Well.
I’m back.
Last week was one of those weeks that was just really hard. I had some sort of stress trifecta that included a headache that wouldn’t go away, preparing to speak at an event, and raging PMS. I was every bit as delightful to be around in person as you would imagine.
But now I have a week of nothing ahead of me and I couldn’t be happier. I have big plans to do things like grocery shop for real food and toilet paper. Of course, that’s a stretch goal. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
I so appreciate all your prayers and emails and encouragement. I think the weekend event went well based on the women’s responses. Or maybe they’re all just a big bunch of liars. I don’t know for sure, but I’m choosing to believe God showed up in spite of all my flaws and shortcomings and random stories about throwing up in front of Ann Voskamp on a bus in Ecuador.
And, in an astonishing turn of events, I was introduced to a miracle cure for headaches. After I spoke on Friday night, my head was absolutely pounding and one of the sweet women introduced me to the wonder that is peppermint oil.
Do you know about this?
And, if so, why have you not told me? I thought we were friends.
She showed me how to rub a drop or two of peppermint oil into my forehead and temples. And then rub a small amount on the back of my neck and then take a few deep breaths of it. But not too deep or you might hack and cough like you just smoked a pack of Marlboros. At least that’s what I’ve heard.
It is unbelievable. After six days of a headache that felt like it was nonstop, the peppermint oil brought me relief. And made me smell delightfully like Christmas.
So now it’s just a matter of time before I go full on hippie and start collecting all manner of essential oils to cure all manner of ailments. Please tell me if you know more about this. What other oils can I use to make my life so much better than it is right now?
I drove home from the retreat on Saturday morning because Caroline had a soccer game at 10:30 and I really wanted to make at least the last half of the game. But when I was just about halfway home, P called to let me know the other team didn’t show up and so there was no rush. Which I took as my cue to stop at Sonic for a breakfast burrito and a large diet Coke. Because I hadn’t really been able to eat for about three days due to nerves (I’m telling you. I’m a JOY to be around prior to a speaking engagement.) and I was starving.
That Sonic breakfast burrito never had a chance. I scarfed it down in 2.8 seconds and almost ate the foil wrapper it came in and even forgot my bitterness that they hadn’t put my tots in the bag.
When I arrived at the soccer fields, I watched the last ten minutes of Caroline scrimmaging with her own team. And then it was all over and I spent the five minutes it took us to drive home listening to Caroline complain about the bitter cruelty of life because she was ready to play a REAL soccer game and the other team didn’t show up. Which, yes. That’s awful. But also falls square into the category of Things I Can’t Change and, also, Things We Might Be Overly Emotional About. The latter category seems to be increasing in both frequency and size these days.
Then I officially realized I am old because I arrived home and was so excited to discover the new towels I’d ordered for the bathroom were in. NEW TOWELS! NEW WHITE TOWELS! I’d been putting off buying new towels forever because, well, towels. But our old ones are almost ten years old and starting to show a little wear. By which I mean they might be mistaken for dust rags.
And then Caroline and I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond because I felt like my new towels deserved new bath mats. But I couldn’t decide on what style of bath mat I wanted and they didn’t have any like my old ones and, ultimately, I decided I should probably walk before I run. Neither Rome nor my master bath was built in a day.
The other exciting turn of events on Saturday (Exciting being a relative term and assuming you have nothing else going on) was when the guy from the insurance company came to inspect our roof and declared we need a totally new roof after the Easter hail storm. I realize I should be a little sad that the prospect of a new roof makes me happy, but I’m just going to own it.
New roof? New towels? Possibly new bath mats on the horizon? What are we? George and Weezie Jefferson?
Because it sure feels like we’re movin’ on up.
Oh. Except for the fact that I just set this to post and realized it’s Tax Day. The new bath mats may have to wait.