I am tired. Exhausted. Worn out. Just plain sleepy.
I’ve been away for a few days tending to family matters. Away from my laptop that is, not away like out of town or anything. Last week it was incredibly cold here and on Wednesday when I went to bed it was pouring down rain. The weather forecast was rain, sleet, and ice…. boy were they right. When I awoke Thursday morning — late — I wondered why in the world my alarm clock didn’t go off. Well I soon found out. My power had flickered off and back on during the night and had reset my alarm clock — along with every thing else in my house — phones, computers, stereos, etc. I’m a sound sleeper or I would have heard all this stuff beeping and playing when it happened but I must have been out dead because I didn’t hear a thing. Anyway, I got up and went on about my day.
Ice was everywhere. The roads were awful and once I got my butt to work that’s where I stayed until it was time to go to an after hours work event late in the afternoon. Before I could get done at the gathering my mom was ringing my cell phone off the hook — I finally answered it only to learn that my sister, her husband, and all four – yes 4 – children, plus a cousin were on their way to my mother’s house. My sister lives about an hour north of the town where my mother and I live and the ice storm up that way had knocked the power out for over 750,000 people — my sister’s family included. They were coming down to stay at my mother’s while their power was out. No big deal to us — my mother’s house is 2500+ square feet and she lives alone so there’s plenty of room.
We had a great time Thursday night — I don’t even remember what all we did but I recall we were just having a great time being together. We get to spend time with them a good bit but it’s usually under shorter time frames and never really over night so this was a welcomed visit. We figured their power would be back on the next day and things would go back to normal.
Wrong.
Not only was their power NOT on Friday, but it didn’t get turned back on until about 9:00 tonight — Sunday night. Now, while I love my sister & brother in law dearly — and love my neices and nephew even more — I am tired. Tired of picking up, cleaning up, washing clothes, tending to, feeding, cooking for, shopping with, playing ball, playing playstation, wrapping presents, etc — I could go on — but I’m pooped.
Does anyone have any idea how much food, toilet paper, & detergent it takes to run a household of 9? Well I don’t know either but damn it was A LOT! You feed ‘em and then they poop…… it’s not long before they want something else to eat or drink and then they’re pooping again – it’s a vicious cycle when there’s that many people in a house. I have no idea how my sister keeps her place spic and span like she does. It’s like a zoo — and while I had power and came home and slept at my own house every night I still went back over there to help out and spend time with them during the day. After a while I felt like I was in the looney bin. At times I couldn’t hear myself talk much less think. Lots of commotion.
Sounds like I’m complaining a bit, but in actuality, I wouldn’t trade anything for the time we spent together this weekend. Of course, we always get together for the holidays, etc but there’s always a time schedule — making it to everyone’s houses and all for the different meals and such, but this time there was no time frame. They were at the mercy of the power company and so we just enjoyed being together. Sure, we’ll get to see each other for Christmas this coming weekend, but it will be full of the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday. It’s not often that we just get to forget all the craziness that we call life and just “be”. I was happy just “being” with my family these past few days.
I have a lot to be thankful for — everyone gets along in my family and we all genuinely like one another. So many families aren’t like that and so many families have rifts between each other – but not ours. ………………..So, while I complain about being tired and worn out, I’m also really appreciative that I was afforded the opportunity from Mother Nature to get back to the basics and spend some quality time with my family. Like I said, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I hope you all get to do just that over the next few days or weeks — during Christmas and New Years — Spend some quality time with your family and friends. Make the most of it. You’ll be glad you did.
As for me and this particular moment in time — my butt is heading to bed. I have a busy week ahead of me — like all of you — and I have got to catch up on some much needed sleep. Cheers everyone — until tomorrow…. err.. later today….. Goodnight!
Root them on and help me cheer them to a victory! 
