and got really good at jumping out of the swings.

Thane is at such a cute age. He has sooooo much to tell you. “You know what Gramama….” I can’t imagine, Thane! Tell me. He is passionate about Lego men — and don’t try to foist off on him the big legos because they are insulting to his ability! I mean really, they are.

They are grandchildren to be proud of, and I am proud of them, and of the children who are raising them. Good luck kids. Dad and I are dead after just a week. May the force be with you!

What the Grownups Were Doing

So I’ve been giving you the Camp Gramp updates for the last week or so. Obviously, Adam and I were not with our children. So what were we doing? A quick litany, for my remembrance and your enlightenment.

Wellspring's new Sanctuary — Wellspring’s new Sanctuary

Friday night: Fly in. Very tired. Zzzzzz.

Saturday: Go to Seattle for family picnic and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. The family picnic was lovely. I got to see all my uncles & aunts on that side, if few of my cousins. The playground location meant that that kids had fun too. This was the first time my kids had gone to G&S. They were beautifully behaved, but a not-insignificant reason for that was because they were, well, asleep. Hard to fight the time zones, late hour, exercise and dark theater, I guess!

Sunday: Church (where I got to be the pianist) was followed by a quick lunch. Then Adam and I went up to Paradise on Mt. Rainier. It was snowy and crowded up there, but we had a nice hike. We came down and then went to Wellspring. It is such a glorious place she has built there for weddings. We hiked through her lovely grounds, got massages and sat in the hot tub with the best view ever.

Monday: We drove down to Ashland. We took the direct route instead of the ocean route, which made the 8 hour trip seem short by comparison.

Tuesday: We saw As You Like It. This is one of my favorite comedies, as beautifully executed as only Ashland can do it. (This was the play that initiated my celebrity crush on Ted Deasy back in 1997.)

Wednesday: We skipped our traditional three hour breakfast to go White Water River Rafting on the Upper Klamath. It was AWESOME. We saw tons of ospreys, quite a few bald eagles, and some adorable otters. The whitewater was fantastic. Seriously, those rapids are something else. It was awesome. However, we were TIRED when we got back that night, and we still had a play.

That night we saw Henry V, which I had just seen in London at that Globe theater. These were very different productions. That Henry had been downright funny, playing up the comedic aspects to the hilt. Ashland’s Henry V walked away from the humor and the funny lines, dwelling on the martial themes with absolute seriousness. As usual, I was ready to sign up on the dotted line after the Crispin Crispian days speech.

Thursday: We took our regular 3 hour breakfast. (I’ve been reading through Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga). That night we saw The Merry Wives of Windsor, Iowa, which was a rewritten version of Shakespeare’s. They held on to the blank verse and the plot, but the marriages in question were gay marriages and the jokes very topical. It was VERY FUNNY. (And hey! It had Ted Deasy!)

Friday: Our last day out. Only a two hour breakfast. Before we left, though, one more play. We, through luck and good fortune, were at the world premiere performance of All the Way. The audience was packed with actors and dignitaries – the theater sold out. It was absolutely amazing. Our favorite play last year had been a Ghost Light… this was our favorite play this year. It went through Lyndon B. Johnson’s passing of the Civil Right’s Act and reelection. If that sounds dry, it wasn’t. It was very entertaining, and extremely educational (for those of us who did not live through it). There were big laughs, and times of tears. It was fascinating to hear how the arguments have changed in the last fifty years… and how they have not changed one whit. Some of the same arguments being made around civil rights you can still hear being made today. It was amazing. I highly recommend you go see it.

And now we’re back in Mineral, surrounded by young people who are related to us and getting ready to fly back to Boston tonight.

It was a great week!!!!

Camp Gramp Olympics

There is no crying at the Olympics!

Today is Olympics day. We are going to watch the opening ceremonies tonight so decided to have some competitions this afternoon for the kids. Mistake. It is very difficult to handicap a competition between three so divergent ages. Therefore, only Sebastian escaped tears.

