I’m going to just say right now that coming up with things to write about during the summer is daunting. Because basically every day looks the same as the day before. We sleep late, we stay in our pajamas until noon, we run errands, we go to the pool.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
So yesterday we slept late. We stayed in our pajamas until noon. We ran errands. But, HOLD THE PHONE, we did not go to the pool.
I’d stayed up way to late the night before reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I realize that it came out in 2010 and I am perhaps the last person in the free world to read it, but I like to stay current. In fact, if you haven’t seen a show called 24 involving the adventures of Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, I highly recommend it.
But, seriously, Unbroken. I can’t say enough about it. If you haven’t read it, then you need to. Maybe you could also pick up a copy of Sparkly Green Earrings: Catching the Light at Every Turn while you’re at it. I mean, they’re almost exactly the same except for one is a harrowing tale of being stranded at sea during World War II and the other one, well…isn’t.
Anyway, I couldn’t quit reading my book. And then we slept in. Eventually we got dressed and made plans to go to Target and HEB. We are very industrious and goal-oriented that way. Caroline even decided she wanted to bring some of her own money to Target in case she wanted to buy something.
So after we picked up the necessary items at Target, we went to the toy section to peruse the aisles because Caroline had $20 or so burning a hole in her pocket. She spent some time contemplating the various Crayola Glow items while I reminded her she has a birthday coming up and maybe she should just wish for a few things other than buying them with her own money. I also suggested that maybe she could buy a large puzzle and we could spend our evenings around the dining room table having good old fashioned family fun putting it together. She didn’t actually say, “You are so lame”, but I could see it in her eyes.
Finally she decided she wanted this Crayola Glow Dome thing. I looked at the price and said, “Okay, it’s $19.96.” To which she looked incredulous and replied, “TWENTY DOLLARS! FOR THIS?”
“Yes. $20.00. That stuff isn’t cheap.”
I also wanted to launch into a long lecture about how she never ends up playing with anything like that based on evidence from many prior Christmases and birthdays, but I held my tongue. And that’s when she said, “I don’t want to spend $20 on that. I work hard for my money!”
“I know. Now do you understand why Daddy and I don’t just buy you everything?”
“Yeah, but that’s different. Y’all don’t have to do CHORES for your money. I have to WORK HARD.”
Oh. That’s right. Daddy and I just go pick money up off the front porch where the money fairy leaves it every night. Our life is very easy.
It might be time for a little discussion on economic principles.
We spent the rest of the afternoon running errands to get ready for our trip to Nashville tomorrow. Sadly, I’m not doing a book signing while I’m there (some of you asked), but Sophie and I are filming a new video for the DotMom Conference this fall in Chattanooga, TN. (You should totally come if you’re a mom.)
After dinner last night I told Caroline to go figure out what she wanted to pack for the trip and lay it on her bed. She walked in a few minutes later and announced her bag was packed. This is unprecedented. So I asked to see her bag.
This is what she carried out.
It’s a backpack.
I blame her father.
He has been known to leave for a weeklong vacation with nothing more than a backpack. I don’t even understand.
Meanwhile, I’m just hoping I can get away without checking a bag that weighs more than fifty pounds.