Dave and I have made simple suggestions like, "Just add more vegetables into your meals."
Meg's reply; "Matt won't eat them! He's a meat and potatoes with fattening gravy kind of eater...It has to be of Southern flavor and loaded with butter."
Meg tries hard to satisfy her families palette - so much indeed that she has cooking magazines in the bathroom. She tries to find a balance. Plus hiding a few key facts about healthy ingredients goes a long way. What they don't know, won't kill them - it's healthier for them.
Other such oddities have been commented about - for example - my "control" center- the top of a tote in the living-room contains an assortment of products I use daily, but couldn't find the space for in the bathroom. Dave placed a crow-bar among my stuff one day after working on "Nomad". Matt made the casual observation another day, " How does a crow-bar fit in with this assortment? Does it make you drop-dead gorgeous?"This morning a mad dash ensued in search of Tristan's library book. A distraught Meg flipped quickly searched through all the piles of papers, games and movie videos. "Where did you put it, Son?"
"I don't know?" he replied blankly at her. Meg had to abandon the search as she had to go to work.Later in the morning after all had departed, Dave was rearranging our supplies for the Nomad and found the book on the floor between Tristan's desk and our tote. Tristan had swore on a stack that it WAS NOT in HIS room as HE LOOKED THERE and DID NOT find it.
Dave and I sorted and repacked leaving room for more items to leave behind for Meg and Cat. Dave made room for the "tote wall" that was at Cat's apartment to fit at Meg's. Meg informed Cat on Sunday that we weren't getting a trailer and were leaving more things behind. They decided among themselves which of our items would still be staying in the family. There was the china cabinet that was our first purchase as a couple, a wrought iron ivy leaved plant table, a bonafide treasure chest, and an assortment of smaller knick-knacks, jewelry and trinkets. After a couple of hours of sorting and dividing who gets what and which items are being donated to the church bazaar for big raffle ticket items, Dave spent time chatting with Nick on the transport ride to and from Cat's apartment. Catherine and I also used that time to have meaningful conversation and to tell me what's been going through her mind..." Mom, I feel as if you and Dad are already dead and we are dividing up your stuff."
When the children arrived home, they were instructed to do their home-work. Alyssa finished first and then proceeded to "cheer" Tristan on. "Peel... peel... the banana. Peel... peel...the banana." Repeat four times. Then she chanted, "Form... Form... the banana." Again, four times. She began with her arms over her head and slowly opened her arms as if she were a banana getting peeled. Lastly, she raised her arms back up into place as she was forming the banana. She was chanting rather loudly and totally distracting Tristan. Unfortunately he had a harder time getting his work done. Alyssa went into her room and came back out with her dolls and played with them until Tristan completed his work and then wanted to play Life on the computer before their mother came home.
Dave and I got our dinner prepared and eaten during that time. Then we published three blogs and went out for the evening. We ran into our friend, Jonesie, who has been extremely helpful during this stressful time of transition and he told us, " It takes the time that it takes...Just think, when it's all over and you're actually on the road, you'll look back and see how much stronger you are at going through trials."
Once again we hit the methodical pause button. Took a few deep breaths. Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it. Until then -
The Happy Campers,
Jill & Dave
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