We had a torch parade — 3 of the 4 glow sticks failed to work. Perhaps this is because they are about 5 years old. Thane won that one! His glowed. it is currently residing in his suitcase where he is convinced it will still be glowing when he gets home.

Thane lacks the competitive spirit — or more accurately, doesn’t understand hide and seek. He dropped out when he and I were the seekers and he noticed the Scooby Doo DVD paused on the downstairs TV. That was probably a good thing.

Grey was upset because he got found in hide and seek. They looked in his place. He didn’t want to participate in the outside competition, but was eventually lured out and did very well in jump out of the swing contest!

Kay hated soccer, which was the competition she asked for. When she kicked the ball, it went crooked. Also, she hated the legos competition to build the tallest tower. The blocks kept falling apart. Baz won that one too with an improbable creation.

The final competition was a team sport. Go to Dick’s store together and get as many nutritious snacks as possible with $1.25 each. What?! Candy provides nutrition! They started this competition happy. We will see how they come home.

The best laid plans of Gramama and Papapa ….

Camp Gramp Thursday

Today we went my kind of camping. We spent the afternoon and early evening at Eastcreek Campgrounds. Delightful! The stream is just right for the kids. Shade for me. A fire pit for Don. What more can you ask for? That, and coming home to sleep in a bed — with innersprings and all.

I wish I were in that bed with innersprings right now. I am tired. Today Thane asked me if I was going to make a baby. Well, no! I no longer have the energy required. But having sung my entire collection of songs — Go down medicine, The fly swallowing one, etc. — they are still awake. It is shameful to go to sleep before the children, shameful!

This morning the legos came out. They played peacefully for about 2 hours with legos. It was fun to listen to.

Grey made his ham and egg creation and Thane chose lunch, Mac and cheese. It has been fun to have the children involved in meals.

On the health front, Kay lost the most skin today. I have no idea how she did it, but she has a cut on her heel. It will be painful for a while. Honestly, it is amazing that Thane still has any skin left. That boy is the bump king. But he is so cheerful about it. Medicine and a bandaid and he is good to go again. I am concerned about his big toe.

Goodnight to all. Camp Gramp is wonderful. I have awesome grandkids!

Wednesday at Camp Gramp

The economics of Chuck E Cheese is fascinating, or perhaps it is the marketing. It is a study in inflation psychology. We got 120 tokens with our badly overpriced and mediocre pizza. That is 30 per child. All around us, machines screamed, “Play me.” There were lights and graphics and sounds. It is incredible noisy! You can shoot, drive, ride, or hit innocent small creatures on the head. You can have your picture taken. You can shoot basketballs and throw baseballs. Or you can try to drop your token into the slot for the jackpot. Grey ran around like mad and had finished the tokens before the pizza arrived. Thane likes putting the tokens in the slots but cares little for the tickets or the games. He likes the graphics, but he doesn’t need to interact with them. Kay likes cute things, but she did did spend quite a bit of time at a shooter. Baz is the most thoughtful of the players. He walks around looking, analyses each of the games to see what he likes best and what he is likely to get the most tickets from. He always finishes his tokens last.

After plowing through the 30 tokens Camp Gramp supported, Grey impulsively and Baz thoughtfully decided to invest their Camp Gramp spending money in another 50 tokens. It was unbelievably hard to let them do that! What a waste! But we didn’t say anything when Kay invested her Camp Gramp spending money in a blue bear clinging to a piece of candy and Thane spent his on a dinosaur egg — which when put in water actually hatched (actually, this was neat — but worth $3 not $10.) So all the spending money is gone now.

Back to Chuck E Cheese. The games you play spew out an incredible number of tickets. I picked up 26 of Thane’s. He wasn’t interested. Kay had 76 — she was interested. Grey got 140 — he was very interested. Baz earned an impressive 441 tickets. At the ticket “store”, each ticket is worth about a penny. Where do they find all that trash? You would think the children were starving because the candy was popular. Baz got a magic trick and a rocket, plus a bag of cotton candy. Kay got vampire teeth. She can hardly wait until her mouth gets big so they don’t hurt. Grey got CANDY! Thane got one of those packets of Koolaid type stuff with a little stick you use to dip in it. Don’t worry, he didn’t eat most of the pure sugar. He deposited it in the car seat. The vacuum cleaner took care of the mess.

