Another one joins the flock (Part II)

[Mike85]

Great several days with the kids. They've been watching so much MST3K with me that yesterday they wanted to do their own, digging up an old Power Rangers video to make fun of. It was goofy, but both my sons loved it.

Last night, my youngest son fell asleep on me and oldest son got a cute camera phone pic of it. Almost texted it to wife, but decided against it, since I hadn't communicated with her all day and wanted to see if I could do some DB-style distancing. I figured that when she called the next day, I could mention the pic and she could ask for it if she wanted it.

This morning, wife called to say that she was running errands and had fallen behind. She was going to be late picking up the kids for her day with them. I told her no problem, that I'd get them lunch. She sounded tired, and I asked if she was OK. She said that she'd been working so late that she was never home (which was a contributing factor to our drifting apart...). We chatted for a bit, she asked what the kids and I did yesterday, told her (she loved the "home made" MST thing). She called back again in the early afternoon to say she was still running behind. More chatting.

She came to pick the kids up at about 3 pm. I was looking forward to seeing her. Then I saw that the OM was driving the minivan. I'm positive that you could hear my crest falling in the next county. Felt like a kick in the gut. She came in, hugged the kids, had them give me a hug and kiss goodbye, but then she gave me a hug and a kiss. I felt a little better.

She'll be dropping the kids off before their bedtime, since this is my Saturday with them (good timing, since my village has a summer festival and a "teddy bear parade").

Went to supermarket, ran into soon-to-be-former colleagues who congratulated me on my new job. Some also hugged me b/c they knew my home sitch. Went to check out, and cashier was one of my former students/advisees who graduated last year (don't pick on my effectiveness, it's her summer job). She gave me a hug...b/c she knew about my home sitch. CRIMINY! She and one of her classmates feel bad for me want to come make me dinner (the frozen pizza in my cart didn't help my case). I said I'd take them up on it. That class was a great group of kids. I advised them for four years. I got close to them and their wonderful parents (the kind of parents and kids teachers dream of working with). One of 'em wound up becoming my sons' favorite babysitter b/c he'd play GameCube with them. Their parents ALSO know about me and want to do something.

I tried ending on an "up" note by mentioning my new job and asking how her first full year of college went. Overtly, we did end on an up note. But I wound up feeling sad. Sometimes the sympathy seems to make things worse. Weird, huh?

Went to the store just to get some stuff and wound up in conversations that made me focused on wife and OM. [sigh].

At least my kids will be back tonight. They always cheer me up (even when they misbehave).