.....and she's off. I mentioned before about what I'd been doing to GAL and detach a bit. Well, in the last few days before Ws trip I did ok - a B maybe.
Yesterday was the start of spring break where I work - not that I get any time off, but it still seems like something worth celebrating - so for dinner it was cheeseburgers (in paradise), fruit on sticks (anything on a stick is better, says middle son), and Tang with drink umbrellas (ok, a stretch, but adults got something of a higher octane). Bought totally cheesy plastic leis and the kids loved it. The best part was how it developed: W comes home, I gave her a big smile, and I listened to her talk about her day, kids were crazy, and she eventually realizes, hmmmm, what can we do for dinner? So I say "hey, I want to celebrate spring break" and we end up making dinner together and she goes along with the whole thing.....I didn't ask if it was ok, I just asked her to help me do my thing. I know I shouldn't be surprised about this - and it's just dinner - but she actually LIKES it, that was so clear. Just a simple plan for a weirdo dinner and me a bit out in front.
I found the last episode of this sorta strange TV show we used to watch - it suddenly went off the air. Loaded it on the ipod. And later that night decided I wanted to watch it - invited W to watch it with me, but I was going to do it anyway. So we sat in bed and watched it on the little screen. ok, nice.
This morning I did several house projects with my oldest son - who needs some extra attention these days - while W packed. Then we went for a short hike with boys and the dog near our house, a new tradition for Saturday mornings I started. W started talking about neighbors relationship and she said some things that could have been right out of the DBing handbook about how neighbor's behavior - whining about not having enough sex after new baby was born - was probably not attractive to his W. There was a moment of understanding between us about the importance of Hs being strong, and Ws not making that too hard to do. interesting. W wanted to hold hands. Whoa.
Came home and W finished packing. Yes, she did pack a very sexy dress and heels, and totally hide them at the bottom of her bag. And yes, she shared her itinerary with me and there are big dinner parties and big chunks of "free time", and she is planning to go out to clubs with a girl from the office. And boss is presiding, front and center. But I didn't bite. I told her to have a great time, and not to call - just email to let me know she arrived ok. I told her she should absolutely go out with her work girlfriend - they'd break some hearts over there. (Hey if boss isn't involved, stay out all night! I didn't say that out loud.)
Dropped her off at work this afternoon, smiled and was happy. It was a nice goodbye. I think she was happy that I was strong about the whole thing - maybe I'm just projecting but.....it went about as well as it could go.
Who knows what happens now.....I feel good about doing what I had to do this week, even though it was TOUGH. That good feeling will wear off I suppose. But whatever happens it's up to her now. I'll probably never know one way or the other. Just a week to work on some things on my end
Now I just have to stay busy....easy enough with three kids. All their friends are here now for a movie night. And I figure I'll post a couple photos of us having fun this week on FB....
Everyone. Thank you. If I hadn't pulled this together W would have left with her last vision of me being very different.