What amazed me is that all the children were happy! They had a great time and they thought their prizes were wonderful. It was such trash! But they were happy. Is it the games or the tickets? What motivates the children to so deeply desire this particular Camp Gramp activity? And why don’t Don and I refuse? Amazing. We noticed the demographic is changing. There were more tweens and young adults there. The children’s section has shrunk and the adult games, car chases, etc., have increased.

The whole day was not consumed by CEC. We went to Hamma Hamma, an oyster farm on Hood Canal. It was very interesting! I know a job that will inspire you to go to college — oyster shucking! That looks brutal. If I can get them downloaded, there is a picture of the children on top of a pile of oyster shells. (The shadow at the top of the picture is not impending weather, but a finger!) They looked wonderful against the blue sky!

Speaking of college, our tour guide was wonderful. At the end of the tour, someone asked her if she went to college. “Yes” she said, “a little college in Vermont.” Class of 2004 — Middlebury. She is putting her degree in English literature to good use!

Then we went to the Olympic National Park — or a subsection of it — Seal Rock Camp Grounds — remember it, Matthew. The children played in the water for about an hour. It was a nice time. They don’t like the sun screen we have — I think there may be a little too much red on Thane’s face. Such bliss — water, rocks. It doesn’t get much better.

I would like to apologize to my children for making them take trips without DS or videos. It may not be the best interaction we can get, but it sure cuts down on the fighting and whining. I didn’t hear “are we there yet” more than twice.

Sleep is settling over our little camp and I am about to join them. It will never do to let them get ahead.

The health report: Baz feels fine. Thane spent the whole day coughing and informing us he was going to throw up — then not doing so. Since he revived in remarkable ways when something fun offered, we were not too worried. On the other hand, let’s not talk about the cuts. The rocks were a little sharp. Again, Thane won hands down! I love the therapeutic value of a little antiseptic wash! Medicine!

Two Camp Gramp Days

Editor’s note: I’m a little behind. Here are two fun days of Camp Gramp updates!

Camp Gramp Post 2
I think I better quit naming them by days. By that measure, I am already a day behind!

Mummies and dinosaurs! Does it get much better than that? We went to the Pacific Science center. We were congratulating ourselves on the way in for not getting tickets in advance. We would have been late for the intended entrance! We were not congratulating ourselves when I waited in line over an hour for the tickets. Then we found out that we could have used the members only line since we had the Waterhouse membership. Humph! It actually worked out well since Don took the children to the Center House for lunch.

Mummies. We saw the movie, then went to the exhibit, which is probably the right way to do it. The movie was interesting. What is the symbol for so-so? There were good pictures, but a little too much dum-te-de-dum music. The suspense left me in good health. I did learn that there was a pre Tut discovery that the priests had been storing the pharaohs’ bodies in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings long before people thought. They found a tomb with about 40 mummies of royalty in the Valley of the Kings.

The exhibit was, I thought, a bit of a disappointment. I expected the gold coffin. One would think, that when there were 4 of them, we could get at least one. But no ….. However, there were some very interesting pieces. The children were surprised at how small the bed was, and the chairs. They must have been much smaller. At least Tut was.

The kids did a great job. They were interested in a very reasonable amount of the stuff. Baz has obviously studied — he knew about a lot of the things we saw. It was unbelievably crowded. They sell tickets by the 15 minute slots. I can’t imagine what it would be like if they didn’t do that. I would really like to see it some time when it is not so crowded.

Then we went to the Hall of Dinosaurs in the science center itself. Thane was in heaven. There was a really excellent claymation video about dinosaurs. I would love to get a copy! Thane watched it 3 times.

We left about 6 p.m. — middle of rush hour in Seattle. We were/are tired puppies, but happy. There were lots of comments on Camp Gramp. We were proud ot have our wonderful grandchildren! Thanks for sharing!

The disaster for the day. Baz has lost his DSI. He had it in his pocket at the movie. They told people to turn off devices and he took it out to turn it off. When we left the movie, he didn’t have it. We are still hoping but Lost and Found didn’t live up to its name. This is truly sad!

I had just finished this post and was ready to hit share when I heard the patting of little feet. They were hungry!

Intermezzo

I am the unloved grandparent. The Flynn children are up first. I provided the Lucky Charms this morning. Thane informed me that “Papapa always gives me lots of Lucky Charms because he loves me!” Now we know about me!

Camp Gramp – Tuesday night

I am a failure as a Grandmother! Woe is me!

Lunch today was made by Kay — lovely little tuna melts! She does a nice job. After lunch we actually took a nap, or anyway the Flynns took a nap. The W. children read and made up plays with stuffies.

Then I took the three younger ones to Pioneer Farms, an activity Kay has declared a tradition and of which she does not tire. They had a wonderful time. They ground coffee and wore skirts and aprons. They played with stereoscopics and tops and Kay and Thane washed all the clothes.

Then we headed for the barn. Here there was a great division. Kay and Thane liked the animals. They picked up ALL the chickens. Thane got quite good at it. They looked for eggs, milked a cow and rode the horse. The rabbit was declared so soft. Most of the giggling came from the pig sty where the new little pig loved to snort at their feed and tickle them. Jumping in the hay was like wonderful! Grey preferred the workshops. He nailed about 25 nails. His father has taught him how to do this. He used the draw knife, which he preferred to the saw. He also worked the forge and flattened one of the horse shoes.

Meanwhile Baz, who has been feeling a little under the weather — sore throat — stayed home with Papapa and made dinner. He made grilled chicken. He says when his father says he is grilling chicken, he puts it in the oven. Baz seems puzzled, but the chicken was wonderful. He wanted broccoli, but he forgot to tell me before I came home. It was very good.

The evening was perfect weather. there was playing outside in the bouncy house and on the swings. Now bath time is almost over and we are headed to bed.

So wherein the failure? I had a failure of camera. I got to enjoy the look of Kay’s straight back on the horse and Thane’s glee at tumbling down the hay. You don’t. Use your imagination.

Ah yes, the blood report. Grey came out of the of the doors at Pioneer Farms wrong. It closed on him and whacked both sides of his face. I don’t know how Thane managed the bit of blood on his knee but it was cured by medicine and a bandage. Also, Thane ran into the ice chest I was carrying. It was a Massachusetts accident — both fault.

It’s a Brand New Camp Gramp Day!

Well, folks, it’s the blog series you’ve all been waiting for! Yessirree, it’s CAMP GRAMP time! For those of you who have not yet met ths marvel, let me explain. Every summer, my parents gather up all their grandchildren and abscond with them for a week of adventures, bonding and Lucky Charms. We lucky parents then scoot to do non-child-friendly things. This is, by my count, about the 6th Camp Gramp.

And we’re off! An afoot! So, with no further ado before I start OUR drive down to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, I give you… CAMP GRAMP!

Camp Gramp Day # 1

Fabric paint! How could I have thought that was a good idea! The bright orange Camp Gramp shirts look awesome, but Grey’s pants, Kay’s shirt, and my jeans bear the marks of a painting party. The orange shirts went to church this morning, even on the pastor! No one will mistake our obvious togetherness. They will be washed often this Camp Gramp.

After the Saturday afternoon Camp Gramp work, putting up the tents and making the teeshirts, we went to Seattle for our annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. We had a lovely picnic in Rogers park with the family, then went to the Bagley Wright theater. The moment the curtain went up and the overture started, Thane, who was on my lap at the time, was enthralled. But due to the still Eastern time, he was asleep within 20 minutes, and so was Grey. Only Kay stayed awake until the end of the play. Iolanthe is not my favorite, but it was a good production. We returned home about 12:30, tired puppies all.

Today we went to church together. Brenda substituted at the piano — many thanks. Her offertory was very nice! (Eds. note: my piano playing is not my top musical skill, but I didn’t bring my trumpet.)

After lunch (mac and cheese and tuna fish — with chips — does it get any better than that) I got some down time. It has been a little busy lately. I was reading when I heard Kay say — “Just use the spoon. I will get a bowl of sugar for myself.” I went out to find Kay teaching Thane to eat sugar from a bowl. This particular educational activity I have discouraged!

Thane is also learning to use the DS. He is very excited, but not very proficient. I am hoping to teach him not to touch the top screen in hopes of changes. He got Grey’s StarWars game and erased his profile yesterday. There were tears. Then today Baz reminded Grey that at the same age, Grey had erased Baz’s Scriblenauts profile.

OK, here are some pictures

A Tale of Two Summers

I’ve been enjoying myself quite a lot lately. Other than the breathless busy-ness that is the inevitable outcome of trying to DO ALL THE THINGS, we’ve been having a lot of fun. This past weekend we spent at the beach, my children increasingly fearlessly ducking through waves. We’ve been hiking and camping and beaching and farmer’s marketing. I walked through London.

I was thinking, the other day, how much more pleasant this summer seemed than last. Of course there’s a lot that goes into that. I’m in a different job, which plays a role. My sons are 6 and 3 instead of 5 and 2, which also plays a role. But one of the most critical factors to my family’s happiness has to be the condition of my left knee.

As you all well remember, last May I epically blew it out. Or rather, I prosaically finished a long slow decade of disintigration with two major tears of my meniscus, precipitated by the fact that I had no ACL to protect those secondary tissues. I spent last summer in physical therapy, in my doctor’s office and in constant pain and fear. Pain obviously, but fear that I would step wrong or it would hurt worse. Fear that was, I should say, regularly reinforced by coming true.

Camping ended up being brutal. The shifting sands and rolling rocks of a beach, plus the fear that my then two year old would attempt to swim his way to France, meant that we entirely avoided the beach the entire summer. Last summer vacation, right after the MRI revealed the massive extent of the internal damage, I spent my summer vacation processing the reality that I would need my first ever major surgery. Mt. Rainier’s shoulders went unmolested by my feet – except for the tamest trails. I did PT in the hotel room and packed a large bottle of extra strength Ibuprofen. I planned ahead for my next “vacation”, quickly exhausting my paid time off and attempting to work through the sheer exhaustion of a healing body and pain-ridden system.

It’s amazing how much more fun it is to be out of pain and relatively healthy.

That’s where this post was intended to end two weeks ago, when I first thought it up. (What can I say, I’ve been too busy having fun to actually write about it!) My knee had finally reach all better, about the time I went to London. Look ma! I can kneel!

And then something went oogly. I’m kind of so used to limited motion and pain that it took me a bit to notice my knee hurt and I was favoring it again – limping a bit. I know it’s not the ACL, but I have to wonder if there’s still a tear in the mensicus, or even a new one. I think the way I was sitting might have “caught” it.Or maybe it’s the new normal – I have very little cushioning my knee now, with the meniscal tears removed. Maybe running for a bus one day is an action I pay for over the course of the next few weeks. I realize that the right thing to do is to call my dear Orthopedist and ask to be reviewed.

The idea of initiating anything like that is appalling. So instead I’m ignoring it for now. If it is a really remote meniscal tear that only gets activated when I sit a particular way, well. I can learn not to sit that way.

My husband and I were commisserating the other day. He was going through his extensive nightly ritual of caring for his hands and feet. When not attended to with slavish devotion, the skin on both tends to crack and not heal, which is just as painful as it sounds. This accumulation of familiar aches and chronic (minor) issues is almost like a rite of passage itself. It marks – as if our increasingly gigantic and independent children did not – our transition from the flower of youth to the fruit of middle age. You notice you’re walking with a limp – after 26 sessions of PT and two hours of surgery – and you kind of wonder if you will ever spend a full year in which you do not limp, and what it might mean to be the Mom that Limps a Little. (Of course, putting it that way almost resolves me to call my orthopedist. After vacation.)

What about you? What aches and pains have you accumulated, that have become as familiar as your own face in the mirror? Or tell me about ones you have resigned yourself to, only to be unexpectedly and permanently freed from them.